“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3.3).
In this passage Paul offered helpful words to the Philippian brethren who faced ridicule at hands of Jewish Christians demanding the keeping of Old Law practices. These Jews claimed to be the covenant people of God, and taught that all who wished to have this relationship must follow the Judaic system as well as Christ. In a short statement Paul puts this idea to rest. He said, “We are the circumcision...put no confidence in the flesh.”
The new covenant was not focused on fleshly marks, but on the circumcision made without hands within the heart. Paul connects this circumcision of the heart to baptism in Col 2.11-15. Those who subjected themselves to this covenant practice could rightfully be considered God’s covenant people. They need not feel intimidated by the empty claims of others. As long as we have fulfilled the teachings of Scripture we must not feel intimidated by those who demand more of us today either. They are simply modern day Judaizers, attempting undermine our faith. Such individuals are the “dogs” Paul referred to in Philippians 3.2. Keep moving forward glorying “in Christ Jesus,” and nothing else.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I am using the term here to refer to people who were of the Jewish ethnicity, who became followers of Christ, as opposed to those who were gentiles, who then began to follow Christ.
Further, Judaism, as the NT claims in various places, and the OT clearly shows, was a system that ultimately pointed and was fulfilled in the Messiah, who was Jesus Christ (Gal 3.24; Rom 15.4; Heb 10.1, etc). In fact the entire book of Hebrews was pretty much written for this purpose. So I wouldn't say that "Judaism and Christianity have always been two antithetical religions." This is especially true since much of the New Testament language appeals heavily to the promises to Abraham and David, as well as shadows in the Old Law (Gen 12, 2 Sam 7).
Many of the first century Christians who had previous been under the Judaic system continued to observe feast days, and dietary laws. It was what they were used to. This is the reason for Scriptures like Romans 14. Some believed Gentiles had to become proselyte Jews prior to receiving Christ. The book of Romans as well as Galatians, and various other of Paul's epistles argue that this is not the case at all. Under the new covenant (promised in places like Jeremiah 31. See Hebrews 8 & 10 as well), "no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter . His praise (Judah in Hebrew) is not from man but from God" (Rom 2.28-29). In other words being a "Jew" is not "according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" a phrase found repeatedly in NT writings, especially when dealing with this subject.
This is not really the forum to go into this deeper, but there is plenty of proof for all of this in the OT prophets, many of whom are quoted by NT writers. To deny it means denying the authenticity and integrity of the NT, which I find extremely hard to do given the abundance of solid evidence for both.
Regarding Deut 13.1-6
1. Jesus wasn't leading anyone to "other Gods." He claimed to follow, and be the son of, Jehovah, the God of the Jews.
2. Read Deut 18.15-19
Post a Comment