Defending the Gospel – the False Circumcision
Understanding the true meaning of circumcision and contrasting it with the false circumcision is a useful reminder for us not to be carried back into a yoke of bondage from which we have been delivered. There is only one true Gospel, and we are to stand in this Gospel of the living commandments of Christ. Any other gospel is false, a gospel of the works of men.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ [Gospel of living commandments] unto another gospel: [Gospel requiring “circumcision” by works of flesh]
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The Lord’s covenant with Abram, the covenant of circumcision, symbolizes the covenant of faith that would come years later through Jesus Christ. All Scripture, being the Word of God, is written in parable, including the various forms of circumcision. The covenant of circumcision is a sign between Abram and the Lord, and all who follow in faith as heirs to the promises. It is through our faith in the Gospel that righteousness is imputed to us also.
Rom 4:11 And Abram received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Circumcision is a sign between God and the person in covenant with Him. The Lord chose the outward ritual of cutting the foreskin of the male [man child] to be the outward representation of what He does inwardly. Males represent the seed, or the doctrine of the relationship, and the seed of Christ is what establishes us as God’s people. Any male child not circumcised was to be cut off from the people. The covenant takes place on the eighth day, symbolizing the new man. The Spirit of God, the eternal commandments of the Father, are born within us. This is the man-child coming forth. We are the seed following after Abram, the father of all faith.
Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Gen 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you.
Gen 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
Gen 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.
Gen 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
The true circumcision happens when Christ, the living Word, is born in our hearts. The man-child spiritually signifies doctrine and, more specifically, the Lord’s doctrine or commandments. The man-child born is Christ living in our house, and this is the true sign that we belong to God. We have been born again, and the newly formed new man begins to grow as Christ is being formed in us. Jesus Christ in the flesh was circumcised on the eighth day, symbolizing that our circumcision of heart, the new man coming forth comes on the eighth day.
Luk 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This outward circumcision of the foreskin is only a shadow of the true circumcision that has always been about the inward heart. The true circumcision is having the commandments put into our hearts and obeying the covenant. This is salvation and the true mark of who belongs to the Lord. The true circumcision was always there, just buried in the details of the Old Testament.
Deu 30:5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Deu 30:8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
We are circumcised in Spirit as we hearken unto the commandments of the Lord that have been put into us as the Israel of God.
Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem:
The Lord scourges every son He receives with His grace by way of the living Word, the indwelling commands which are the baptism by fire. This chastening grace turns us from being uncircumcised to circumcised by giving us a completely new heart [Eze 36:26]. The true circumcision takes place as the Spirit of the Lord comes to make His abode in us. This is the power of the Gospel, the living commandments, the Spirit of Christ coming to our inward parts as promised. This is the new covenant of the Gospel.
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
This is the only circumcision that matters and it is in our hearts and is the work of the living and active Word of God that is Jesus Christ. If we are circumcised, we have received the Gospel and Christ, and the living commandments live in our hearts. We are now risen with Christ from the dead, and begin to overcome our sins.
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
This is the Gospel, the good news and the hidden mystery now being revealed to the saints who receive it. Those of the household of faith who believe this Gospel are the true circumcision. Such are also the true Jews, whose hearts are circumcised by the Lord’s Spirit with no outward acts or any works of man required.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
The False Circumcision:
The false circumcision we are warned about are those claiming to be God’s people who have not received this Gospel of the Lord’s commandments. A Jew [professing Christian] who trusts in their spiritual knowledge and/or their own strengths to overcome sins is the modern-day Pharisee or Sadducee we encounter on the journey within and without ourselves. These “Jews” without the Gospel are unbelievers who are the uncircumcised of heart. They do not have the faith of Christ and teach it is by their own works, their studies, and outward good works by which one is circumcised. They trust in their riches, which are rotten. The unbelieving Jews trust in their idols of knowledge and are not willing to come to the commandments [Him] and be saved. They stir up the multitudes against Christ.
Act 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
This was us in our past, spending years studying the Scriptures, being ever learning but never able to come to the commandments that is Him.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
The flesh Jews [Christians] trusting in their knowledge are depicted in the Scripture as being of “the circumcision”. These are hardened of heart, having not the Spirit, and contend most earnestly against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are deceivers of the false circumcision, bringing false Gospels, illustrating why watchmen are needed to guard the true sheep.
