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Philippians Ch. 3.
Paul begins in the chapter with "rejoice in the Lord," and speaks about the safety of the things that he writes to them. He goes on to warn them about, "dogs, evil workers and the concision."
The word, "concision," is in reference to natural circumcision. We know that flesh and blood will not inherit the Kingdom of God, so natural circumcision profits nothing.
Paul continues by saying that, 'we are of the circumcision that worship God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
The KJV bible dictionary defines, "concision," as:
Paul used the word "concision" instead of the word "circumcision", as the definition above shows. There was at that time, natural teachers of the Law who pressed Gentile converts to be circumcised. However, the true circumcision was about dividing the flesh from the spirit in Christ because that is the only way anyone can attain to anything involving heavenly things.
The word, concision, brings to mind the account of Elijah when he stood up against the four-hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Elijah stood alone in the presence of all of the people in Israel to prove that there is only one true God. (1 Kings 18) Elijah challenged the false prophets in every way, knowing that the true and living God would use him and would show the people the truth. Throughout this event, Elijah challenged them in every way and made statements that would cause the people to truly understand the grave error of Israel at that time.
When the false prophets received no answer from their god, Elijah said this:
1 Kings 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
When all of their attempts were failing, this is what the false prophets did:
1 Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
These false prophets who served King Ahab and his wife Jezebel in Israel were mutilating themselves thinking that this would bring an answer, and (of course) it did not. In the end every single one of them were put to death.
The fact that Elijah stood (on his own, at the leading of God) against all of these men shows that there is more to the story than it just being some random account. There is a heavenly/spiritual principle given by example of what it means to, "attain." Elijah's full confidence at this point was in God almighty. He was no longer being moved by natural fear, but by the power of God.
(Outward circumcision was always a picture of this dividing line between flesh (naturally led/flesh, and spirit led/by Christ.)
There had been a progression of events that shook him so much that he feared for his very life and hid in a cave for a time until God drew him out asking him, "what are you doing here?" (1 Kings 19:13) (This reminds me of what Jesus said to the disciples: "Where is your faith, or "why did you doubt?"
As we know, Paul also faced many false teachers and false accusers and yet he pressed on. The chapter goes on to speak of what it means to attain to this same confidence that kept Paul going in the face of natural fear and threat of life. Through continuance in Jesus. Paul, like Elijah attained this living, walking, breathing actual relationship where God was in the lead of every move that he made.
The true circumcision: 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.
Continuing on....
Paul begins in the chapter with "rejoice in the Lord," and speaks about the safety of the things that he writes to them. He goes on to warn them about, "dogs, evil workers and the concision."
The word, "concision," is in reference to natural circumcision. We know that flesh and blood will not inherit the Kingdom of God, so natural circumcision profits nothing.
Paul continues by saying that, 'we are of the circumcision that worship God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
The KJV bible dictionary defines, "concision," as:
Concision [N](Gr. katatome; i.e., "mutilation"), a term used by Paul contemptuously of those who were zealots for circumcision ( Philippians 3:2 ). Instead of the warning, "Beware of the circumcision" (peritome) i.e., of the party who pressed on Gentile converts the necessity of still observing that ordinance, he says, "Beware of the concision;" as much as to say, "This circumcision which they vaunt of is in Christ only as the gashings and mutilations of idolatrous heathen."
The word, concision, brings to mind the account of Elijah when he stood up against the four-hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Elijah stood alone in the presence of all of the people in Israel to prove that there is only one true God. (1 Kings 18) Elijah challenged the false prophets in every way, knowing that the true and living God would use him and would show the people the truth. Throughout this event, Elijah challenged them in every way and made statements that would cause the people to truly understand the grave error of Israel at that time.
When the false prophets received no answer from their god, Elijah said this:
1 Kings 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
When all of their attempts were failing, this is what the false prophets did:
1 Kings 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
These false prophets who served King Ahab and his wife Jezebel in Israel were mutilating themselves thinking that this would bring an answer, and (of course) it did not. In the end every single one of them were put to death.
The fact that Elijah stood (on his own, at the leading of God) against all of these men shows that there is more to the story than it just being some random account. There is a heavenly/spiritual principle given by example of what it means to, "attain." Elijah's full confidence at this point was in God almighty. He was no longer being moved by natural fear, but by the power of God.
(Outward circumcision was always a picture of this dividing line between flesh (naturally led/flesh, and spirit led/by Christ.)
There had been a progression of events that shook him so much that he feared for his very life and hid in a cave for a time until God drew him out asking him, "what are you doing here?" (1 Kings 19:13) (This reminds me of what Jesus said to the disciples: "Where is your faith, or "why did you doubt?"
As we know, Paul also faced many false teachers and false accusers and yet he pressed on. The chapter goes on to speak of what it means to attain to this same confidence that kept Paul going in the face of natural fear and threat of life. Through continuance in Jesus. Paul, like Elijah attained this living, walking, breathing actual relationship where God was in the lead of every move that he made.
The true circumcision: 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.
Continuing on....
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