God's Law - An Advantage

 

Oracles of God (His Spoken Word Included)

 (Excerpt) 

Objections Answered. 

The first part of the third chapter of Romans consists of questions and answers. 

The thoughtful reader of the epistles of Paul must have noticed the frequent occurrence of questions in the midst of an argument. Every possible objection is anticipated. The apostle asks the question that an objector might ask,  and then answers it, making his argument more emphatic than before. So in the verses next following it is very evident that the truths set forth in the second chapter would not be very acceptable to a Pharisee, and he would combat them with all his might.

The questions raised by the apostle are not difficulties that lie in his own mind;  this is clear from the parenthetical clause in verse 5, "I speak as a man." 

With this in mind, we may read Romans 3:1-18:

1 What advantage then hath 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 a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man.)

6 God forbid; for then how shall God judge the world? 

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

8 And not rather (as we be 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 nowise; 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 understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth 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.

"The Oracles of God." 

An oracle is something spoken. That which was emphatically spoken by the mouth of the Lord is the Ten Commandments. See Deuteronomy 5:22. 

Deu 5:22  These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. 

Stephen, speaking of Moses receiving the law, said,  "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sina, and with our fathers; who received the lively oracles to give unto us." Acts 7:38. The Ten Commandments are primarily the oracles of God, because they were uttered by his own voice in the hearing of the people.

But the Holy Scriptures as a whole are the oracles of God, since they are the word of God, spoken "in divers manners" (Heb. 1:1), and because they are but an expansion of the Ten Commandments. Christians are to shape their lives solely by the Bible. This is seen from the words of the apostle Peter: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God."1 Peter 4:11.

Accepted of God.

 Accepted of God- those who reverence Him in truth, and live in that truth. Not necessarily those who preach God but those whose hearts belong to God. 

Peter said- OF TRUTH- He perceived that GOD IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS.   OF TRUTH - in every nation he that FEARETH GOD and WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS- IS ACCEPTED WITH HIM.

God knows the hearts of all, and some are HIS who know HIM in their HEARTS deeply- this is TRUTH! They live lives that are HIS without the name of being His outwardly.

How wondrous is this? To be God's wholly God's with a heart filled with His ways always.  

Oh, Lord, we would be Yours wholly Yours. Let all pretense, all falsehood, all guile that fills us in any way be done away with so we may serve you from a heart made new by You! Don't let us rest on our laurels of proclamation of being Yours. Let us be Your in TRUTH, all truth! Let our LIVES be witnesses of YOURS beyond our voice. May our mouths be silent if they would betray You in any way whatsoever so that we are separated from You! 

(Excerpt EJ Waggoner)

In the house of Cornelius the apostle Peter made a statement: "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34, 35. 

There are men in heathen lands who may never have heard the name of God, or seen a line of his written word, who will be saved. God is revealed in the works of creation, and they who accept what they see of him there are accepted with him as surely as they who have learned much more of him.

Isa 56:3  Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 

Isa 56:4  For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 

Isa 56:5  Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 

Isa 56:6  Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 

Isa 56:7  Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 

Isa 56:8  The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. 

Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

Rom 2:25  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 

Rom 2:26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 

Rom 2:27  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 

Rom 2:29  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. 

Rom 3:22  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

Rom 3:29  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 

Rom 3:30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

Eph 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; 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 

Eph 3:7  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 

Eph 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ

Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

Denying self for the Treasure.

 Be honest, seriously, be completely honest right now- is the kingdom of heaven a treasure to you? 

Have you ever been on a treasure hunt of any kind? Have you witnessed treasure hunts on television, in movies, or read about them in books?

The bigger the treasure that has been hidden the more intense the treasure hunt, right?

The more that is at stake the more desperate people can be to get that stake. In a lot of treasure hunts more than one person is vying to find the treasure with the knowledge only one can win the prize and obtain the treasure.  Other treasure hunts involve people searching for many years to find a treasure, a lot of people throughout the years for the some lost treasure. Some have even made it their life's work to find various treasures, never succeeding. 

