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

This morning, we live in a world that believes "image is everything." The people on the television who are admired so much all wear some kind of apparel that shows off things that the world holds dear. Many of them even ardently declare what prominent clothing they are wearing, so that we can "look and be as good and cool as they are." However, we must not glory in our outward image. In the verse preceding this one, Paul wanted to glory in nothing but His Precious Redeemer that gave His life for us. He offered Himself without spot to God, and therefore, there is nothing else in this world even close to comparable to that event in the magnitude of humility and love.

Paul many times during his ministry had to address the question of outward circumcision of the flesh due to the Jewish influence still present. The first matter the church met to discuss was whether Gentiles by nature need to be circumcised by nature to be saved. The answer then is the same today. Nothing but the grace of God will ever be acceptable whether one is a Jew, Gentile, bond, or free. Therefore, if we only glory in our Lord and our outward circumcision is not important, what is the important thing? The new creature should avail in our lives to have a profitable result.  

The Lord gives us the new creature (new man) when He calls us out of nature's darkness into His marvellous light and circumcises us inwardly. When He vitally places us in His family, that creature is forever with us, and He continuously gives glory to God (even though housed within the body of this death). Until the release of death, He stays within the shroud of this old clod. Paul declared that there was nothing good IN his flesh. But, WITHIN his flesh there exists something completely righteous. This mind serves the law of the Lord. This new man is our treasure in earthen vessels that makes us feel condemnation for wrongdoing. This is the importance, whether one undergoes natural circumcision or not is irrelevant in the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.  

People always seek to substitute the shadow for the substance and the sizzle for the steak. If I hear a grill sizzling, my appetite increases. But, I do not eat the grill. I eat the steak that comes off the grill. Likewise, when one is baptized, believes in their Lord, or professes a love for Jesus Christ, this should be evidence of the steak that is on the grill (figuratively speaking). However, they are not the meat. The Lord puts the meat there. He gives us our natural food and blessings, therefore it should be no great surprise that He gives us our spiritual food and blessings as well.

In Hope,

Bro Philip