REAL CIRCUMCISION Devotion 15 of 39 Just as the Jews, under the First Covenant, were prone to trust in ordinances, particularly circumcision, so those in Christ can be tempted to trust in the ordinances delivered to them. The Jews, you may recall, made an idol out of the brazen serpent, even burning incense to it (2 Kings 18:4). The brazen serpent was given by God, and was the means through which healing was brought to snake-bitten disobedient Israelites. Yet, it was never intended to take the place of God. So it is with blessed ordinances that have been given through Christ to us. They are from God, and are not to be despised or rejected. Yet, they are not intended to take the place of the Lord Himself, or become the objects of confidence. BAPTISM INTO CHRIST Our baptism into Christ is one of the great occasions of life. It is the point at which we are identified with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Rom 6:3-6). This is the one thing Peter "commanded" the household of Cornelius to do (Acts 10:48). There is never a question about the necessity or benefits of baptism in Scripture. Like Jewish circumcision, it is, of itself, always viewed in a favorable manner. PARTAKING OF THE LORD'S SUPPER Here is another ordinance put into place by the Lord Jesus Himself. Like baptism, it relates to His vicarious death, and is to be held in the highest regard. Jesus said, "DO this in remembrance of me" (Lk 22:19). "ALL" of His disciples are to partake of it (Matt 26:27). His disciples are to examine themselves and "eat of that bread, and drink of that cup" (1 Cor 11:28). This is not, therefore, an ordinance to be trifled with, as though it were inconsequential. ASSEMBLING TOGETHER Early in the history of the church, people began to develop a "manner" of forsaking the assembling of the saints. Thus the admonition is given, "NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:25). Assemblies should increase, and the exhortations to not forsake them, "so much more," as we see the day approaching. "The day" has been viewed in a variety of ways, and all of them have some merit. Among them is the day our Lord returns, the time of judgment upon Jerusalem, the day of judgment, and the first day of the week itself. However you may choose to view it, gathering together is not to be despised. – Tomorrow:
"For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Rom 2:25-29, NKJV)
However, our baptism is neither the objective or foundation of our faith. As indispensable as it is, it cannot make up for a lack of faith. The commandment is, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Unless it is coupled with faith, baptism brings no advantage whatsoever to the individual.
Let it be clear, God does not, nor do we, recognize any individual who refuses to be baptized. If the Pharisees were judged for not submitting to John's baptism (Lk 7:30), what can be said of those who do not submit to baptism ordained by Jesus (Mk 16:15-16; Matt 28:18-19)? But woe be to the person who trusts in his baptism rather than in the Christ into whom he was baptized! Baptism is the means, not the objective, even as with all other acts of obedience. It is not to be despised, nor is it to be vaunted to the most prominent place.
The Corinthian's failure to properly partake of this supper led to the visitation of Divine judgment upon them (1 Cor 11:27-31).
But let no person imagine that eating at the Lord's Table exempts one from the necessity of having the righteousness of God. There is no magic in this table which allows corruption to remain in the hearts of those partaking of it. A church that faithfully partakes of this table is not necessarily commended of God, as seen in the case of Corinth. Nor, indeed, is it to be treated as though it could be forgotten or approached with casualness. Participation in it, however, is not to be the source of our confidence. If Jesus is not in our minds when we eat at this table, we "eat and drink judgment" to ourselves (1 Cor 11:27-29). If we refuse to eat at this table we have disobeyed the King and revealed the wickedness of our hearts.
However, if men rely upon the attendance of the assembly to take the place of personal righteousness, they have sinned, just as surely as those who relied upon circumcision. There is nothing about the assembly of the righteous that compensates for a lack of faith, or a failure to appropriate the righteousness of God.
None of this diminishes the importance of these ordinances any more than our text lessened the place of circumcision under the Old Covenant. Under the Law, it was not possible to have a more significant seal in the flesh than circumcision. It was so vital that those accepted by God were called "the circumcision," and those who were not were called "the uncircumcision" (Rom 3:30; 4:9; 15:8; Eph 2:11).
But when it comes to the matter of ultimate Divine acceptance, "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God" (1 Cor 7:19). At some point, the individual must be brought into harmony with the Law of God, not being at variance with it. As it is written, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom 8:3-4). This occurs when men are given the righteousness of God. We will now see that this is directly related to being born again, or receiving a new nature. The argument is weighty, showing that a person's nature, or character, is the real point with God.
That takes precedence over the "sign" of the covenant, although it does not obviate the "sign" or "seal" of any given covenant. The possession of righteousness is the fundamental thing. Without it, nothing else is of value.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for the gift of faith that validates my obedience, gives meaning to your ordinances, and makes me acceptable in Your sight.