To what importance do we truly hold the kingdom of heaven? Do we TREASURE Heaven?

Are we willing to sell ALL- all of our self, to obtain the treasure that is heaven? Willing to deny self entirely and take up the cross, because denying self is cross bearing.

Mat_13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Luk_9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

More than any price is the Kingdom of Heaven, is salvation! The priceless gift is a treasure. The word of God is a treasure, our Savior is a treasure and we need to seek the treasure endlessly. God help us!

(Excerpt)

Articles on Romans

by E. J. Waggoner

Chapter 3

Introduction

It is not really correct to say that we have finished the study of these two chapters, because we can never finish the study of any portion of the Bible. After we have put the most profound study upon any portion of the Scripture, the most that we have done is only a beginning. If Newton, after a long life of study of natural science,  could say that he seemed to be as a child playing on the seashore with the vast ocean before him unexplored,  with much more aptness can the same be said by the greatest student of the Bible.

Let no one therefore think that we have by any means exhausted this portion of the book. When the reader has the text well in mind, so that he can quite distinctly recall any passage at will, and can locate it with reference to the connection, he has just got where he can begin to study with real profit. Therefore let the reader who is anxious to acquire an understanding of the Scriptures for himself, dwell upon the words as though he were digging in a sure place for treasure. An inexhaustible one awaits his search.

The second chapter is really summed up in the first verse, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." 

The remaining verses are but an amplification of this statement. Thus, we find that there is no exception to the fact that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Hearing and knowing the truth is not a substitute for practicing it. God is no respecter of persons, but will punish sin wherever it is found.

Spiritual Beings.

 Spiritual and literal, the two truly are combined- not separate. We are literal beings of flesh with spirit in us. The spirit within us unites with the Spirit that is God, it enables us to belong to God, it is allows us to communicate with God. God would have us belong to Him by our choosing, not by the mere fact of our existence. God would have us trust in Him and His Word above all else. We are His chosen. Truly we are His chosen people, all who believe in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  May God help us to ever grow in grace and knowledge of our LORD.

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The Meaning of Circumcision.

We have not space to go into this question in detail, but the above texts put us on the track. A careful study of the chapters in Genesis which speak of God's covenant with Abraham will also help to clear up the matter.

We learn in Genesis 15 that God made a covenant with Abraham on the basis of his faith. 

The sixteenth chapter tells how Abraham listened to the voice of his wife instead of the voice of the Lord, and sought to work out the promise of God through the flesh and made a failure. His son was to be born of the Spirit, and not after the flesh.  See Galatians 4:22, 23, 28, 29.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 

Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 

Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Then the seventeenth chapter shows the revival of Abraham's faith, and the renewal of the covenant, with circumcision as the seal. A portion of flesh was cut off to indicate that he was to have no confidence in the flesh,  but was to expect righteousness and the inheritance only through the Spirit of God. 

The descendants of Abraham would thus have a continual reminder of his mistake and would be admonished to trust the Lord and not themselves.

But they perverted this sign. They regarded it as indicating that they were better than other people, instead of looking upon it as an evidence that "the flesh profiteth nothing." But the fact that the Jews perverted and misunderstood the sign does not destroy its original meaning.

Who Are Jews? 

We have seen in a quotation from the second chapter of Galatians that the term "uncircumcised" refers to those who do not know the Lord, or who are "without God in the world." See Ephesians 2:11, 12. 

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world

The Jews are "the circumcision." But only those who rejoice in Christ Jesus are the circumcision, who have no confidence in the flesh.

Therefore the real Jews are none other than [believing] Christians.

"He is a Jew, which is one inwardly." 

Rom_2:29  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.

There never was a real Jew in the sight of God who was not a believer in Christ. 

And every true believer in Christ is a Jew in the Bible sense of the term. 

Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, rejoiced in Christ. See John 8:56.

Joh 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 

A Mark of Separation.

Many have entertained the notion that circumcision was given as a distinguishing mark between the Jews and the Gentiles. The fallacy of this idea is sufficiently shown by a study of the giving of circumcision, and by the statement of the apostle Paul of what it really signified. 

