So Christians are supposed to be kosher and (men) be circumcised. Huh. :think:
Paul explained that circumcision is no longer required in Romans 2:25-29 and Romans 3:1-3
"25 Circumcision is, in fact, of benefit only if you practice law; but if you are a transgressor of law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 If, therefore, an uncircumcised person keeps the righteous requirements of the Law, his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision, will it not? 27 And the uncircumcised [person] that is such by nature will, by carrying out the Law, judge you who with its written code and circumcision are a transgressor of law. 28 For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision that which is on the outside upon the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and [his] circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God.
3 What, then, is the superiority of the Jew, or what is the benefit of the circumcision? 2 A great deal in every way. First of all, because they were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements of God. 3 What, then, [is the case]? If some did not express faith, will their lack of faith perhaps make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Paul went on to confirm the irrelevance of physical circumcision in 1 Cor 7:19 "
Circumcision does not mean a thing, and uncircumcision means not a thing, but observance of God’s commandments does".
In other words the outward symbolism of circumcision wasn't enough as proof of faith or love of God. Circumcision of the heart is what mattered most. As Jesus said the two greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37 were "You must
love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this: ‘You must
love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets". Thus Jesus instructed that love was the criteria that ALL men would be judged by. Moses also expounded on this in the OT in Deuteronomy 10:16
"And YOU must circumcise the foreskin of YOUR hearts and not harden YOUR necks any longer"
Likewise the Law covenant handed down via Moses was terminated at Pentecost 33CE as Paul explained in 1 Cor 9:21 Christians are bound to a new covenant which is the "Law toward Christ". This law was based on faith alone and didn't require the stringent stipulations of the Mosaic Law nor the cumbersome oral law that the Pharisees added.
As far back as the prophet Jeremiahs time it was known a new covenant would be created, as Jeremiah spoke of this 'New Law' that would be written on the hearts proverbially speaking of Gods people.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 "31 “Look! The days are coming,” declares Jehovah, “
when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant. 32
It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, ‘my covenant that they broke, although I was their true master,’ declares Jehovah.”
33 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Jehovah. “
I will put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it. And I will become their God, and they will become my people.”
34 “And they will no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know Jehovah!’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,” declares Jehovah. “For I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin."
