“And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.”
Genesis 17:11
To Abraham was this covenant made between him and his household and God. This literal act of circumcision prefigured the true circumcision of the heart that God expects of all who are in a covenant relationship with Him through Christ Jesus. As the literal flesh in the days of Abraham was to be cut off, so, our fleshly nature must be completely cut off and cruciified when we enter into the new covenant with Christ. The old self must die, and the new man created in Christ Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, must come forth.
“Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.”
Deuteronomy 10:16
“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is (true) circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, by the Spirit…”
Romans 2:28-29
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed (descendant), and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:29
Now if we are Abraham’s descendants then we also must be circumcised, only, this is a spiritual circumcision and not literal. Paul further confirms this point in verses 6 -7.
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
Galatians 3:6-7
“For we are the circumcised, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Philippians 3:3
“In Him (Jesus) you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.”
Colossians 2:11
Ultimately, God is seeking a people who have put to death the fleshly desires through the power granted them in Jesus. Thus receiving the true circumcision that is of the heart.
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.”
Galatians 5:24
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God….For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 8:8,13
Literal circumcision profits nothing, it was simply a means to point the Jews to the true circumcision of the heart which God requires. Now, in these last days, we must be circumcised in heart, by the Spirit, whom we receive without measure when we are in Christ Jesus.
For if we are in Christ, we are Abraham’s seed (descendants) and heirs according to the promise which he first received, that he and his descendants would inherit the promised land.
We look therefore for the Heavenly Canaan, a City who’s builder and maker is God, The New Jerusalem., the True Promised Land.
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God…..These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
Hebrews 11:8-10,13-16
Friends, without this true heart conversion and circumcision, we shall not be partakers of the promise once delivered to Abraham. May we truly seek after this experience in Christ that we may have the right to “enter through the gates of the City.” Revelation 22:14
Loud Cry Compendium
Loud Cry Compendium 