Others suppose that it was given to keep the Jews separate, so that the genealogy of Christ could be ascertained. This also is simply an unfounded guess. Christ was to come from the tribe of Judah, but as all the tribes were circumcised, it is evident that circumcision could not by any means preserve his genealogy. Moreover, circumcision in the flesh never did make any separation between the Jews and the Gentiles.

It did not keep Israel from idolatry, and it did not keep them from joining the heathen in their idolatrous practices.  Whenever the Jews forgot God, they mingled with the heathen, and there was no difference between them and the Gentiles. Circumcision did not separate them.

Still further, God did not wish the Jews to be separated from the Gentiles in the sense that they were to have no dealings with them. The object of his calling out the Jews from Egypt was that they should carry the gospel to the heathen. He did wish them to be separate in character, but outward circumcision could never effect this.

Moses said to the Lord, "Wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." Ex. 33:16. 

The presence of the Lord in the heart of men will separate them from all others,  although they live in the same house and eat at the same table. 

But if Christ is not in the heart of a man, he is not separated from the world, though he may have been circumcised and may live a hermit.

Literal and Spiritual Seed. 

Much of the confusion that has existed in regard to Israel has arisen through a misunderstanding of these terms. People suppose that to say that only those who are spiritual are really Jews is to deny the literalness of the seed and of the promise. But "spiritual" is not opposed to "literal."

That which is spiritual is literal, and real.

Christ is spiritual, but he is the real, literal Seed. 

God is spiritual and is only Spirit, yet he is not a figurative Being, but a real, literal God. 

So the inheritance of which we are heirs in Christ, is a spiritual inheritance, yet it is real.

To say that only those who are spiritual constitute the true Israel is not to modify or turn aside the Scriptures, or to weaken in any way the directness and force of the promise, because the promise of God is only to those who have faith in Christ. 

"For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed,  through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Rom. 4:13. "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29.

Inwardly.

 The appearance- just how much do we base upon appearance? In a world of pictures at our fingertips with access to posting them publicly, we've found out that appearance matters quite a bit. The shaming of people for their appearance is wide-spread. The bullying, teasing, cruelness towards others for their appearance is horrific. You might live in such a way that you've not been exposed to ridicule for your appearance but if so, you know it exists for others. We try to use humor to cover up a lot of what is really just hideous mockery. Do some deliberately choose to appear in such a way they will gain notoriety for it? Yes, but not all. Some are young children facing the judgment of peers for the hand they were dealt upon birth.  Appearance is something some people use as a tool- wanting to appear one way, while secretly being another.   Jesus talked about this--

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 

Mat 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

Outward appearance does NOT matter with GOD! How you appear to others doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things- yet many people have lived a life of emotional agony because we've been taught that our appearance is everything. 

Oh, to be beautiful… oh, to appear desirable, to be someone others look up to merely for our appearance. This is the longing of so many people. We want to look good, we want to look acceptable, we want others to think we look good. How much effort is put into our need to appear other than we are, just to get what we imagine is the approval of others?

Are we inwardly full of decay because we are caught up in such a lifestyle?

Have we let our appearance dictate our lives in any way?

Satan lays his traps well for all of us, and for some of us it is in our appearance. God does not want us obsessing over our appearance to the exclusion of a life lived in His holiness! Wouldn't you give up every single accolade you've received for your appearance if it meant having a closer walk with Christ?

Being born into a way of life that labels you a follower of God, does NOT automatically determine your acceptance with God- not by any means. Our hearts belonging to God, surrendered to Him, matters more than anything else.  May God help us not concentrate on appearing Christ-like- but on being Christ-like in all His glorious truth! 

*******

(Excerpt EJ Waggoner)

What Is Circumcision?

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also

This question is answered in plain language in Romans 4:11, where the apostle, speaking of Abraham, the first one who was circumcised, says: "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised." To the question, "What is circumcision?" the answer must therefore be, The sign of circumcision is a seal of righteousness by faith.

When Circumcision Is Made Uncircumcision. 

