Circumcision can be simply defined as the surgical removal/ excision of the prepuce (the foreskin on penises). Circumcision is part of the culture of the Israelites dating way back to the time of Abraham. Acts 7:8 reads, “Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.” Here we see how circumcision is a covenant in which God gave to mankind (His faithful in particular), in which this covenant became a tradition within the bloodline and descendants of His faithful, Abraham. Genesis 17:10 reads, “This is my covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Furthermore, here we see how circumcision is a “SIGN” of the Covenant between God and his faithful mankind. Cicurmcision is for the man-man fig-literally in Genesis 1:27 refers to both male and female.
Circumcision is also not only limited to members of the families but also to servants or any other human beings considered part of the household, within the nation of Israel as a whole and communities within Israel in a micro-perspective. Failure to circumcise resulted in exclusion from the community. Genesis 17:14 reads, “And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” Furthermore, Jews normally see or perceive the uncircumcised gentiles as unclean. Therefore, separating themselves from them, drawing a line in terms of being clean and being unclean-this was one of the major issues that results in disunity between the Jews and the gentiles during the time of the early church after Christ’s resurrection and ascension into heaven.
In the past especially within the New Testament times, one of the main barriers between Jews in the early church and gentiles in the early church is over the issue of circumcision. Let’s take a sneak preview at an example from the New Testament times. We see in Acts 15 verses 1 to 5 the Conflict over circumcision, in which certain men taught that unless one is not circumcised according to the customs of Moses, he cannot be saved, in which is not slightly but I should say “totally” misunderstood. Even some of the Pharisees during that time agreed with what these men were upholding and teaching. We see that in Acts 15:5 which reads, “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcised them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.’” These teachings of circumcision were totally misunderstood and slightly going off-track from the true meaning of circumcision according to The Holy Bible.
Then what is the true meaning of Circumcision? Considering the above paragraphs, Circumcision is covenant between God and His faithful human beings here on earth. Romans 2:29 reads, “but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose phrase is not from men but from God.” Or in other words, circumcision is the renewal of the heart and the Spirit, which can only be accomplished through Faith and by the Grace of Jesus Christ alone. Romans 3:28 reads, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Thus heading more weight that through faith in Jesus Christ because of His Grace, man can be able to renew his heart and spirit to the original state they were created in, according to Genesis 1:27-29. This is the true meaning of circumcision! Read verses 25 to 29 for more information… A good example of this found in Acts 4 verses 1 to 4 which portrays the theme of how Abraham was justified by faith-in which concludes that He is indeed circumcised. Furthermore, the physical Circumcision is a “SIGN” of this covenant of circumcision from the heart and spirit in which God first gave His faithful, Abraham…
Circumcision is for the man only-man fig-literally speaking is both male and female according to Genesis 1:27. Circumcision is a covenant between God and His faithful which means to renew the heart and spirit from our selfish nature ever since the Fall of Mankind in Genesis 3:1-7 to the original state in which God created us in Genesis 1:27, upholding Genesis 3:15 (The Plan of Salvation). This can only be accomplished through faith in Jesus Christ alone, the keeping of God’s Law through the Grace of Jesus Christ alone. The physical Circumcision is a “SIGN” of this covenant of circumcision from the heart and spirit in which God first gave to His faithful, Abraham… Which means, only the circumcised are accepted by God and will enter His Kingdom when Jesus Christ returns in His Second Coming-only the Circumcised will believe in Him considering John 3:16: which also means that only the circumcised are connected to the True Vine in John 15, who receive the Holy Spirit which renews their hearts and spirit enabling them to bear the Fruit of The Holy Spirit. For more information about the Fruit of The Holy Spirit, click and read the following link: http://peterjnrbebi.blogspot.com/2015/07/fruit-of-holy-spirit.html Furthermore, this means that both Jews and Gentiles, Papua New Guineans and Americans, etc.., or humanity in general may able to enter God’s Kingdom if they are circumcised (considering its meaning in the above sentences).
