Chapter 8: Justification unto Sanctification
What does it mean to be justified? Justify according to the Oxford dictionary, is to prove to be right or reasonable. A theological definition reads: declare or make righteous in the sight of God. Before coming to Christ, we were full of our own goodness and would even consider ourselves righteous. Now, in the sight of man, we may be righteous and good, but as we have seen already, God views things from a very different perspective. A man who is righteous according to other men may be a child of hell as far as God is concerned. And one whom men call evil, may be a child of heaven. To illustrate, consider how the religious Jews viewed Jesus in His day:
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
Matthew 12:22-25
So, if the Son of God is accused of being in league with the devil by those who should know better, how much more likely is it that men will accuse you or me of being evil?
Once we believe on Jesus, confess our sins, and forsake them and begin to follow Jesus, we are on the path to salvation. Immediately we have this change of heart, followed by the actions (remember, true belief is active, not passive) of confessing and forsaking such sins, which is repentance, God forgives us our sins and the blood of Christ washes away our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
The thing we need next is to be cleansed of the CLINGING and CLOYING nature of our sins; to be cleansed of the Old. This is where the soul begins to be cleansed. This is where baptism comes in. To understand baptism, we will turn to the book of Matthew:
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 3:1-12
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word ‘baptize’ as: To administer baptism; to purify or cleanse spiritually by a purging experience or ordeal. Now, in Matthew, John the Baptist came out of the wilderness to the city of Judea, preaching what? Repentance. Verse 6 tells us that those that came to him were baptized in the Jordan, confessing their sins. So, the natural process after confession of sin is to be cleansed of the sins. This a physical process that John performed, to illustrate the spiritual cleansing that is really taking place and the only way it is valid, is if there is true repentance (confession, followed by forsaking) of sin.
But when the religious leaders came to him for baptism, he immediately recognized them for who they were: hypocrites; and chastised them openly. Look at verse 8: “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance”, means that your repentance must be evident. How? by the forsaking of your sins. The thief should no more steal, the liar to cease from lies. He goes on further to say that every tree which doesn’t bear good fruit is cut down and cast in fire (verse 10). Do you think these religious Jews didn’t think they were good? Absolutely! Yet John called them hypocrites. So, what are the fruits “meet for repentance”? Luke’s account gives us more detail:
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Luke 3:1-17
In verse 10, when the people ask what they should do, he gives them examples: share your surplus with those who have nothing, the publicans (tax collectors) were to charge fair taxes, not more than was required, while pocketing the rest (i.e., stop stealing); to the soldiers, do no violence, do justice and be content with your wages. All these are fruits that show repentance.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, expatiates on true repentance:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:22-32
Put away lying, don’t sin in your anger, don’t hold a grudge overnight (some people hold grudges for life), let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth; no lying, no vile, salacious talk, lewd jokes, and so forth, put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speech, be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving one another. These are the marks of true repentance. This is what John the Baptist means by showing fruits of repentance. And of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Your conscience which may have been formerly deadened by sin, is now alive and attentive to God’s word to receive his word and act on it. So, if there’s any time you step out of line, the Spirit of God which you receive (are open to and can now hear from) will correct you whenever you go astray.
A few people debate whether baptism is necessary. Baptism, the way John did it was by immersion in water, not sprinkling on the forehead. Some people question if it is necessary. To answer this question, let’s look again at the bible:
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3: 13-17
If Jesus did it to fulfil all righteousness, who am I not to do it? This is my response, simple and short. Did Jesus need to be baptized by John? Absolutely not! The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance. An immersion into repentance, meaning an immersion into a life of repentance, which means an immersion into a new way of living, in this case, an immersion into a life of repentance towards God. Now, given all that we know of Jesus, did He need repentance towards the Father? No! He is the Word made flesh, remember? So, when John asks the question, why do you come to me? He says, to fulfil all righteousness. So even though He didn’t require baptism for Him, but since He came in the form of flesh as a man, to settle this question, He did it. So, we who are followers of Him should do it too.
Yet, there is another reason for which Jesus came to John to be baptized of Him. We find this in the book of Leviticus:
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; 3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.
6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
Leviticus 8:1-633 And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. 34 As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.
36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
Leviticus 8:33-36
In Leviticus 8, we see here that Moses prepared Aaron and his sons for the office of the priesthood. Moses began this preparation firstly as we see in verse 6, with the washing of their bodies in water. This water is also known as the Waters of Separation, whereby Aaron and his sons were symbolically separated from their sin.
