Footsteps #29

Male circumcision was not a human institution (c.f.Matt.15:2,9), it had been commanded by God Himself as a sign of His covenant with Abraham’s descendants as His chosen people. (Gen.17:9-14). It was therefore indispensable (for a male) to be a full member of God’s covenant community.

By saying that no Gentile could be saved without first joining Judaism, these men were mixing up two distinct concepts: covenant and salvation. Being a member of God’s covenant community did not guarantee salvation (Jer.4:4, 9:25). In addition, Abraham himself was saved (justified) by faith, which happened before, and not because, he was circumcised (Rom.4:9–13). Salvation has always been by faith, whereas the covenant was a gracious provision through which God would make Himself and His saving plan known to the entire world. Israel had been chosen for this purpose (Gen.12:1–3).

The problem, however, was that by too closely associating covenant and salvation, these believers came to view circumcision as part of salvation. God’s saving grace, however, does not operate where human works operate. So, to impose circumcision on believing Gentiles as a means of salvation was to distort the gospel’s truth (Gal. 1:7, 2:3–5), nullify God’s grace (Gal.2:21), and make Jesus of no benefit (Gal.5:2). Furthermore, it was a denial of the universal character of salvation (Col.3:11, Titus.2:11). Paul could never agree to this type of thinking. Even today there is a danger in thinking that salvation comes merely by being a member of the right church.

In his speech, Peter (vs7-11) addressed the apostles and elders, reminding them of his experience with Cornelius 4 years earlier. God Himself had shown His approval of Cornelius’s conversion (an uncircumcised Gentile) by giving him and his household the same gift of the Spirit that He had given the apostles at Pentecost. God had taught Peter then, to make no distinction between Jews and Gentiles regarding salvation even though they did not have the covenant rules and regulations. Peter’s final statement sounded very similar to what we would expect from Paul: “We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” NLT (Acts.15:11)