Circumcision

The Bible speaks a lot about circumcision. I've often found myself annoyed and kind of embarrassed by it. Annoyed mostly by the fact I didn't understand what the big deal was. Embarrassed because, well, just because.

Recently though, I'm starting to "get it." I'm sure it's much deeper than I grasp, but I'm grasping a whole lot more than I have before.

The physical sons of Abraham were circumcised by the cutting off of the foreskin which they deemed filthy and unclean. This physical act of obedience was proof they were Jews, children of Abraham. It was also an act of worship, an act of obedience to God.

In the New Testament, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, circumcision became a spiritual matter. Circumcision was still preached, but it was a spiritual circumcision rather than a physical one. Still it was an act of cutting off filth and uncleanness, but this time spiritually rather than physically. True circumcision in the New Testament context is worshipping God. It has nothing to do with my effort, but rather the saving work of Jesus who by His Spirit cuts off my uncleanness.

Just as physical circumcision identified one as a son of Abraham, our spiritual circumcision is proof that we are children of God.

Cutting off filth and uncleanness, can easily be interpreted as my work; me trying to do good and not do bad. But my work is dependent on my strength. Philippians 3:3, "For we who worship God in Spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ has done for us."

It is incredibly easy to rely on my own strength to do right. Philippians 3:9, "I no longer count on my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith."

A cynic would say that this interpretation would mean I can do what I want to do because it's all the work of Jesus. But I've noticed in the Bible that there is not one example of a person being saved and remaining unchanged. If one has the Holy Spirit within, change is inevitable. But that change is a work of the Holy Spirit, not self.