Tag: circumcision

Commandments

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Peter

The Commandments Make Our Hearts Pure

The pure in heart have Christ’s Gospel. That is their doctrine.

Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

To be pure is to be clean; the Greek or Hebrew words are translated as either word in the Scriptures. Cleanliness is godliness

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

What makes us clean or pure is not in doubt. It is the Word, it is the Commandments.

Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

The Commandments, the Gospel, is what makes us clean; it is what washes us when our eyes are being opened to see them.

Mat 8:2  And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mat 8:3  And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

The Lord’s people are cleansed, made pure by the work of the Commandments that we hold dear.

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 

God is Spirit, and His Word is the Living Commandments, which are likened unto a river of pure water that brings eternal life and holiness. The language of God is pure.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Pro 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Zep 3:9  For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. 

It is through blood, symbolizing dying to the flesh that is submitting to the Commandments that we are purified. This is how the gold in our temple is made pure by the many trials and tribulations we endure.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

The pure in heart is what God wants, as that ensures the outside is also clean. Feigning godliness, we all first despise the Commandments in our hearts until the Lord has mercy upon us and grants us a change of heart.

Mat 23:25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Mat 23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Only the Lord, who is the Living Commandments, makes us clean on the inside, and that works its way to the outside.

Mar 1:40  And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mar 1:41  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

When our hearts are pure, meaning we esteem and desire to obey the Lord in all things, we have received the Gospel. We henceforth only need to wash our feet. This refers to cleaning up our deeds and actions every day, bringing them in line with the faith of Christ that lives within us.

Joh 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

When we strive to obey the Commandments, we are being saved from our sins and the Lord is purifying us, making us holy, a special people set apart for His purposes.

1Ti 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

The pure of heart are blessed of God as He continually rewards those who seek His ways with more overcoming, and our hearts are being changed.

Eze 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Eze 11:20  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

It is the Lord, the Commandments, that remake our hearts and it is done by the hand of God, through the power of the Living Word. No flesh is involved.

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: 

Here is a link that takes you to the latest Menu of the Commandment Short Series:  COMMANDMENT SHORTS MAIN PAGE

Letters

The Jerusalem Council and the Four Instructions

Peter

Acts 15 – The Apostles’ Letter  

As the Gospel spread in the early church [and we are early in the spread of the Gospel in our generation], there arose much disputing regarding the topic of circumcision and specifically whether or not the Gentiles were required to be circumcised.  This council of the Apostles and the resulting letter are important parables that contain instructions for all of us, both Jew and Gentile, who have Christ.  Understanding these instructions, which are commandments, confirms the Scriptures and guides our walk in the truth.

Joh 4:24  God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. 

The snare of seeking knowledge that is covetousness is far greater than we first understood.  This Gospel of the commandments is despised by the carnally minded who rather seek to make a name for themselves and bring glory to themselves, having many possessions.  Seeking riches apart from the true gold of the Lord is one of our most frequent warnings, as the snare is so alluring to all flesh.  We are admonished not to seek those riches in the parable of the rich young ruler and have a score of warnings about false teachers, antichrists, and even in the pronouncement of woes to the Pharisees and lawyers.  Knowledge gives power to and exalts the flesh.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments

Arguing over circumcision and uncircumcision [not the foreskin cutting but the need for the knowledge] is a hotly debated topic among the Apostles of Jesus Christ in every generation.  These debates shown to us in the Scriptures are words we also live by in our appointed time.    Paul preached the Gospel, meaning the commandments, and put the focus on being a new creation in everything he did.  Yet those who had come to Christ after searching the Scriptures for many years, symbolizing the Jews, disputed with him about the importance and need for the circumcision of knowledge.

Act 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.

Act 15:2  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.

These Scriptures here in the Acts of the Apostles are here to remind us that we experience the same as a time comes when we are confronted for preaching the Gospel by those teaching the circumcision of knowledge.  It is written in our book to fulfill this, so we best be prepared.

