Dd-52. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 4

HAS ANY OF GOD'S LAW BEEN ABOLISHED?

Well, HAS GOD'S LAW OF CIRCUMCISION BEEN ABOLISHED.

WHY did Paul have Timothy CIRCUMCISED?

Well, there are a number of possibilities for WHY the Apostle Paul had Timothy CIRCUMCISED. First of all, we must remember that the church is STILL YET receiving REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from the Holy Spirit. It was not that long ago that Paul, who before PERSECUTED the church severely, was converted to Christianity. Paul began preaching the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, as Jesus CRUCIFIED and raised from the dead. No more and no less. Salvation is NOW by FAITH and NOT by the LAW under the Old Covenant contained in ordinances. In other words, Paul, like all the other Jewish believers were still LEARNING what to do and not to do. In fact, a few verses right after Paul circumcised Timothy, he was given a VISION from God. My point is this, the decree given by the church in Acts 15 was not the FINAL word on this subject.

Also, ANOTHER reason to keep in mind that Timothy was neither a full-blooded a Jew, nor a full-blooded Gentile. But rather, he was born to a family where his mother was a JEW and his father was a Gentile. We are not told if either his mother or his father were Christians. All we know for sure is that Timothy BELIEVED but before he converted to Christianity, Timothy was a Greek. A person who is a “Greek” in this CONTEXT is a Gentile Christian who converted to the Jewish religion. In other words, Timothy was definitely a proselyte who converted to Christianity. His mother was definitely Jewish and his father was called a Greek. So it can be argued either way where Timothy's father was a heathen Gentile or his father was a Greek proselyte who did not have his son Timothy circumcised. So again, having a Jewish mother, Timothy was raised in the Jewish faith but he was never circumcised in the flesh. So WHY did Paul have Timothy circumcised after Timothy converted to Christianity?

Now, the 119 Ministries conclude that the JEWS in that region were Jews who converted to Christianity. They argue that since Paul circumcised Timothy then that means that Paul taught ALL Christians to be circumcised. And thus, to THEM, Timothy, as well as all Gentile Christians, must be circumcised in the flesh made with hands as an outward showing that God circumcised our hearts. We already covered that ERROR of interpretation made by the 119 Ministry in parts 1-3 of this series of studies in God’s word.

However, I myself see these Jews in that region as being in the Jew's religion because they are NOT referred to as being BRETHREN. So to me, another reason that Paul circumcised Timothy was for his own protection from being killed by the unsaved Jews. One thing that we know for sure is that Christians were being heavily PERSECUTED by the unsaved JEWS, even to the laying down of their lives for the TRUTH of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.

So then, it may be that Timothy was FEARFUL for his very life if he was not circumcised. Remember even Paul was young in his faith and was still yet being given revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit. Again, just a few verses later we see where Paul is given a VISION from God.

The main POINT is overlooked by the seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians that in Acts 16:4 Paul delivered to the unsaved Jews what the whole church at Jerusalem DECREED in the first church council in Acts chapter 15. And MANY believed and converted to Christianity, both Jews and Gentiles.

Please read Acts 16:4.

“And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the DECREES to keep, that were ORDAINED of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.”

Remember that the Apostles at Jerusalem gave them LETTERS to read or to DECREE that the church gave no such commandment to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses which neither our fathers before us nor we are ABLE the BEAR. So only lay these FOUR things upon them to keep.

Also, it should be remembered that the enemy of our soul TEMPTS us to DISOBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit. Do you recall the words of Jesus when he taught on the sower sowing the SEED which Jesus said is the WORD of God? Do you remember how Satan comes IMMEDIATELY to STEAL this new fresh word of God that has just been sown into our hearts that we did not UNDERSTAND before? Well, you see, Paul had just received a fresh new word sown in his heart as CONFIRMATION about not putting on the GENTILE believers any more than what had just been decreed by the Apostles and the elders of the church. And Satan came IMMEDIATELY to take that word of truth out of his heart.

All Paul knew and taught up to this time was Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead. This is the first time Paul ever heard to put burdens on believers no matter how slight these burdens may be.

Now try and put yourself in Paul's situation. First of all, he has just had a very heated argument with Barnabas, his PARTNER in the ministry. And thus, he was already in STRIFE which is an open door to the enemy Satan. Then he feels led that Timothy is the one that the Holy Spirit is leading him to take with him to minister to the churches to see how they were doing. We do NOT know what took place in Paul's heart and mind. All we know for sure is Paul circumcised Timothy. It may have been all Timothy's idea telling Paul that he would not go with him until he is circumcised because he was FEARFUL of the JEWS. We simply do not know for sure what transpired in the heart and mind of Timothy or Paul.

Again, keep in mind that Timothy is a half-breed, so to speak. He is neither fully a JEW by birth nor fully a GENTILE but a MIXTURE of both Jew and Gentile. We do not know if Timothy was taught the Jew's religion or not. OBVIOUSLY, Timothy never FOLLOWED the teachings of the JEWS because he had never been CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH which was commanded in the Law of Moses for every Jew. I mean there are Jews who keep the law and then there are Jews by birth only. In other words, there are Christians who are TRUE faithful Christians and then there are Christians in name ONLY who do not obey the teachings of Jesus. All we know for sure is that Timothy BELIEVED either the words of Paul or another believer before Paul came. This does not matter as to why Paul circumcised Timothy. All that matters is that Timothy being neither JEW nor GENTILE became a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ as the MESSIAH.

What we do know is that any one of us is NOT ABOVE being TEMPTED by the enemy to DISOBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit, including the Apostle Paul.

So it may very well be that Paul was being TEMPTED or DECEIVED by the enemy to circumcise Timothy. I am quite sure that not one of us believes that Paul lived a completely SINLESS life after he converted to Christianity. Just because Paul CIRCUMCISED Timothy does NOT mean that Paul TAUGHT Christians to KEEP ALL the law of God, including being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands. Paul may have SINNED when he had Timothy circumcised and then had to repent later. Perhaps that is why God gave Paul another vision very shortly after this. We simply do not know what went on in the hearts and minds of either Paul or Timothy.

Yet another REASON to consider as to WHY Paul may have circumcised Timothy is that Paul tells us out of his own mouth that he became a JEW to LIVE as a JEW in order to WIN a JEW to Jesus Christ. Now, I personally do not believe that a Christian should compromise their faith and become a JEW in order to WIN a JEW to Jesus Christ. However, this very well could have been the reason for why Paul circumcised Timothy. My point is that this ONE verse should not be used by TWISTING it to mean that Paul teaches that ALL Christians ought to be circumcised in the flesh as an outward sign of God circumcising their heart. That twisted interpretation of why Paul circumcised Timothy CONTRADICTS what Paul clearly teaches us to NOT seek to be circumcised in the flesh.

Peter even warns us not to misunderstand Paul's teaching to use their liberty to their own destruction. I have heard some Christians say that they drink alcohol in order to win others at the bar or tavern to Jesus Christ. But I personally do NOT see how a drunkard can lead another drunkard to the Lord. Nor do I see how a Christian living like a JEW, eating like a JEW and dressing like a JEW can lead a JEW to the Lord Jesus Christ. But rather, showing Jesus to be the promised MESSIAH through the Old Testament prophecies is how the early Church led Jews to Jesus Christ.

So then, no matter WHAT the REASON was as to WHY Paul circumcised Timothy at that point in time in his GROWTH in the Lord, we know for an absolute CERTAINTY that Paul did, in fact, teach AGAINST being circumcised in the flesh made with hands, because later we see that TITUS was NOT circumcised. Let us continue with the arguments made by the 119 Ministries.

What we need to determine is why Timothy was circumcised and Titus was not circumcised. What was the difference? Unless Paul is random and operating under no principles then Paul establishes a governing difference somewhere for us to understand.

We have learned several things after this lengthy examination of the doctrine being presented to the Galatians. The circumcision presented to Titus was not a physical circumcision in faith to represent his circumcision of the heart (Deut. 10:16; Deut 30:6) but instead a false circumcision into a false doctrine that taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation. That is the problem. Even Abraham was 99 before he was circumcised.

Titus in Galatians 2 was being compelled by false doctrine to be circumcised in the flesh in a doctrine that taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation. We read that doctrine in the very first verse of Acts 15.

That is simply bad. Not only might Titus not be ready to practice outward circumcision (because he is not completely inwardly circumcised), but it should not even be remotely connected to salvation as the reason he is being circumcised. Such a practice must be stopped. Thus Paul runs to the Jerusalem council to expose and put an end to this doctrine (Acts 15).

So again we see that the 119 Ministries relies very heavily on their INTERPRETATION that it is the MANNER in which circumcision is being taught that is the problem and NOT whether or not a person should be circumcised in the flesh.

The truth of the matter and the heart of the real issue is whether or not Paul taught against being circumcised in the flesh made with hands. And again the answer is an absolute yes, Paul did indeed teach AGAINST being circumcised in the flesh. Of this TRUTH there is NO DOUBT.

So then, the ONLY way for the 119 Ministries, the Hebrew Roots Movement, or any other Sabbath keep group can argue against this TRUTH is to DIVIDE the issue by FALSELY claiming that it is the MANNER in which circumcision is PRACTICED. Therefore, they FALSELY conclude that keeping the COMMANDMENTS of God has nothing whatsoever to do with receiving ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. In other words, the 119 Ministries FALSELY teaches that once a person accepts Jesus as their savior, then they are ALWAYS saved and can NEVER LOSE their salvation no matter what. Yes, that is what they are actually saying whether they realize it or not.

To argue that Christians must be circumcised in the flesh as a MANNER of showing and OUTWARD sign that God has circumcised their heart is a man-made fabrication to try and prove that Paul teaches Christians to keep all of the Law of Moses lest they SIN. They know full well that it is a SIN to steal, but yet they argue that it is NOT a sin to break the fourth commandment.

But this is NOT what the WHOLE word of God teaches us. Therefore, once a believer is saved, as in, they are forgiven of all their past sins and are brought into a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God, then they are made new creatures in Jesus Christ to walk in OBEDIENCE to keep the COMMANDMENTS of God not contained in ORDINANCES. This is NOT an OPTION. Jesus himself PLAINLY taught us that if we do NOT OVERCOME the enemy, then we will have our names BLOTTED OUT of the book of LIFE.

