One of the great questions of Christianity is the role of faith and works in the saving grace of Christ. Paul is pretty clearly on the side of faith. In his time, the Judaizers claimed that circumcision was key to salvation. It was a way to quantify their record of conversions. Paul was clearly put off by this kind of legalism. He said (in Galations 6:14), "as for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Jesus Christ." The Judaizers glorified in the flesh, Paul glorified in the Savior. In verse 15, Paul says, "it doesn't matter whether we are circumcised or not, what counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." I think Paul used capital letters to explain this issue because it goes beyond just the question of circumcision. Everything we do should be for the glory of the Lord, and not ourselves.
My kids are involved with a group called Christian Youth Theater (CYT) that produces top notch musicals while promoting loving, Christian values. In the DuPage (Chicago-area) group, they have a great tradition to end each show with the entire cast raising their arms in unison and pointing their index fingers to the one who makes it all possible. They call it "The Point" -- and to me it's a great illustration of my favorite verse. The talented kids with all of the great singing and dancing have a special director. Everything they've done is for the glory of God. What a powerful witness. I can only hope that I can find a way that my life can "point" to the glory of God. For now, I will try to practice humility, and remember to only boast about Christ.
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