For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh...
Philippians 3:3 (ESV)
How important it is for the Christian to know his or her identity. As human beings, we long for it. We identify ourselves with the school we attend, the job we work, the people we hang around, or the church we worship at, just to name a few. Our identity crafts the way that people look at us. Thomas the kid who works at the gas station and Thomas the kid who goes to Harvard may be the same person, but the way in which he is identified changes our perception of him. More than that, our identity shapes the way we think about ourselves. This is even more important because the way others see us will affect only what they think of us, but the way we see ourselves will change the way we live.
Paul too is dealing with issues of identity in the Philippian church. There had come among the church a group of people known as the Judaizers. They taught that salvation required not only faith in Christ but also the adherence to the tenants of the old covenant, especially circumcision. The issue of circumcision was important to the Jews and to Jewish men in particular because for centuries it had marked their identity. Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with Abraham. It was a defining characteristic of any Jewish man. It is easy to see why Jewish believers would want to retain this ancient identity marker.
Paul, however, makes it clear that this idea is flawed. In fact, he calls those espousing it “dogs,” “evildoers,” and “those who mutilate the flesh” (a pun on the Greek word for circumcision which implies cutting off more than just the foreskin) (3:2). He goes on to say that “we are the circumcision” (3:3). What does he mean by this? Did he not just vehemently rebuke those promoting circumcision? In fact, Paul is arguing that true circumcision is something other than a physical act.
This idea is not new but is present in the Old Testament. As early as the book of Deuteronomy the Lord commands his people to circumcise their hearts (10:16, 30:6). In Jeremiah, he says “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and remove the foreskins of your heart” (4:4, NASB). These early texts indicate a concern with spiritual circumcision as opposed to physical circumcision. That is to say, an appropriate heart attitude toward God. In Christ, the transition away from physical circumcision is complete. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit” (Rom. 2:28-29).
In order for the Philippians to confront the Judaizers they had to have confidence in their identity. They had to know that who they were came not from an outward expression of the body but from an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. They were not of the uncircumcised but were circumcised at heart.
The danger of the Judaizers was not just the practice of Jewish law but the destruction of the church's new identity in Christ. Like a freed prisoner returning to his cell, the church would shackle itself again to the law. Instead of living the free life that Christ intended, its members would again become slaves. In order for the Philippians to live abundantly in Christ, they had to recognize that he set them free from the law and that old regulations such as circumcision were no longer applicable. They had to know who they were before they could become who they were meant to be.
The same is true for us. If we want to live free and abundant lives in Christ, we first have to understand our identity in him. For those who are wondering what I mean, let me help you. You are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), a child of the living God (1 John 3:1-2), you can even call him “Daddy” (Rom. 8:15). You have been reconciled to God, and he regards you as holy and blameless (Col. 1:22). You have been justified (Rom. 5:1), you are being sanctified (Phil. 1:6), and you will be glorified (Eph. 2:6-7). You have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You are more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37). You have died, and it is now Christ living in you (Gal. 2:20). I could go on, but hopefully you're beginning to get the idea.
It is essential that a Christian understand his or her identity in Christ. Too many Christians have a poor understanding of who they are, and as such they become poor followers of Christ. Either they would like to take up their cross and follow him, but it just seems too risky. Or worse yet, they have no idea that this is what they are being called to at all. If we do not know who God has called us to be, how can we live to please him?
In order to live fully for Christ, we have to know our identity. But how do we do this? Hopefully my examples provided a hint. We discover our identity from the word of God. There he speaks truth to us and shows us his plan and purpose for our lives. There we learn who we are and whose we are. Of course, that doesn't mean that every question gets answered, but it does mean that we can get the big picture of who God has called us to be. We can walk confidently in our faith, living out the identity that God has placed upon us.
