Acts 16:1–5 [Paul] came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

As Paul started to revisit the cities from his first journey, he comes across young Timothy in Lystra. Although his mother was Jewish, his father was not. This was common among Jewish people living outside of Israel. Because Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him on his journey, Timothy was circumcised. Paul knew they would be sharing the Good News with Jewish people, so he did not want Timothy’s lack of circumcision to be an obstacle or barrier to spreading the message of God’s love in Christ.

The irony is that they were sharing “the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem” that is was NOT NECESSARY for Gentiles to be circumcised in order to become followers of Jesus. Was Paul being a hypocrite? Was he succumbing to the pressure of the Jews?

To add to the confusion, when Paul and Barnabas took Titus with them to Jerusalem, they did not have him circumcised, even though the Jews were saying it should be done.

Galatians 2:1–5 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

So why was Timothy circumcised but Titus was not? It was all about freedom. Paul used the freedom we have in Christ to spread the Gospel. He would do whatever it takes, without compromising God’s truth, in order to share Jesus as the Savior of all people. Consider these words God led Paul to write to the church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

1 Corinthians 10:23–24  “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Timothy had a Jewish heritage, and fully claiming that heritage would open doors for them as they visited Jewish synagogues to proclaim Jesus. However, in the face of legalistic demands that Greek Titus had to be circumcised, Paul asserted the freedom we have in Christ as the reason not to have Titus circumcised. In both cases, Paul was defending the freedom we have as followers of Jesus.

When Jesus made the payment our sins demanded with by offering His perfect life on the cross, He fulfilled all requirements for us. We do not have to do anything to earn our forgiveness. Our faith simply receives what Jesus earned for us. Any attempt to place other requirements on anyone in order to be saved is a corruption of the Gospel message.

All it takes to be saved it to believe that Jesus died for you, that His death paid for your sins. As a response to that, we will want to try to live a life that pleases God, but that does not earn our forgiveness. It is simply our way of thanking God for His indescribable gift. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.