This does NOT mean that Timothy's name was BLOTTED OUT of the book of LIFE just because he was circumcised, because God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. We later see Timothy doing many great things for the Lord. Remember that Paul also said IF it YET BE in VAIN, meaning that those who are following a DIFFERENT gospel can repent and return to obeying the TRUTH of the Gospel that Paul preached. And this does not mean that Paul's name was BLOTTED out of the book of life because he circumcised Timothy because later we clearly see that Paul is without a doubt teaching AGAINST being CIRCUMCISED in the flesh.

So then, there are a number of reasons for WHY Paul circumcised Timothy and WHY Titus refused to be deceived and compelled to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH. My point is this, there is no SOUND BIBLICAL evidence for the 119 Ministries to dogmatically demand that the ONLY way to make any sense of Timothy being circumcised is to understand that Paul taught that circumcision in the flesh was not a matter of SALVATION but like baptism in water circumcision was only to be done as an OUTWARD showing of a believers INWARD faith.

However, we know without a doubt that this is NOT the truth of the WHOLE word of God, because in addition to the truth that the church gave NO SUCH COMMAND found in Acts 15:24.

Acts 15:24.

“For as much as we have HEARD, that certain which went out from us have TROUBLED you with words, SUBVERTING your souls, saying, You MUST be CIRCUMCISED, and KEEP the LAW: to whom WE gave NO such COMMANDMENT:”

We also see that Paul clearly and plainly taught that no Christian is to seek to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH and that circumcision is NOTHING. Please read 1 Corinthians 7:18,19, which CLEARLY teaches us that we are NOT to be circumcised.

1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called being in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED.

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.”

The commandments of God here are speaking about the commandments that God put in the mouth of Jesus to speak to his disciples. Jesus gave us only TWO commandments and by walking in LOVE we FULFILL all of the law that God REQUIRES of us under the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament. So then, this passage of Scripture clearly teaches us that after we BELIEVE in Jesus as our Messiah, then we are NOT to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH for ANY REASON WHATSOEVER.

I do not see how God's word can make it any clearer than this. PLAIN and SIMPLE Paul is CLEARLY teaching us as Christians to let NOT any one of us seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH. And without a doubt circumcision in the FLESH WAS the LAW of Almighty God Himself that God gave ONLY to His people ISRAEL under the OLD COVENANT. And thus, circumcision in the FLESH is NOT a doctrine of MEN as the 119 Ministries FALSELY teaches. So then, there is no doubt that Paul was indeed teaching AGAINST the law of God that had been ABOLISHED at the cross of Jesus. Nonetheless, let us continue looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

We could even draw from our understanding of baptism. Most believers today understand baptism as a critical commandment for a new believer but we would never state that baptism is required for salvation.

Just because some in the mainstream churches incorrectly UNDERSTAND and falsely teach that baptism has nothing whatsoever to do with a believer receiving ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come does NOT make it be the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God. The early church DEFINITELY taught water baptism as a PART of being saved. Please read the study called E-16. DOES BAPTISM in WATER SAVE us? But for now, let us continue to look at the arguments of the 119 Ministries to TRY and prove that Paul did NOT teach AGAINST the law of God including being circumcised in the flesh.

The new believer is encouraged to be baptized when they are ready as an outward sign of their inward belief in the Word. The same process holds true for circumcision. The problem is that others were “compelling” Gentile converts to be circumcised. Thus Paul needed to put a stop not to the commandment of circumcision, but the misuse and misapplication of the commandment of circumcision. That is a critical difference yet it is not too complicated to understand if we stop to consider it.

So then, the problem is that the 119 Ministries are “COMPELLING” Christians to KEEP ALL the law contained in some 613 ORDINANCES written in the OLD Testament. They are compelling Christians to become circumcised in the FLESH by wrongly teaching that unless Christians obey ALL the law of God written in the OLD Testament, including to be circumcised in the FLESH as an OUTWARD showing of their love for God, then they do not truly love God.

Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. There is nothing wrong with COMPELLING non-Christians to believe in Jesus Christ because the word of God says that we are to save some with fear lest they are consumed in the fire of judgment on the last day. And there is nothing wrong with COMPELLING Christians to OBEY the COMMANDMENTS of God because the word also says that if we see a brother SIN and convert that brother back to the TRUTH then we saved a soul from hell.

So then, it is NOT the COMPELLING that is wrong. But rather, it is WHAT we as Christians, in general, are compelling people to do. In other words, if we are compelling Christians to obey a DIFFERENT gospel than what Paul preached, then we are WRONG compelling them to disobey the TRUTH of the gospel. For you see, even though one THINKS that they are PLEASE God but in TRUTH they are actually DISPLEASING God, then when they learn the truth they should repent. And they should repent of this WRONG compelling of Christians to follow a DIFFERENT gospel. Every false teaching should be repent of when one learns that they have been deceived to believe and teach a false teaching.

And the 119 Ministries are WRONGLY compelling Christians to believe and obey a DIFFERENT gospel from what Paul and the other Apostles of Jesus taught us to obey.

Thus, we must understand the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ that Paul and the NEW TESTAMENT teaches in order to put a STOP to this FALSE COMPELLING and FALSE TEACHING for Christians to KEEP ALL the laws contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament. Paul clearly teaches us that the law contained in ORDINANCES were SHADOWS of the TRUE which was PROMISED to come. Paul said circumcision is NOTHING and uncircumcision is nothing, but rather all that is required for BELIEVERS in Jesus Christ is that we keep the COMMANDMENTS of God.

Again, I qualify the keeping of the commandments to the NINE commandments that are specifically REPEATED and TAUGHT in the NEW TESTAMENT. Please read the studies called Dd-12. Why Only NINE of tshe TEN Commandments and Dd-21. SABBATH-Saturday, Sunday, or NEITHER! But for now, let us continue looking at the ERRORS made by the 119 Ministries in their interpretation of God's word.

If Titus would have been circumcised by this group then he would in effect be stating that he agreed with their gospel. When we are to be circumcised we are to be circumcised as evidence of the circumcision of our heart in obedience to our faith not as a vain attempt to earn our salvation.

Again, the same argument is used over and over IGNORING the REST of God's word that CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us that the law of God concerning CIRCUMCISION in the flesh has been ABOLISHED. You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, the only way that the 119 Ministries and all these other Sabbath-keeping groups, being deceived by this Hebrew Roots Movement, is to TRY and convince you that it is the APPLICATION of circumcision being done as a MATTER of SALVATION that Paul is preaching against and not the Paul is teaching against the law of God concerning being circumcised in the flesh. But again, this is an INCORRECT interpretation of this passage of Scripture because plain and simple, Paul teaches against ANY FORM of being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

Please read again 1 Corinthians 7: 18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called being in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED.

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.”

Again, I do not see how God's word can make it any clearer than this. PLAIN and SIMPLE, Paul is CLEARLY teaching us as Christians to let NOT any one of us seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, which without a doubt WAS a LAW of Almighty God himself and NOT a doctrine of MEN as the 119 Ministries is FALSELY teaching. Nonetheless, let us continue looking at the arguments of the 119 Ministries to TRY and prove that Paul did not teach against the law of God including being circumcised in the FLESH.

The Circumcision Party or Works of Law is the group that taught this false doctrine. This is later revealed after Galatians 2 and their doctrine is spelled out in detail in the Dead Sea Scrolls. They incorrectly taught that to be in the family of Abraham one needed to be circumcised in the flesh first.

The TRUTH of the matter is that the REASON that these Jews who were converted to Christianity taught that Christians MUST be circumcised to be in the family of Abraham BECAUSE this is what God's WORD taught that this was the ONLY way to be covenanted into the family of God UNDER the OLD COVENANT. This is all they knew at this point in time. They had not yet come to UNDERSTAND that the NEW COVENANT had ABOLISHED the OLD COVENANT law of commandments CONTAINED in ORDINANCES, according to Ephesians 2:8-15 and Colossians 2:8-17. Please read the study Dd-5. What Does Contained in ORDINANCES Mean?

You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ; these early Christians did not YET understand the other prophecies in God's word which taught that circumcision in the flesh was to be in force ONLY UNTIL the PROMISE of the SEED was FULFILLED. The TRUTH of the matter is that it took some TIME before this TRUTH was able to be made to be understood by Christians in the early church. This is WHY there was so much disputing over this matter early on in the church. Let us continue.

This is revealed in Galatians 3 and Acts 15. Instead, Paul taught in Galatians 3 that one needs only to have faith in the one true seed, the Word of God, thus circumcised in the heart, to be in the family of Abraham. This simply means that we place our full faith and trust in the Word of God, not in our actions. Then and only then do we have rights to the promises of Abraham. Our actions are actually the evidence of our faith in the Word, not our faith in of itself (see James 2).

There is no doubt that our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ produces a NEW CREATURE that desires to do the will of God. There is no doubt that the word of God teaches us that if we are not obedient to our faith, then good works will NOT be produced and our faith is DEAD. This is not the issue.

The true issue is what if a believer CEASES to OBEY the commandments of Almighty God and goes back into their old lifestyle of SIN and they die while still yet being DISOBEDIENT to the law of God living in SIN.

Does this DISOBEDIENCE to the COMMANDMENTS of God, then cause those believers who die in their sin of disobedience to the gospel to LOSE their reward of ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come?

There are some in the mainstream church that FALSELY teach that keeping the commandments of God is only an OUTWARD expression of our inward faith and has nothing to do with being saved nor even maintaining our salvation. Well, the wages of SIN is DEATH and breaking any of the MORAL commandments is a SIN.

But from what I am reading here the 119 Ministries it seems as if they are also FALSELY teaching the once saved, always saved doctrine of devils. In James chapter 2 where we read that without WORKS, faith is DEAD, we also read that the Devils believe in God, but yet they TREMBLE. So then, since our faith is DEAD if we do NOT produce good WORKS, then even though we SAY we believe in God, then should we not also TREMBLE in fear of a just God who plainly warns us that we shall be judges ACCORDING to what our WORK shall be?

