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Old Testament Application and Purpose
The ceremony of circumcision consisted in cutting away the foreskin, (the hood or fold of skin), covering the male organ.
After God made a covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15) who was the first Hebrew (Gen. 14:13). He commanded that as a token of the covenant every male, including Abraham, must be circumcised. For Abraham and every male in his company, circumcision would become a sign of one being under God’s covenant which was between God and Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham because of Abraham’s faith in God. (Gen. 15). Circumcision would be the outward physical visual sign of a male being under God’s covenant made with Abraham.
Circumcision was formally enacted as a legal institute by Moses (Lev. 12:3; John 7:22, 23) and was made to apply to every male, even foreigners before they could partake of the Passover or become Jewish citizens (Ex. 12:48).
In the wilderness the nation (Israel), while bearing the punishment of disobedience in its wandering, was regarded as under temporary rejection by God and was therefore prohibited from using the sign of the covenant.
After the nation crossed the Jordan River circumcision became the pride of Israel, with them looking with contempt upon all those not observing it. (Judg. 14:3; 15:18; 1 Sam. 14:6; Is. 52:1; etc.). Circumcision became a rite so distinctive of Israel that their oppressors tried to prevent their observing it, an attempt to which they refused to submit. Israel fell under oppression often because, the Lord had only promised His assistance and protection on condition that the law given by Moses was faithfully observed.
As spiritual purity was demanded of the chosen people of God, circumcision became the external token of the covenant between God and His people. Circumcision secured to him subjected to it all the rights of the covenant, participation in all its material and spiritual benefits; while, on the other hand, he was bound to fulfill all the covenant obligations.
The Jews considered circumcision a perfecting of one’s powers. Paul was strongly opposed to the Judaistic theology which insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation. (Gal. 5:2-6).
Circumcision was used as a symbol of purity of heart. (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; cf. Lev. 26:41; Jer. 4:4; 9:25; Ezek. 44:7). Circumcision is also figurative of a readiness to hear and obey. (Jer. 6:10).
The Jewish nation then and now misunderstood the true nature and spiritual implications of circumcision. They believed that circumcision would save them and brought them into a right standing with God. They refused to accept and follow the teaching of the Scriptures which revealed that God was more pleased with a change of heart, (circumcision of the heart), than the outward expression they enforced with pride.
New Testament Application and Purpose
Circumcision In Contemporary Times
Physical circumcision was a putting off of a part of the flesh as a symbol of covenant relationship of God’s people with a holy God. But Christians are said to be circumcised in Christ. Read (Col. 2:11).
The expression “circumcised believers” describes Christians who still held to the Law of Moses. But circumcision of the heart fulfills “the spirit” of God’s Law instead of mere outward conformity to the Law. A circumcised heart is one that is “separated” from the world and dedicated to God.
No outward religious symbol or lack of it means anything as a way of salvation. Anyone who was circumcised for that reason added works to faith and demonstrated that he had not exercised saving faith in Christ. What matters is to be a part of the new creation by the new birth described in (2 Cor. 5:17).
Christian circumcision is “removal of” not a part, but the entire “body of the flesh.” “The body of the flesh” is the physical body controlled by the old fallen nature. Paul said in ((Phil. 3:3); Read out loud) that the true circumcision are those who put no confidence in the flesh but worshipped by the Spirit of God and rejoice in Christ Jesus alone.
As believers we conclude from reading (Col. 2:11) that spiritual circumcision is performed by Jesus upon our heart. The baptizing work of the Holy Spirit effects spiritual circumcision. (Rom. 6:3, 4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 2:12). Paul wrote that “circumcision of the heart” (i.e., being inwardly set apart by the Spirit”) evidences salvation and fellowship with God.
The heart is the innermost center of the natural condition of man. The heart is the center of the bodily life, the reservoir of the entire life-power. (Ps. 40:8, 10, 12). The heart is the center of the rational-spiritual nature of man. The heart is the seat of love (1 Tim. 1:5) and of hatred (Lev. 19:17). The heart is the center of thought and conception; the heart knows (Deut. 29:4; Prov. 14:10), it understands (Is. 44:18; Acts 16:14), and it reflects (Luke 2:19). The heart is also the center of the feelings and affections: of joy (Is. 65:14); of pain (Prov. 25:20; John 16:6); all degrees of ill will (Prov. 23:17; James 3:14), ect., and ect.
The heart is the center of the moral life; so that all moral conditions, from the highest love of God (Ps. 73:26) even down to the self-deifying pride (Ezek. 28:2, 5, 6), darkening (Rom. 1:21), and hardening (Is. 6:10; 63:17; Jer.16:12; 2 Cor. 3:15) are concentrated in the heart as the innermost life circle of humanity (1 Pet. 3:4). The heart is the place and origin of all that is good and evil in thoughts, words, and deeds (Matt. 12:34; Mark 7:21-23); the place where God’s natural law is written in us (Rom. 2:15), as well as the law of grace (Is. 51:7; Jer. 31:33); the seat of conscience (Heb. 10:22; 1 John 3:19-21); the field for the seed of the Divine Word (Matt. 13:19; Luke 8:15). The heart is the dwelling place of Christ in us (Eph. 3:17); of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:22); of God’s peace (Col. 3:15); the receptacle of the love of God (Rom. 5:5); the closet of secret communion with God (Eph. 5:19).
Unbelief is described as having an uncircumcised heart (Jer. 9:26; Ezek. 44:7-9). An uncircumcised heart means a will that is hardened against God’s commands. It is another way of saying the person is stiffnecked or stubborn.
So the command to circumcise are hearts means that our hearts are naturally rebellious and in need of correction. The heart is the center of the entire man, the very hearth of life’s impulse. A new heart is an essential feature of the New Covenant.
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:” “And circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Col. 2:10, 11; Rom. 2:29). To follow Jesus and become a “true” Christian, your heart must be circumcised! God Bless. Peace!
(Eph. 2:11-22)
Minister George Condry
(Jeremiah 3:15)
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