Devotions based on week 7 of Joy in the Journey: Grace (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
The people in Philippi knew who Paul was talking about.
The Judaizers.
These individuals were connecting with Christ, but holding onto the practices of their Jewish faith and traditions of the past.
On the one hand, who could blame them? They had been taught that circumcision was an absolute must to be included in the covenant relationship with God. For nearly 2000 years, generations of dads had circumcised their sons on the eighth day in keeping with the direction the LORD had given to Abraham:
Genesis 17:10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, a covenant between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised by cutting the foreskin off your flesh. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 Every boy among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised, every male throughout your generations, whether he is born in your house or purchased with money from any foreigner who is not descended from you. 13 Every male who is born in your house or one who is purchased with your money must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked on your flesh as an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised by removing the foreskin from his flesh, that person must be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
Why the harsh words for those that, putting the best construction on it, were intent on following the direction to stay connected to the covenant given to Abraham?
Because the practice was primary over the work of Christ.
Circumcision was cancelling grace.
Circumcision had become people’s confidence of a right standing before God.
Circumcision had been deemed the primary mark of a child of God.
And it wasn’t.
Even with the descendents of Abraham, the LORD was always interested in the heart more than what one’s flesh looked like. The practice of circumcision was an outflow of a heart that trusted the Lord.
Paul said to the Galatians: (6:15) Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
What the Lord desired was a heart that cut out sin and experienced the presence of God’s Spirit. What the Lord desired is a reliance on him not on the works of the flesh. It’s why Paul wrote: 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
The same is true today. Outward practices can easily become internal confidences. What we do can deceive us into thinking we are safe with God…even if the action has good religious tradition attached to it.
The Lord is always first interested in our heart which places its full confidence in Christ.
Apply: What “Christian” activities can subtly deceive us to rely on them over relying on Christ?
Prayer: Lord, circumcise my heart to always rely on you. AMEN.