This being the case, it is evident that where there was no righteousness, the sign of circumcision was worthless. 

Rom 2:25  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 

So the apostle says, "If thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision." 

As in the previous verses we learned that the form without the fact amounts to nothing, so here we are told that the sign without the substance is of no account. 

It is very easy for a poor man to put out a sign advertising boots and shoes; but to fill the shop with goods requires capital. If he has the sign, but has no boots and shoes, he is worse off than if he had no sign.

The Mistake of the Jews. 

The Jews made a mistake of supposing that the sign was sufficient. They finally came to hold the idea that the sign would bring the reality, just as many professed Christians in these days suppose that the performance of certain rites will make them members of the body of Christ. But circumcision of the flesh alone could represent no righteousness, but sin. See Galatians 5:19-21. 

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

As a matter of fact, many of those whom they despised as "uncircumcised" were thus in reality "circumcised," while they themselves were not.

Circumcision of the Heart. 

Real circumcision is a matter of the heart, that is, of the inner life, and not at all of the flesh.

The apostle plainly declares that what is outward in the flesh is not circumcision, that is, which consists only in outward form; but "circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter." This is stated as a general truth.

Rom 2:29  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. 

This was not a new departure in the days of Paul, but was the case from the beginning. In Deuteronomy 30:6 we read the words of Moses to the children of Israel: "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." 

All true Jews recognized that true circumcision was only of the heart, for Stephen addressed those who rejected the truth as "stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears." Acts 7:51.

Righteousness in the Heart. 

The psalmist says, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts." Ps. 2:6. Mere outward righteousness is nothing. See Matthew 5:20; 23:27, 28.

Mat 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 

Mat 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

 It is with the heart that man believeth unto righteousness. Rom. 10:10. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

When Moses, at the command of the Lord, rehearsed the law to Israel, he said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words,  which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart." Deut. 6:5,6. There can be no righteousness that is not the real life. Therefore, since circumcision is but a sign of righteousness, it is evident that there can be no real circumcision except circumcision of the heart.

Circumcised by the Spirit.

"For we know that the law is spiritual." Rom. 7:14. That is, it is the nature of the Holy Spirit, for the word of God is the sword of the Spirit of God that can put the law of God into the heart of man.  Therefore true circumcision is the work of the Holy Spirit. Stephen called the wicked Jews uncircumcised,  because, said he, "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." Acts 7:51. It seems evident, therefore, that, although the word "spirit" in Romans 2:29 is not spelled with a capital "S," it refers to the Holy Spirit and not merely to the spirit of man. (Of course in the Greek there is nothing to indicate any difference, just as in English the word is spelled the same whether it refers to the Spirit of God or the spirit of man).

If we remember that circumcision was given as the seal of righteousness by faith, and that the inheritance promised to Abraham and his seed was through the righteousness of the law (Romans 4:11,13), 

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 

Rom 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 

we shall see that circumcision was the pledge of the inheritance. The apostle also says that we obtain the inheritance in Christ "in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession." Eph. 1:10-13. The possession promised to Abraham and to his seed was assured only through the Spirit of righteousness; therefore, from the very beginning there was no real circumcision that was not of the Spirit.

Circumcision through Christ. 

"Ye are complete in [Christ], which is the head of all principality and power; in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." Col. 2:8-11. 

Circumcision must have meant as much when first given as it ever did. Therefore from the very beginning it meant righteousness through Christ alone.

This is sufficiently shown in the fact that circumcision was given to Abraham as the seal of the righteousness which he had by faith, and that "he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Gen. 15:6.

Who Are the "Circumcision"? This question is answered in Philippians 3:3: "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." 

And this is but saying in other words what we have in our text, "Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Nobody therefore was ever really circumcised who did not believe and rejoice in Christ Jesus. That is the reason why Stephen called the unbelieving Jews "uncircumcised."

Self-Focused or Christ-Focused?

 Mat_16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Deny Himself.

Albert Barnes Commentary-

'Let him, deny himself - That is, let him surrender to God his will, his affections, his body, and his soul. Let him not seek his own happiness as the supreme object, but be willing to renounce all, and lay down his life also, if required.'

