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NASB | Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 5:6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love. |
Bible Question: I was born into a church that excommunicates parents for circumcizing their male children, based on Paul's injuction in Galatians chapter 5 from verse 2. My question is, what is the context in which Paul gave the injunction? Does it mean that Gentiles that are circumcized have really fallen away from the grace? |
Bible Answer: It seems to me that Paul means we cannot earn our salvation by our own works. Galatians 5:6 (KJV) says, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love". So, being circumcised does not mean that you're saved, AND not being circumisiced does not mean your saved. Only faith in Christ will allow you to accept God's gift of salvation. If one tries to fulfill the Law (in order to earn salvation) by circumisicion (or any other work), he can't stop there - he must fulfill the WHOLE Law (Gal 5:3). According to Scripture, no one can fulfill the whole Law (Romans 3:10). Paul clears this up even more in Romans 2:25-29 (AMP): "Circumcision does indeed profit if you keep the Law; but if you habitually transgress the Law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be credited to him as [equivalent to] circumcision? Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the Law will condemn you who, although you have the code in writing and have circumcision, break the Law. For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God." |