The word of God tells us to work out our own salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING. Why would this WARNING be in God's word if there is absolutely no chance of a believer being able to LOSE his or her SALVATION? Please, I implore you, dear children of God, to read the study F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL? But for now, let us continue to look at the arguments of the 119 Ministries to see if Paul TRULY taught the church to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as an OUTWARD show of an INWARD word of the circumcision of the HEART.

Paul was constantly reteaching the true process of inward then outward circumcision. He was forced to as it was a common incorrect belief in the first century that it was only the outward circumcision that mattered. Paul taught that it is inward obedience and conversion first:

Romans 2:28-29 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.

Let us read Romans 2 verses 25-27 along with Romans 2 verses 28,29 and continue reading through Romans 3:1-31.

Romans 2:25-29.

“For circumcision verily profits, IF you KEEP the LAW: but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision is MADE uncircumcision.

26. Therefore, if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27. And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law?

28. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (Can you not see that the 119 Ministries is lying to you by CLAIMING that Christians out to be circumcised in the flesh as an OUTWARD show that God has circumcised your heart? To ME, to keep that which Jesus ABOLISHED on the cross is a slap in the face of God and His son. Again, please read Dd-5. What Does Contained in ORDINANCES Mean?)

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.”

It is in the keeping of the LETTER of the law that KILLS, according to 2 Corinthians 3:6. Continuing on into Romans 3:1-31, which is sometimes TWISTED to try and prove that Christians must be circumcised in the flesh and keep all of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES that Jesus abolished on the cross.

Romans 3:1-31.

“What advantage then has the Jew? Or what PROFIT is there of circumcision?

2. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3. For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4. God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man is a liar; as it is written, That you might be justified in your sayings, and might overcome when you are judged.

5. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6. God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7. For if the truth of God has more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8. And not rather, (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just.

9. What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.

12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.

13. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15. Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16. Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17. And the way of peace have they not known:

18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19. Now we know that what the law says, it says to them who are UNDER the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20. Therefore, by the DEEDS of the law there shall NO flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21. But NOW the righteousness of God WITHOUT the law is manifested, (Or has been REVEALED and made KNOWN to us. In other words, the righteousness WITHOUT the LAW has been FULFILLED through Jesus Christ at the CROSS who came not to “KATALYO” to COMPLETELY destroy the law and the prophets, but to FULFILL) being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22. Even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference: (Or there is no DIFFERENCE between JEW and GENTILE who are in Jesus Christ)

23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

25. Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus.

27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of FAITH.

28. Therefore, we CONCLUDE that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT the deeds of the law.

29. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by FAITH, and uncircumcision through FAITH.

31. Do we then make void the law (Speaking of the COMMANDMENTS of God and NOT the law of God concerning CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH made with hands which is the ORDINANCE of the law and not the law ITSELF) through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

What Paul is speaking of here in this passage of Scripture is that CIRCUMCISION has CHANGED from being circumcised in the FLESH to being circumcised in the HEART. It is NOT that God CHANGED, but rather, it is that God has FULFILLED that which He had ALREADY spoken and promised in His word of a coming MESSIAH to ESTABLISH the NEW COVENANT law.

Please read Deuteronomy 30:6, which is speaking expressly to ISRAEL, but when most of Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, then as PROPHESIED, Almighty God turned to a people who were not previously his people to offer them this NEW and BETTER COVENANT to be circumcised in their HEART through his Son Jesus. No more BONDAGE of offering animal sacrifices. No more BONDAGE of all the ceremonial and ritual keeping of feast days. No more bondage to the law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament. The MESSIAH had come to put into FORCE a NEW TESTAMENT where salvation is received through FAITH.

Here is the prophecy that was given in the Old Testament to ISRAEL found in Deuteronomy 30:6.

Deuteronomy 30:6.

“And the LORD your God will circumcise your HEART, and the heart of your seed, to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.”

It is the Lord God Almighty alone who circumcises believers through Jesus Christ his Son because the circumcision in the FLESH made with hands is NO LONGER accepted by God. It has been ABOLISHED at the CROSS of Jesus. Paul taught AGAINST seeking to be circumcised in the FLESH because he eventually came to UNDERSTAND that Jesus FULFILLED the law of God concerning CIRCUMCISION. And to keep what Jesus ABOLISHED is DISPLEASING to God whether you realize it now or not.

Please read Romans 15:4-8 where Paul teaches us that Jesus FULFILLED the law and the prophets concerning the law of God commanding circumcision in the flesh.

Romans 15:4-8.

“For whatsoever things were written before in time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

6. That you may with ONE mind and ONE mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Wherefore receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

8. NOW I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the CIRCUMCISION for the TRUTH of God, to CONFIRM the PROMISES made unto the fathers:”

So then, in the same way that Jesus became SIN for us, Jesus taught and kept all the law of God including being circumcised in order to CONFIRM what the prophets had written for our learning. Paul clearly teaches us that we as Christians are NOT to seek to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands because Jesus has FULFILLED the law and the prophets concerning the law of God relating to CIRCUMCISION. Those who BELIEVE in Jesus Christ as their savior are NOW CIRCUMCISED in the HEART.

Therefore, for any Christians to seek to be ALSO circumcised in the FLESH is to make VOID the circumcision of the HEART received by FAITH in Jesus Christ. Please read 1 Corinthians 7:18,19 which again clearly teaches us that the 119 Ministries has made an ERROR in their INTERPRETATION of the Scriptures which leads them to FALSELY COMPEL Christians to keep ALL the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances. The TRUTH of the matter is that the ONLY law of God we are taught to keep in the NEW TESTAMENT is the COMMANDMENTS of Almighty God that he gave to Jesus to give to us.

1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called being in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED. (How can the word of God make it any plainer and clearer than this passage of Scripture that needs absolutely NO INTERPRETATION whatsoever. The law of God concerning circumcision in the FLESH, made with hands, has been ABOLISHED and FULFILLED through our Lord Jesus Christ at the CROSS!)

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.”

We are not to be circumcised in the flesh until we are fully circumcised in the heart (fully desire the Law of God) and are no longer stiff-necked (Deut. 10:16; Deut 30:6).

Those of the Circumcision Party were only circumcising to boast in the flesh of their works:

Let me ask you a question dear child of God. Just how LONG does it take for you to be FORGIVEN of your sins when you ask Jesus to come into your life to be your savior? Just as SOON as you ASK for the forgiveness of your sins, you are completely FORGIVEN of ALL your past sins and therefore the CIRCUMCISION of your HEART has been made by God INSTANTANEOUSLY the very moment you BELIEVED.

There is no BECOMING FULLY circumcised in the HEART over a period of time as the 119 Ministries are incorrectly trying to convince you to believe. Our circumcision of the HEART is instantaneous the moment you BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins and you confess your FAITH in his death and resurrection to Almighty God. The very moment you BELIEVE you become part of the FAMILY of God. The CIRCUMCISION of your HEART establishes a NEW COVENANT with Almighty God in the BLOOD of Jesus Christ his Son. And the circumcision of the heart made by Jesus is the ONLY circumcision required by Almighty God.

Circumcision in the FLESH of the OLD COVENANT has been ABOLISH and FULFILLED in our Lord Jesus Christ. WHY then do you at the 119 Ministries frustrate the GRACE of Almighty God to FALSELY COMPEL Christians to be brought under the BONDAGE of the law contained in ordinances?

Jesus did, in fact, come to ABOLISH part of the LAW of God in order to establish and put into FORCE the NEW COVENANT. The INTERPRETATION of Matthew 5:17,18 by the 119 Ministries and the other Sabbath-keeping groups being deceived by this Hebrew Roots Movement has caused many other ERRORS to be made because they do not go back to Matthew 5:17,18 to correct their INTERPRETATION of this passage of Scripture.

Now again, the 119 Ministries FALSELY INTERPRETS this passage of Scripture to mean that Jesus came to do either ONE or the OTHER. So therefore, you can not have it BOTH ways. But the TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus did, in fact, come to destroy or ABOLISH part of the law by FULFILLING the law and the prophets.

You see, the word translated as “DESTROY” here comes from the Greek word “KATALYO”, which means throw down, to abolish, to destroy. HOWEVER, this Greek word “KATALYO” ALSO means to destroy UTTERLY, to overthrow COMPLETELY. In other words, this Greek word that is translated as “DESTROY” in the King James Version and as “ABOLISH” in the New International Version carries with it the meaning that Jesus did not come to COMPLETELY ABOLISH the law. So then, Matthew 5:17,18 should have been translated as follows.

Matthew 5:17,18 correctly translated.

“Think not that I have come to UTTERLY DESTROY or to COMPLETELY ABOLISH the law, or the prophets: I have not come to UTTERLY or COMPLETELY DESTROY, but to FULFILL. (Jesus came to FULFILL the shadow of the Passover Lamb by becoming the TRUE Passover Lamb. And thus, Jesus abolished the ORDINANCES of keeping the SHADOW that was a SCHOOLMASTER leading to Jesus as being the TRUE LAMB of God. And the same is true will circumcision in the flesh being a SIGN of Jesus being our TRUE circumcision of our hearts)

18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be FULFILLED.”

Can you not see that the PURPOSE of the law contained in ORDINANCES is to be FULFILLED? The law contained in ordinances was added UNTIL Christ comes. And there is more hidden prophecy in the law that will be FULFILLED during the 1000 year reign of Jesus.

Now some of you may argue that I am changing God's word to make it say what I want it to say, but in TRUTH I am just pointing out to you, the reader, the seeker of the TRUTH, that in the original language these Greek words sometimes have many different meanings and the English translation that we read is just that, a TRANSLATION.

In other words, this verse could have just as easily been translated as UTTERLY destroy or COMPLETELY abolish, which would then AGREE with the REST of God's word without trying to manipulate, twist or change many other CLEAR, PLAIN and SIMPLE passages of Scripture. That in truth, need NO interpretation in order to TRY and get them to agree with your OWN personal private translation of Matthew 5:17,18. Let me explain what I mean by this.

Please keep in mind that Galatians 3:19 teaches us that the LAW was ADDED because of transgression UNTIL the PROMISE of the MESSIAH be FULFILLED. And this clearly teaches us that some CHANGES in the LAW were, without fail, and indeed made AT the FIRST coming of Jesus at his Virgin birth, DEATH, and resurrection. In other words, Jesus did indeed ABOLISH SOME of the LAW of God written in the OLD TESTAMENT to change the WAY in which we keep the law to be by FAITH. One part of the LAW of God that was INDEED ABOLISHED and FULFILLED at the SAME time was the OFFERING of SACRIFICES for sins, which no true born again believer denies. So then, Jesus did, in fact, come to do BOTH abolish and FULFILL the law and the prophets.

