Some Cutting Remarks on Circumcision
Abraham circumcised his household as a sign of the covenant of grace (Gen 17:10–14). To deny circumcision was to be cut off from the family and excluded from the covenant (Gen 17:14). Abraham was ninety-nine years old (Gen 17:24), and Ishmael was thirteen years old when they were circumcised (Gen 17:24–26), along with the whole household (Gen 17:27). Later, when Isaac was born, he was circumcised on the eighth day (Gen 21:4).
Circumcision is the process of removing the foreskin on the male reproductive organ. It is performed as a surgery, cut with a flint knife (Jos 5:2) and a steady hand. It requires a time of healing, as the sons of Hamor discovered on a bad day for them (Gen 34).
As an initiation rite, it was required before one was invited to celebrate the annual Passover meal (Ex 12:48). It also became part of the Law of Moses, being a ritual for the eighth day following birth (Lev 12:3). Two thousand years after Abraham was circumcised, our Lord Jesus Christ was circumcised on the eighth day (Lk 2:21). The Bible records the circumcision of John the Baptist (Lk 1:59) and the apostle Paul (Phil 3:5), also, at the close of the Old Testament dispensation.
In the second giving of the Law, circumcision was identified with the heart of those who love God (Dt 30:6). A hard heart required circumcision (Dt 10:16). An uncircumcised heart invited the burning wrath of God (Jer 4:4). God promised to judge those who were circumcised outwardly, but who were not circumcised inwardly, that is, of the heart (Jer 9:25).
Ironically, when the eighth day fell on a Sabbath day, the work of circumcision was permitted, despite the Sabbath breach (Jn 7:22–23). Jesus used this inconsistency in interpretation and practice against the people who claimed He had a demon. He often healed on the Sabbath to demonstrate their wrong interpretation of the Law.
The Jews were so closely identified with this covenant rite and law that they had the nickname, “circumcision” (Acts 11:2; Gal 7:9, 12; Col 4:11; Titus 1:10). The party of the circumcision pressed the need for the application of the ritual, claiming, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved (Acts 15:1).”
The apostle Paul was troubled by the Judaisers, who hindered his ministry (Acts 16:3; 21:21; Gal 2:3; 6:12; Eph 2:11). Paul argued for the validity of circumcision for Law keepers, but it was negated if one broke the Law (Rom 2:25). No one kept the Law, except our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 5:17). Therefore, false teachers (Gal 6:12) preach circumcision (Gal 5:11), as a false gospel to control people (Gal 6:13). In this, the Jews were charged with hypocrisy (Rom 2:26–27).
A true Israelite is one who has the inward circumcision of the heart. The agent of inward circumcision is the Holy Spirit, who circumcises the heart with the double-edged sword, the Word of God (Rom 2:28–29). A circumcised heart is the fertile ground for grace to implant faith, which is the means of justification. Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness before he was circumcised (Rom 4:9–12). By faith, both circumcised and uncircumcised, receive the seal of righteousness.
When Christ confirmed the promises and served the circumcised, he fulfilled the requirement of the Law (Rom 15:8); therefore, physical circumcision is no longer required (1 Cor 7:18–19). It is nothing (Gal 6:15), according to the apostle Paul’s teaching. It has zero effect for those who receive it (Gal 5:2), even being a potential stumbling block to the legalist (Gal 5:3). Faith, working through love, is the essential thing (Gal 5:6).
Can you keep the whole Law? Paul warns you to beware of the concision, the mutilators of the flesh, the false circumcision (Phil 3:2). The true circumcision, cut in the heart by the Holy Spirit, put no confidence in the flesh for right standing with God (Phil 3:3). This is the circumcision of Christ, made without hands (Col 2:11), so that there is no longer any distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised (Col 3:11).
Today, circumcision is nothing; but in the new covenant, water baptism, a blood-less ritual serves as the initiation rite for those entering Christ’s covenant. Baptism is a sign of the new covenant, which is the same covenant of grace as the old, but which follows the finished, blood atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is our circumcision.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 9, 2021
