Circumcision: NT Survey, Part 2

In this part of the sermon: Martin examines Romans 15:8, suggesting Christ's peculiar ministry focus was to the Jews ('the circumcision'). He then analyzes 1 Corinthians 7:18-19, where Paul declares that…

Martin uses Jesus' initial refusal to heal the Syrophoenician woman's daughter, stating 'I was not sent but to the lost sheep of the children of Israel,' to illustrate Christ's peculiar focus on the Jews during his earthly ministry, as mentioned in Romans 15:8.

Now, that's a biblical truth. And it may well be that that's what's being spoken here. For example, in Matthew chapter 15 and verse 24, the Lord Jesus says, I was not sent but to the lost sheep of the children of Israel. He says that in the context in which he has come to the Syrians.

7:49 - 8:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Galatians, showing Paul's fight against those who taught circumcision was necessary for salvation. He highlights that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised…

Martin recounts Peter's withdrawal from eating with Gentiles when certain Jews ('of the circumcision') arrived in Antioch, illustrating the tension and division caused by the issue of circumcision among early Christians and Peter's fear of man.

Then again, verse 12. Now, in this context, he's speaking about Peter and his misbehavior at Antioch, and he says in verse 11, and when Peter, or Cephas, came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face because he stood condemned, because before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of. The circumcision.

16:08 - 16:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not hope to be saved through the law or by identification with Jewish ceremonies and rituals, as this manifests a heart not trusting in Christ alone.

Martin uses the example of Paul circumcising Timothy to clarify that Paul's condemnation of 'receiving circumcision' in Galatians 5:2 was not against the act itself for medical or cultural reasons, but against receiving it as a means of salvation or justification by law.

When he's speaking circumcision in verse two, he's not saying that if any person is ever circumcised for any reason under any circumstances whatsoever, he's severed from Christ. Of course not, because he himself circumcised Timothy and Timothy wasn't severed from Christ when Paul circumcised him. So he's speaking about circumcision in the very context here of preaching circumcision as the Judaizers preached it. If you receive circumcision as it's being preached.

19:22 - 19:53 Read in full sermon