Title: Rebellion of the Circumcision
(Titus 1:10-16)
It was the circumcision hall where the troublesome crowds in the early church entered the church. Even though they say they have accepted Christ, they are the greatest enemies of the gospel, and they are a major obstacle to preaching the gospel. Circumcision refers to those who are circumcised in the church. These were the things that bothered Paul the most.
1. Faith of the Circumcision
Circumcision refers to a kind of legalists in the church. They combined the gospel and the law to form a deformed Christianity, blocking the way of the gospel and putting a heavy burden on the members of the church. Their doctrine is as follows: It is true that people are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. There can be no salvation without faith in Jesus. So far, this is acceptable.
These things are still ubiquitous today. They are Sabbathists who believe in Christ, but claim that there is complete salvation by keeping the Sabbath. Sabbath ordinances are clearly legal. Therefore, their words are in no way different from the legalists who tormented Paul, disturbed the church, and became an obstacle to the gospel in Paul's day. However, regarding their faith, Paul said in verse 10 that he 'disobeyed'.
Rebellion against the truth revealed in the gospel and being stubborn without submission. And about them, Paul was speaking in vain. Talking in vain about the Sabbath, food problems, and the inheritance of elders. And they said they used tricks of deception. Such unevangelical claims are deceiving the truth. Verse 14 says that these people are talking nonsense. The word vain means useless story. Not only is it of no help to salvation or faith, it is of no benefit.
And they called them betrayers of the truth. They believe in Christ but have no faith, and it is Satan who controls them spiritually. Regarding what they are doing, Paul says in verse 11, 'To take the unclean, they teach the wrong things and fall all over the house'.
2. Food Problems
In verse 15, Paul is telling us about the food problem. He says, 'Nothing is pure to those who do not believe, but their hearts and consciences are defiled.' These words of Paul tell us that the Circumcision is not only insisting on circumcision, but also insisting that people should live a legal life even in regards to the food they eat. But Paul concludes the matter of food by saying that to the clean all things are clean. The clean grown up horse refers to those who took a bath as Jesus said, and this person refers to regenerated beings.
Jesus told Peter that those who have already bathed are clean, so all they need to do is wash their feet. He said that nothing is pure to the unbeliever. The reason is that their conscience and heart are already defiled. Jesus said that it is not food that defiles a person. He said that what goes into the mouth cannot defile a person. All of God's creations are good. The reason for the separation of food in the Law was to signify the sanctified life of Israel. In Christ, the Gentiles also entered the ranks of salvation and all became clean, so the food issue in the Law is meaningless now.
However, those who do not believe in the truth of the gospel and disobey the gospel are, in fact, those who do not believe, and they are those who oppose the grace of God. They are those who oppose the way of salvation. Why is that? Because their hearts and consciences are defiled. Because they are eaters. Because they are those who forsake all good works. And it is because they are those who confess with their mouths but deny them with their deeds.
Conclusion: This kind of circumcision still exists today. They are the ones who are pushing something for the gospel. These are the ones who say Lord and Lord with their mouths but disobey in their deeds. I hope that you will be saints who stand in the truth and obey the gospel.