End Time Insights

Anyone who is under the Law of Moses is obligated to keep all its required deeds and rituals, and therefore, risks coming under its curse . In his Letter to the Galatians , Paul responded to teachings by certain “ men from Jerusalem ” who were disrupting the churches, claiming that male Gentiles must be circumcised “ to complete ” their faith. This group also promoted following the Hebrew calendar and the Levitical dietary regulations.

Returning to the jurisdiction of the Torah means the restoration of the old social and religious barriers between Jews and Gentiles . The third chapter of Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia is pivotal to his plea for unity among Jewish and Gentile believers. The divisions between Jews and Gentiles imposed by the Mosaic Legislation are inappropriate in the Church. With the arrival of the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ, “ no longer can there be Jew or Greek ! ” – (Galatians 3:28).

The gift of the Spirit is one of the blessings of Abraham that God promised to bestow on His people through His Messiah . Paul refers to the “ promise of the Spirit ” in his letter to the Galatians. He equates this gift with the blessing of Abraham. Jesus came under the curse of the Law to redeem us, so that now, “ the blessing of Abraham might come on the nations through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith ” – (Galatians 3:13-14).

The key issue in Galatia is whether Gentiles must be circumcised and keep some, at least, of the deeds required by the Torah .  Paul’s letter to the Galatians is his response to a controversy in the churches of Galatia. The issue is the status of Gentile believers. Must they conform to Jewish practices and submit to the regulation of the Mosaic Law, especially the rite of circumcision?

Paul presents the points of agreement and disagreement with his Judaizing opponents in Galatia  – Galatians 2:15-21. What identifies the people of God and determines membership in His covenant community is Christ, especially the Messiah who has been revealed on the Cross. Jews and Gentiles are justified through Jesus and his death,   and nothing else !

With the new era inaugurated by Jesus, circumcision is no longer the sign of membership in the covenant community .  Circumcision is an obstacle to claims that disciples must keep the Mosaic Law. In  Genesis , it is the entrance rite of the Abrahamic covenant and the identifying sign of the covenant. And it is mandatory under the l aw given through Moses at Mount Sinai. Thus, if circumcision is no longer required, then the jurisdiction of the Law has changed.