Who are the true circumcision?

Those who worship in the Spirit of God, who glory and boast in Christ alone, and who do not place any confidence in what human flesh can do to please God.

In what ways was Paul ahead of most men in fleshly religious efforts, having more reason to put confidence in the flesh?

He was:

Circumcised on the eighth day as a baby.

Of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews.

According to the Law of Moses, a Pharisee.

According to zeal, a persecutor of the churches of Christ.

Blameless in terms of the righteousness that comes from observing the Law of Moses.

How did Paul regard the merit he had gained from his Hebrew background and his religious works?

As being loss in terms of his grasp of Christ, his living by the Life of Christ.

How did Paul regard all he could gain in the world, including a standing in righteousness and approval by means of the works of the Law of Moses?

As being loss, in that such standing and approval would detract from the perfection and completeness of his relationship to Christ.

What was true of Paul's accomplishments in the world?

He had let go of everything so he could cleave perfectly to Christ.

The concept of forsaking the world so we may cleave perfectly to the Lord Jesus Christ needs to be emphasized in our day. The religions of the world teach men and women how to gain something for themselves, whether by denial of the material realm in order to gain a paradise, or by acquiring power in the material realm through the worship of demons or through the application of soulish, supernatural principles. In some instances, the Christian Gospel has been infected by these various religious disciplines.

Sometimes the problem is that of a self-seeking, self-centered approach to the Gospel so that ministry, gifts, and other works of service are conducted according to one's own needs or the needs of others instead of to the Glory of God.

People today are asking how Christ or how His churches can meet their needs. Enterprising pastors and teachers are polling people to find out their needs and desires (particularly their desires) and are designing "worship services" according to the expressed desires.

The true Christian Gospel, while it ultimately brings us gain, is not oriented toward our getting what we want. It is oriented toward the Lord acquiring what He wants. When the Gospel is used as a means of obtaining what we want, deception and confusion follow.

The Christian Gospel operates on a greater scale than is true of all other religions. The Gospel is the means of bringing into existence the vision and plan of the almighty God of Heaven. The Kingdom of God is the establishing of the worship of God and obedience to God on the part of all creatures in Heaven and on the earth.

To be continued.