There is nothing you can do to cause you to be saved, not one thing, it is total grace. Not one performance, not one sin-free day, not one commandment or act of purity or sacrificial giving, nothing. Get rid of the whole notion.
These next few verses are interesting and reveal what went on in those private meetings in Jerusalem. Here is the opening line:
“Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.” Galatians 2 v 3
Before we go further into the controversy let’s pause and remind ourselves on the needless compulsion for most things in order to be seen or to know we are His.
Circumcision is so important to the Jew. In fact it is the rite of passage. It is easy to imagine Jewish teachers imposing this requirement on new followers of Jesus.
Baptism is not the outward sign of belonging to God nor is the Lord’s Supper or witnessing or church attendance etc. These are never enough. There is always more things that are needed. Don’t be friends with Pharisees because you will lose the one thing that is of all importance, grace.
Moses called for people to circumcise their hearts. Jeremiah called for people to circumcise their hearts before the Lord and Paul agreed (Romans 2) that circumcision is one done by the Spirit.
I have found the cut of my heart continually happen throughout my life and so have you. Sometimes the pain of circumstances are used to make the cut and sometimes it is the pain of conviction.
It will mark a new day, a new journey, a new direction, this is a moment of change, you will never be the same again and all that sounds wonderfully exciting, but it begins with a cut. It hurts. This is life. This is what makes the beautiful you that you are!
However, I don’t have to do one thing to prove to anyone what Christ has done for me or who I am in Him. He has my heart and He continues to circumcise it.
Missions Paul 