Circumcision Evangel

06 March 2010

By Mark Farquharson

There is the view that the uncircumcised can be saved by works of the law and faith. This is called the Circumcision evangel or gospel of the circumcision. Those saved by faith without works of the law, are know as the uncircumcised. This then is know as the uncircumcision evangel or gospel of the uncircumcision or Paul’s evangel.

There is also the view that the Jews or anyone can be justified by works alone. This view is totally untrue. I will not be covering in this write up.

Lets now answer some questions on the circumcised evangel of works of the law and faith:

This evangel is said to be different to that of Paul’s evangel. It is viewed that this evangel is only for the circumcised and Paul’s evangel for the uncircumcised, is this correct?

No this is not correct. While this evangel is different to Paul’s evangel, it is not for the circumcised or for anyone. This evangel of faith plus works of the law is NOT an evangel for the circumcised, it is not an evangel for anyone. The only evangel is the evangel of Christ, which is for the uncircumcised and the circumcised, it is for everyone.

Because faith is included does that mean that this is an evangel?

No this is NOT an evangel, there is only one evangel for all mankind, wether your circumcised or uncircumcised, Jew or non-Jew. There are NOT two bodies of believers in Christ, there is only one body. There is neither circumcised or uncircumcised, but all and in all is Christ.

It is stated in Galatians 1:6-9 that anyone bring a different evangel to that of the evangel of Christ is anathema. Because faith is include does that mean people bring it are not anathema?

Wrong people bringing this evangel are anathema, no matter who they are. Anyone bringing a different evangel to that of the evangel of Christ, is Anathema! This is because they are bring something which is untrue, which is leading people away.

Did Paul bring a different evangel to that which was taught at the time?

Paul did NOT bring a different evangel to that which was taught at the time. What He did different, was that He was to bring it to the nations, but it was NOT different in anyway.

Does this mean that the circumcised can be Justified in God’s sight by works of the Law?

No this does not mean that! Works of the law can NOT justify anyone in God’s sight, even with faith. “By works of law, no flesh at all shall be justified in His {God’s} sight.” {Romans 3:20}

But faith without works is dead {James 2:17}?

Faith in Christ produces works, these are NOT works of the Law. Faith in anything else does not produce works and is therefore dead.

Can the Circumcised Boast Because they have Done Works of the law?

No the circumcision can not boast, because man is justified apart from works of the law. This applies to both to the circumcision and the uncircumcision. The circumcised will not be able to boast, because it is not works of the law plus faith, it is faith only for everyone. “Where, then, is boasting? It is debarred! Through what law? Of works? No! But through faith's law. For we are reckoning a man to be justified by faith apart from works of law {Romans 3:27-8}.”

Now for some Concluding remarks:

Those who teach this are teaching something that is completely wrong. They are teaching that the circumcised need to do more to be saved, they need to have more than just faith in Christ. The circumcised do not need to do works of the law, as well as having faith to be saved, or to be justified. Christ needs no help saving the circumcised.

Or are we to say that those of the circumcised do not fully need the salvation of Christ? That they can partly work a salvation for themselves? That they only need a little bit of Christ’s salvation?

Everyone is in need of the fully salvation of Christ. No one can partly work a salvation for themselves. Everyone fully needs Christ’s salvation, there is no big or even small part that they can do on their own.