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→Circumcision and coercing others to be circumcised: Add text.
Actually, circumcision is expressly forbidden to gentiles in the New Testament. Whereas Jews adhere to the original 613 laws and commandments outlined in the Old Testament, called "mitzvots" in Hebrew, Christians are supposed to be saved by the blood and grace of Christ, hence the name "Christ-ian." At various points in the New Testament,<ref>The Holy Bible</ref> Christians are told to either follow the law, or be saved by the Grace of Christ alone.
In the early times of the church, there was bitterness between Jews who believed in the laws of the Old Testament, and Jews who wanted to be saved under the New Covenant, and who wanted to live in harmony with gentile believers who were saved by faith in Christ. Followers of the Old Testament, who were made to keep numerous laws and undergo several unpleasant rituals, had bitterness and resentment for followers of the New Testament, who were being spared old burdens. Paul and Peter are desperately trying to unite these groups in order to achieve harmony, but the issue of circumcision and keeping laws and rituals in the Old Testament keep coming up as points of contention. The [[Council at Jerusalem]] was held in about 49 A. D. to resolve these differences.
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The New Testament warns Christians against those (Judaizers) who insist that they and their children must be circumcised in order to achieve salvation; he condemns them as evil charlatans who wish to do nothing more than deceive others turn a profit and boast while doing it.
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