Paul and Barnabas work their way back to Jerusalem to confer with the other Apostles.  The sway of the circumcision done by man’s knowledge is so strong that even some Pharisees who believed confronted the Apostles on this falsehood.  Thus, the council of Acts 15 was initiated with much dissension.

Act 15:5  But 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.

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

There are benefits to possessing the knowledge of the circumcision done by the hands of men, as was discussed in the last letter.  It can be useful for the ministry of the Gospel, especially in reaching other Jews with a similar background in the Old Testament Scriptures.  Yet as we have learned, all that we studied over many years did nothing to change our hearts; we were still beasts at heart without overcoming.  Just the outside of the cup was a little cleaner than the heathens in this world.

Why would a Gentile convert who now believes in the living commandments and the real power unto salvation be put under the same yoke we once laboured?  Why not just teach them to obey the commandments that now live in their hearts?  The answer is clear, and there is no room for debate.

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.

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

After much disputing, Peter rose and spoke the truth.

Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. [the indwelling commandments]

Nothing is to be added to or taken away from the commandments. Just doing them is how one is saved from their sins, and this is not works; this is the power of God working inside us unto salvation. A works-based salvation is doing it the Moses way, and getting circumcised with all the knowledge and thinking that makes us holy. Christ, the living Word of commandments, is the only way, the truth, and the life.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father [the holy commandments], but by me.

Entering into the commandments is entering into Christ, which is the rest that remains to be found for the people of God.  There is no yoke or anything else required.

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Salvation comes as our hearts are being made new by the grace of God that is correcting us by the indwelling Spirit of the living commandments.  Our days of eating and drinking and getting drunk on knowledge served their purposes for those of us who are spiritual Jews.  Yet this work to try to circumcise ourselves by our own hands is not necessary for the Gentiles to be saved.  All that matters is a new creation.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

New hearts are being established not with the meat of knowledge but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, working mightily in the Temple of God.  We now eat Christ’s body and drink of His blood by the daily communion and intimacy of the indwelling commandments.

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.

Many “Jews” remain outside the true faith, doing many sacrifices, serving the tabernacle, but they cannot enter and eat at the altar where those in the Spirit of Christ dwell and eat.  Those outside the living commandments chase more knowledge and are ever learning but are not able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

After Peter spoke, the Apostle James spoke, showing how the Scriptures foretell this new understanding that the circumcision of knowledge by learning Moses and the law was not required.  James was the first to suggest the four instructions that should be given to the Gentiles.

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Act 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

This pleased the Apostles, and all agreed to send men to preach the Gospel and provide a letter proving that the issue of this circumcision was now settled.  The letter gives instructions regarding abstaining from four necessary actions which defile our walk and leaven our spiritual food [the commands] in Christ.  These four abstentions are the whole of our instructions on how we walk out the Gospel and eat the Lord’s Supper.  Here is the letter released to the church, and the instructions for believers today.

Act 15:23  The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,  and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

This council and the resulting letter are a parable of instructions on righteousness in a hidden tongue.  None of them are literal actions, and none of them are new commandments that we do not already know.  Yet seeing them again in the light of these simple instructions should solidify one’s faith to know they are the blessed of God.

These four instructions are the whole of our instructions.  What they say in a parable is that we are to obey ALL of the Commandments.  Our instructions on walking by faith are not complicated.  How we walk and how we eat in the Kingdom of God is to DO the Commandments.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

The Apostle’s instructions say nothing about physically eating or drinking, as these phrases and the instructions are parables of what and how we are to think and act.   We need to keep ourselves set apart and clean from the ways of the world and examine our ways to ensure we do not stray off the highway of holiness.  Many stumble, not taking heed of these instructions, and as a result, bring damnation to themselves, becoming spiritually sick, and some even die.

1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Abstaining from meats offered to idols: There is only one true God, the Lord, and His Father.  Meat is our spiritual sustenance, our thought life, said another way.  We are commanded to abstain from eating meat offered to idols.   Pursuing the lust of riches, be it physical or spiritual knowledge, we pollute ourselves and create idols that compete for our affection, which is to be solely on the Lord’s commandments.  This covetousness is idolatry.

