[reaction to OYB’s Oct. 6-8 readings]
Consider these two ideas. First from Jeremiah, “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh—Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the desert in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.'” Second from Colossians,
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature,[a] not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Notice that neither thinks one is saved by being physically circumcised. The difference is Jeremiah finds it necessary but not sufficient, while Paul thinks it is unnecessary. Nonetheless, both writers provide the notion that adherence to ritual and tradition is not the main point.
Oh, and here is some grammmar trivia. Where would you put the quote marks in this passage. By my count it is roughly this, Jeremiah writes, “God said, ‘Jeremiah I want you to say to Israel, “The Lord says, ‘Israel you are bad and what can you say for yourself, “Oh, God we’re sorry!” Why should I believe you?’ ” ‘ “.