There Is Not A Third Alternative

"Ours is an age of tolerance. Men love to have the best of both worlds and hate to be forced to choose. It is commonly said that it does not matter what people believe so long as they are sincere, and that it is unwise to clarify issues too plainly or to focus them too sharply.

But the religion of the New Testament is vastly different from this mental outlook. Christianity will not allow us to sit on the fence or live in a haze; it urges us to be definite and decisive, and in particular to choose between Christ and circumcision. 'Circumcision' stands for a religion of human achievement, of what man can do by his own good works; 'Christ' stand for a religion of divine achievement, of what God has done through the finished work of Christ. 'Circumcision' means law, works and bondage, 'Christ' means grace, faith and freedom. Every man must choose. The one impossibility is what the Galatinans were attempting, namely to add circumcision to Christ and have both. No. 'Circumcision' and 'Christ' are mutually exclusive.

Further, this choice has to be made by both the people and the ministers of the church, by those who practice and those who propagate religion. It is either Christ or circumcision that the people 'receive', and either Christ or circumcision that minsters 'preach'. In principle, there is not a third alternative.

And behind our choice lurks our motive. It is when we are bent on flattering ourselves and others that we choose circumsicion. Before the cross we have to humble ourselves."

- John Stott, Commentary on Galatians, p. 138