21 And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses; 22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
Numbers 31:21-23
The waters of separation were to consecrate them unto God to for service. It was used to make clean what couldn’t be put through fire. Not only this, but their days of consecration was also for seven days. For seven days, Aaron and his sons would remain inside the tabernacle and not go out the tabernacle, lest they die. They were being prepared for their service to God.
In the same vein, John the Baptist was a prophet and a type of Moses. His baptism of Jesus was to mark the official start of the ministry of Jesus in the earth, the beginning of Jesus’ service to the Father.
The Lord also affirmed that John was a prophet. See what Luke’s account says:
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Luke 7:24-28
In Verse 28, Jesus says among those born of women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist. Why is this? Recall that when the angel Gabriel visited Zacharias, John’s father, he explained that the child would be full of the Holy Ghost FROM THE WOMB. Also, when Mary visited Elisabeth, John’s mother, the 6-month-old child leapt for joy, while yet in the womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to prophesy concerning Jesus.
So, John was a type of Moses, Moses being arguably the greatest Old Testament prophet, possibly of equal standing or even greater than Elijah, and John came according to scripture, in the spirit of Elijah. Hence, we can argue that the two greatest prophets of the bible were Moses and Elijah. And his baptism of Jesus was to consecrate Jesus who now came as a type of Aaron.
Aaron was High Priest of Israel during the time of Moses. And scripture tells us that Jesus is our High Priest:
1 {A Psalm of David.} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 110:1-4
In verse 4, we see that the Lord said unto David’s Lord (read verse 1 for context), thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. David’s Lord is none other than Jesus Christ! But we will visit this again later. Now, let’s look at why God calls him a priest. Here, we turn to the book of Exodus to understand the Levitical priesthood:
29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. 30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
Exodus 28:29-3036 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. 38 And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
Exodus 28:36-38
One of the duties of the High Priest was to bear the iniquity of the people. Aaron was to bear the judgement of the children of Israel continually upon his heart and upon his head was a signet of Holiness unto the Lord, which he would bear always upon his forehead, FOR THEY TO BE ACCEPTED OF THE LORD. Not only this, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was to approach the Holy-of-Holies and offer up a sacrifice for the people once a year:
10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.
Exodus 30:10
So, we see that Jesus was a type of Aaron, in that He is a type of high priest as Aaron, yet unlike Aaron of the Levitical priesthood, Jesus is of a Melchizedekian priesthood as we learned from Psalm 110. But we get more clarity on this in the book of Hebrews:
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:1-17
In verses 1 – 3 of Hebrews chapter 7, we see who this Melchizedek is. This is the same one whom God spoke of by the mouth of David in Psalm 11. Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The latter had neither father nor mother, was high priest of God, and King of Righteousness and King of Peace, to whom Abraham paid tithes. This Melchizedek was none other than Jesus himself, who had neither beginning of life, nor end of days!
This priesthood was a more perfect priesthood than the Aaronic priesthood. Where Aaron offered the blood of an animal once a year, every year in perpetuity, in fear and trembling lest he was unworthy to enter the presence of God and die, this Melchizedek offered up His blood once and for all and is now seated at the right hand of power on high. This is the priesthood of Jesus. The perfect priesthood!
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Hebrews 7:22-28
While the priests of Aaron perished and had to offer up yearly sacrifices first for themselves and then for others, Jesus offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to end all sacrifices, not daily, but once and forever because He lives forever.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:11-14
At what age did Jesus start His ministry? At the age of 30. Why is this significant? It is significant because this is the age that the Levitical priests began service in the tabernacle of congregation. Didn’t He say He would fulfil the Law?
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 4:1-3
So, the baptism of Jesus by John was to signify the beginning of His consecration into the eternal priesthood of God, to obtain for us an eternal (that is, everlasting redemption from sin and its effects), not a baptism of repentance.
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Luke 4:1-3
And while Aaron and his sons were to remain in the tabernacle for seven days to fulfil their consecration to service, Jesus’s consecration was for forty days.
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Hebrews 10:1-14
The Aaronic sacrifice of the Levitical priesthood was made annually with the blood of animals, as a foreshadow of things to come, not because they could take away the sins of the people. Rather, that all Israel and all the world may understand the gravity of God’s offering of His Son for the sins of the people. Christ’s offering was not made annually, with continuous remembrance of sin, but once and for all, to make us perfect in the eyes of His Father! To purify us! To purge us as no fuller on earth can, no bleach, no chemical, no animal sacrifice, no amount of good works, no amount of fasting and prayers, no amount of anything. He shed this precious blood freely to redeem us to the Father. Hence, there is NO OTHER WAY to come to the Father but through the blood of Christ that atones for all our sins.
