Have you ever wondered why the bible seems to be a mystery to so many people?
Pr 25:2 ¶ It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Jesus spoke in parables to keep unbelievers from understanding the mysteries of God, Matt 13:11. He explained this to His disciples in Mk 4:11-12.
Mr 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you (followers of Christ) it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: Mr 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Knowledge concerning the mysteries of God is a privilege reserved for Jesus followers. A person must humble themselves and choose to do what God says before they are allowed to perceive the kingdom of God. As a person grows in grace (abstains from ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12) they grow in the knowledge (mysteries) of Jesus, 2 Pet 3:18.
The mystery of Circumcision is one example of this. Circumcision is a sign or symbol of our covenant with God signifying that a person has faith in God, Rm 4:11, and Gen 17:11. The Spiritual nature of circumcision was known as far back as Lev 26:41, Deut 6:5 and Deut 10:16.
De 30:6 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. God brings us into the covenant
In Romans 2:25 and 1 Cor 7:19 Paul tells us that Circumcision (of the heart) is equivalent to keeping the Laws of God, Rm 2:25-29. Ro 2:25-29 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
1Co 7:19 (physical) Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Circumcision is a token of keeping God’s law which Jesus summarized as love.
The process whereby Jesus teaches Christians not to sin is referred to as Circumcision in Colossions 2:11.
Col 2:11 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: Learning not to sin is the reality of Circumcision. God’s grace teaches us not to sin (true Circumcision of the heart), Titus 2:11-12.
Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
The Grace of God has appeared to all men, Titus 2:11. However only those who humble themselves before God receive His Grace and are taught to deny ungodliness, Jas 4:6. It is possible for a person to receive God’s grace in vain. They can refuse to deny ungodly actions.
2Co 6:1 ¶ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Christians can receive the grace of God in vain as is seen in – Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Dying to sin/ungodliness (circumcision of the heart) is a sign that a person is a follower of Christ.
The Law of God is permanent and shows us how to please God.
Jesus summarized the Law of God for us and made it easy to understand. Jesus said – Everything that the Law and prophets say is fulfilled in one command. Love the Lord your God… and your neighbor…, Matt 22:37-40.
1 Corinthians 13 gives us the scriptural definition of Love, the first two characteristics of which are patience and kindness.
So if we are patient and kind to everyone all the time we fulfil all the commandments of God.
The Law of Moses taught sinners how to be reconciled to God after they had sinned.
The Law of Moses was for sinners. If a person was under the authority of the Law of Moses they had sinned and needed to be forgiven of the sin and reconciled with God by a sacrifice. Then they would live and not die, Rm 10:5.
Ro 3:19 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Under the Law = Guilty of sinning.
Transgression of the Law is sin, 1 Jn 3:4. However the grace of God which came through Jesus teaches us to deny ungodliness/sin, Titus 2:11-12. Grace came through Jesus, Jn 1:17.
When a Christian denies ungodliness they are cooperating with the Grace of God and are under grace. Paul referred to this when he spoke to the Roman Christians and said they were not under the authority of the Law but the authority of the grace of God, Rm 6:14.
A Person can either cooperate with grace and deny ungodliness or participate in sin.
Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
The Law of Moses changed when Jesus died and now if we want to be forgiven we don’t have to sacrifice an animal or anything else. Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus is the sacrifice.
The Law of Moses made nothing perfect, Heb 7:19. Jesus brought God’s grace to us so that sinful people cannot only be forgive through confession but be taught by God’s grace to deny sin. This is not the Law of Moses but of Christ.