Also, remember that the 119 Ministries teaches that Christians must keep ALL the LAW of Moses and that not ONE jot or tittle of it shall pass away until ALL is fulfilled. So why then do they backpedal, so to speak, and make excuses concerning the law of God in the area of offering animal sacrifices for sins? If ALL truly means ALL, then there should be no excuses for not KEEPING ALL the law. And, therefore, they should also teach that Christians offer animal sacrifices in order to be forgiven of their sins if they truly believe that not one single jot or title will pass away.

Let us continue with the argument made by the 119 Ministries.

Galatians 6:13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

To Paul’s point, if one is keeping God’s law only outwardly as written then they are missing the whole point of God’s law which is an inward transformation. We are to keep God’s law to please God, not to please men. If we are keeping God’s law simply to boast then we are not keeping God’s law as intended.

I agree that keeping the COMMANDMENTS of God with the mindset of showing how holy you are comparing men with men is not keeping the commandments with the right SPIRIT. But again, the keeping of the commandments has NOTHING to do with the keeping of ALL the law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament TO the children of ISRAEL, where NONE are REPEATED and CLEARLY taught in the NEW TESTAMENT for Christians to keep.

I myself find ONLY NINE of the TEN COMMANDMENTS repeated and taught in the NEW TESTAMENT that we as CHRISTIANS are to keep. When a Gentile believer becomes a Christian, he or she does NOT become a JEW to live UNDER the OLD TESTAMENT law to LIVE as a JEW. The word of God clearly teaches us that Jews themselves did not KEEP the law.

Please read Acts 15:8-11.

“And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10. Now, therefore, (Or for this very reason of God saving the Gentile WITHOUT the Law of Moses) why TEMPT you God, to put a YOKE upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to BEAR?

11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

The very disciples of Jesus clearly teach us that the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES is a YOKE of BONDAGE that neither they nor their fathers before them were able to BEAR. Let us continue.

This is why Paul establishes this mindset in the very first chapter of Galatians.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

The last part of this verse should prove to those who are HONESTLY seeking the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God that Paul is still being PERSECUTED for the sake of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. In other words, IF Paul were TRULY teaching Christians to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH like the JEWS, then WHY would they still be PERSECUTING him for teaching AGAINST the Law of Moses? The Jews would NOT have persecuted Paul if he was truly teaching Christians to be circumcised in the flesh because being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH was the MAJOR point of contention between the JEWS and the Christians.

Therefore, IF Paul were TRULY teaching Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH, then there would be no more CONTENTION or DISPUTING. Once again, IF Paul truly taught Christians to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH after they received the circumcision of the HEART through FAITH, as the 119 Ministries FALSELY teaches, then there would be NO MORE contention and thus no more PERSECUTION from the JEWS. But yet Paul and the church were being PERSECUTED and there was MUCH dissension and disputing as to whether or not Christians should be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH according to the Law of Moses.

Let us continue.

Contrary to much of the doctrine dominant in Jewish leadership in the first century, God’s law starting with circumcision is simply not a means to salvation in any capacity. Salvation is by grace through faith. Once we have faith in God’s Word it is then that we practice God’s Word. We are to still walk in God’s law to produce good works, but we can not place the cart before the horse. We are to keep God’s law not for salvation, but because of our salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

I agree that we are saved, as in, CLEANSED from all our past sins so that we are placed in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God in order to make a CLEAN vessel to receive his Holy Spirit within us to EMPOWER us to do the works of God. And the works of God under the NEW COVENANT are to keep His COMMANDMENTS written in the NEW Testament. We are to do good works of righteousness, to walk in LOVE, but NOT to keep ALL the law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written in the OLD Testament as a SHADOW of things to come. For you see, Jesus came to both ABOLISH and FULFILL the law and the prophets. And if you continue to read the CONTEXT of Ephesians 2:8-10, then you will see that Jesus ABOLISHED the law of commandments CONTAINED in ORDINANCES on the cross.

Please read Ephesians 2:15.

“Having ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”

Now let us read Hebrews 9:8-14.

“The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the WAY into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, WHILE as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9. Which was a FIGURE for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could NOT make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10. Which stood ONLY in meats and drinks, and divers washing, and CARNAL ORDINANCES, imposed on them (Speaking of ONLY God's people ISRAEL) UNTIL the time of reformation.

11. BUT Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:

14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who THROUGH the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from DEAD WORKS to serve the living God?”

The ceremonial rituals of keeping the feast days and the weekly Sabbath days that were done in the Old Testament UNDER the OLD covenant are DEAD WORKS that have been ABOLISHED at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, to compel Christians to KEEP all the DEAD WORKS that Jesus ABOLISHED on the cross is to make VAIN the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Those dead works profit you nothing.

Let us continue.

It is the Law of God prepared beforehand that we are to walk out in our lives (Lev. 26:3, Deut. 8:6; 11:22; 19:9; 26:17; 28:9; 30:16; Psalm 119:35; Luke 1:6; 2 John 1:4; 2 John 1:6)

In the OLD Testament when God commanded these things, he gave these commandments ONLY to the people of ISRAEL throughout THEIR generations. The word translation forever literally means from age to age. The word of God teaches us that the law was ADDED because of transgressions UNTIL the PROMISE of the SEED of Abraham came to FULFILL the LAW and the prophets. The TRUTH of the matter is that the 119 Ministries has INCORRECTLY interpreted Matthew 5:17,19 and thereby has leavened the whole lump with FALSE teaching. Please read the two part study called Dd-71. 119 Ministries ERRORS of interpretation Pt 1 and Dd-72. 119 Ministries ERRORS of interpretation Pt 2 Also read Dd-40. ACTS 10 Peter's Vision of CLEANSED Meat? But for now, let us continue with the arguments made by the 119 Ministries.

Now we are really beginning to understand the difference between a true application of circumcision and a false application of circumcision.

This is why Paul states what he does in 1 Corinthians 7:19.

1 Cor. 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

No, that is NOT WHY Paul states that circumcision is NOTHING and uncircumcision is NOTHING. Paul's statement has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the APPLICATION or manner of HOW circumcision in the FLESH is PRACTICED whether it is practiced in a TRUE application or in a FALSE application. But RATHER, Paul's statement has EVERYTHING to do with teaching the church that CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH made with hands has been ABOLISHED, because Paul CLEARLY and PLAINLY states in the verse right before this verse that Christians are NOT to seek to be CIRCUMCISED.

Please read 1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called being in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED. (How can the word of God make it any plainer and clearer than this passage of Scripture that needs absolutely NO INTERPRETATION what so ever? The law of God concerning circumcision in the FLESH made with hands has been ABOLISHED and FULFILLED through our Lord Jesus Christ at the CROSS!)

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.”

The phrase “CIRCUMCISION is NOTHING” means that circumcision in the FLESH made with hands is NOTHING anymore, because it has been ABOLISHED by the cross of Jesus. THEREFORE, let NOT any man seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands for ANY REASON whatsoever. The TRUTH of the matter is that the DECEIVER, Satan, the Devil, has DECEIVED those in the 119 Ministries, the Hebrew Roots Movement and the Sabbath Keeping groups to keep ALL the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances. The word of God cannot make it any CLEARER than LET him NOT be CIRCUMCISED.

Do not forget that the church was YET LEARNING from the Holy Spirit as they made some MISTAKES along the way. But the final outcome has been made quite clear that the law of God, concerning circumcision in the FLESH, has been ABOLISH. And the Apostle Paul DEFINITELY, without fail, taught AGAINST the law of God concerning CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH. For you see, Paul clearly and plainly stated that circumcision is NOTHING and to NOT let Christians seek to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

This is a very confusing statement by Paul because circumcision is actually a commandment of God as an inward and outward commandment.

It is not confusing when one RIGHTLY divides the word of God. It is only confusing because the 119 Ministries has NOT RIGHTLY DIVIDED the word of TRUTH in their effort to TRY and teach that Paul did NOT teach AGAINST to law of God including being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH as an OUTWARD showing of our INWARD circumcision of the HEART.

Any and every INTERPRETATION that is reasoned or concluded must AGREE with the WHOLE word of God. Plain and simple, the teaching of the 119 Ministries is NOT SOUND BIBLICAL teaching. For you see, the 119 Ministries CONTRADICT the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE word of God that needs NO interpretation to understand. LET HIM NOT BE CIRCUMCISED. It just does not get any clearer than that.

Let us continue.

However, if we fully consider everything that we have just reviewed we discover that Paul is once again just teaching against the doctrine of men that teaching circumcision actually means something as it relates to salvation. In reality, to Paul’s point, it does not. Circumcision is simply evidence of faith in the Word. Believing that circumcision provides salvation changes our obedience to men instead of to God. That is a problem. When we believe that our obedience and men’s doctrines can save us we have consequently misplaced our faith. What Paul is stating is that only what God’s commandments say and teach actually matters, not what men say and teach. We are to be servants to Christ, not to men. Just a few verses later Paul even makes this very clear:

1 Cor. 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Again, it was Almighty God that GAVE the command to Abraham to be circumcised NOT MAN. Abraham received the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God by FAITH before God Himself commanded Abraham to be circumcised as a SIGN of a covenant relationship with God.

Plain and simple, the circumcision on the FLESH made with hands was a SIGN of being in COVENANT with God. That SAME SIGN was then given to Moses to give to ONLY the children of Israel to show that they were in COVENANT with God. So then, the circumcision was the SIGN of the OLD Covenant contained in ORDINANCES. The ORDINANCES are the INSTRUCTIONS on how to KEEP the law of circumcision under the Old Covenant. Those ORDINANCES were ABOLISHED by Jesus on the cross. And NOW, under the NEW COVENANT we KEEP the LAW of circumcision WITHOUT the WORKS of the law by our FAITH in Jesus as our TRUE circumcision of our hearts. And to keep the works of the law contained in ordinances is like a slap in the face of Jesus saying that his sacrifice was not good enough.

