Circumcision of the heart

Beginning of circumcision, God’s covenant with Abraham

  • Initially, circumcision was performed as a symbol of an agreement between God and Abraham. Abraham, male children born in Abraham’s household, and workers in Abraham’s household got circumcised as a symbol of the agreement and God blessed Abraham in return.
    • Genesis 17:4-8 KJV “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Second Circumcision, God’s covenant with the people of Israel

  • God made a covenant with the people of Israel promising to bless them if they obey his laws.
    • Exodus 19:5-6 KJV “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
  • Circumcision was made a part of the laws given to the people of Israel by God.
    •  Leviticus 12:3 KJV “And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”

Circumcision of the heart not of the flesh, God’s convenient with those who have faith in him.

  • Now, God has a covenant available to all man, which shows us mercy. Man is inherently sinful because of flesh, but God loved us so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we can be saved from death. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, a new covenant became available to all man. Those who accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior and obey God’s commandments are under a covenant with God. Followers of Christ are justified by their faith, they are blessed, and they will receive eternal life. Circumcision of the flesh is not needed for followers of Christ because a Christian’s circumcision is now of the heart. Jesus Christ taught us how to be faithful to God out of love, Jesus Christ taught how to be led by the spirit of God and not by our fleshly desires, Jesus Christ died for our sins, and Jesus Christ taught us how to be free from sin.

Modern Day Views on Circumcision

  • Today, circumcision is commonly performed within a few days of birth of a baby boy. Circumcision is prevalent in most cultures and religion, and the medical community has said it has its health benefits, but circumcision is not required by law in a lot of countries. I’m not a medical professional, and I don’t fully understand the benefits, but it appears that major health benefit is from preventing STDs, which can also be alleviated by abstinence and confirming your committed partner’s status.

Views inspired by the bible

  • The law was given to the Jewish people, and God also put his laws the hearts of Gentiles (non-Jewish). Men under the law are in debt to do the whole law, they will be judge by the law, and they must prove to be justified by the law. However, for a man to be justified by the law is impossible because it is written that no man can be justified by the law and you can’t please God without faith. If a person lives by the law, they’re not of faith. The bible teaches that the law given to Israel is still good for those who do not have faith in God through his son Jesus Christ, good for those who live sinfully, the lawless, and the disobedient. Laws in many countries are now different from the God’s holy laws given to Israel, and the new laws have been corrupted by society; however, objectives of Laws in many countries still include to create order and ensure that the lawless and disobedient are kept under control.
    •  1 Timothy 1:8-10 KJV “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”.
    • Romans 3:19-26 KJV “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
  • The bible teaches that Christian should obey the law of the land and respect those in position of authority of the land; however, a Christian’s top priority is obedience to God and being led by the spirit of Christ. God is good, God is love. Those who led by the spirit of Christ are not under the law but are of faith. Circumcision of the flesh is not required for followers of Jesus Christ because faith in God is fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Faith in God is through his son Jesus Christ (The word of God). Jesus Christ died for our sins, and salvation is now available to Jewish and Gentiles. Christians are not under the law but are of faith.
    • Galatians 2:21 KJV “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
    • Romans 3:23-24 KJV “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”Romans 8:2 KJV “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”Romans 3:28-30 KJV “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”
  • Paul expressed in the following verse to the Galatians (Followship in Greece) that those who try to be justified by the works of the law must do the whole law. If a man chose to get circumcised, he is a debtor to do the whole law
    • Galatians 5:1-6 KJV “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
    • James 2:10 KJV “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Conclusion

  • Circumcision of the flesh is a requirement under God’s promise to Abraham and his close descendants and a requirement under the holy law given to Israel, but not everyone is close descendants of Abraham or Jewish or from Israel. However, God blesses whoever is obedient to him, and his commandment is to believe in his Son Jesus Christ. Circumcision for Christians is of the heart. The law is fulfilled through Jesus Christ and men are blessed through their faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Why should a Christian get circumcised if it is not mandatory by their law? God has not given us the spirit of fear that we should be worried about uncertain heath risk. I don’t believe Christians should be worried about the health risk associated with not getting circumcised because with God by your side nothing is impossible, and a Christian’s inheritance is eternal life. To my knowledge, the most popular health risk to an uncircumcised is STDs, but a Christian should not be a fornicator, should not be sexually immoral, should know and be married to their partner before getting sexually involved, and should not be involved with those who live sinfully. If you’re behaving as a Christian should, you chance of contracting STDs should be lower than others. Christians are not under bondage of sin; we are led by the spirit who gives life.
  • Circumcision is part of the law, and law is not of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. The law is fulfilled in faith in God through his son Jesus Christ.
    • Galatians 2:21 KJV “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”Galatians 3:24-26 KJV “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
    • 1 John 3:4 KJV “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
  • As a Christian parent, your child is under your care, and it will be your responsibility to teach your child the ways of our lord Jesus Christ and to obey God’s commandments. The word of God teaches that Christian men shouldn’t get circumcised; therefore, I don’t believe a man should do it to his son. When that child becomes a man and understands the word of God, he can make the choice to get circumcised if he wants.