Deny YOURSELF.

SURRENDER YOURSELF to GOD.

Give God your WILL.

Give God your AFFECTIONS.

Give God ALL of yourself- hold NOTHING back from God!

SEEK to live for God in ALL things over and above any thought of SELF.

God in ALL THINGS OF OUR LIVES, OUR ENTIRE LIVES, LEAVE NO PART OF OUR LIVES OUT!

Focusing upon ourselves seems inevitable all the time, right? When we do this self-focusing we recognize our state of existence and how we are feeling at any given moment of self-assessment. Are we content- note I didn't say happy, because most of us have already figured out happiness is a fleeting state of being while being content is more of a constant. If we feel even slightly off from the contented constant, the accepted constant of our being, then we determine we are possibly sad, mad, anxious, pained, disturbed, distressed, any number of other states of being. We label this as something we'd rather not be experiencing, we want to return to our accepted constant state of determined contentment (my idea of contentment will not be the same as yours, no two people have the exact same expectation of what gives them their personal state of contentment).  We do this sort of self-evaluation all the time, unendingly throughout our lives, each day. Our self-focus demands this even on a subconscious level. However, we can be particularly conscious of our self-evaluation every single time something disrupts our desired contentment. Our accepted mental, emotional being. Even amidst severe chronic conditions- we have an accepted state of being. A normal for ourselves. Each time we recognize a disruption to our state of being we are focused primarily on self to the exclusion of most other things.  We have these self-determined negative feelings and we do not like them, or want them. We believe whatever has caused these negativities is infringing upon our right to self-contentment. We want the cause to change so we can return to our contented acceptance. Sometimes the cause is within our ability to alter, other times it is not. If we can't get rid of the cause for our self-distress we made a call to either resume our contented state in spite of the distress it causes, or to allow ourselves to spiral deeper into an undesired state of being. 

SELF ABSORPTION. We are obsessed with our SELF and our state of contentment.                                            

As we begin each day we do so with an expectation of what the day's events will be, all the while knowing that more often than not, our expectations are not going to be fully met. Seldom is the day, for many people, perfectly predictable. Note, I said 'for many people', there are those who live their lives under a strict monotony of expectations with rare interruptions to their even-keeled lives.  As the day progresses and we immerse ourselves in our expected tasks- deviations may start to creep in, unexpected happenstances that take us from our expected tasks. Our reactions to these interruptions are most often self-focused inner distress, anywhere from minor to major turmoil. We had expectations- those expectations were not met. Self determines that this must be a cause for distress. We don't want distress, so we label the interruption as being negative. 

We seldom embrace the interruptions with positivity, as opportunities to live Christ's peace in all things. We don't take the interruptions of our expectations as a chance to deny self when we need to do just that! 

Often, even as we extend ourselves towards focusing on others we will find various self-focused thoughts creeping in. Our feet may be aching, our backs paining us, mentally we may feel drained, emotionally we recognize that we are spent, having given so much of ourselves to others and self demands we give ourselves at the very least a mental pat on the back for our sacrifices. 

Self-focused or…

Christ-focused.

Christ-focused means NOT being obsessed with self-focus.

Christ-focused means constantly questioning ourselves to determine what our focus is in the moment.  

When we feel the first twinge of distress because something has disturbed our accepted contentment we need to quickly ask ourselves HOW we can live Christ in this moment. In living Christ we switch our focus to how Christ would desire us to handle the situation. Remember, Christ is all about turning the other cheek, of divesting ourselves of our very garments to another in need, to place ourselves upon a cross so that others may live. You read that right. DENY SELF- TAKE UP OUR CROSS-  recognize the need to sacrifice self-contentment that exists from a core of self-centeredness and not God-centeredness. 

Prayer is a constant must in our lives. Entreating the Holy Spirit to work in us constantly. Recognizing that the power to detect self in need of denying stems from God, and the power to deny comes from God, our need of God's power working is a constant, forever and always!

All by the grace and mercy or our LORD and SAVIOR, now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!