Circumcision? Fill in the Blank...Galatians 5 Experiment

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

This passage in Galatians is one of my favorites. It comes packaged in a wonderful context. Paul is pleading with the new believers to not let the religious pull them back into a wrong way of thinking and acting. Paul's aim is to keep them from falling away from God's grace. He charges them with "make sure you stay free," making it clear that 

1. there is a real danger coming from the religious, who in this case "infiltrated" their ranks to "spy on the freedom we have in Christ and make us slaves" (Gal. 2:4).
2. it is every believer's job to work at not falling back into works.

Here's a little fill-in-the-blank exercise. Look at where the word "circumcision" and "circumcised" appear in the above passage. Read it carefully. Then, read it again and replace "circumcision" and "circumcised" with the following words or phrases: 

• "good works" and "a good person"
• "studying your Bible" and "a diligent Bible student"
• "spiritual gifts" and "a spirit-filled, power house"
• "being in the right church" and "in the right church"
• "church leadership" and "favored by your church's leadership"
• "having a perfect family" and "perfect parent"
• [add your own here]

For example: If you are counting on being in the right church to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. 

The danger coming from the religious still exists today. I once heard of a pastor who taught (from this passage, I assume) in his church that the members should NOT circumcise. I think he missed the point. In verse 6 Paul puts it plainly: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value." The point is don't do ANYTHING that would make you a (spiritual) slave again to "the law." The law is represented here as anything that takes the place of righteousness coming through Christ and Christ alone. We died to the law so that we might belong to God in a more perfect way and that we might bear fruit (Rom 7:4). It is "in Christ Jesus" that we are made right with God and set free from the righteousness that comes from the law. So you could even reword verse two this way, 

"Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves [BE CONVINCED NOT TO] be circumcised [IN ORDER TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD], Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Sorry, but I really think that Pastor missed it, and likely confused the spiritual snot out of his church! 

So what should we do if we find in our hearts that we are in some way replacing righteousness that comes from being in Christ with some form of work or right thinking outside of Christ? 

• Stop listening to that voice in your head telling you you're not good enough. 

Stop thinking this way and stop living this way. If you think you are not good enough and that you must do something MORE before you can have God's grace through Christ then that thought is NOT from God. It makes no sense when we read the scriptures. Nor does it make sense if we listen to the Spirit in our hearts. There is nothing we can DO to earn salvation. It's GRACE by which we are saved, through faith. 

• Stop listening to those who teach or promote, either directly or indirectly, a works-based righteousness. OR... study the scriptures for yourself and challenge him or her.

I've seen and known many a teacher who promoted a works-based gospel after proof-texting one or two scriptures in the Bible. But read the WHOLE Bible. The  whole plan of God is found wrapped up in the actions of Christ. The Gospel is God-centered. Not man-centered. 

Think about this. What if a person were to find himself stranded on an island with no knowledge of "Christianity" as we know it but then found a Bible in a coconut tree? (Hey, you can do whatever you want with hypotheticals!) Then the began to read it. Do you really think they would come away with "I must earn my salvation"???? 

No way!

Here's the bottom line, one which I think Paul is getting at: We work for God as a RESULT of knowing He who died for us and that He made us right with Himself by His own blood. The more we know and love HIM the more we produce fruit for Him. And never along the way do we get the glory, because it's all to Him who died for me. 

One last thought: If you are wondering if your church or your pastor teaches a works-based gospel (or even a works-slanted gospel) don't be afraid to ask your leaders the tough questions: 

1. Do you believe that no one can come to the Father but through Jesus Christ? (John 14:6; Ac 4:12; 1 Jn 2:23)
2. Do you believe that there is any way possible to earn a better place with God through good works or anything we may do?
3. If you died today are you sure of your own salvation?

Your challenging the teaching of salvation by works might change your own life and the lives of several others, including your Pastor. And remember, you would NOT be the first one to challenge it. Paul did it! And he was filled with the very same Spirit as you!  

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:15-16 NIV