Yet for those who need more, I will explain further.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:15-16
He that believes AND is baptized shall be saved; but he that does not believe shall be damned. He that doesn’t believe, also doesn’t get baptized. So, what happens to he that believes but is not baptized? Are they saved or aren’t they saved? Well, we need to fully understand what baptism is. It is an outward sign of a new way of life, or an outward sign of a new way of thinking. Bear with me.
Consider circumcision. The Israelites were told to circumcise all their males on the 8th day. Why?
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 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. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Genesis 17:1-14
Circumcision was the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham (and all his descendants). It was, if you will the deed of the covenant or the sign of Abraham’s agreement to the contract terms he made with God. What were the terms? Verse 1: Walk before me and be thou perfect (Condition to be fulfilled by Abraham); verse 2: And I will make my covenant with you and multiply you greatly (God’s part of the covenant). The details of the covenant are found in verse 7: To be a God to Abraham and to his seed. And the sign that Abraham and his seed must have to REMEMBER this agreement to walk before God and be perfect was what? The TOKEN of the covenant, which is the circumcision of the males on the 8th day.
However, we have fallen into tradition, and no one bothers to ask WHY we get circumcised. But when the children of Abraham and their generations asked, this account of the covenant between God and Abraham would be given as to why they were circumcising their males. Does this mean all that get physically cut have fulfilled the covenant? No, getting cut is to REMIND you of the agreement you had with God! To remind you of the part to play. And if you don’t play your part, which is to walk before God and be perfect, why should He play His part and be your God, blessing you and multiplying you exceedingly?
Too many people have an entitlement mentality. They expect handouts from everyone at every turn. But life doesn’t owe anybody anything. We must always play our part to reap the reward. A farmer who doesn’t plant and feels he’s entitled to a harvest, needs his head examined. Yet we do this all the time.
He who does not sow WILL NOT reap.
So, merely getting circumcised does not entitle one to enter heaven. For this reason, Moses explained to the people:
12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. 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: 18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. 21 He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. 22 Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
What does the Lord require of us, but to walk in His ways? To love and fear Him? To serve Him with all our hearts and souls? To be PERFECT before Him? Look at verse 16. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no more stiff-necked! The physical act of circumcision of the foreskin was a token of remembrance to circumcise the heart, to be converted to His ways.
When the gospel was preached by the apostles however, Paul in his letters to the gentiles (all non-Israelites around the world), didn’t advocate circumcision for them. The non-Israelites didn’t have circumcised men, and when they came to Christ there was a huge discussion about what practices of the Mosaic Law to keep. Should they circumcise their men? What traditions or other Jewish rituals were they to keep?
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 15:1-5
Finally, Paul and Barnabas convinced the disciples of Jesus and all who were present that the physical act of circumcision wasn’t necessary because the circumcision of the hearts was what was needful.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
Acts 15:19-31
So, of all the rituals and traditions in the Law of Moses, they were to abstain from food offered to idols, abstain from eating blood and from things strangled and from fornication. There was no more the requirement to be circumcised and because it’s a painful process, we see the people were glad in verse 31.
For this reason, some people think that baptism is also not required. Some cite one of those who were crucified with Him:
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:39-43
Obviously, the man being hanged most likely wasn’t baptized, yet the Lord said He would enter paradise. But we see here that he didn’t have the opportunity to be baptized. Also, due to this, a lot of people think they can eat their cake and have it and wait until they are on their deathbed before they repent, like this man. But I can assure you, that if you willingly turn from God all your life and due to fear at your deathbed, you “repent” of your sins, you most likely will be rejected by God. Don’t be fooled. This man likely had never read what you have read, didn’t know who Jesus was but from the little he knew, realized that an innocent person was being crucified while he’d received his just deserts. Please, don’t be deceived.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:7-8
Others cite the case of Cornelius, an Italian centurion who had lived a life devoted to God, with much prayer and fasting and doing good to those around him, which when Peter preached to him, he was baptized in the Holy Ghost, without having been water baptized:
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 10:30-48
In verse 45, the circumcised people were astonished that the power of the Holy Ghost could come on gentiles who were neither circumcised nor baptized and so some say it isn’t needful. Yet Jesus who was circumcised on the 8th day still got baptized as a sign to us who follow Him. And so should we as well. But remember, that just like the physical act of circumcision, the physical act of being immersed in water is a token of your actual repentance which is of the heart. Repentance from the old way of living. Recall Paul’s letter to the Ephesians which I quoted earlier:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:22-32
This is true circumcision is walking in repentance before God. Baptism is a token of this walk of committment, the putting on of this garment of repentance, the garment of righteousness and holiness. It is the immersion into a life dedicated to Christ. For Christ, baptism was the beginning of His consecration into the priesthood. For us, therefore, not only is it a sign of our repentance, but it is also a sign of our consecration and/or separation to the service of God as it was for our Lord.
