07/05/21 LINEAGE DOES NOT SAVE ANYONE

07/05/21 LINEAGE DOES NOT SAVE ANYONE

In Romans, Paul addressed salvation from the Jewish and Gentile perspectives, since the local church in Rome was made up of Jews (the earliest part of the new Christian faith) and Gentiles (since Rome was the foundation of the Empire). He addressed the principles of Divine faith in the Old Testament and in the Church; he addressed the meaning of circumcision, as seen by the Jews and the spiritual application beyond the Jewish experience; he explained deliverance from sin (as actions and as a state of being, in terms that the Jews and the Gentiles would understand.

In the Old Testament, circumcision was a God directed rite of passage and a sign of ownership. God owned Israel; they were His people. In the gospel understanding, circumcision referred to the cutting off of the flesh (the carnal mind) from the heart (the inner man) representing a total dedication to God, since He is our Master, our Lord, our God.

Not only does God forgive us and cleanse us from our sins, which we have committed, God also purifies us from the Law Of Sin aka The Old Man which resides within us from conception, since it is the likeness of Adam, passed on to all of his children. Remember, King David wrote that a person must have "clean hands and a pure heart" to approach the King of Glory. Likewise the New Testament tells us that we should cleanse our hands and purify our hearts if we are going to draw close to God.

Paul uses other Jewish and Gentile imagery with the Roman Christians, explaining forgiveness, regeneration, justification, deliverance from inherent evil and living the victorious spiritual life. But let me share a few thoughts about the relationship of faith, justification, circumcision and obeying God's commands.

Jesus tied the Shema, One God and the command to love God with the whole heart, mind, soul and body (Deuteronomy6:4-5) with the New Testament view of God's nature, moral uprightness, perfect love, which is the way and the proof of a trusting and obedient heart.

See how Paul weaves Christian truth with the rite and the sign of circumcision.

The One True God of the Bible justifies Jews and Gentiles, not through signs, but through faith. There is no difference in Jew or Gentile.

Romans 3:30
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Paul ties the sign, the symbolism of circumcision with a heart and life committed to obeying God's commandments, which is possible for Jew and Gentile alike, as we yield to and trust Christ. Paul makes it clear that true faith is obedient to the commands of God.

1 Corinthians 7:19
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

No one finds a right relationship with God by either Jewish observance of circumcision or Gentile uncircumcision, but rather through faith. Paul also taught that we are saved BY grace, THROUGH faith, for the PURPOSE of DOING good works.

Galatians 5:6
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Neither Jews not Gentiles have access to heaven because of their lineage, nor is anyone kept out of heaven because of their lineage, but all who are born again, all who are new creations in Christ have eternal life.

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