Circumcision: Meaning, Significance and Practical Insights
—(Part 42 of Seeing Jesus in the O.T.)
Andrew Fountain – Jan 30, 2022
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Goal
To demystify circumcision, and show meaning, significance and practical insights.
Circumcision: Meaning, Significance and Practical Insights
First given to: Abraham, descendants & nation of Israel
What does the Symbol mean?
What does it mean for us?
Questions
What an odd thing for God to demand?
Why choose something only males could participate in
What does it symbolize?
Is there still some value in it for Christians today?
Key Scriptures
Genesis 17 —First mention. A command to Abraham & descendents
Exodus & Leviticus —Very strong laws for Israel to be circumcised
Deuteronomy & Jeremiah —Passages which speak of “circumcision of the heart”
Paul’s letters —Many clearly teach on this
Genesis 15 & 17 —Covenant with Abraham & Sarah
No conditions. Abraham believed God and that was considered as making him righteous.
Covenant reestablished. New names:
Abram ➜ Abraham
Sarai ➜ Sarah
Circumcision commanded as a sign of the covenant
Romans 4
…“faith was counted to Abraham as his righteousness.”
How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not?
No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised!
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised,
so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised,
that they too could have righteousness credited to them.
Genesis 17
No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.
This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.
You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you.
Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people — he has failed to carry out my requirement.”
Genesis 17 cont’d
Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name.
I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations.
Kings of countries will come from her!”
God is free to re-purpose symbols from the culture
Egypt: only required for those dedicated to serving the pharaoh, in his palace
Especially the royal priests
Not from birth, but much later in life
Meaning for Israel
Israel were to be a nation of royal priests from birth
Symbolized:
Dedication & devotion (similar to holiness)
A sign of believing the promise to Abraham & Sarah that they would become a nation that blessed the world
Not about hygiene or anything sexual
Plus something more…
What about women?
The command was to parents, female and male.
Babies had no choice in the matter!
The critical decision of whether to follow the command belonged to the parents, and the will of the mother played a critical role.
Males simply carried the results of their parents’ obedience.
Circumcision: Meaning, Significance and Practical Insights
First given to: Abraham, descendants & nation of Israel
What does the Symbol mean?
What does it mean for us?
Meaning: New Creation
Done on the 8th day, beginning of a new week
Jesus rose on the 8th day! Sunday
Came with new names given to Sarah & Abraham
Marks the part of the body connected to bringing new life
An uncircumcised heart is dead to God
A circumcised heart is a new heart, alive to the voice of God
Deuteronomy 30
And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart…
so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
that you may live.
Jeremiah 6
To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the LORD
is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
Promise of the New Covenant: Jer 9
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,
when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh—
…all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”
But then later in Jer 31
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
not like the covenant that I made with their fathers…
…I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Galatians 6
For circumcision does not count for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Circumcision: Meaning, Significance and Practical Insights
First given to: Abraham, descendants & nation of Israel
What does the Symbol mean?
What does it mean for us?
1 Corinthians 7
Was anyone called [saved] after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision.
Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.
Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called.
A picture of the old life dying and receiving a new life— Col 2
In him you also were circumcised — not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands…
Having been buried with him in baptism,
you also have been raised with him…
And even though you were dead in your sins
and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he nevertheless made you alive with him,
having forgiven all your sins.
Romans 2
For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,
nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh,
but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly,
and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit
and not by the written code.
This person’s praise is not from people but from God.
Signs & seals of the Covenants
with Noah? —rainbow
with Abraham —circumcision
with Moses —Sabbath (Ex. 31:13, 16, 17)
the New Covenant? —not baptism
2 Cor 1:22 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.”
Eph 1:13 “in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
Circumcision: Meaning, Significance and Practical Insights
First given to: Abraham, descendants & nation of Israel
What does the Symbol mean?
What does it mean for us?
Romans 8
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.