Unity

Unite and Rise

…27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:27-29)

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about the heart. The word “heart” is mentioned 762 times in the KJV Bible, and it is used in various contexts, I'm sure. The references that have the most significance for Christians involve the heart representing a person’s will or desires. G-d wants people to love Him with all of their hearts. When they stray, G-d wants them to return to Him with all of their hearts.

Circumcision began at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis. The Bible says, “And G-d said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.” (Genesis 17:9-10 KJV)

G-d revealed to the apostles that, under the New Covenant, He makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile. Regardless of race or ethnic origin, He extends the promises of salvation to any and all whom He chooses to call. Under the New Covenant, physical descent from Abraham no longer matters because G-d is concerned only over the person’s repentance and faith in Christ. Those who receive the Holy Spirit after repentance and baptism become “the seed of Abraham.”

Additionally, because the purpose and meaning of physical circumcision have been superseded by the New Covenant, there is no need to inflict pain and possible psychological distress on an adult male through this operation. G-d looked upon the hearts of the Gentiles and saw their repentance. Although they were not circumcised, G-d forgave their sins because of their repentance and faith in Christ and granted them the gift of the Holy Spirit. They were, therefore, justified by faith and spiritually circumcised. The Bible says, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of G-d.” (Romans 2:28-29 KJV) 

In other words, being of Israel or being a Jew has NOTHING to do with being a Christian.  Yeshua came to unite the Jews and the Gentiles even though He was a Jew Himself.

When He was crucified, it was for Jews and Gentiles alike.  The Bible says,
 ...Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." 7: So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:6-9)