Who we are. Philippians 3:3. “For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Believers in Christ are peculiar people, but not in the usual sense of the word "peculiar." We are supposed to be a step above in righteousness and morality, yet normal in that there is no pretense, haughtiness, or pride. Different, yes, but the same in the visible way of normal humanity. We may be involved in the pleasures of sin but are separate from it because, when we are around, we know what to say and what not to say. We are distinct from sinful practices, yokes, and human religion, and are separated unto God, who can be a Father to us as members of His family.
Christians walk through life with others who can say, “They are walking with us,” yet in a way, they walk alone when walking in the light. Still, Christians do not walk alone because we can “Walk in the light as He is in the light,” and believers have fellowship with one another. Those we work with and live near can say, “They are talking with us, but their words are different, and their tone of voice is respectful when they talk about the Lord Jesus Christ. They live with us but are careful of the way they live. They don’t mind sharing with us but want more to give attention to the Bible and ‘their church’ than they give to other things. They are different—peculiar.”
Christians are worshipers, but not only in the church; pray-ers, but not only when things go wrong; singers, but not only when everyone else is singing; helpers who willingly share in other people's pain and are there when needed. They are unique and confident. They are confident, but not in themselves. They rejoice in Christ Jesus, who came himself to save them and bring them to God. They worship God, not themselves, and use their God-given gifts to help others. They are called “Peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Eternity is in their hearts; they live in its light. Christ is preeminent because He is their life, and their lives are hidden with Christ in God. God is their Father, to whom they talk often, knowing He understands what’s best for them. The Holy Spirit is their Guide through every challenge, decision, and direction they face. He guides them into all truth, teaches them what they need to know, and assists them in doing what they have learned. They are His purchased possession, their redemption secured by the precious blood of Christ.
When people need help and support, they are usually there. They are willing to share burdens when the load is heavy, whether it involves sorrow, suffering, or discouragement. When grief feels overwhelming and loneliness and uncertainty threaten to take over a person they know, they come alongside because they truly care. When loneliness persists after long periods alone, they want to check in on how you're doing and come alongside just to sit with you, speaking when needed or remaining silent when appropriate.
In all these ways and many more, the new nature reveals what we are here for. We worship God, who knew us before we knew Him. We rejoice in Christ, who bore our iniquities in His body on the cross, carries our griefs and sorrows, shares our joy, and accepts our rejoicing in Him. We are redeemed and accepted in the Beloved. When we were born again, we began a new life, indwelt by the Spirit, and through His power, we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we received a new nature, God’s life started to show in us and through us. When we commit to obeying His Word, we understand His will, and the right path opens before us in our life choices and decisions. We belong to God!
In the Christian life, faith is what matters, not our works. Faith is our response to God's grace, and this is the same for all true children of God. We have nothing to boast about in ourselves, only in God's grace. The Judaizers believed they could add their traditions to the work of Christ, which would undermine the value of the sacrifice He made. That would suggest that what the Lord Jesus Christ endured on our behalf was not sufficient to meet our needs.
Anything that people try to add to the cross work is not only worthless but also an insult to the complete redemption price paid when He gave His life as a ransom for us. Our position is that of true circumcision of the heart, not of fleshly circumcision. The evil heart was cut off when God saved us by His grace alone. Therefore, we are the true circumcision, of which the physical was only a type. What we do is worship God in the Spirit with the mind of Christ. Additionally, our reason for rejoicing is our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. What we lack is confidence in the flesh.