Who We Are – The Circumcision
Are you bound to sin and selfish desires? Do you want to escape from that?
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“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3. NIV).
With these words, Paul urged the Philippians to recognize who they were, to remember to whom they belonged and to live accordingly. It stands as a definition of who we are in Christ.
First of all, Paul calls us “the circumcision”.
In the book of Colossians, Paul not only clarifies that he is not talking about a physical procedure, but also explains what he means.
Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Living in the power of the Holy Spirit
“In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11, 12, NIV).
To be part of “the circumcision” means that we have put off the sinful nature. The sinful nature has been part of every human being’s make up since Adam first sinned in the garden. Therefore it’s not something we can just decide to drop and it’s gone. Rather, as Paul teaches us in these verses, Christ Himself cuts away (circumcises) our sinful nature through our faith in the power of God.
Do you know what that means?
It means we have been freed from the sinful nature. No longer are we bound to sin or forced to follow selfish desires. In a spiritual surgery, Jesus replaced our old nature with His Spirit. We are the circumcision. We refuse to have anything to do with the sinful nature. We are free.
God, I want to live in that reality, no longer dabbling in sin, but completely renouncing it through the power of Jesus.
Questions: How does knowing that Christ has cut away your sinful nature help you say no to temptation? How does this definition, of who you are in Christ, change your mindset?
About the Author Suzanne Benner
Tags: Christ, circumcision, free, paul, philippians, physical procedure, selfish desires, sinful nature, surgery, Suzanne Benner
4 Responses to “Who We Are – The Circumcision”
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For me saying no to temptation in the begining of my salvation was’nt easy.But the more time I would spend in praise and worship and realize what God has done for me nobody could ever have set me free from my old nature. God has done too much for me and the transformation in my life had not only changed my life,but my family,friends and collegues lives aswell. I can easily say no to temptation if I keep myself from this wordly system and know that light and darkness don’t have anything in commen.Satan can only get to temp you if you allow him.We should not be conformed to the pattern of this world but by the renewing of our minds.Bad company corrupts good habits.I believe God always show a way out to temptation,but we are to blind sometimes to open our spiritual eyes.I’m still being tempted,but when temptation come I give it unto God and he will take control instead of doing things in my own strength, which always fail in the end.Phil 4:13 carry me thru these 2 years of my salvation especially where temptation is concern.Amen
Thank you for this challenge. Lift up a prayer for me, that I would let go of the things of the past/ wrong thoughts, that I’d be completely free in the Lord. Thank you.
Daer EM I am praying for you right now! The Lord is with you always. Remember that not by our strength, or power or might; but through the Lord you have the POWER to change & be free of wrong thoughts. We need to keep connected to our power source daily through prayer & seeking his word in the Bible & devotionals like this one.
Thank you so much for that encouragement, Carol! And for reminding me of that verse. May God continue to help us in our workplaces, families, relationships, and health.. God bless you.