Even though man was created in a physical, flesh and blood body, it was his eternal soul that mattered to God. In this part of the message, as in many others, you will see where this life is merely a pattern after that which is spiritual: the real life.

Circumcision is a procedure done to the flesh of the male, but the Scriptures show how it is the heredity of flesh that is the real issue. The Bible says: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:1-4. How could Abram not humble himself, falling on his face, at the thundering voice of the I AM, the Almighty God? How could he not respond to the desire of God’s heart that he walk before Him in pure, complete, trust?

God’s covenant with Abraham was that He would make him a father of many nations. In response, God required Abraham to keep his part of the covenant by circumcising all males of his household, including himself. At the age of ninety-nine, Abraham was circumcised. As Gen.17: 11 & 13 reads, And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you…and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. If any male failed to be circumcised, it would mean that he had broken the covenant, and would be cut off from his people. There would be no reminder of the covenant, and nothing to turn his thoughts toward God.

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?…Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. Deuteronomy 10:12,13,17. God’s people, Israel, were failing in their love for the fatherless, and widows, and the strangers who sojourned with them. That is why God told them to cut the flesh from the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. He told them, Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. Deuteronomy 10:19-21. It has always been about relationship, between God and man. They were to show their love for God, by caring for others.

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deut. 30:6. There again He was speaking of cutting the "flesh" from their hearts, in order that they might live.

Circumcision became a part of the Law. Later, in the New Testament, the term "circumcision" was used in reference to God’s people Israel, while the term "uncircumcision" referred to the Gentiles.

The Old Testament contains the "Old Covenant" made with Abraham, and "his seed." The New Testament tells of the "New Covenant" provided through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. The New Testament tells the story of the fulfilling of the Law and all that the prophets foretold regarding Jesus. It is the story of Jesus, and the freedom He came to bring. His Name means "Jehovah frees." Much of the New Testament was written by Paul the Apostle explaining clearly how the NEW replaced the OLD!

Paul spoke of Abraham’s circumcision in Romans 4:11: And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. The circumcision signified the seal of the righteousness of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised. Circumcision did not make Abraham righteous. He was righteous because of his faith in God, so therefore, his descendants were counted as "righteous," as was their father Abraham. The evidence of the cutting off of flesh was the "sign," or, that which "signified."

Paul explained the difference between Abraham’s righteousness, and the righteousness of the New Testament, in Romans 3:30: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. The meaning of "by" is "according to," while "through" means "by way of." So Abraham was counted as "righteous" in God’s sight, "according to" his faith in God, while the Gentiles are justified "by way of" faith. And the word "faith," when used as "saving faith" means "reliance upon Christ for salvation." This shows that man is justified THROUGH RELIANCE UPON CHRIST FOR SALVATION. More than anything else, "faith" is a relationship of rest in Jesus, for He is our Righteousness. When man turns to "faith," he is turning from "self." He relies on Christ, rather than on "self." "Self" came with the knowledge of good and evil, but "faith" comes from the knowledge of God.

Eventually the Jews desired to have even the Gentiles circumcised. To their way of thinking, it was necessary that a person be circumcised in order to be saved. …Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Acts 15:1. They believed that the deed of performing circumcision would allow them entrance into the kingdom of Heaven. Through diligent adherence to Moses’ Law they had lost sight of the truth that their father Abraham’s faith in God was the reason for circumcision. These law-abiding Jews even called the Gentiles "the uncircumcision." Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands. Ephesians 2:11.

Circumcision was a procedure in the flesh made by hands. But in Colossians 2:11, Paul said, 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. Paul was speaking of the circumcision of the heart by the presence of Christ. When a person is born again [from above], Jesus, our Righteousness, provides the circumcision made without hands. By way of RELIANCE UPON CHRIST FOR SALVATION, we are righteous. It is not imputed to us because of our act of belief, as it was with Abraham: it is through rest in the finished work of the Cross. The presence of His Spirit circumcises [cuts off] the flesh of our heart. … Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Titus 3:5. "Regeneration" means "renovation." The Holy Spirit comes into our heart, and He renovates His new temple. It is a life long process as long as we surrender, moment by moment, to His working to form Christ in us.

The term "circumcision" is used to describe the method by which legalistic people try to make other people appear "righteous." Their aim is to change the outward appearance through outward deeds. They want to change people by making them "stop sinning." Paul had something to say about it, in Galatians 6:12-13: As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Rather than suffer persecution, some would revert to the life and ways of the flesh. They would deny the Christ of the cross in order that they might save their own skin. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory [make boast] in your flesh. …For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Gal. 6:15. It is not about "doing" or "not doing:" it is about "being" a new creature in Christ Jesus.

Modern Day "Circumcision":

There was a woman whose daughter had suffered much at the hands of "religious" people. As a young girl, her faith in God was very real. She was a sensitive child, knowing the voice of the Lord at a very early age. Because of the "help" of people that love to "circumcise," she rebelled, and was deceived by other "spiritual" experiences. Due to her sensitivity, she became a target of Satan the accuser. She made many mistakes in her life, including unwise choices in relationships. Her mother’s heart was heavy. She desired to see her daughter return to the faith she once had as a young child. One evening, at a "prayer service," the mother asked for prayer for her daughter. The "minister" said, "Is she still living with her boyfriend?" At the mother’s reply, which was "yes," he hastened to say, "I’ll pray for this request." His "prayer" started out with "Oh God, show them what they are doing." There was no concern for the daughter’s need to return to her relationship of trust in Jesus. The "minister," and the religious people in the meeting, desired only to see her "circumcised" so that they could "glory in her flesh." They were focusing on the "sin" of her living with her boyfriend. God is more concerned with our having a relationship with Him. The things we sometimes do in this life, that are not good for us, will change to conform to God’s perfect will the more we cling to a relationship with Him. His Spirit renovates us and the evidence will show in our behaviour.

The good news is that the young lady has returned to her faith in the Lord, and He is doing a continuing work in her, purifying her for Himself. He does not do His work to the specifications of the religious people who make up His "church." He does not expect a person, still living the flesh life, to "stop sinning" so that they can come to Him. Jesus longs for the "sinner" to come to Him, just as they are, so that He can make them a new creation in Himself.

Paul said, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:2-3. "Concision" is a brutal, and forceful, circumcision. Unfortunately there are many today that could be called "the concision," because of their demands on others to adhere to religious rules and precepts: all in the name of Christianity. How many souls have been driven away from a relationship with Jesus because of flesh-conscious, circumcising, religious, people?

Man cannot be changed from the outside: he must receive a new heredity. He must be born again [from above], and become a new creature IN Christ Jesus. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not. I John 5:18. The mainspring of the new heredity is the knowledge of the Truth through the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

Stella Paterson | Box 22003  BDPO | Brandon, MB  R7A 6Y9 | Canada