Neal of Zebulun
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Thanks. How do we observe the law of circumcision?
Well, we need to take into account all of what Scripture says on the matter, and judge righteously what it means.
In the following passage, the pharisees are complaining that Yahushua is breaking the sabbath, but Christ rebukes their non-sense by bringing up circumcision:
John 7:
21 ..I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers,) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers,) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
This is an excellent Scripture for you to research, as Yahushua Christ brings up both laws you're interested in, even in the same breath.
Now, in following Christ's teaching, when it comes to reading Paul concerning circumcision, beware of seeming contradictions in his writings. He often uses words like "circumcision/uncircumcision" and "flesh/spirit" and "flesh/faith" and "flesh/promise" as metaphors for the Old and New (Renewed) Covenants:
Galatians 4:
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants..
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants..
Galatians 5:
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Romans 2:
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
He's not talking about the foreskin growing back. He's saying that someone under the Old Covenant (circumcision), when they break a single law (in the strictest sense possible, even though Yahweh repeatedly granted mercy in the OT) they are kicked out of the Old Covenant (thus made uncircumcision.)
Paul correctly taught that the Old Covenant (which was not quite "Old" in his day) will not save anyone (except for Christ who fulfilled it perfectly.) He taught the New Covenant, wherein we are saved entirely on Yahweh and Yahushua's account, that is if we have faith in Him, and obey Him, even when we fail to keep the law that He writes on our hearts.
When studying the question of circumcision, keep in mind that Paul was fighting against people who said that we can only be saved by following the Old Covenant:
Acts of the Apostles 15:
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
(Notice Moses, not Abraham.)
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
(The question being: "Do you have to be circumcised to be saved?")
5 ..there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
(They believed in Christ, but they were still learning about the New Covenant and everything. These things take time, you know?)
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
10 Now therefore [Peter said] why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
(The yoke is the Old Covenant, which every one but Yahushua Christ broke.)
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Yahushua Christ we shall be saved..
(Check this out, James gives a very wise conclusion to the meeting; )
19 [And James said,] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the nations are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
And then afterwards Paul and the others delievered a letter with James's advice and wisdom to whom it concerned. So we know that Paul agreed whole-heartedly with its contents.
And they're actually very basic Laws to get people started with. Two of them are really obvious, don't worship idols, and don't fornicate (sexual sin.) But James expects them to study all the Laws he brought up, especially the third one about not eating blood (things strangled means things not blood-letted,) which is an obscure law if you haven't read the OT.
And we know that James said this in complete faith that the Holy Spirit would guide them to study even more of the Law of Yahweh in good time, as he says elsewhere:
James 2:
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
(He means under the New Covenant, keep that in mind when comparing to Paul in Galatians 5 and Romans 2 where he's referring to being under the Old Covenant. Big difference!)9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
Wow. What a way to put in perspective the difference between the Old and the New Covenants. Consider how James is applying Matthew 7:1-5, and the faith he has in this good and righteous Law!
Now again, about circumcision specifically, I think Paul speaks about the physical act very wisely in Romans 4:1-12, accentuating James who said "faith is dead without works", and I will summarize:
Essentially, don't do it thinking it will save you. It won't. Not even Abraham did it to save himself. He did it because he believed and had faith in Yahweh and obeyed Him. And Abraham's faith became alive when he did the actual work of circumcising himself and Isaac. And his faith was counted as righteousness, not the work itself, which Paul essentially explains, is dead without faith.
I encourage you to study this matter further on your own, yet not on your own but through the Holy Spirit in which we are taught all things. Just remember, if you find anything that looks like a contradiction in Scripture, remember what Christ said,
"Scripture cannot be broken." - John 10:35
and pray to our Father in heaven for understanding.
Praise Yahweh though Yahushua Christ in the Holy Spirit, amen!
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