Circumcised Again...

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The Christian Church was birthed on the original Day of Pentecost, when the worshipers spoke in tongues for the first time. Since then the Church has been going through a wilderness of tribulations and frustrations. Nevertheless, much Kingdom work has been accomplished.

Now we are in the Plains of Moab, to speak figuratively, preparing to cross Jordan and enter the land God has promised to us. We have not been here before. The daily manna (grace) is about to cease and we will be "eating" of the Presence of God being formed and dwelling within us. It is a new day. I guess we never thought we would get here.

Since circumcision had not been practiced during the wilderness wandering, the new generation had to be circumcised. This is as true today as it was then.

So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. (Joshua 5:7)

The new covenant fulfillment of the old covenant practice of circumcision is the putting off of the deeds of our sinful nature.

(10/17/2010) When I first became a Christian I was taught that God has applied "grace" to us such that our sins, past, present, and future are automatically forgiven. We ought to try to do good as well as we can, but God is bringing us to Heaven in any case. The idea is that we can't overcome sin, so God has forgiven us through Christ if we will but believe it.

The concept of grace being an alternative to growth in godly behavior is believed more widely than one would suppose, in that the Scripture does not teach this. Intelligent men and women who subscribe to the inerrancy of the Scriptures believe and teach that God does not see our sinful behavior as long as we profess faith in Christ.

Some years after I had been following Christ I decided to examine the New Testament to see if it actually is true that the Apostles taught we are saved "by grace" even though we lapse into known sin occasionally. How important is it that we overcome sins? Are there penalties if we do not pray for strength to gain victory over sin?

Let me put it succinctly: When we are tempted to sin, are we to claim that grace is excusing us; or are we to pray to the Lord until we are able to overcome the temptation?

Obviously, this is the most important question one could ask concerning the operation of the new covenant.

So I searched the Epistles of Paul. I found that the current teaching of "grace" is not found in Paul's writings. Furthermore, in several places Paul told us if we yield to our sinful nature we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Any intelligent person can read the writings of Paul and verify my findings.

I have concluded that the fundamental Christian churches, for the most part, are teaching error. Because of this error sin abounds in our land, since the standard of righteous, holy behavior is not being raised in so many instances. The result is that our government is filled with lying and treachery; children are being aborted daily; and foreign gods are coming to our shores demanding recognition.

Our incorrect doctrine added to our subscription to freedom of speech and religion is leading us into behavior that common sense is advising us is wrong and destructive.

Here is one example of Paul's attitude toward how we should deal with sin:

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:13)

The verse above (and there are many others!) does away completely with the current teaching of "grace."

This is clear to me. Since I am not an intellectual giant, how is it that other Bible teachers and preachers cannot see that we must put to death the deeds of our sinful nature if we are to live? To "live," in context, is to attain to the making alive of our mortal body in the Day of Resurrection.

What could be plainer? If we yield to our sinful nature we will die spiritually. In the Day of Resurrection we will not be raised to eternal life. Remember, the eighth chapter of Romans obviously is addressed to Christians. If we are to pass over Jordan and enter our land of promise, which is to be filled with all the fullness of God, we have to be circumcised. This means we have to put to death the sinful actions of our body.

Let's take a look at some of the deeds of the sinful nature that Paul said were sufficient to prevent our inheriting the Kingdom of God:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;(excessive or immoral activities involving sex, alcohol, food, or drugs) idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, arguing, cliques and envy; drunkenness, wild parties, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Well, does the above apply to Christians or not? Obviously it does. "Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Right or wrong?

Notice that the first area of sin to be mentioned is sexual immorality. Sexual immorality evidently was a significant problem in Paul's day, according to the number of times he mentioned it in his Epistles.

It may be true that the two greatest sins in America today are the pursuit of money, and sexual immorality. It seems the temptation to commit moral sins, such as adultery, fornication, and sexual perversions, is powerful and becoming more powerful each day. This is because our nation to a great extent is discarding Christ and the Bible. The rejection of Christ and the Bible is permitting demons to enter our nation and inflame the citizens with passions they cannot control.

Almost every day in our local newspaper there is an account of a teacher or principal or political leader or some other prominent person being accused of sexual misconduct. Child molestation abounds. Great efforts are being made to present homosexual practices as natural and acceptable. The foundation of personal liberty on which our nation is founded skews our normal judgment when aberrant sexual practices and false religions strive for recognition.

It is not kindness on our part to persecute those who practice alternative lifestyles. But I think if people, particularly young people, recognize that their body is either male or female, and refuse to be persuaded that they are something other than what their physical form indicates, the temptation to adopt a male or female persona will finally leave. One has to take a stand for what is right and normal. The Bible speaks out against confusion of gender.

Sometimes a person inherits a spirit of rage, or drunkenness, or fear. A conscientious individual will not say, "I am filled with rage and have a violent temper, and you are obligated to regard this as normal because it is what I am." The same holds true for drunkenness and fear. The Lord Jesus Christ can deliver us from odd, unfruitful, or unlawful behavior if we will ask Him, even though we may have thought that such behavior was an essential part of our personality.

In the above passage the Apostle Paul lists several behaviors which are often true of people. How do we put these to death so the fire and life leave them and we are able to resist them successfully?

The first step is to name the sin clearly to the Lord Jesus. Say to Christ what you actually are doing, not what you think you might do. "I am stealing." "I am lying." "I am fornicating (living intimately with someone who is not my wife or husband)." Do not be afraid of shocking God with your fantasy life. He already knows all about it.

The second step is to name your behavior as sin, as wickedness. You have to judge it as evil. If you do not, the spirit will retain its life and power.

The third step is to renounce your behavior, telling the Lord that by His help you never, never, never will do this again.

In order for your deliverance to be effective you will have to live as a disciple. This means denying yourself, taking up your personal cross, and following Jesus at all times, day and night. Listening to Him and obeying Him diligently. Spending some time in prayer each day. Reading your Bible each day. Attending a fervent, Bible-teaching church regularly (if you can find one). Sharing your material goods if the Lord directs you to do so. Looking to the Lord for an area of service. Coveting a gift of the Spirit.

If the same temptation returns, go to Christ immediately and ask Him to help you resist it. Never give in to sin. Never give up. You must be found worthy of the Kingdom of God.

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (I John 3:6)

All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. (II Thessalonians 1:5)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:13)

If it is your desire to be raised from the dead, given a new body, and work with our Lord Jesus when He returns to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth, you must enter the ordinance of circumcision, putting away the actions of your sinful nature. The fullness of God is there for you to attain to, but you will have to pursue it with all your strength.

However, if you do not make the effort to cooperate with the Spirit of God in putting away your sinful deeds, you will not enter the fullness of God. You will not be raised from the dead and work with Jesus in the work of establishing the Kingdom of God on the earth.

You still are part of the problem, not of the solution!

In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, (Colossians 2:11)

You can hear the morning sermon at morning. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

You can hear the evening sermon at evening. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

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