Now, the MEN Paul is referring to are JEWS, and the Jewish JUDAIZING Christians. And they are FALSELY teaching that the ONLY way to become part of the FAMILY of Abraham to be in covenant with God is to be circumcised in the FLESH according to the Law of Moses. Paul is saying that those men are LIARS and teach NOT the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was teaching AGAINST these FALSE teachers of the law, saying that Almighty God Himself circumcises our HEARTS through FAITH in His Son Jesus Christ. So, therefore, let NOT any Christian seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH. You have been bought with a very dear price by the death of God's Son. So WHY then will you be made slaves to the Law of Moses contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written ONLY to the children of ISRAEL as types, figures, and SHADOWS for their and our learning to point them and us to Jesus the MESSIAH.

So then, WHY are you at 119 Ministries and all the other Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath keeping churches COMPELLING Christians to be brought under BONDAGE after both you and they have been made FREE in Jesus Christ?

Let us continue.

Isn’t that language very similar to Paul’s language to the Galatians? Isn’t being a slave to men instead of Christ (Word made flesh) bondage?

Galatians 2:3-5 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Is God’s law bondage or are doctrines and commandments of men bondage? Answering that question will determine if Paul is teaching against the Law of God or commandments of men in his example of the situation surrounding Titus.

Again, the only way that the 119 Ministries can convince their followers to keep the WHOLE law of God contained in some 613 ordinances is to INCORRECTLY DIVIDE the real issue and FALSELY teach that Paul is teaching two DIFFERENT things at the same time. They falsely interpret this passage of Scripture to mean that Paul is NOT teaching against the LAW of GOD, but rather, Paul is teaching against the commandments of MEN.

This is the ONLY way they THINK that can explain AWAY the clear simple teaching of God's word of TRUTH that Titus did NOT give INTO the COMPELLING of these JEWS to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH for ANY reason whatsoever. There is absolutely NO verse of Scripture that teaches that Titus was later circumcised in the FLESH as an OUTWARD showing of his INWARD circumcision of the HEART made by Almighty God Himself. They are ADDING their own private interpretation. What can MAN do to IMPROVE on what Almighty God has already done through His Son dying on the cross? NOTHING! Circumcision is NOTHING so, therefore, let NOT any Christian seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH.

Let us continue.

Perhaps now is an appropriate time to address the points mentioned in the beginning of this study that we still need to test to scripture. If these points fail to pass then we know that Paul is teaching against commandments and doctrines of men and not teaching against God’s law.

Notice, that they interchange the word law with commandments of God whenever it is most convenient for THEM to do so. For you see, most Christians do, in fact, believe and keep the COMMANDMENTS of God, but very few Christians believe that they must keep ALL the law of God. Again most Christians know from the clear, plain, and simple word of God that the law contained in ordinances has been ABOLISHED by Jesus at the CROSS.

Let us continue.

Given the amount of scripture we have already covered, these points should already be rather easy to test, but the goal of this study is to not leave any room for confusion.

If the above is correct then the following should pass the scriptural test:

1) The doctrine of the group influencing the Galatians observes the Law of God.

2) Observing God’s law is bondage.

3) The freedom that we have in Christ Jesus (Yeshua) is freedom from God’s law.

4) Observing God’s law is against the gospel.

5) Paul taught against circumcision.

1) Does the doctrine of the group influencing the Galatians observe the Law of God?

We need to answer this because it is assumed in the mainstream doctrine that the Galatians are being compelled to observe the Law of God. It is not considered that the Galatians are simply being compelled to follow a different gospel and a doctrine that is contrary to the Law of God. Consider reading Galatians 6:12-14.

Galatians 6:12-14 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may NOT suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Paul makes it clear that this group does not even keep the Law of God themselves. They simply teach circumcision to boast in converts according to their false doctrine. It would be no different than a group with false doctrine today compelling new believers to be baptized into their doctrine. Baptism is certainly not wrong and is a commandment of God. Yet having those that teach and believe false doctrine and a false gospel baptize us certainly sends about as wrong of a message that can be sent.

The same issue applied with Titus. Thus the Galatians were not being compelled to be obedient to the ways of God, but the ways of man that corrupted the ways of God.

Let us examine this incorrect INTERPRETATION of the 119 Ministries a little closer. Let us read Galatians 6:12-17 to get more CONTEXT so that we can clearly see what is TRULY being taught here by Paul.

Galatians 6:12-17.

“As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, THEY (Referring to the JEWS who believed in Jesus that were obviously being COMPELLED by the unsaved JEWS in the Jew's religion, who did NOT understand the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ) constrain (Or COMPEL) you (Referring to GENTILE Christians) to be circumcised; (Speaking of being circumcised in the FLESH according to the law of God. For you see, this was the ONLY WAY that these JEWS, in the Jew's religion, understood that a Gentile could be brought into a COVENANT with God. And these Jews, in the Jew's religion, were threatening PERSECUTION to these Jews who believed in Jesus UNLESS they COMPELLED the Gentile Christians to be CIRCUMCISED in the flesh. So then, these Jews who were now new believers in Jesus were compelling their fellow Gentile brothers in Jesus Christ to be circumcised as they had been circumcised earlier in the Jew's religion) ONLY LEST (Or the ONLY reason that they did this was for FEAR THAT they themselves were going to SUFFER PERSECUTION at the hands of the JEWS in the Jew's religion) they (Speaking of the JEWS who are now new believers in Jesus Christ) should SUFFER PERSECUTION for the cross of Christ.

13. For (Or because) neither they themselves who ARE circumcised (Speaking of the JEWS in the Jew's religion, but also refers to these Jews who just accepted Jesus as their Messiah as well who were already circumcised in the flesh. It is true that every Jew keeps the law of God to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands, but obviously, no Jew, whether the Jews who became Christian the unsaved Jews TRULY and COMPLETELY) keep the law; but desire to have you (Gentile Christians) circumcised, (In the FLESH as they have been circumcised in the FLESH after the law of God written in the OLD Testament) that they (The JEWS in the Jew's religion and perhaps some of these Jews who just became Christians) may glory (Or boast) in your flesh.

14. BUT God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15. For (Or BECAUSE) in Christ Jesus neither circumcision AVAILS any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16. And as many as WALK according to THIS RULE, (NOT to become CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH after the OLD law of God to know and understand that under the NEW Covenant circumcision in the FLESH profits nothing) peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Or may God have MERCY on the children of Israel for not obeying the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ)

17. From henceforth (Or from here on out) let no man trouble me : (Or I do not want to hear another word about keeping the WHOLE law of God contained in some 613 ordinances that NONE of the Jews were able to bear, because Jesus came to ABOLISH the law contained in ORDINANCES) for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul is saying that he bears the scars of being PERSECUTED for his FAITH in our Lord Jesus Christ. NOWHERE in the NEW Testament do we see where Titus was EVER circumcised in the FLESH as an OUTWARD sign of the INWARD circumcision of his HEART made by Almighty God himself without HUMAN hands. This is just another FALSE INTERPRETATION made by those who want to be teachers of the law. Ephesians 2:10 teaches us that we are GOD'S WORKMANSHIP so that all the glory may be His.

Yes, we are a new creature created for the very purpose of doing GOOD WORKS. But nowhere in the NEW TESTAMENT are we taught or commanded to keep ALL the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances. The NEW Testament repeats and teaches only nine of the ten commandments of God, which without a doubt we are to keep as a matter of obtaining ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. But remember the life we live in Christ is by FAITH. It is the Holy Spirit within us that does the work. All the glory belongs to Almighty God the Father. We are HIS workmanship.

So then, point #1 given by the 119 Ministries FAILS to be SOUND BIBLICAL teaching. Therefore, Paul did in FACT teach AGAINST Christians being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH at any time.

1 Corinthians 7:18.

“...Let him NOT be CIRCUMCISED…”

Let us continue with point #2.

2) Is God’s law bondage?

Paul clearly accuses the false gospel and doctrine of the Jewish sect Circumcision Party/Works of Law to be bondage in Galatians. We have a choice. Either the Law of God is bondage and thus Paul is teaching against the Law of God, or men’s doctrine related to the Law of God is bondage and thus requires correcting.

Scripture declares God’s law to be freedom.

Psalm 119:44-45 So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:25 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

Thus Paul simply cannot be declaring God’s law to be bondage. Freedom/liberty is the opposite of bondage. We simply can not ignore that. As established earlier, God’s law defines sin. Sin is defined as bondage in scripture. This is why God’s law is liberty. If we walk in God’s law we are not sinning. This actually leads us into the next point that we need to test to scripture.

First of all, I myself along with most Christians do not believe that the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God are BONDAGE. The word of God clearly teaches us that the commandments of God under the New Covenant written in the New Testament are NOT GRIEVOUS. And certainly, Paul and the entire NEW Testament does NOT teach AGAINST the keeping of the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of Almighty God. So it is very MISLEADING and DECEPTIVE to interchange the word “LAW” with the “COMMANDMENTS” of God whenever it benefits the personal INTERPRETATION of Matthew 5:17,18 by the 119 Ministries.

Secondly, the Hebrew word translated as “liberty” in Psalm 119:45 does NOT mean FREEDOM like the Greek word in the New Testament. But rather, it means roomy, wide, broad, and PRIDE or PROUD. That Hebrew word is found 20 times in the KJV and it is translated 3 times as PROUD, 1 time as liberty, and 16 times as wide, broad, and roomy.

And as far as quoting James, the word liberty is referring to the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament. Can you not see how those in the 119 Ministries TWIST the Scriptures to try and FORCE the word of God to fit their OWN personal interpretation of God’s word?

The TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus came not to COMPLETELY ABOLISH the WHOLE ceremonial law at his FIRST coming. But it is quite evident that Jesus did indeed ABOLISH the ORDINANCES contained in the ceremonial law of God by FULFILLING the word of God that foretold of his coming and why he was coming, which was to PREACH the gospel, to preach DELIVERANCE and to set at LIBERTY.

Also, Paul did, in fact, teach AGAINST the CEREMONIAL law of God concerning ordinance of the CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH calling it BONDAGE.

Please read Galatians 2:1-5.

“Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

2. And I went up by REVELATION, (In other words, Paul had received a REVELATION from the Holy Spirit and the REVELATION from God led Paul to go to the church at Galatia) and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, (The leaders in the Jew's religion) lest by any means I should run, or had run, in VAIN. (You see if Paul had gone in privately behind their backs so to speak, then they would have cause to accuse Paul of stirring up trouble)

3. But NEITHER Titus (Showing us that there were MORE at the church in Galatia who ALSO were not DECEIVED nor COMPELLED to be circumcised) who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: (In other words, Titus did NOT give into the COMPELLING to be circumcised in the flesh)

4. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, (Meaning those responsible for this DIFFERENT GOSPEL that is teaching Christians to be COMPELLED to be CIRCUMCISED is BECAUSE of these FALSE brothers), who came in privily (Or secretly) to spy out our LIBERTY which we HAVE in Christ Jesus, that (Or so that) they (These false brethren who are preaching this DIFFERENT GOSPEL to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH) might bring us INTO BONDAGE: (So then, HOW is it liberty in Jesus when Christians are not FREED from ANY WORKS of the Law of Moses contained in ordinances that Jesus ABOLISHED and nailed to the cross? Sabbath-keeping Christians have PERVERTED the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ and they TWIST the teachings of Paul to their OWN DESTRUCTION)

5. To whom WE gave place by subjection, NO, NOT for an hour;(Or in today's way of speaking, “To whom we did not give heed to their false teaching to be circumcised for ANY reason NO NOT for a single second”) THAT (Or so that) the TRUTH of the GOSPEL might CONTINUE with you.”

If Paul was TRULY teaching Christians to be circumcised in the flesh as an OUTWARD showing of their INWARD circumcision by Almighty God in their HEART, then this would have been the perfect place to teach this. But instead we clearly and plainly see that Paul is teaching AGAINST the ceremonial law of God concerning circumcision in the flesh as being BONDAGE and a DIFFERENT GOSPEL. But this is not all that Paul says about the law of God being BONDAGE.

Please read Galatians 4:3-11.

“Even so we, when we were children, (Referring to being children of Israel under the OLD COVENANT) were in BONDAGE under the elements (Or the FIRST PRINCIPALS) of the world:

4. But WHEN the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5. To (Or made under the law for the purpose to) REDEEM them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7. Wherefore, (Or for this reason) you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8. Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9. But NOW, AFTER that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, (Speaking of the FIRST PRINCIPLES set forth under the law contained in ordinances) where unto you desire again to be in BONDAGE?

10. You OBSERVE (Or KEEP) days, and months, and times, and years.

11. I am AFRAID of you, lest (Or for FEAR THAT) I have bestowed upon you labor in VAIN.”

In other words, I am afraid that I wasted my time preaching the GOSPEL unto you, because you have returned to the BONDAGE of keeping the law of God that was the FIRST principles of God of observing weekly Sabbath days, monthly celebrations, and yearly feast days which were SHADOWS of the TRUE giving to us to keep, UNTIL the promise of the MESSIAH should come.

The word that is translated as “ELEMENTS” here means that which came FIRST is part of a WHOLE which takes RISE. In other words, the WHOLE plan of Almighty God was to establish a FIRST covenant with His people Israel, UNTIL the REST of his plan could be FULFILLED, which is the PROMISE of the MESSIAH coming into the world to put into FORCE a NEW COVENANT.

Also, please read Galatians 5:1-14.

“Stand FAST therefore in the LIBERTY where with Christ hath made us FREE, and be NOT entangled again with the yoke of BONDAGE.

2. Behold, (Or open your eyes of understanding and SEE) I Paul (An apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ called by GOD and not by MAN) say unto you, that if you be CIRCUMCISED, Christ shall profit you NOTHING.

3. For I testify AGAIN to every man that is circumcised (Or how many times do I have to declare unto you that every man that seeks to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH after he comes to Jesus Christ by FAITH), that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (In other words, a little LEAVEN or a little FALSE teaching of a DIFFERENT gospel will lead to you trying to keep the WHOLE law contained in some 613 carnal ordinances which NONE of the Jews could keep)

4. Christ is become of NO EFFECT unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the LAW; you are FALLEN from GRACE. (Again, Paul is NOT teaching against any MORAL law of God. But rather Paul is teaching against Christians who seek to keep ANY of the CEREMONIAL law of God including the keeping of the WEEKLY Sabbath DAYS, the monthly new moon festivals and the yearly feast days, the dietary laws and of course being circumcised in the FLESH. So REPENT and come back to the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ)

5. For (Or because) we THROUGH the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by FAITH.

6. FOR (Or because) in Jesus Christ neither circumcision AVAILS ANYTHING, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by LOVE.

7. You did run well (Or you were doing great until you started listening to this DIFFERENT gospel) who did HINDER you (Or who is hindering by compelling you to be CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH and to try and KEEP the WHOLE law of God contained in carnal ordinances to go back to observing days, months and years) that you should NOT obey the TRUTH?

8. This persuasion comes NOT of him that calls you. (Or this teaching of being circumcised in the flesh for any reason comes NOT from the Holy Spirit who has called you into the FAITH of the gospel of Jesus Christ)

9. A little leaven (Or a little FALSE teaching) leavens the whole lump. (Or leads to more and more FALSE teaching that will spread to other believers unless it is stopped)

10. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will be NONE otherwise minded: (But I have confidence in all you who are reading this study in God's word that you will come back to the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ) but he that troubles you shall bear his JUDGMENT, whosoever he be. (But he that continues to teach this FALSE doctrine of trying to keep ALL the law of God including being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH for any reason shall bear his judgment to be JUDGED UNDER the LAW, because they are FALLEN from grace and Christ profits them NOTHING)

11. And I, brethren, IF I yet preach circumcision (As some FALSELY accuse me of doing, then), WHY do I yet SUFFER PERSECUTION? Then the offense of the cross CEASED. (Or there would be no need to persecute me, because I would be preaching the same as the Jews teaching the Law of Moses, to keep the WHOLE law of God under the OLD COVENANT)

12. I would that they were even cut off which trouble you.

13. For, brethren, you have been called unto LIBERTY; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by LOVE serve one another. (Here is where some even in the mainstream church falsely get the idea that Christians are FREE to do whatever their flesh desires, which is a gross ERROR as well. Freedom from the law has nothing to do with being made free to SIN. The New Testament clearly teaches us that we are to KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of God under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. And nowhere in the New Testament are we taught to keep ALL the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances. We are called unto LIBERTY to walk in LOVE)

14. FOR (Or BECAUSE) ALL the law is fulfilled in ONE WORD, even in this; You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.”

So then, point #2 given by the 119 Ministries also FAILS to be SOUND BIBLICAL teaching. Therefore, according to the WHOLE word of God, Paul does INDEED teach AGAINST the law of God INCLUDING being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH after you have believed in Jesus Christ. Paul did NOT teach Christians to be circumcised in the flesh as an OUTWARD sign, because he plainly stated that no one is to seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the flesh. Let us move on to point number 3.

3) Is the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus (Yeshua) is freedom from God’s law?

As John 1:14 states, the Word became flesh. Yeshua is freedom because He is the Word in the flesh. The Law of God is the Word. Walking as Christ walked is walking in the Word of God. Thus the freedom we have in Christ is the Word which is contrary to the false doctrines and commandments of men. Walking in the Word is the opposite of sinning. Sin is bondage. Walking as Christ walked (not sinning) is freedom. Christ did not afford us a license to break the law of God. He is to be our example, not our excuse.

Again, the manipulation of God's word to incorrectly teach that every single WORD spoken in the Bible is God's LAW is MISLEADING. I agree that we are not FREE to SIN. The MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God are a PART of the law of God and the only part that is still in FORCE under the NEW COVENANT.

Please read 1 Corinthians 7:18,19.

“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him NOT become uncircumcised. Is any called being in uncircumcision? Let him NOT be circumcised. (Or AFTER one accepts the call of God to come to Jesus Christ let NOT the BELIEVER seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the flesh after the OLD law under the OLD COVENANT)

19. Circumcision is NOTHING, (Anymore under the NEW COVENANT) and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT the keeping of the commandments of God.”

Again, the keeping of the commandments is speaking of keeping of the MORAL commandments of God. For you see, all of the MORAL commandments are still in FORCE under the NEW COVENANT.

So then, point #3 presented by the 119 Ministries also FAILS the test to be found as SOUND BIBLICAL teaching. Therefore, according to their own words, if ANY one of their points fails then Paul did, in fact, teach AGAINST the law of God. Let us continue with point number 4.

4) Is observing God’s law against the gospel?

So much scripture could be presented here to prove that God’s people are to observe God’s law. Psalm 119 is perhaps the best testimony to that understanding. Here is how scripture defines the Law of God. It should be noted that there is no difference between what the Old and New Testament teaches:

Literally every FALSE teaching quotes Scripture to try and prove that it is Biblical. But as I have said many times any verse when taken out of context and viewed alone and apart from the WHOLE word of God may seem to say or may be made to say something that it is not truly saying.

First of all, Psalm 119 is a prophecy of Jesus loving the law of God. Jesus was set free from hell because he kept the whole law of God to suffer and die as an INNOCENT man.

Secondly, the Hebrew word translated as “liberty” does NOT mean FREEDOM like in the New Testament, but rather it means PRIDE or PROUD.

And of course, almost any verse in the OLD Testament will validate the OLD Testament law of God.

However, when the Old Testament is viewed in the LIGHT of the NEW Testament, then it can clearly be seen that SOME of the law of God, written in the OLD Testament, under the OLD COVENANT, has indeed been ABOLISHED. For the clearest example, the OLD covenant law of God pertaining to the offering of animal sacrifices was ABOLISHED at the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to preach this GOOD NEWS that he was the FULFILLMENT of the OLD Testament prophecies.

So, therefore, in SOME points or areas, the teaching of observing ALL the law of God is indeed AGAINST the TRUTH of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. This is why most Christians have called any law of God that deals with MORAL issues, the MORAL law and everything else the CEREMONIAL law because it has nothing to do with the MORAL issues.

Please read Galatians 2:2-21.

“And I went up by REVELATION, and communicated unto them that GOSPEL which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be CIRCUMCISED:

4. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our LIBERTY which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.

