Abandonment by circumcised Jews of the Mosaic Law, or encouraging other Jews to abandon it, is condemned in the Mosaic Law. Jesus never told Jews to abandon the Law—it was their covenant. But He called them to focus on His teachings, which fulfilled the Law and pointed to the New Covenant. Gentiles were never under the Mosaic Law. Baptism into Christ is their sign of faith, and keeping his teachings, sealed by the Holy Spirit, not circumcision. To be circumcised into the Law after baptism is to turn away from Christ’s grace, which is condemned in Christ. A Gentile circumcised before baptism, was, if they were later baptised, uniting with the risen Jesus Christ, and from then on bound to him as Lord and Teacher, with faith in him, and to keep his teachings always. Really it all comes to the same, in Christ, both for Jews and Gentiles: Believing, being baptised into the living, risen Christ, and holding to his teachings, being marked and cleansed by the Holy Spirit.
