Circumcision

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In the Old Testament times, circumcision was required for males as the flesh - bodily - sign of an everlasting covenant - contract - with GOD.

Genesis 17:9-14 ‘Then GOD said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep MY covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is MY covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between ME and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner; those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. MY covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from HIS people; he has broken MY covenant.’

Exodus 12:43-49 ‘The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover:

“No foreigner is to eat of it. Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him, but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it. It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.

An alien (foreigner) living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you.”

Deuteronomy 30:6 ‘The LORD your GOD will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love HIM with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.’

Circumcision of the (male) flesh was a symbol of the type of circumcision mentioned above, which is how it is now considered in a spiritual sense, as a cutting away of this world and worldly ways from a believer’s heart, male and female. When GOD has our hearts and minds, we turn away from worldly immorality and all sinful ways.

Galatians 5:6 ‘For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.’

Galatians 6:15 ‘Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.’ This is in the New Testament, showing that under the new covenant, circumcision is no longer a requirement. It is now referred to as ‘circumcision of the heart,’ meaning to cut away the carnal nature of the ways and influences of this world.