You will forever run into this ONE big problem with this doctrine of trying to bring the OT feasts and regulations to NT Christians:
What about......... circumcision? Is it necessary in your opinion? If you say yes, then you are contradicting what Paul says in the NT "circumcision is nothing and neither is uncircumcision but keeping the commandments of God". If you say no, then you are merely PICKING AND CHOOSING which OT commandments to keep. Circumcision is a big one, and if you dont do it you are "cut off" from the people. And its not the Mosaic covenant either, its the Abrahamic covenant as well. How do you decide which commandments to keep and which not? Why wouldnt circumcision be required if the feasts/Sabbaths are? Any scripture for this?
So, circumcision, in the new covenant, what say ye? yes or no?
Well first I would say that your understanding of one scripture doesn't make Void any of the Holy Word's of the Christ, the Word which became Flesh. He created Circumcision and there is a reason. And it has been a custom of Christians to circumcise their male children for centuries. So it isn't like sprinkling goats blood on an alter.
Let's look at what Paul actually said.
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord
hath called every one,
so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18 Is any man called being circumcised?
let him not become uncircumcised.
Is any
called in uncircumcision?
let him not be circumcised.
What does it mean to be called? Called to what? Are we not called to repentance?
Matt. 4:
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
So what was the Commandment the Word of God which became Flesh gave to Moses?
Lev. 12:
1 And the LORD, (Word of God which became Flesh) spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
So the Commandment was to circumcise the male child.
But if you read further to Lev. 26 The Christ goes on to say what will happen if His People refuse to honor His Sabbaths and Commandments. How they will be driven and scattered among the heathen. But He also speaks to repentance and the Grace that follows.
Lev. 26:
39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
41 And
that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies;
if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and
they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Circumcision was a sign, but it is the heart that is to be circumcised from the very beginning as it is written..
Duet. 10:
15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them,
even you above all people, as
it is this day.
16 Circumcise therefore the
foreskin of your heart,
and be no more stiffnecked.
17 For the LORD your God
is God of gods,
and Lord of lords,
a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
So Paul, having been given Spiritual understanding of the Scriptures, spoke of circumcision which, along with the Levitical Priesthood "works of the Law" for remission of sins,
was central to the Mainstream Preachers doctrines of His time. (they had omitted parts of His Law like Mercy, Justice and Faith)
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 your parents obey the commandment, you are circumcised, but you "transgress the Commandments of God by your own traditions" or you "Teach for doctrines the Commandments of men". These "Works" turn circumcision into uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision
keep the righteousness of the law, (Keep God's Commandments) shall not his uncircumcision
be counted for circumcision?
So your parents don't obey the Commandment, that's not your fault. But if your heart is circumcised, you are repentant, (turn from your religious ways to God's Word.) you have taken your cross and Followed the Word's of the Holy Christ just like Abraham did before physical circumcision, you too, like Abraham can be accepted.
So Paul isn't speaking out against Circumcision at all. He is pointing out the Lesson from the Examples he said were written for our admonition. (Law and Prophets)
So if God calls us to repentance, repent, turn to God and follow His Commandments. He created His Sabbaths for you, His Holy Days for you. Study to show yourself approved and you too will see that.
#1. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither
is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
#2. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Paul never used Circumcision as a weapon to destroy many of God's Commandments, or as an excuse to reject His Commandments as "many" who come in His name do.
Just the opposite, nothing matters but Keeping the Commandments of God.
There is a lot more scriptures which support Paul's understanding, but "many" on this form aren't capable of comprehending "long posts". That is why the Bile is so difficult for them, it is a very long post.
