I asked my daughter about circumcision. She replied that it wasn't important to her because she is a single woman. That's right thinking in medical terms, but scripture is much more than hygiene!
Circumcision:
There are two types of circumcision: male and female. Scripture addresses male circumcision, but female circumcision is considered to be genital mutilation. It's a cultural practice intended to diminish the libido of women. It suppresses their sexuality. It is not a common practice in civilized countries. However, male circumcision is for various reasons.
What is circumcision? It is the removal of the foreskin from a man's penis. Don't get alarmed! This has no sexual connotations. This appendage has uses so let's think clinically clean. Why in the world would anyone have that done, let alone allow their baby boy to be (Jews: 8 days old) ? Let's put it this way: God had two reasons! One, it was his desire to propagate the Jewish people. That was the Abrahamic Covenant. Why pick circumcision to seal the deal? Because there are numerous medical advantages! The second was symbolic of faith in God!
God was big on ritual and daily cleanliness. Many of the ritualistic practices of cleanliness were to revere God. It was to keep corruption from his tabernacle and temple. To do that is a matter of respect!
Keeping oneself clean has another purpose. It's to keep disease out of harm's way! God wanted the Hebrew people to live a long life! That was an enabler for his promise to be fulfilled.
This isn't medical commentary, but there are many hygienic reasons for circumcision. Of course the need is less now than then because society has changed, as well as innovation. Most civilized people bathe regularly because we have modern plumbing, clean water and soaps today which help to keep things clean! Also, many people have regular checkups to contain bacteria, viruses and infections. God is a great doctor! For the Jews it was preventative medicine that he promulgated!
However, this commentary is about the second reason: religious, albeit both health and religious are not mutually exclusive as we shall see!
Since we're studying the Acts of the Apostles lets look at how they're acting today:
Acts 15:1 "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God..."The legalists were very religious! Religion is being devoted to religious beliefs and practices. Devotion in turn is having strong loyalty. Therefore, it appears that the Pharisees were loyal to what their religion teaches! Foremost, what was taught in Judaism is Mosaic Law.
At this time it's imperative that a sharp distinction be made: God's Law and the Law of Moses are not the same! God's Law is the Ten Commandments and they are eternal:
Psalm 111:7 "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness."On the other hand the Law of Moses are commentary, instructions, dietary, healthful, ritualism, regulations and are structural.
Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator."It is clear that Mosaic Law was temporary until Jesus comes. Since the Commandments are eternal, it is also clear that it's peripheral "laws" which stand until the advent of Jesus! Keep this in mind as we discuss circumcision further.
There is a relationship between the Law and circumcision. The laws are the "do's" and circumcision is the "pledge to do it". When God pledged that the world would never be cleaned by a flood again, he gave the symbol of the rainbow to seal the deal. On the other hand God asked for circumcision for mankind to seal the deal of grace with him. Therefore, circumcision, the cleansing of the flesh, is symbolic of obedience.
"The flesh" is symbolized by nakedness and it is desire which the flesh wants! In other words the person is the god and the flesh is the person's idol. Sin is whatever appeases the self and pleasures the flesh. For instance, power magnifies one's god, but sex pleasures its idol. Of course the thoughts of sexual gratification satisfies the god of self too. Nothing is ever discreet because the god and his idol are in unity bound together by the glue of sin.
The forbidden tree was tempting for three desires: 1) good for food, 2) pleasant to the eyes, and 3) to make one wise. Because food was already plentiful, Eve apparently wanted Epicurean food. She sought more pleasure! It was the lure of more satisfaction which tempted her! The second represents beauty and the third wisdom. After sinning, both were guilty and covered their nakedness. In effect they vicariously circumcised their gods because their sexual organs were now a source of shame. It appears to me that their new wisdom was twofold: that the sexual organs provided excitement and that rather than a mere tool, they became a source of pleasure. I can't explain it, but there is an allure of the naked body which those of the opposite sex accept as hedonistic beauty.
Adam and Eve attempted to cover their own sin! Only God can do that!
Whatever was symbolic of the tree was sinful and our forebears were ashamed of their genitals. As such the fig leaves were symbolic of "cutting off of the flesh" and was a picture of circumcision. Because they can't cover their own sins, regardless of how hard they try, Adam's and Eve's sin was covered by The Word himself. God shed innocent blood for the first time and flesh died to cover their "flesh" (sin).
When the skins of animals covered that flesh, it was a picture of circumcision, and that their sins are covered by the blood; the only way sins can be propitiated (Hebrews 9:22). However, it was not the blood of animals which saves (Romans 10:4), but because of their faith in Jesus (John 14:6). Not only does it take Jesus for us to be saved, but the same was true of Adam and Eve because "no man cometh to the Father, except by me (Jesus)." No man includes Adam and Eve. Everyone, even they, were saved by faith in Jesus Christ! How was that so? The pre-incarnate Jesus, the Word" walked with them and forgave them of their sins by the promise of his own shed blood!
