True Circumcision

In Romans Chapter 2, Paul reveals the fact that the Law cannot be satisfied by the outward fleshly circumcision:

28 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.

29 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 God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.  (YLT)

The inward circumcision of removing the “flesh” from the heart is done by HIS Spirit.  Once you have had a change of heart, you begin to obey the “spirit” of the Law, not just the letter or legal aspect of the Law.  The “spirit” of the Law is the Divine Intent behind the Law, which is Love.  We have looked at the Law as a bunch of don’ts in the past.  If we change our perspective, understanding that each Law is for our benefit and given from a standpoint of HIS Divine Intent of Love, I believe we will be given a greater revelation of why HE included those 613 commandments and statutes to live by.

Paul further states that by the works of the Law, none are justified.  What purpose does the Law fulfill today?  It is a Standard that reveals the knowledge of sin:

Romans 3:20  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.  (NASB)

So, does the Law still have a purpose today?  Yes, it reveals sin, the carnal nature of the old man.  Without the Law, by what standard would we be able to identify sin?

Does the Law produce righteousness?  No.  The works of the Law cannot justify you in HIS Sight.  Only by an inward circumcision can one be justified.  It must be a circumcised heart of Love.  Our Heavenly Father provided the “Way” to justification, HIS Most Holy Son:

3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.

3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  (YLT)

What is HIS Glorious Standard?  The Law.

3:24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Paul later states the relevance of the Law:

3:31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Being led by The Spirit provides us the ability to fulfill the Law.  We are freed from the penalties of the Law when we by faith receive Jesus Christ and then receive HIS Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost.  Pentecost was first occurred at Mt. Sinai where the “giving” of the Law occurred.  The number 50 means Jubilee:

Leviticus 25:10  ‘And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.

The ultimate goal of Pentecost is to free you from your debts and receive your inheritance, your jubilee.  The Law established the Standard by which debt is reckoned.  On the Day of Pentecost, the means by which we are able to achieve our jubilee was provided:

John 16:

5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Feast of Pentecost is to honor the revealing of the plan to bring us to maturity as sons.  It provided us the Law as a Standard, and the Holy Spirit Who guides us into all Truth thus allowing us to fulfill HIS Divine Intent, thus fulfilling the Law.  Isn’t this why we should celebrate and reverently honor such a magnificent plan?

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