For he is not a Jewwhois one outwardly,noris circumcisionthat which is outwardin the flesh.
SurelyGodis goodto Israel,To those whoare purein heart!
"Circumciseyourselves to the LORDAnd removethe foreskinsof your heart,Menof Judahand inhabitantsof Jerusalem,OrelseMy wrathwill goforthlike fireAnd burnwith noneto quenchit, Becauseof the evilof your deeds."
"Behold,the daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"that I will punishallwho are circumcisedand yet uncircumcised--
Egyptand Judah,and Edomand the sonsof Ammon,and Moaband allthose inhabitingthe desertwho clipthe hair on their temples;for allthe nationsare uncircumcised,and allthe houseof Israelare uncircumcisedof heart."
and do not supposethat you can sayto yourselves,We haveAbrahamfor our father;for I sayto you that from thesestonesGodis ableto raiseup childrento Abraham.
JesussawNathanaelcomingto Him, and saidof him, "Behold,an Israeliteindeed,in whomthereis nodeceit!"
But ifyou bear the name"Jew"and relyupon the Lawand boastin God,
For neitheris circumcisionanything,noruncircumcision,but a newcreation.
Thereforerememberthat formerlyyou, the Gentilesin the flesh,who are called"Uncircumcision"by the so-called"Circumcision,"[which is] performedin the fleshby human hands--
Correspondingto that, baptismnowsavesyou-- not the removalof dirtfrom the flesh,but an appealto Godfor a goodconscience--throughthe resurrectionof JesusChrist,
I knowyour tribulationand your poverty(but you are rich),and the blasphemyby thosewho saythey are Jewsand are not, but are a synagogueof Satan.
