For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything and has no spiritual value in itself. Neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised gives a person standing or advantage with God beside the gospel of Christ. What avails and matters is becoming a new creature, a new creation, in Christ Jesus.
This new creation comes through Christ by God's saving grace and converting power. It is joined to being sanctified through the truth. This is what is expected of all who accept the truth and is especially needed in the lives of those serving in God's institutions. To become a new creature is to become a loyal subject of God's everlasting kingdom.
The heart and righteous life show the merits of Christ's grace, and Abraham's true children are therefore known not merely by physical descent but by such hearts and lives. The ransom paid by Christ is sufficient for the salvation of all men, but it avails only for those who become new creatures in Christ. Christ's suffering will not shield the unrepenting, disloyal sinner from punishment.
Timothy was circumcised to remove an obstacle and barrier to Paul's work and preaching among the Jews, not because God required it. Paul would accommodate Jewish prejudice when doing so was consistent with faith, without changing his teaching that the gospel of Christ is what matters above the rite. Circumcision must not be made a condition for Gentiles to enter the church or to share in Christ's salvation. Observing the ceremonial law does not make anyone closer to God than one who does not observe it, for Christ's work embraces the whole world, not the Hebrews alone.
In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything and has no spiritual value in itself. Neither being circumcised nor being uncircumcised gives a person standing or advantage with God beside the gospel of Christ. What avails and matters is becoming a new creature, a new creation, in Christ Jesus.
This new creation comes through Christ by God's saving grace and converting power. It is joined to being sanctified through the truth. This is what is expected of all who accept the truth and is especially needed in the lives of those serving in God's institutions. To become a new creature is to become a loyal subject of God's everlasting kingdom.
The heart and righteous life show the merits of Christ's grace, and Abraham's true children are therefore known not merely by physical descent but by such hearts and lives. The ransom paid by Christ is sufficient for the salvation of all men, but it avails only for those who become new creatures in Christ. Christ's suffering will not shield the unrepenting, disloyal sinner from punishment.
Timothy was circumcised to remove an obstacle and barrier to Paul's work and preaching among the Jews, not because God required it. Paul would accommodate Jewish prejudice when doing so was consistent with faith, without changing his teaching that the gospel of Christ is what matters above the rite. Circumcision must not be made a condition for Gentiles to enter the church or to share in Christ's salvation. Observing the ceremonial law does not make anyone closer to God than one who does not observe it, for Christ's work embraces the whole world, not the Hebrews alone.