Philippians 3:3
“for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh”.
Circumcision was the jewish rite God gave them to set them apart. However, that was no longer necessary when Jesus came (I Cor 7:19).
Colossians 2:11 says, “In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.” Present circumcision is not physical, but to put off the sinful nature. Matt 16:24 says, ‘Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”‘ When we accept Christ, we make Him lord of our lives. We are no longer the boss. We aren’t to sin any longer.
Jesus wants us to love Him and others. With some this is easy, with others it’s more challenging. Doing so often means denying ones self. We might not like them or they may be selfish. We are still to love them. That’s when God moves in us. We might not feel it in the moment, but we are doing what He wants when it’s difficult. He honors that.
Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The a few verses later, it says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law”, (v. 22, 23). He’s given us a new nature that desires the things He does. Then He fills us with His fruit. Amazing.
Today’s verse also says “we take pride in Jesus Christ”. I love it. He is God, He’s our savior and the sustainer of all. Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Many see Him as insignificant, a myth made for children. He holds the planets and keeps them in their places, the power of an earthquake or a tsunami are nothing to Him. He saved us and by His Spirit He guides us and fills us. His children are honored to stand with Him. We are more than proud of Jesus.
Lastly we are to put no confidence in the flesh. There is a shift in us. We now rely on God, not ourselves. Yes we are the ones living our lives, but He’s at our center. 2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” This isn’t a mental trick we play. The more we rely on God the more power He gives us.
Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Some think it was very poor vision. It affected him. He prayed multiple times for God to heal him. The answer was “My grace is sufficient for you”, (verse 9). Paul say glorious things when he was a young christian. So much so, that it would puff him up with pride. God allowed the thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. Pride would have limited God’s work in and through him.
That’s why the beatitude in Matthew 5:3 is so powerful, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We are all poor in spirit. One is blessed if he is aware of it and relies on God for strength, help, salvation and so on.
Thank You, God, that we are the true circumcision. That Your Spirit fills us with power and fruit. Thank You that You empower us and that we don’t have to put confidence in the flesh.