FRIDAY September 20, 2024
Rejoice in Jesus Christ
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh....
Philippians 3:2-3
Paul gave a stern warning. What was he warning the Philippians about? They had to pay attention, as three times he told them to beware. He warned them against Judaizers who were trying to seduce Gentiles into following the Law––especially the Law of Circumcision. You see, in order to be a legitimate Jew, a male child was circumcised on the eighth day. If a person wanted to become a Jew––a proselyte ––as an adult, they had to become circumcised.
Paul instructed that you did not have to go through the Law of Circumcision, become a true Jew. It was by having a new heart––circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit... (Romans 2:29). This happens through being born again of the Holy Spirit, as we come to Christ by faith. Although Paul was addressing Jews in Romans 2:28-29 NLT, what he states gives clear understanding to the issue at hand:
For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people (Romans 2:28-29 NLT).
When anyone comes to Christ and has become born again of the Spirit of God, they become a spiritual Jew. This is why we can rejoice in Jesus Christ.
Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.”
~Romans 9:25 NLT~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
