PR. KALUNGI DENIS KIREKA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

FACTS ABOUT CIRCUMCISION 

What is meant by the circumcision of the foreskin of the male organ by human hands in the Old Testament? “Does it make anyone righteous before God”. New Testament “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters {1 Corinthians 7:19}.”

Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised—{Jeremiah 9:25} “This statement leaves a lot of questions to me.”

Based on facts The Old Testament circumcision was a symbol of the separation of the children of Israel. Every Israelite had to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth Genesis 17:12-13, was sort of a covenant It separated them from the rest of the nations that surrounded them like the Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Canaanites and many more {Joshua 3:10}. 

circumcision to the children of Israel meant that they were adopted as a chosen nation of God and this explains why God’s sanctuary dwelled in their midst {Exodus 25:8}

It’s also acted as a seal-like in the old testament but in the new testament, if you accept Jesus Christ the seal is the holy spirit see herein { Ephesians 1:13}, and you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, it’s a hundred 100% that Abraham made his convent by God through faith.

The Old Testament circumcision was announcing the circumcision of the heart through faith which was to be introduced by Christ's crucifixion and later exaltation see herein {Romans 2:28-29}, A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Herein Philippians 3:2-7, Paul warns, “watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more

John the Baptist warned the Pharisees against taking pride in their physical heritage and boasting in their circumcision: what did he mean? “Do you think you can say to yourselves, 'we have Abraham as our father? He went ahead to mention I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham” {Matthew 3:9}. “I believe circumcision alone does not make one a child of God”.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world {Ephesians 2:11-12}.

I believe the true “children of Abraham” are those who follow Abraham’s example of believing God {Genesis 15:6}. Physical circumcision does not make one a child of God; faith does. Believers in Jesus Christ can truly say they are children of “Father Abraham.” “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” {Galatians 3:29}.

God has always wanted more from His people than just external conformity to a set of rules. He has always wanted them to possess a heart to love, know, and follow Him. That’s why God is not concerned with a circumcision of the flesh. Even in the Old Testament, God’s priority was a spiritual circumcision of the heart: 

“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done” {Jeremiah 4:4}. Both Testaments focus on the need for repentance and inward change in order to be right with God. In Jesus, the Law has been fulfilled {Matthew 5:17}. 

Through Him, a person can be made right with God and receive eternal life {John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9}. As Paul said, true circumcision is a matter of the heart, performed by the Spirit of God.

The idea of “circumcision of the heart” is found in {Romans 2:29}. It refers to having a pure heart, separated unto God. Paul writes, “A Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.” These words conclude a sometimes confusing passage of Scripture regarding circumcision and the Christian.

Verses 25-29 provide context: “For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” {Romans 2:28-29}

Paul is discussing the role of the Old Testament Law as it relates to Christianity. He argues that Jewish circumcision is only an outward sign of being set apart from God. However, if the heart is sinful, then physical circumcision is of no avail. A circumcised body and a sinful heart are at odds with each other. Rather than focus on external rites, Paul focuses on the condition of the heart. 

Using circumcision as a metaphor, he says that only the Holy Spirit can purify a heart and set us apart from God. Ultimately, circumcision cannot make a person right with God; the Law is not enough. A person’s heart must change. Paul calls this change “circumcision of the heart.”
This concept was not original with the apostle Paul. As a Jew trained in the Law of Moses, he was certainly aware of this discussion from {Deuteronomy 30}. There, the Lord used the same metaphor to communicate His desire for a holy people: “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul that you may live” {Deuteronomy 30:6}. 

Physical circumcision was a sign of Israel’s covenant with God; circumcision of the heart, therefore, would indicate Israel’s being set apart to love God fully, inside and out. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ Colossians 2:16-17. “In Old, Testament circumcision was a mark for believers but when Jesus came and died for us he became our mark that whoever believes in him is a believer”. 

However, I can conclude with the following scriptures.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters {1 Corinthians 7:19}.

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised—{Jeremiah 9:25}

In Him, you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, {Colossians 2:11}

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love {Galatians 5:6}

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God {Romans 2:29}

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forth like fire, And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings.” {Jeremiah 4:4}

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them {Ephesians 2:8-10}

Be blessed.