Circumcision

I knew that circumcision was an important defining mark of the Old Testament Jew, and was required as part of the covenant between God and the Jews. However, this became a struggling point in the New Testament Church when both Jews and Gentiles were part of God's chosen. The importance of circumcision is seen in Gen. 17:11-14. The following is taken from Life Application Study Bible:

Why did God require circumcision? 1. As a sign of obedience to him in all matters. 2. As a sign of belonging to his covenant people. Once circumcised, the man would be identified as one of God's chosen people (eventually the Jews) forever. 3. As a symbol of "cutting off" the old life of sin, purifying one's heart, and dedicating oneself to God. 4. Possibly as a health measure. 

Circumcision more than any other practice separated God's people from their heathen neighbors. In Abraham's day, this was essential to develop the pure worship of the one true God.

This brings me to the scripture I read today. Chapter 2 of Romans focuses heavily on the fact that even though chapter 1 hit heavily on Gentiles and sins that were prolific in their culture such as homosexuality, etc., Jews are just as guilty as Gentiles. This was a slap in the face to Jews because they considered themselves guaranteed a spot in heaven due to their circumcision and them having the OT law and knowing it. However, Paul calls them out as equally guilty as Gentiles and accuses them of hypocrisy as seen in the following verses: vv. 17-29

"  17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 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.

So what is the whole point of this passage? A true Jew has nothing to do with nationality or knowledge of the law, meaning it has nothing to do with outward symbols such as circumcision. Being a Jew, or the heir of God, means inward obedience and righteousness. He states hear explicitly that circumcision means nothing when someone does not follow the laws of God and have pure heart and motives. However, a Gentile is considered circumcised in the fact that he has a pure heart and is a new creation. Therefore, in the new church, circumcision is a symbol not a literal thing to be accomplished on the body. Even in the OT when circumcision is a physical requirement, in JEr. 4:4 it says " Circumcise yourselves to The Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah. and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. " So, as previously stated, circumcision was necessary for the Jews in the OT because it was a symbol of holiness as the Jews mission was to reach the world with the gospel. However, now the church as a whole is to fulfill that mission- Jews and Gentiles alike. 

In closing, our circumcision or ability to be set apart as holy by salvation was accomplished in the circumcision of Christ as seen in Col. 2:11-12 " in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Our discussion is neatly summarized by the notes on these verses seen in Life Application Study Bible:

Jewish males were circumcised as a sign of the Jews covenant with God. With the death of Christ, circumcision was no longer necessary. Now our commitment to God is written on our souls, not our bodies. Christ sets us free from our evil desires by a spiritual operation, not a bodily one. In baptism, we let God operate on our souls to remove the old nature and give us a new nature. 

 Therefore, Jew or Gentile, Christ has paid the debt and given us the ability to believe on the LORD and be saved to a life of holiness and separateness and be part of God's inheritance. We must in turn be obedient to God in a pure heart with pure motives and complete dedication to God.