Yahshua followed the Torah because He was a Jew.
Galatians 4:
1 Now I say
that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards
until the time appointed by the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children,
were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when
the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,
born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then
an heir of God through Christ.
12 Brethren,
I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God,
even as Christ Jesus.
15 What then was the blessing you
enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 They [of the circumcision group] zealously court you,
but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
They [of the circumcision group] zealously court you,
Back to the OP and Philippians 3:
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers,
beware of the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
4 though
I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
Covenant of flesh vs. covenant of The Spirit.
Genesis 17:13. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and
my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
The covenant in the flesh cannot in any way supercede the new covenant in the Spirit.
Paul wouldn't let this go!
Galatians 5:
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but
faith working through love.
7 You ran well.
Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion does not
come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but
he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren,
if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only
do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Oh my. Paul wishes that those who trouble them to be emasculated/castrated! Ouch!
Who were these troublemakers? Paul withstood them.
Galatians 2:
3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4 And
this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Who sent out these troublemakers?
Acts 15:
1 And certain
men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Therefore, when
Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
On to Jerusalem.
5. But some of
the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command
them to keep the law of Moses.
This sect of the Pharisees were usurpers. No one put them in charge. Peter, James, John, Paul and Barnabas all withstood them. And yet the spirit of the Pharisees lives on in Jews professing to be for Jesus who teach gentiles the same doctrine, and many gentiles back them and have defiled many.
English Standard Version
