Paul more than once uses this word picture, or is it simply a reality?
Our becoming “new creatures,” when we are born again!
We all remember 2nd Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
And the Apostle (actually earlier than the Corinthians Quote I just shared, earlier in time) uses this metaphor with the Galatian Christians as well.
And he does so (still) refuting the false teaching that physical circumcision “saves” or “helps save” or even “keeps one saved!”
Now our Text verse for today: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Wow, Galatians 6:15!
Yes, the very moment we were saved we were placed “in Christ!”
This happens “by grace through faith,” Ephesians 2:8.
(I now live “in Jesus,” and yet Jesus also dwells “in me!” O glorious thought! See here Colossians 1:27. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.”)
The verb “availeth” in our Text is “ischuo” in Greek, one of that language’s great “power” words. It means “enabling, prevailing, serving,” perhaps even “having physical applicability!” (This is a present tense, active voice verb. This “neither availing” is an ongoing truth, situation, durative in nature.
For sure: to get saved, it does not matter one iota (a Greek letter) if a person has been (or has not been) circumcised! All that matters is Jesus, believing in Him!
In fact, gathering from this Verse, I conclude a person is not longer simply a Jew (circumcised) or a Gentile (uncircumcised) in God’s Eyes … but now a “new creature!” Spiritually this is an absolute truth! (Though please understand … God’s promises to Israel as a Nation are still in effect!)
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
We all should be (and some perhaps are) running around shouting “Hallelujah” right now!
It empowers (this “new creaturehood” does) us … not by any of our physical (health) conditions … but rather enables us by means of the Holy Spirit of God … Who made us new creatures (“newborn babes” according to Peter) when we were regenerated, washed in the Blood of Jesus!
My surgical history/record does NOT aid in my walk with God!
The renewing Holy Spirit sure does, though!
By the way, the adjective “new” means “fresh,” or at times “unworn!”
Nothing stale or boring here!
Now I must say, WOW!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Notice too how Paul here just took one more “swipe” at the Judiazers, at the fleshly circumcisers who had infiltrated and confused his beloved Galatian converts!
The Apostle often does that at the end of his Epistles, restates his major premise for writing! Here in Galatians … that would be “God’s Grace versus human works, versus legalism!”