5. To whom we gave place by subjection, NO, NOT for an hour; THAT (Or so that) the TRUTH of the GOSPEL might CONTINUE with you. (Now, if the TRUTH of the gospel is to be circumcised in the FLESH made with hands as an OUTWARD showing like water baptism, then the Gentiles would have already been circumcised when they were baptized in water)

6. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it makes no matter to me: God accepts no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7. But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8. (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9. And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

10. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

11. But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be BLAMED.

12. For (Or because) BEFORE that certain came from JAMES, he (Peter) did EAT with the Gentiles: BUT when they were come, he WITHDREW and separated himself, FEARING them which were of the circumcision.

13. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. (A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Peter’s disobedience to the TRUTH of the GOSPEL caused many other believers to DISOBEY the TRUTH of the GOSPEL)

14. But when I saw that they walked NOT uprightly according to the TRUTH of the GOSPEL, (By wrongly drawing back from EATING with the Gentiles) I said unto Peter before them all, If you, being a Jew, live after the MANNER of Gentiles, and NOT as do the Jews, why COMPEL you the Gentiles to live AS do the Jews?

15. We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the FAITH of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

17. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18. For (Or because) if I build AGAIN the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the FAITH of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21. I do NOT frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in VAIN.”

Now if you remember the 119 Ministries claim that the word of God teaches that we are to keep the law ONLY as an act of obedience and therefore the keeping of the law has NOTHING whatsoever to do with SALVATION.

But is this truly what the whole word of God teaches us. For example, if someone as a born again Christian commits murder and never repents of that murder, will their DISOBEDIENCE to the COMMANDMENTS of God keep them from obtaining ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come? Most every Christian will agree that NO MURDERER shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

So then, our OBEDIENCE to the COMMANDMENTS of God has EVERYTHING to do with receiving the END of our SALVATION, because if anyone is found to be a DISOBEDIENT and UNFAITHFUL servant, then they will be cast OUT into outer darkness.

Therefore, obeying God's law, as defined as obeying God's COMMANDMENTS, is definitely NOT against the GOSPEL.

However, teaching Christians to obey ALL the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances is against the TRUTH of the GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Also, remember in Galatians 1:6-11 where Paul is WARNING us, as Christians, NOT to be DECEIVED by any OTHER GOSPEL, because there is only one TRUE GOSPEL, which is the gospel that Paul himself received by REVELATION for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:6-12.

“I marvel that you are so soon REMOVED from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER gospel:

7. Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would PERVERT the gospel of Christ. (This may sound like Paul is contradicting himself at first, but Paul uses two different Greek words that the translators translated as another. The first Greek word in verse 6 means an ALTERED or perverted gospel. And the Greek word in verse 7 means the same gospel of preaching Jesus but it is perverted by those troubling other Christians to believe the ALTERED gospel to keep the Law of Moses)

8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.

10. For do I NOW persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For (Or because) if I yet pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ. (Now ask yourself the question WHO persecuted WHO, and WHO preached this OTHER PERVERTED gospel to AVOID being PERSECUTED. You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul and the early church were being PERSECUTED by the Jews because they were teaching AGAINST the law of God concerning being CIRCUMCISED in the FLESH made with hands)

11. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is NOT after man. (To PLEASE the JEWS)

12. For I neither received it of man, nor was I taught it, but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ.”

Think about Paul NOT being taught by MAN what he preaches. The Law of Moses was taught by MAN and the circumcision of the HEART came by REVELATION from Jesus expounding the Scriptures to Paul. And there are no Scriptures prophesying that circumcision should be done as a so-called “OUTWARD SHOWING” that God has circumcised our hearts.

So then, point #4 given by the 119 Ministries FAILS to pass the test of being SOUND BIBLICAL teaching.

The truth of the matter is that Jesus did, in fact, ABOLISH part of the law and Paul did, in fact, teach AGAINST the law of God concerning CIRCUMCISION in the FLESH, which was a PART of the law that Jesus ABOLISHED on the CROSS.

I want you to also consider that under the OLD COVENANT law, God's people were circumcised in the FLESH by cutting AWAY the FLESH and that this CUTTING AWAY of the FLESH took place on the EIGHTH DAY. It was on the EIGHTH DAY that Jesus rose from the grave VICTORIOUS over the enemy to set us FREE from the LUST of the FLESH. Circumcision was a SHADOW of Jesus freeing us from the lust of the FLESH. Sin has no more DOMINION over those of us who are IN Jesus Christ. That dominion that once hung over us has been CUTAWAY by our Lord Jesus Christ on the EIGHTH DAY. Sacrifices were offered to the Lord God for CLEANSING of sin on the EIGHTH DAY. Jesus ascended into heaven to his heavenly Father on the EIGHTH DAY before he allowed anyone to TOUCH him.

Here are some verses that are given by the 119 Ministries to show that the law in the Old Testament is SUPPOSEDLY also taught in the New Testament. But again, the word “LAW” is very MISLEADING. There is NO DOUBT that the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God are taught in both the Old AND the New Testament.

However, much of the law, apart from the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God, has been ABOLISHED at the CROSS of Jesus for those who BELIEVE that Jesus died for their sins. Also, be cautious when teachers of God's word try to manipulate the word of God by saying things like, since the Bible says, and then they twist the Scriptures. For example, some Christians say, the Bible says, “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was made FLESH.” But then they put their own interpretation on what the Bible says. They say something like, “Now, we know that the word made flesh is speaking of JESUS, therefore, JESUS is the WORD.” They misuse the Scriptures by REVERSING them to argue that if Jesus is the WORD then that means that Jesus is Almighty God Himself in the flesh. And Sabbath-keeping Christians do the same thing to argue that the New Covenant is just a CONTINUATION to the Old Covenant. They argue that if God said it in His WORD, then His WORD is His COMMAND. Therefore, everything God has said in His WORD is His COMMANDMENTS. Therefore, the LAW of God written in His WORD in the Old Testament is His COMMANDMENTS. Therefore, Christians must obey ALL of God’s word. And thus, THEY wrongly conclude that Christians must obey BOTH the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

But that is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us! That is called circular reasoning and is very MISLEADING and even DECEPTIVE in many applications. So do NOT be DECEIVED by this kind of mishandling of God's word. You can skip past these verses for now, if you like, and we will cover the last point given by the 119 Ministries which finally comes down to answering the SIMPLE question DID PAUL TEACH AGAINST THE CIRCUMCISION?

1. The Law blesses (obey) and curses (disobey).(Deut 11:26-27)(Ps 112:1)(Ps 119:1-2)(Ps 128:1)(Prov 8:32)(Is 56:2)(Mat 5:6)(Mat 5:10)(Luke 11:28)(Jam 1:25)(1 Pe 3:14)(Rev 22:14)

2. The Law defines sin.(Jer 44:23)(Ez 18:21)(Dan 9:11)(Ro 3:20)(Ro 7:7)(1 Jo 3:4)

3. The Law is perfect.(Ps 19:7)(Jam 1:25)

4. The Law is liberty.(Ps 119:45)(Jam 1:25, 2:12)

5. The Law is the way.(Ex 18:20)(Deut 10:12)(Josh 22:5)(1 King 2:3)(Ps 119:1)(Prov 6:23)(Is 2:3)(Mal 2:8)(Mark 12:14)(Ac 24:14)

6. The Law is the truth.(Ps 119:142)(Mal 2:6)(Ro 2:20)(Gal 5:7)(Ps 43:2-4)(Jo 8:31-32)

7. The Law is life.(Job 33:30)(Ps 36:9)(Prov 6:23)(Rev 22:14)

8. The Law is light.(Job 24:13)(Job 29:3)(Ps 36:9)(Ps 43:2-4)(Ps 119:105)(Prov 6:23)(Is 2:5) (Is 8:20)(Is 51:4)(2 Cor 6:14)(1 John 1:7)

9. The Law is Jesus, the Word made flesh.

(PERFECT-LIBERTY-WAY-TRUTH-LIFE-LIGHT)(Ps 27:1)(Jo 1:1-14)(Jo 14:5-11)(1 Jo 1:7)

10. The Law is also for the Gentiles (foreigner/alien) who are grafted in.(Ex 12:19) (Ex 12:38) (Ex 12:49) (Lev 19:34) (Lev 24:22) (Num 9:14) (Num 15-16) (Num 15:29) (ie: Ruth)(Is 42:6) (Is 60:3) (Mat 5:14) (Eph 2:10-13) (Ac 13:47) (Ro 11:16-27) (Jer 31:31-34) (Ez 37) (1 Jo 2:10) (1Jo 1:7)

11. The Law is God’s instructions on how to love God, how to love others, and how to not love yourself.(Ex 20:6)(Deut 5:10)(Deut 7:10)(Deut 11:13)(Deut 11:22)(Deut 30:16)(Deut 6:5)(Lev 19:18)(Neh1:5)(Dan 9:4)(Mat 22:35-37)(Matthew 10:39)(Mat 16:25)(Jo 14:15)(Jo 14:21)(Ro 13:9)(1 Jo 5:2-3)(2 Jo 1:6)

Now, all that is true, BUT what they left OUT is that the LAW is a SCHOOLMASTER to lead the children of Israel to JESUS and the LAW was added UNTIL Jesus came.

Let us continue.

5) Did Paul teach against circumcision?

Paul simply taught for God’s law and against the poor interpretation and application of God’s law.

First of all, every verse of Scripture quoted about the LAW is true. However, the 119 Ministries makes NO DISTINCTION between the MORAL law and the CEREMONIAL law. They completely IGNORE the FACT that Jesus ABOLISHED the law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES, according to Ephesians 2:8-15 and Colossians 2:8-17. They TWIST the words of Paul to try and prove that the ORDINANCES against us that Jesus blotted out and nailed to the cross are our SINS that were written down by God against us that Jesus took out of the way. They ignore the words of Paul saying, do NOT seek to be circumcised.

Nonetheless, let us go ahead and examine point 5 as well. The 119 Ministries has argued most all the way through this study in God's word that Paul was NOT teaching against circumcision, but rather, to THEM, Paul was ONLY teaching against the APPLICATION or the MANNER in which Christians are to actually be circumcised in the flesh as being REQUIRED to be SAVED. In other words, they try to use the illustration of baptism as being an OUTWARD sign of an INWARD experience. And thus, they wrongly conclude that Christians MUST be circumcised in the flesh man with hands if they TRULY LOVE God, but NEVER as a way to EARN one’s salvation.

