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Pilgrim said
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speratus said:
I don't see how those verses can be interpreted as saying that unbelieving Jews profited from their circumcision.
They don't need any "interpretation"! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" /> The INSPIRED text says that there was an advantage and profit in being a circumcised Jew over others. Now, if you want to argue about this, do it with Paul or with God Himself Who had it written. The texts are clear to those who have eyes to see and who have not prejudiced themselves against the Word of God by the writings of men. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/igiveup.gif" alt="" />

The text is clear to those who do not isolate a fragment of a verse and ignore the context. In Romans 2:25 through 3:4 and Gal. 5:1-6, Paul makes it clear that circumcision did not profit the unbelieving Jews who trusted in their own works in circumcision rather than Christ's atoning work (covenant of grace). Does their unbelief mean that God did not truly offer all the Jews saving grace through circumcision and the oracles of God? As Paul answers, the validity of the Old Testament circumcision and the oracles of God did not depend on the works of the Jews but God justified the believing Jews by faith alone according to His good pleasure.

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Pilgrim said
Those who are part of the overall covenant community, which circumcision/baptism signifies (among other things), have a great advantage over others because it is within the covenant community that the MEANS OF GRACE are to be found. And it is through these God-ordained means of grace that sinners are called and saved. What was true for the Jew, e.g., they had the oracles of God, the promises, etc. is likewise true for those living after the coming of Christ. They too have the "oracles of God", the Scriptures, the same promises, etc.

The unbelieving Jews were offered the adoption, the glory, etc. but they did not profit from these things. As Paul says, they were ignorant of God's righteousness and went about trying to establish their own righteouness. Romans 10:3. They were blinded and did not obtain the grace freely offered through circumcision and the oracles of God. Romans 11:7. We have a similar situation in the visible church today. The unbelieving members do not profit from the grace freely offered through baptism and the preached Word. They seek to be justified by their own righteousness rather than the righteousness of God in Christ alone.