If it’s good enough for Christ, it’s good enough for me.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:37-42
Acts 2:38 is a very famous scripture. When anyone asks what they shall do to be saved, this answer of Peter covers it: Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and you shall what? RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. Note that Peter didn’t say, Repent and be circumcised. Rather, Repent and be Baptized, is The Circumcision of the heart. Cornelius was baptized, even though it appeared that he didn’t need to be. Are you wiser than the apostles? Are you wiser than Christ?
Repentance and baptism go hand in hand. Repentance is the acknowledgement of our sinfulness before the Most Holy One, confessing our sins and forsaking them. Baptism starts with the believing with the heart that Jesus came that we may not perish but have everlasting life, that He is the Lamb of God who was slain to take away our sins and present us as Holy before the Father. Once we believe this and repent of our sins, confessing and forsaking them, then we get physically immersed into water as a sign of our repentance and as a sign to follow through to put on the new man of righteousness and holiness, to walk in repentance towards God and put on Christ. Even as we do this, we get washed spiritually of all filth, in preparing our conscience clean before God. We then walk in this repentance; this is the baptism of repentance. Walking in daily repentance is true repentance.
Going to a body of water and getting immersed every single day for the rest of your life without turning away from all God calls iniquity will disqualify you from salvation. The water immersion is no more significant than going for a swim without actual repentance. In the same vein, John the Baptist chided the religious Jews. Were they not circumcised the 8th day as all religious Hebrew males? But did it mean anything if their ways were not pleasing to God? Circumcision, like the physical act of immersion in water is therefore a token of repentance.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 3:27-30
Not of our own “goodness” or our works or keeping traditions or religious rituals, but of our faith to believe in Jesus and DO what He says are we justified before God; even in walking DAILY in repentance and baptism before Him. And ALL, both the circumcised and uncircumcised MUST pass through this gate of faith. What is this faith? This is a word often bandied about without much thought. The dictionary defines faith as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. A second definition calls it a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
Both definitions miss the mark. Firstly, the second definition makes faith sound illogical and superstitious, something the bereaved may cling to, when their loved ones depart. The gospel account reveals how the religious Jews spread lies about the theft of the body of Jesus, that Jesus never arose from the grave.
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Matthew 28:1-11
There are also accounts of eyewitnesses, asides from his apostles which saw Him after He rose from the dead.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
What more proof do we want? Perhaps build a time-travel machine and go back in time to see the miracles recorded in the bible?
The first definition of faith is closer to the mark. Yet it is incomplete. Yes, faith is complete trust or confidence in something or someone, but it is dead so long as there is no evidence of the faith. If my house is on fire and I have complete faith in what I can see with my eyes, yet I sit down cross-legged in front of the TV or decide to take a nap, then what is the evidence of my faith? So, all faith must be evidenced, otherwise it is dead; it is not real faith. Real faith is followed by action that testifies of the faith. These are works of love that testify of our belief in God.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:14-26
John preached the baptism of repentance unto good works. But the apostles preached the next step. The baptism into Jesus. Look again at Acts 2:
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 2:37-39
Be baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS, for remission (removal) of sins. This baptism is now to immerse us into Jesus, into the very mind of Christ. But I will expatiate on this in the next section.
Look again at the third chapter of Romans verses 29 and 30:
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 3:29-30
To justify is to be made right or proven to be right. We cannot declare ourselves to be right, no matter how good we seem in our own eyes. It is God that justifies. God is a God of both Jews and gentiles, and the circumcised Jew is justified by his “evidence-based” faith, while the gentile is also justified through the same evidence of faith. This is how we are justified before God, which leads us into sanctification. It is not of our self-righteous works, lest any man should boast. It is not in our own self-righteousness, but it is in the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the dear price He paid for our salvation. It is our faith that causes us to believe in our hearts and to DO our part in submitting unto the King of Kings and Lord of Lords before whom all will kneel; in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth, be they principalities, powers, rulers, or majesties, to the glory of the Father! Amen.