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Engaging in worldly conversation and activities is vanity and can easily tempt us to sin, speak evil of others, and judge according to the flesh.  What we say and how we say it are very important, as we do not want to fall into temptation or tempt others with our speech.  We are to take our eating of the Lord’s supper and the Holy Commandments very seriously.  Being slothful and undisciplined turns us into idolaters and makes light of the serious things of God.

1Co 10:7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Partaking of this “meat” is engaging in carnal dialogue and is eating meat offered to idols. A great example in play in the world today is the snare and pollution of political conversation.  We cannot avoid this altogether lest we be taken out of this world [1Co 5:10], yet if we find ourselves in such a “meat market”, we are to ask no questions and just listen.

1Co 10:25  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

1Co 10:26  For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

1Co 10:27  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 

Doing this is very hard, but it is possible with God.  Our calling is very high, and the Lord is truly separating a remnant unto himself, being holy and without blame.  The carnally minded world is always going to seek to engage us and thereby tempt us by asking us to eat their sacrifices unto their idols.  Christ showed us the way and answered not when the Pharisees tempted Him.

Mat 27:12  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Joh 8:6  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

Abstaining from blood:  We do not eat the Word of God where there is still life in it.  Blood sustains life in a flesh body, and we are only to eat what is dead.  We sin when we take into our hearts [eat] anything that is not dead, meaning it still has blood, the life force in it.  This has always been the Lord’s command, as we see in the first covenant made with Noah after the great flood.  If we eat blood, we are abiding in spiritual death [carnal mindedness] and are cut off from the living.

Gen 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Gen 9:4  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Gen 9:5  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 

Spiritually speaking this is engaging in carnal reasoning, judging in the flesh and not resting solely on the commandments.  This keeps the old man alive who is dead while he lives. That life must be lost, poured out on the earth to become acceptable to God.

Lev 17:14  For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

The accusing and excusing mindset of the carnal mind [serpent’s mind] is how we kill ourselves and our brothers in Spirit and eat blood.  This is the merchandising of Babylon, trading in the souls of men [Eze 28:16] as the corrupt cherub.

We are to give our brethren the commandments to eat and just do them, which is the love of God.  We are to do no violence. Violence in the Spirit is engaging under the accusing and excusing law for the lawless, which is the carnal mind and the bread of the devil.  Abstaining from blood is how we partake of the Lord’s supper and walk being led by the living bread of life, the holy commandments.

Deu 12:16  Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

Deu 12:27  And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.

We are the soldiers in Christ’s army, and are commanded to do no violence, nor falsely accuse, both of which are eating blood.  Carnal thoughts, accuse/excuse, up and down, running to and fro on the earth is doing violence to the Word of God we eat.  We are to take all such thoughts captive to the obedience of the commandments and rest from these carnal labours.  Standing on the simplicity of the commands is doing no violence.

Luk 3:14  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages [the living commandments in our heart].

Christ showed us the way we are to follow.  He made His grave with the wicked, meaning He laid his life down and did not contend with them in carnal arguments and reasonings.  He did NO violence, and NO deceit was found in His mouth.

Isa 53:9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

We can judge the fruit but not the man, or else we are false accusers, which is eating blood.  Christ and His Christ come to save the world, not to judge the world.  The world judges in the flesh, we are to be judging righteous judgment, which is abstaining from eating blood.

Joh 8:15  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Before Christ comes to us and the living commandments take root in our heart, all try to enter the kingdom of heaven by engaging in this violence [accuse/excuse] that is eating of blood in Spirit.

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

This is incredibly difficult to do and we can only do it with the power of God, the Gospel leading us into all righteousness.  When we pervert the Gospel to take away the suffering required to abstain from all of the world’s carnality and foolish talking, we are eating with blood and not judging righteously.  As living sacrifices unto the Lord, we are to reckon ourselves already dead as we ONLY eat the body of Christ, which is the commandments dwelling in our heart.  Anything still alive is eating blood.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ the living commandments take root in our hearts by the power of His Spirit, then violence is no more heard in our land but only salvation.  Christ the power of the Gospel is come!.