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
When the commandments are preached, one can expect the uncircumcised of heart, trusting in their false circumcision of knowledge to contend against the Gospel.
Act 11:2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Act 11:3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
There is an advantage of one coming from this “Jewish” background who brings knowledge gleaned through study into the ministry of the Gospel.
Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
The oracles of God are the mysteries and promises of God contained in the Old Testament Scripture. Salvation comes through the Jews, who are the preachers the Lord first anoints and sends to gather the flocks.
Joh 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is through the Jews.
It is useful for the Lord’s purposes to have some with this knowledge of the “circumcision” background in the Body to minister the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.
1Co 12:4 NLT There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
Having this knowledge of the Scriptures is very helpful, and we see many of Paul’s fellow workers in the ministry of the Gospel are said to be of the circumcision.
Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
This circumcision that represents the knowledge from the Old Testament is not necessary to be saved. Only the inward spiritual circumcision of our heart by the living and indwelling commandments is necessary. Yet the body of Christ needs teachers and ministers who are apt to teach, and thus, the circumcision background is helpful, and it makes the preacher more acceptable in the eyes of the unbelieving Jews. Paul even had the well-respected Timothy circumcised so he could be used more in the ministry. This circumcision was teaching him the knowledge of the law and the prophets for the benefit of administering the Gospel and hopefully winning some Jews to Christ. Timothy, being from a Greek family, did not have his foreskin cut off as Paul knew it was just an outward shadow of the truth.
Act 16:3 NKJV Paul wanted to have him [Timothy] go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
Timothy’s circumcision was his being schooled in the law and the prophets. This was done by the laying on of hands by Paul and the elders who taught Timothy the gift of the deeper things of the Old Testament so he could also teach.
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Paul’s helpers in the ministry of the Gospel included some of the circumcision and also some that were not of the circumcision, such as Titus.
Gal 2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek [Gentile], was compelled to be circumcised:
Scriptures tell us that Peter and Paul generally split their focus, with Peter going to the circumcised [Jews schooled in knowledge] and Paul to the uncircumcised, who are the Gentiles. In preaching the Gospel, winning them to Christ is the only goal. Paul shared how he adapted to his audience and did not use a one-size-fits-all approach. To the Jews, he became a Jew, using his knowledge of the law and the prophets, and even getting involved in some purification rituals [Acts 21] so as not to offend and win some to the Lord. Being a Jew himself, to the Gentiles, without the understanding of Moses and the prophets, Paul took a different approach to win them. We meet those the Lord brings to us at their level and preach the good news of salvation by the living Word of God. The Lord gives the increase to those who believe.
1Co 9:20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
1Co 9:21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
1Co 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Paul’s ministry was primarily to the Gentiles; however, both Jews and Gentiles came to hear Paul, yet few Jews received the Gospel and were converted. The reason is they were already full, rich in knowledge, full of pride, and in need of nothing. Still in our strong delusion, feasting on the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, rather than the commandments, one remains in Spiritual Babylon.
Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
To the circumcised Jews [Christians today], the Gospel of Christ is a stumbling block as they cannot receive the commandments which is eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood. These of the circumcision greatly dispute the Gospel, and so it is today. We best be prepared.
Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Those of the circumcision eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge a long time before the Spirit of the Living Christ, the commandments come before them. Many of the “circumcision of knowledge” vehemently strive against the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it destroys their ministry and pride.
Jesus Christ and His Christ, eat with sinners, harlots, and all who are spiritually hungry who desire to eat with us. We feed them the commandments, that is, the Gospel, which is also the tree of life and the Lord’s supper. We eat this bread of life daily with all who have been called by Christ’s name, be they Jew or Gentile. It does not matter one bit about the knowledge [circumcision].
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Neither the outward physical circumcision of the foreskin being cut or the false inward circumcision of knowledge does anything to change the heart. Only the living commandments believed in one’s heart bring the grace of God that saves. The indwelling living commandments in our hearts is Jesus Christ crucified, the cross/tree and how the new creation is being made. Any other Gospel is a false Gospel. The idol of knowledge makes a good showing in the flesh and avoids the persecution for the Gospel.
Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Gal 6:13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
The blessing of Abraham is the blessing of the Gospel, the same as given to the saints. The faith by which it is imputed unto Abraham and to us as righteousness is the believing in the living commandments of Jesus Christ because He is the Word. The Gospel is the true circumcision of the heart from which the Lord imputes us as being righteous already, even before we do righteousness. The seal of God is the living commandments now in our hearts and the Lord speaks of things that are not as if they already were.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
The living commandments are the stumbling block to the circumcised Jews who trust in their mammon of knowledge instead.
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
The “Jews of the circumcision” make many idols as they indulge in self-glory and contend against those who preach the Gospel of the commandments. They esteem lightly the commandments, and their focus is always on more knowledge. Paul reminded Timothy and reminds us to turn away from such.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power[THE COMMANDMENTS] thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We have many warnings about these “Jews” who are false brethren coming into the assemblies and steering those who began well in the Spirit back under the law [tree of knowledge, law of Gentiles] by which they become bound to the works of their flesh. Those in Christ are not to allow this to happen and give not place to any man to come with these false gospels.
Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Gal 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Hardly a rich man, full of their knowledge, shall enter into the kingdom of God. Those who enter in are the sick, the lame, the poor, the tax collectors, the harlots who need the help to overcome their sins. The standard for righteousness to enter into the kingdom is a lot higher than possessing the knowledge of scribes and Pharisees. One needs Christ and the righteousness the living commandments bring, in their heart.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
We are warned to beware of these Jews whom Paul likened unto dogs. These are spiritual dogs, who tear their spiritual meat being the concision. These are those who eat and drink unworthily of the serpent’s table, having confidence in their flesh and are nothing but well-fed beasts that the Lord rejects. Beware and stay safe.
Php 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the circumcision.
We are not to cast our holy meat of this Gospel before these dogs lest they turn and rend us.
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
The true spiritual Jews, the true circumcision, are those focused on the Gospel and the doing of the Lord’s commandments. Having been redeemed by the Lord’s mercy, we no longer lust after the knowledge but now hearken unto the living commandments. The Lord has forgiven us and has called us into the ministry to preach this Gospel as the true circumcision.
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit [the living commandments], and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
The hour is now as Christ has come to those who believe this Gospel, and the Spirit of the living commandments takes root in them. The true circumcision are also the true worshippers of God; who worship not the man Jesus in the flesh, whom they know no more, but the Holy Commandments of the Father. This is the Gospel we preach to the scattered pilgrims around the world who have Christ’s name upon their foreheads. Some are hearing.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
All the knowledge and studies we gleaned over many years are dung if we do not have these commandments, the very love of God in our hearts. All that matters is a new creation that is winning Christ. This is the prize of the higher calling of God we now press on to receive.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [The Commandments]
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
We are to stand in the freedom of Christ’s perfect law of liberty and not go back to the bondage of knowledge. Once receiving this Gospel, we are warned not to go back and try to be circumcised with the knowledge as the false circumcision teaches. If we do that and leave the commandments and begin eating from the fruit of the tree of knowledge again, Christ profits us nothing.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
The true ones stand firm and eat from the tree of life and refrain from idols and spiritual fornication at the serpent’s tree of knowledge. It does not take much to spoil the food that nourishes us and heals us.
Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Gal 5:7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Gal 5:8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
We are commanded to abide in the same calling wherein we were called to the Gospel. It is simply not necessary for a Gentile to go through all the studying of the law and the prophets to become like a Jew. All that matters now is the keeping of the commandments, which means becoming a doer of the Word, a disciple indeed.
1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised [start chasing knowledge]. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised [chase knowledge].
1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
All Scriptures is Good and Profitable for Us:
One must not twist this message regarding circumcision and the idolatrous pursuit of knowledge from the Scriptures. The Scriptures remain invaluable in equipping us for this race we are running, as Paul wrote Timothy.
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Lord’s commandments and instructions to His people are throughout the Scriptures. It is specifically those commandments that are most profitable for doctrine, correction, and instruction into righteousness. The commandments need to remain the focus, as reminding ourselves of them makes one wise unto salvation. The key is to stay in the middle of the road, on the commandments, and not lose sight of the prize. The road is narrow and if we are not careful, we can fall on the wayside, making an idol out of knowledge. We should never take our eye off the prize of the high calling.
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.