Spiritual Circumcision

In the 17^th chapter of Genesis, God institutes the act of circumcision with Abraham. This act symbolized the covenant relationship of the children of Abraham with their God, and it was done away with at the advent of Christianity (see Acts 15).

Or was it done away with? A strong case is made that circumcision continues today to be the defining difference between God's people and the world.

Certainly, we understand that the physical act of circumcision means nothing today, but there is a deeper, more meaningful kind of circumcision which has always been the true mark of God's children. Paul says that in Christ, ". . . you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:11-12).

This circumcision, which Paul ties to baptism here, relates to our hearts before God. To that end, Paul argues, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God" (Rom. 2:28-29).

What is meant by this circumcision of the heart? Clearly, the point Paul makes is that while one might fulfill the law outwardly (being circumcised), if he continued to transgress the law, he was not truly a Jew. On the other hand, one who kept the law was a true Jew, and circumcision had nothing to do with it. It is similar to the parable of the two sons, one of whom first declined to do his father's will, then relented and went and did it. The other agreed to his father's will, but never did it (Matt. 21:28-32). The first son was truly obedient to his father, despite the agreement of the second son.

This circumcision of the heart then, is demonstrated by our willingness to see to it that ". . . our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Rom. 6:6). This cutting off of the old man of sin shows our hearts to be in tune with what God would have us do. It makes baptism mean something more than just getting wet, although it would all be for naught without the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior.

Hearts that are circumcised for God are what He has required all along. God even instructed the Israelites, "Circumcise then your heart, and stiffen your neck no more" (Deut. 10:16).

When our hearts are circumcised, we are prepared to serve God more intently, and we prove ourselves worthy of being called His children. No kind of going-through-the-motions religion has ever been acceptable to God, nor will it ever be, and the Christian who understands that will act on his own life in such a way as to show his heart circumcised.