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1 Corinthians 7:20 says, "Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when G-d called him." I have known Jesus for years, but I still can't get a handle on what this means. I'm hoping some here have some insight.

I don't actually know my physical heritage. My parents are secretive about it, except to say that I am not Jewish. ?? I was raised in a non-religious home. As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the Jewish people and to Israel. I came to faith in Jesus at age 12, knowing almost no Bible at all, and had a hunger to understand the Jewish roots of the entire Bible from then on. I am now middle aged, married to a Gentile Christian, and involved in a Christian church which meets and worships on Sundays. In my home, I light Shabbat candles (Friday night, of course), and celebrate Biblical and traditional Jewish holidays. In my heart, I feel I am Jewish, not by blood, but by calling, like Ruth. I have opportunity to share Jesus with Jews, and feel like my calling has provided an opening and provoking to jealousy.

So here is the question: what does it mean to remain in uncircumcision if one comes to Jesus as a Gentile from an unbelieving home? Not bless my children on Shabbat? Not teach them through the Passover and through Purim and Hanukkah? Eat unclean animals? Ignore these things that are so dear to my heart? I want to follow Jesus, but I am confused about my place in the Body. I see *the Jewish stuff* as a way to deeper understanding and more personal relationship with Ha Shem through Jesus. My husband doesn't understand fully or participate in all of the *Jewish* things, but he respects my freedom in Jesus.

Maybe it's because Messianic Judaism is getting more press these days-- maybe it's a mid-life crises-- but this didn't seem such an issue in the past. I just did what I did, and called myself a Christian. Now when people ask me if I'm Jewish, I don't know what to say, without going through this whole long explanation, like I did here. I feel that whether I say Jew or Gentile, it isn't really true.

Does anyone have any ideas?
OK, as happens so much of the time, I've been given an answer from
G-d's Spirit that has satisfied me, only after asking an answer from someone else.  So, I'm a little embarrassed here, but for the curious, I'll let you in on this possible understanding...

What I think is... "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam." (Popeye Toungue )

Absolutely I am a child of G-d, forgiven, redeemed and beloved.   So there's no need for me to worry about what other label I may or may not be, at least not now.

Maybe (?) staying in uncircumcision or circumcision simply means that we are not going through the ceremony of conversion.  
1Co 7:6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

Paul was addressing questions that were asked of him, one in particular about marriage... The others, circumcision etc, he explains are not as important as the keeping of God's commandments and not to become bondservants of men because of their opinions.

Remain faithful in the condition you were called:

1Co 7:17 Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

Be blessed Smile
Kathy Wrote:


So here is the question: what does it mean to remain in uncircumcision if one comes to Jesus as a Gentile from an unbelieving home? Not bless my children on Shabbat? Not teach them through the Passover and through Purim and Hanukkah? Eat unclean animals? Ignore these things that are so dear to my heart? I want to follow Jesus, but I am confused about my place in the Body. I see *the Jewish stuff* as a way to deeper understanding and more personal relationship with Ha Shem through Jesus. My husband doesn't understand fully or participate in all of the *Jewish* things, but he respects my freedom in Jesus.

Maybe it's because Messianic Judaism is getting more press these days-- maybe it's a mid-life crises-- but this didn't seem such an issue in the past. I just did what I did, and called myself a Christian. Now when people ask me if I'm Jewish, I don't know what to say, without going through this whole long explanation, like I did here. I feel that whether I say Jew or Gentile, it isn't really true.

Does anyone have any ideas?



If one confesses Christ, that one is a Christian....if one is circumcised in the heart, that same one is a Jew.

Gentiles were "grafted in" to the family of God...

Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 don't boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
Rom 11:19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."
Rom 11:20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don't be conceited, but fear;
Rom 11:21 for if God didn't spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Rom 11:22 See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Rom 11:23 They also, if they don't continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I don't desire, brothers, to have you ignorant of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
Rom 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, "There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, And he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Blessings to allSmile
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