Paul further proves he did not remain Torah observant when he teaches in 1Cor 7 that “each person should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him."
This is something Paul demands of all the churches.
1Cor 7:18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called?
He should not become uncircumcised.
Was a man still uncircumcised when called?
He should not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.
Keeping the commandments of God is what counts.
20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
NOTE Paul clearly says that a man who is not circumcised, i.e., a Gentile, should not be circumcised!
So for Paul circumcision is no longer part of the commandments of God.
This is similar to Paul saying in 1Cor 9:21 that the Law of God now = the Law of Messiah; which is not the Law of Moses!
In Gal 5:2-6 Paul reiterates the point, this time with a staunch warning!
NOTE how Paul here has reversed the circumcision commandment given to Abram in Gen 17 where God had commanded all males wanting to partake of His land promise to be circumcised.
“If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
But Paul now says in Gal 5:4 if you get circumcised, according to the Law of Moses, you will sever or cut yourself off from Christ; i.e., you have fallen away from grace.
This is why Paul goes on to ask in Gal 5.11:
“If I were still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?”
As the NET Bible puts it.
“That is, if Paul still teaches observance of the Mosaic law (preaches circumcision), why is he still being persecuted by his opponents?”
NOTE these are serious salvation issues and not just, as my opponent wrongly believes, something to be observed because you love and obey God!
After all, loving and obeying God and His Son are for salvation, according to verses like Heb 5.9.
The reason Paul focused so many of his letters on circumcision is that he knew for the Torah observant Jew circumcision = keeping the Law of Moses.
In other words, circumcision was the gateway to Torah observance.
That's why some Christian believers from the party of the Pharisees demanded from the Jerusalem church that “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5)
It was clear to all of them, as it should be to us, that Torah observance had at its center the Jewish covenant responsiblity and commandment of circumcision, i.e., the sign of God's original covenant promise with Abraham, Gen 17.11.
Hence, the letter to the Gentile churches opens with the following words:
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements." Acts 15.28NLT
NOTE the letter does not say:
‘Later, we will further burden you with the whole Law of Moses and circumcision.’
Paul was right to say "imitate me as I imitate Messiah" (1Cor 11.1) because Jesus himself practiced what he preached, his own NC law and not the OC Law of Moses!
Hence, Jesus is called the mediator of a new covenant (Heb 9.15; 12.24) and his followers, like the Apostle Paul, ministers of that same new covenant!
2Cor 3:6-16
This is something Paul demands of all the churches.
1Cor 7:18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called?
He should not become uncircumcised.
Was a man still uncircumcised when called?
He should not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.
Keeping the commandments of God is what counts.
20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
NOTE Paul clearly says that a man who is not circumcised, i.e., a Gentile, should not be circumcised!
So for Paul circumcision is no longer part of the commandments of God.
This is similar to Paul saying in 1Cor 9:21 that the Law of God now = the Law of Messiah; which is not the Law of Moses!
In Gal 5:2-6 Paul reiterates the point, this time with a staunch warning!
NOTE how Paul here has reversed the circumcision commandment given to Abram in Gen 17 where God had commanded all males wanting to partake of His land promise to be circumcised.
“If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
But Paul now says in Gal 5:4 if you get circumcised, according to the Law of Moses, you will sever or cut yourself off from Christ; i.e., you have fallen away from grace.
This is why Paul goes on to ask in Gal 5.11:
“If I were still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?”
As the NET Bible puts it.
“That is, if Paul still teaches observance of the Mosaic law (preaches circumcision), why is he still being persecuted by his opponents?”
NOTE these are serious salvation issues and not just, as my opponent wrongly believes, something to be observed because you love and obey God!
After all, loving and obeying God and His Son are for salvation, according to verses like Heb 5.9.
The reason Paul focused so many of his letters on circumcision is that he knew for the Torah observant Jew circumcision = keeping the Law of Moses.
In other words, circumcision was the gateway to Torah observance.
That's why some Christian believers from the party of the Pharisees demanded from the Jerusalem church that “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5)
It was clear to all of them, as it should be to us, that Torah observance had at its center the Jewish covenant responsiblity and commandment of circumcision, i.e., the sign of God's original covenant promise with Abraham, Gen 17.11.
Hence, the letter to the Gentile churches opens with the following words:
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements." Acts 15.28NLT
NOTE the letter does not say:
‘Later, we will further burden you with the whole Law of Moses and circumcision.’
Paul was right to say "imitate me as I imitate Messiah" (1Cor 11.1) because Jesus himself practiced what he preached, his own NC law and not the OC Law of Moses!
Hence, Jesus is called the mediator of a new covenant (Heb 9.15; 12.24) and his followers, like the Apostle Paul, ministers of that same new covenant!
2Cor 3:6-16
