
Who Are the Heirs of God’s Covenant with Abraham Which Was Established by Circumcision?
Genesis 17:14 says: “And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”
Consider that circumcision symbolized worshiping God in spirit and truth, and no longer walking after the flesh. The Shechemites were circumcised physically in Genesis chapter 34 for marriage and business purposes. Their circumcision meant nothing good. God often rebuked the natural Israelites who were physically circumcised for being uncircumcised in their hearts throughout the Bible. Many physically circumcised Israelites were not in God’s grace.
Consider also that after Moses gave the Law, circumcision also symbolized embracing the entire package of the Mosaic Law. A Jew who was circumcised physically, yet didn’t regard the entire Law, might as well have been uncircumcised physically.
The Jews today who do not receive Jesus Christ, whom the Law points to, could not have a meaningful circumcision like Abraham then. They are uncircumcised at heart. They are thus cut off from covenant with God.
The same is true of disobedient professing Christians. Since they do not have the obedient heart of faith in Christ which God requires to be in covenant with Him, they are not in covenant with Him for that reason. Their problem is not their lack of physical circumcision.
The Apostle Paul pointed out in Romans chapter 4 that Abraham was initially justified by faith when he was uncircumcised. Abraham then received physical circumcision at God’s command as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was yet physically uncircumcised.
Consider also that in the Book of Acts God began to accept gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ without requiring physical circumcision and the practicing the Jewish ceremonies of them. The precedents set with Cornelius and the Jerusalem council, in Acts chapters 10 and 15 respectively, are crystal clear.
Consider also that no one can faithfully practice the Jewish ceremonies anyways since the Temple was destroyed in AD 70.
Therefore, it makes sense that an obedient faith in Christ is the substance of the command for circumcision in Genesis chapter 17 which must be obeyed to be counted as an heir of God’s promise to Abraham. Those who have this faith must be the true people of God who are in covenant with Him. They thus must be the true spiritual seed of Abraham and the true Israel.
And that is exactly what we find taught by the Apostles of Christ.
Romans 2:25-29: “For circumcision verily (truly) profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Fulfilling the Law= Obediently following Jesus Christ by faith (see Romans 8:4).
Galatians 3:13-14: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:26-29: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Philippians 3:3: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Galatians 6:14-16: “But God forbid that I should glory, save (except) in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
Aaron’s email is: [email protected]
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