Therefore, circumcision not only was symbolic of "cutting off the sinful flesh", but with that cutting off of "the flesh" there is born again a new creation. Adam and Eve had been created one time in the flesh and now, because of their contrition, God's grace covered their sin and they were re-created in the spirit! Circumcision is symbolic of salvation just as is baptism!
Let me explain that: Baptism is symbolic of cleansing of the flesh by immersion into holy water transforming an old person into a new person. It's symbolic of the new birth, being "born again" a new creature! Circumcision was an important symbol, but it was just that... a SYMBOL! It represented a new chance called grace. It represented that God has grace! The Abrahamic Covenant was a picture of the Covenant of Grace under Jesus Christ! (i.e., salvation was always by grace).
Likewise, baptism isn't a sacrament. Baptism does not produce salvation; faith does! It's a symbol of obedience, just as circumcision is, that the flesh (the old idol) is cut off and now ALL "the flesh" has been cut off by the grace of God. It's the faith which is efficacious, not the water, just as it was the faith in The Word which was efficacious under the Law, and not the shedding of one's own blood through circumcision!
Just as circumcision is not efficacious for salvation, neither was baptism. (Reread Acts 15 above) and think more on what it says.
Covering the flesh with the skins of animals was merely symbolic of circumcision and baptism. However, Abraham did the real deal at God's command!
Genesis 17:2 "And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 4 ...thou shalt be a father of many nations. 6b And I will make thee exceeding fruitful... 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 13b and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant."Circumcision was commanded of God! It's the cutting off of what is unclean! It's symbolic of baptism. Circumcision wasn't what represented God's grace, it was faith in God which saved. Likewise, baptism is a command. As such it's not what saves, but is an act of obedience as a testimony to faith in Jesus! An act of obedience it is an ordinance, not a sacrament (saving)! Circumcision, as is baptism, are both testimonies to faith in God!
Let's look closer at the Abrahamic Covenant:
- God made the covenant. He didn't have to! It's a covenant of "grace" and is the same grace God has to save.
- He made a promise to Abraham: Your seed will multiply. You will be the father of many nations. There is a hidden promise here! Abraham was to provide the seed for the kingdom of God. (verse 16, not shown above) promised barren Sarai that she will be the mother of "kings of people". That's Jesus Christ! The Abrahamic Covenant was a plan for providing a savior; Jesus Christ!
- The act of circumcision was to be everlasting because God's covenant is forever!
- It's the cutting off of the flesh, or man's obligation, as a testimony to accepting God's grace.
Now we have a dilemma for the apostles. (Acts 15). Are Gentiles required to be circumcised? Truly they too are of the seed of Abraham and are bound to doing this act forever! But, they're not of the blood of Sarah, but her servant, Hagar. It was through Sarah that God would provide a King! Yes, the results are in: Jesus was of the blood of Sarah, but Jew and Gentiles are obligated to be circumcised! However, the council never saw it that way! Why?
Acts 15:8 "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."The Gentiles have the same salvation as the Jews. There are not two!
Ephesians 4:4 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."In short "What is good for the Jew is good for the Gentile!" The Jews were to be circumcised; to have their flesh cut off! That's what baptism does! It's a symbol of the same thing. Because the Jew and Gentile have the same hope and faith, things are the same for both! All Christians are to be baptized! That's the "circumcision of the heart" since "God knows the heart"! It's the heart which has the whole skin cut off (the old person)!
Romans 2:28 "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."Gentiles all become Jews who have their hearts circumcised. They cut off the entire flesh as a living sacrifice to God! It's not the outward act which saves, but the inward act. It's submission to God! Then God tells us to be baptized! He also tells us to testify. Both of those are accomplished by an outward sign: baptism. That act is how Gentiles are circumcised and it's also now the same for Jews!
Part of the covenant is that circumcision is to endure forever! Baptism does just that, but one step further. Rather than mere foreskin, Christians submit "all-skin", the entire self as a living sacrifice.
Is circumcision of the Jew still a command? Most assuredly! But the method of skinning that old creature is different. The penis was skinned with a blade of man with the shedding of blood, but the whole man is skinned with faith in Christ through water, but by the shedding of Jesus' blood!
Are Christians to be baptized? It's the way of sealing the deal, and if we are willing to testify to God in thankfulness, it's how we demonstrate "Are we really thankful?"
Genesis 17:14 "And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant."If we're not willing to testify by the act of circumcision that we have faith in God, we are cut off by God because our faith is insincere. The same goes for baptism. It's an act of obedience as a testimony that we accept the same covenant of grace that Abraham did. It's completion of the Law that we are baptized!
Must Jews be circumcised by knife? If they want to! It's a good practice, but it won't add anything to what Jesus expects of us. In fact Gentiles can do that too, but it's an outward action, not efficacious for spiritual health!
And you thought circumcision wasn't important! Nothing in scripture is unimportant; one just needs to consider it!
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