Isa 60:18  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

Abstaining from strangled meat: The meat of the Word is Jesus Christ and Him within us crucified.  This is the only meat we are to eat.  The meat of Jesus Christ is to do the commandments.  That is what having the faith of Christ means.  We know not of this meat until the Spirit comes to us and makes its abode with us.

Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Strangled meat is suffocated meat, meaning there was no shedding of blood in the killing of the sacrifice.  Such spiritual meat is defiled as it means there is no cross, no suffering, representing another false Gospel.  Eating this kind of meat does not take away our sins, and there is no overcoming.

Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement [forgiveness] for the soul.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Strangled meat is killed by choking the air out of the animal.  In the spiritual realm, this is choking out the Spirit of Christ from the meat.  The result is that we are turned over to the lust of the flesh without the power of the living Spirit of commandments to keep us on the straight path.  This meat turns the grace of God into lasciviousness.  Many meat peddlers sell this meat to those who fail to examine the food they eat in their heaven.   We are to beware and abstain from partaking with them.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Without the shedding of blood and by choking out the Spirit from our sacrifice, there is no nutritional value from eating this meat, and it defiles us before the Lord.  It is not an acceptable sacrifice; it is the way of the world.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The meat that those in the Gospel eat requires that the blood be poured out on the altar of God in our hearts.  This is the suffering, the loss, the laying down of our lives.  We eat Christ’s body and not strangled meat.

1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Abstain from fornication:  Spiritual fornication is where we meditate on carnal thoughts and are led astray by such reasonings and justifications of the serpent’s carnal mind.  We are to take all thoughts captive to the obedience of the living commandments to avoid fornication.   We saw in our study of Phinehas that the fornication of Israel with the Midianite women resulted in a plague on Israel, and many died.  The Lord is a jealous God.

1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

We live in a carnal world, full of spiritual fornication. We have to fight the fight of faith and immediately shut down the fornicating speech that comes out of our mouth or into our minds.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We need to be careful about how we eat the Lord’s supper.  It is necessary, as the Apostle’s letter establishes, that we abstain from fornication.  It is a grievous sin for us to keep out of the Lord’s temple and in our communion with one another.  We cannot be joined to a harlot and claim to be one with the Lord.  We sin against our own Body [within and without] when we commit fornication.

1Co 6:15  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1Co 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

We are to separate from fornicators that sleep with the wife of the devil [father’s wife], as we see in 1 Corinthians 5.  Godly love is withdrawing from all that fail to abstain from these four necessary things until and unless the Lord grants them repentance.  Living in the world, we cannot completely avoid keeping company with those who practice these things.  However, we are commanded not to share our spiritual food with them.

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

A little leaven does leaven the whole lump.  We cannot be intimate with our Lord, His Word, His commandments, or with His Christ while we are fornicating or eating with those who do.  If we belong to Christ, He owns us as we have been redeemed for a price.  We are to glorify Him in all our thoughts and behavior.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The Apostle’s letter agrees with all the instructions given throughout their epistles.  The focus of one’s thoughts and speech is always on the commandments, that is, the doctrine of Christ.  The Lord’s will is our sanctification by His Body and Blood.  This is only done by way of the living commandments dwelling in us as we become a living sacrifice, He in us and we in Him.  Nothing else is to be added or taken away.  Our meat and drink is the pure and undefiled holy commandments of the Father now given to us in power.

We are to take heed to these instructions.  Those in the Spirit are being taught of God to abstain from these fleshly and worldly lusts.  Obeying the commandments is to abstain from 1) idols, 2) fornication, 3) blood, and 4) strangled meat, and it is by our obedience that we are making our calling and election sure.

1Th 4:2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Let us obey the Lord and only eat and partake of those things which are clean.  What we put into our hearts and minds comes back out and defiles a man.  May His will be done in our lives.

A subsequent article was written that spoke in more depth to the Commandments regarding eating meat that is sacrificed or offered unto idols.  That post is here: Eating Meat Sacrificed Unto Idols

Letters

The True and False Circumcision

Peter

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.