The rite of circumcision is important in scripture as it is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. “Rites” are ceremonial practices. Ceremonies are not “sacraments” in the sense that sacraments are consecrations, and rites are not. Sacraments, are thus, dedication to God’s Will or purposes for mankind. Rites, on the other hand, are ordinances, or practice of the commandments. Therein is a huge difference between ordinances and sacraments; the former is obedience, and the latter is dedication because of trust.
Circumcision is a “rite” in that it is not saving, but obedience. Examine the process; one obedient to God’s Law has his foreskin cut-off. That is nothing more than following orders, and it is dedication by shedding one’s own blood to “prosper.” I use “prosper” here rather than “salvation” because salvation is the prosperity promised in the Abrahamic Covenant!
Scripture says in order to prosper, “Marvel not; ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Why not be amazed? Because Jews thought circumcision was soterial (saving)! The rite of circumcision is a token – an outward sign for what should be inside. From where did that idea come?
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. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you… 13 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. (Gen 17)
Circumcision is like putting a “signature” to a document. In the case of the Abrahamic Covenant, it was a signature written in blood. Zipporah recognized the “importance” of it when she, rather than Moses, circumcised her son. Moses had shed blood before, and shedding a little more was meaningless. At any rate, Zipporah knew that the bloody rite was ineffectual (Exod 4:25) – just a signature much like a wife signing a loan application half-heartedly. She understood that much more than Moses, it seems, and that is bourn out by scripture:
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. (1 Cor 7:19) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Gal 6:15)
Why circumcise then? It is a testimony for bondage to the agreement. The Covenant was for the Jews to be righteous, and their reward would be prosperity. Some believe that to mean the Promised Land of Canaan, but apparently Abraham knew it was the Paradise of Heaven. Abraham also knew that it was what was inside that mattered. Circumcision was signing on the dotted line that I am a new creature!
New creatures are those regenerated back to God’s design in that the original generating was “very good” in the image of God. “New creatures” undergo a transformation from the old creature (2 Cor 5:17). Rebirth is merely half “born again” if a new creature is not forthcoming! As we still see today, “halfway born” is abortion - spiritual abortion in this case. Those who feign trust without changing abort the rebirth process. What is important, then, is not the cutting asway of the foreskin of what is most problematic, especially for men, but changing what’s inside. Circumcision, in patriarchal times, did nothing more that testify to the agreement whether there was a change or nor. In fact, the Hebrews changed little. They continued to get circumcised but noting changed inside!
The New Testament version, as you shall see, of circumcision is Baptism. As with circumcision, it too is a rite or ordinance, and is not a sacrament (something that saves.) Like circumcision, churches which are enslaved to tradition, baptize on the eighth day after birth. That is ironic because baptism signifies change or rebirth, and infants have merely suffered the first birth! Formal churches get that idea for baptism from the timing of circumcision, as is written. “And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised” (Lev 12:3). Thus, baptism is timed as was circumcision for a reason; they understood that baptism is nothing more than circumcision. Those who adhere more closely to scripture understand that baptism, unlike circumcision, is at rebirth to seal the deal with God. Rather than sealed with blood, it is sealed with water (the invisible “ink” so to speak).
Tomorrow, I will wrap up my commentary of circumcision. Stay tuned.
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