However, their man-made THEORY does NOT stand up in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God. For you see, Paul ALSO clearly and PLAINLY states that no believer is to ever seek to be CIRCUMCISED in the flesh made with hands. So then, this whole vain jangling about being some so-called “manner of application” of HOW and WHY Christians are to be circumcised in the FLESH CONTRADICTS the REST of the word of Almighty God. And, therefore, the whole 119 Ministries should be REJECTED as FALSE teaching along with ALL seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping church denominations.

Let us continue with the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

Hopefully, this study helped illustrate and discern the difference. Obviously, Paul cannot be calling circumcision bondage and teach against what Christ taught. Christ Himself was circumcised on the 8th day and He never once said He was in bondage. Paul declared that he himself was also circumcised on the 8th day and he also never declared himself to be in bondage.

Both Jesus and Paul were JEWS, who were UNDER the LAW. So of course they were circumcised. Every JEW was circumcised because they were BORN UNDER the LAW before FAITH came. The law was added UNTIL Jesus came to establish the New Covenant by his shed blood on the cross.

Jesus kept the WHOLE law perfectly to FULFILL the SHADOWS in the law which pointed to him as being the one prophesied to come. And thus, the ceremonial law of commandments contained in ORDINANCES was a SCHOOLMASTER to lead the children of Israel to Jesus as being the Messiah. So of course, Jesus never considered any of the law bondage to him. But both Paul and Peter called the ceremonial law of God contained in ORDINANCES a YOKE and BONDAGE. And even Jesus said to the Jews under the law who were heavily laden to come and take his YOKE, because his YOKE is LIGHT.

Please read Galatians 3:23-25.

“But BEFORE faith CAME, we (Speaking of the JEWS) were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed.

24. Wherefore, (Or for that very reason of being under the law was that) the law was our SCHOOLMASTER to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25. But AFTER that FAITH has COME, we are no LONGER UNDER a schoolmaster.”

In other words, once a Jew accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior then they are no longer under the LAW, because the LAW was only added to teach them about Jesus.

Also, it says the LAW and NOT the MORAL COMMANDMENTS of God were a SHADOW of that which is TRUE that was prophesied to come. And Jesus is the FULFILLMENT of those SHADOWS of the law, which he ABOLISHED at the CROSS. The easiest SHADOW to see and understand is the commandment to keep the feast of Passover to eat all of the Passover lamb. That lamb is a SHADOW or a FIGURE teaching about Jesus being the TRUE LAMB slain in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. And once a Jew believes in Jesus as the ONE sacrifice for sin, then they are no LONGER UNDER the LAW to keep the feast of Passover. And the SAME is true with EVERY commandment of every Sabbath DAY including the WEEKLY Sabbath day.

For you see, we are no longer UNDER the OLD Covenant. And under the NEW Covenant there is no commandment or any instructions to keep ANY DAY of the week Holy. In fact, Paul calls Christians who esteem any day above any other day WEAK in the faith, according to Romans chapter 14.

Now let us read where Paul says that he himself was in BONDAGE being under the law.

Please read Galatians 2:4,5.

“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out OUR liberty which WE have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into BONDAGE:

5. To whom WE gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

Now let us read where the Apostle Peter called the Law of Moses a YOKE that neither the very Apostles of Jesus before they became Christians nor their father’s under the Law of Moses before them could BEAR.

Acts 15:10.

“Now therefore why TEMPT you God, to put a YOKE upon the neck of the disciples, which NEITHER OUR fathers NOR WE we were able to BEAR?”

Let us continue with the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

Paul even circumcised Timothy in Acts chapter 16. Are we to conclude that Paul practiced bondage and a false gospel supposedly contrary to his own writings and rebuking of the Galatians?

Please keep in mind that the church was still yet receiving REVELATION KNOWLEDGE from the Holy Spirit at this point in time when Timothy was circumcised. Please read the study called Dd-40. ACTS 10 Peter's Vision of CLEANSED Meat? for a deeper understanding of this subject.

Also, keep in mind that when the seed of God's word is sown, the ENEMY comes immediately to try and steal that word from God. This is called TEMPTATION. Who in their right mind would even think that Paul lived a perfect life without any sin whatsoever? And thus, it is possible that Timothy being circumcised may very well have been Paul being overcome by the lies of the enemy Satan. Remember that Timothy was not a FULL Jew, nor was he a FULL Gentile. His mother was a Jew and his father was a Gentile.

And at that time in the early church growth, there were not any CONCRETE decrees given in the church on how to deal with this kind of a situation. And thus, at that point in time the church was still yet LEARNING. And it is while Christians have not yet learned the whole truth is when the ENEMY of our souls works to deceive the children of God. So just because Paul circumcised Timothy does NOT mean that Paul taught that Christians should be circumcised in the flesh. That would CONTRADICT Paul’s word teaching Christians being uncircumcised when they first believed to NOT seek to be circumcised in the flesh. Paul may have been given MORE revelation AFTER he circumcised Timothy. CLEARLY, Paul did NOT circumcise Titus. And clearly, Paul teaches the uncircumcised in the FLESH to NOT seek to be circumcised. The TRUTH of the matter is that we ARE circumcised with the TRUE circumcision of our heart made WITHOUT hands by Jesus cutting away the SINS of our flesh. And thus, circumcision in the FLESH was a SHADOW pointing to the TRUE circumcision of the HEART. So we are KEEPING the LAW of God to be circumcised with he TRUE circumcision of our HEART by our FAITH in Jesus.

Thirdly, early on in his ministry, Paul became as a Jew to WIN the Jews to Jesus, and he also became as the Gentiles to WIN the Gentiles to Christ.

And fourthly, like James FEARED for the safety of the Gentile Christians and laid upon them four NECESSARY burdens. Also, Paul may have feared for Timothy's life and had him circumcised being compelled by the Jews to do so for Timothy’s SAFETY. And thus, his being circumcised had NOTHING whatsoever with KEEPING the Law of Moses for ANY reason whatsoever to please God.

So to ME, there is no doubt that Paul was CONVICTED of the Holy Spirit for doing this circumcision in the flesh. For you see, later on we see very CLEAR evidence in God's word that Paul did INDEED teach BOLDLY AGAINST Christians being circumcised in the FLESH. And so much so AGAINST the whole Law of Moses, that it appears that Paul was getting fed up with all the contention over this matter. At the end of the Book of Acts Paul rents a house where he preaches the gospel to those who come to HIM. Paul no longer goes out to preach to the unsaved Jews. Paul only preaches to the Jews that come to HIM. Paul turned his preaching to the Gentiles from that point on. Basically, Paul was saying to the unsaved Jews and to the Judaizing Christians to work out their OWN salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING, because he was tired trying to persuade them to obey the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let us continue with the arguments of the 119 Ministries.

The verses that appear that Paul is teaching against circumcision are clearly teaching against false doctrines and commandments of men which were against the Law of God. In the instances in which Paul taught for circumcision and practiced the commandment, it was incorrect obedience to the faith.

Paul is not schizophrenic and nor should we create theological models that force Paul to be unstable. We need to take the warning Peter gave us in 2 Peter 3:14-17 seriously. According to Peter, he is just difficult to understand and without a solid foundation in God’s Word, it is easy to use Paul to teach against God’s law to our own errors.

I agree, Paul is not schizophrenic, nor does Paul contradict himself when he teaches that we are not UNDER the law. But then, Paul goes on to continue to teach that we, as Christians, are to KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of God. And Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that Paul is referring to the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant when he says to keep the commandments of God. And their INTERPRETATION contradicts Acts 15:10-24 where the WHOLE church agreed that no such commandment is to be given to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. So CLEARLY, Paul is speaking about the commandments of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament.

I agree that ALL Sabbath-keeping Christians should take both Paul and Peter’s teachings SERIOUSLY when they are kept in their CONTEXT and correctly interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Notice that the Sabbath-keeping Christians do NOT quote verse 18 of Peter’s WARNING to GROW in GRACE and in the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ. In other words, STOP trying to grow in the works of the law and in the knowledge of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES.

2 Peter 3:18.

“But GROW in GRACE, and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

So then, the problem arises when Christians try to MAKE all the law of God to be one and the SAME as every word written in the Old TESTAMENT under the OLD covenant. Paul never once taught against any MORAL law of God. But Paul did indeed teach against EVERY single CEREMONIAL law written in the Old Testament under the OLD covenant contained in ORDINANCES.

So Paul never contradicts himself and he is ONLY hard to understand by those who TWIST the Scriptures to their OWN destruction. Can you not see that it is HARD for a JEW who has been taught all his or her life to KEEP all of the Law of Moses to the LETTER of the law to now UNDERSTAND that under the NEW Covenant they are no LONGER UNDER the LETTER of the LAW. But NOW, they keep the law by FAITH in Jesus who FULFILLED the SHADOWS in the law contained in ORDINANCES.

Now some may argue that I teach against the commandments of God because I teach that I myself do not find in the New Testament that the early church kept the WEEKLY SABBATH DAY according to the ORDINANCES written by Moses concerning the fourth commandment. Please read the studies called Dd-5. What Does Contained in ORDINANCES Mean?, Dd-4. What does EPHESIANS 2:8-15 TRULY MEAN?,Dd-12. Why Only NINE of the TEN Commandments, and Dd-13. Is JESUS OUR TRUE SABBATH REST?

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to read ALL the studies that I gave links to throughout this study concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH.

My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.

To learn more TRUTH, then please return to

AMatterOfTruth.com

If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me.

My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com.

Some Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that the early church kept the Sabbath as the Jews, but I assure you that the early first-century church was accustomed to gathering together BEFORE the light of daybreak on the FIRST day of the week that THEY called the Lord's day.

Please read all the studies linked within this study and all the studies linked below. This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians. All of the studies listed under the subject heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<< And also read Dd-20. Did The Early Church KEEP the Sabbath day to learn the truth of what the early church believed.

Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.

Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

RETURN to HOMEPAGE at

AMatterOfTruth.com

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Dd-52. Has God's LAW BEEN ABOLISHED? PART 4