2022-11-01 “For we are the circumcision”

Philippians 3:2  “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

It is one thing to declare oneself to be among the “circumcision”, but the true “circumcision” are those who know and cherish the true meaning of “circumcision”.  Here, Paul is contrasting those who tout themselves to be of the “circumcision” against those who are the true “circumcision”.  Those who wore the badge of “circumcision” for their own glory and power are in a despicable state of “blasphemy” for they are “of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).  The true “circumcision” knew and knows that “he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:28-29).  The self-aggrandizing “concision” did not recognize “Christ Jesus” as their Messiah, Lord, King, High Priest, Savior, and the Son of God.  But, the true “circumcision” knew and greatly rejoiced in Him, they were “the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9).  The true “circumcision” could see and lovingly know that Abraham is “the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised” (Romans 4:12).  But, “there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision” (Titus 1:10); that is, those who simply wear the badge of “circumcision” for their own glory and power.  The Old Testament “circumcision” was a physical and practical rite given by God which prophetically pointed to those who “are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11).  Putting it plainly, “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29); thus, we also joyfully and worshipfully cry, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest”!