CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART BY THE SPIRIT.
I recently opted to look into the book of Romans and how I love Paul and the kind of literature he uses as he writes. One thing struck my mind and it came about when I read this; Romans 2: 28-29 A man is not a Jew if he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew is he is one inwardly and circumcision is circumcision of the HEART, by the SPIRIT, not by the written code. Such a mans praise is not from men but from God.
What is circumcision by the Spirit? It is surrendering the heart to the guidance of the Lord and allowing your being to be controlled by God. It is being dead to sin and alive in Christ.
We all are born are born with the sinful nature and with sin Psalm 51:5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. and for one to receive salvation that comes by faith through grace in Jesus Christ God has to work on you and especially the sinful nature so that you receive newness in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. This then means that you are no longer a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness Romans 6:18 but the process of dying to self continues till you are glorified and become one with Jesus.
When we try put in the traditional aspect of circumcision of the male children, they say that is a transition to adulthood and it is usually a MUST do process to undergo for all male children. Now, when one receives circumcision of the heart, you first of all give up WILLINGLY your flesh and allow yourself to be under the control of the Spirit. He operates in you with His Word Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God speaks, is alive and full of power(making it active, operative, energizing and effective), it is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life(soul) and the spirit(the immortal), and of the joints and marrow( the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. It might not be so interesting because you are giving up what you so much held important, so that you begin living for Christ. Those habits you have to leave, the friends, the music, everything that is of the world, you give it up so that you receive what pertains the Kingdom of God and begin working your salvation.
The Spirit resides in you and His work is to help you in thine salvation. This though does not mean you are not to be tempted or you are not a sinner but what is of joy is that you have already overcome sin, and every desire of the flesh so by the help of the Spirit of God you will not give in to do what displeases the Lord God. Genesis 17: 11-14 shows how God wanted circumcision to be done and this are the few things I could jot down:
It was not optional- it was kept and went from generation to another.
It was also for foreigners who dwelled and were born among the Israelite's.
It was a sign of the covenant.
It was done on the 8th day after birth which is symbolic- it was understood that at this time the baby boy has gained stability and they will not bleed to death once they undergo the process.
You cannot circumcise yourself.
It involved cutting off the flesh, the foreskin.
It was done on a private part of the body.
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 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.
Colossians 10:13 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Firstly, if you then want to be a christian you have to get circumcised. Under God's Old Testament illustration circumcision is not optional. It is something that the Jews had to submit to. If God's pictures are to convey any truth at all they must remain consistent. I believe that God was telling us that spiritual circumcision is not an optional part of Christianity. Not to go through spiritual circumcision would be a breaking of God's spiritual covenant, just as failure to be circumcised was a breaking of His natural covenant. We need to understand this spiritual principle and yield our lives to it.
How does this apply to our spiritual lives? First, many people make a profession of faith in Christ, but their lives never changed. By its very nature, salvation is a life altering experience. It isn't a mental assent to live better or turn over a new leaf. It is a personal, spiritual encounter with God whereby a person's very nature is changed from the inside out. These passages in Romans 2 and Colossians 2 point out that the spiritual circumcision is performed by the Spirit of God.
When a person is born again a circumcision takes place. Something of the old flesh nature is cut away and the Spirit of God is imparted. Where no life change take place there has been no spiritual circumcision and thus no salvation.
One of two problems exists today in this area of cutting off our flesh. Either we've never been told it is necessary, or we set about to do it on our own. Spiritual circumcision is something that we must rest in. It came on the 8th day after a day of rest.
The 8th day also signifies a new beginning. Something is different after circumcision. It is the start of a new thing in our lives. Sometimes people come to know the Lord and are really excited about God, but after a while they get stagnant. Newness comes after the old has been cut off. And the reverse is true also. There are some new things we can't enter into until we've submitted our lives to spiritual circumcision.
You cannot also receive salvation anyhow, you are always fed by the Word of God so that you begin believing in God and He nurtures you and prepares you so that you come to an understanding of what you are embracing and what pertains it. You then willingly allow the Spirit of God to circumcise your heart and you receive newness. It is an ongoing work an everyday thing, that is why Apostle Paul says I die DAILY! There's a curious scripture in Joshua 5:2 "At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time."
God called it a second circumcision for the nation of Israel. It was a re-establishing of the covenant. God left us an example of it being possible for spiritual circumcision to be an ongoing work of grace in our lives.
Circumcision was the "cutting off of the flesh." While salvation is a free gift of God through Jesus Christ, God does require that we get rid of the old flesh nature. Paul and Jesus required us to "take up the cross daily." The cross had but one purpose ... it was to kill the flesh. Spiritual circumcision is the removal of the old flesh nature. It started at conversion, continued through baptism and will remain a principle throughout our lives. Every time we face the issue of the old flesh nature, it must be "cut off." Not to do so is to allow sin to overwhelm us again and with it, the possibility of losing our faith in Christ.
So many Christians have the idea that God's sole objective is to forgive our sins and get us to heaven. Salvation is only the starting place of a much deeper work God desires to accomplish in our lives.We are told to do what Jesus did ... "take up your cross and follow me...." We are to carry our cross. And we are to yield to the crucifixion of our flesh. But we aren't capable of doing it ourselves. Even in the physical sense you could, at best, only nail your feet and one hand down.
This is for several reasons. The first is that God placed within us a sense of self-preservation. We are not real good at accomplishing that which causes us pain. It's too easy to stop short. When you go through spiritual circumcision and your flesh is being cut off, it isn't dead flesh, but living flesh that is being trimmed out of your life.
Another reason is that God wants us to learn to YIELD to His Spirit. There are two agencies at work in spiritual circumcision. The first is the Spirit of God and the second is God's ordained ministry.
It is important to understand what God has to say about the flesh nature. A lot of people get confused when you start talking about the flesh. They think in terms of the outer covering of this natural body, but the principle of the flesh is much more than that. While we are here, let me interject a thought. God is not against our bodies. The Bible says, "The body is ... for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." I Cor. 6:13 Paul goes on to say that our physical bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
God isn't against our physical bodies. He is against the sinful fleshly nature that dwells in our bodies and causes us to sin. We need to understand this principle if we are going to understand and yield to spiritual circumcision. Lets see what the New Testament has to say about the flesh nature.
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:" John 6:63 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: for sin: or, by a sacrifice for sin. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." Gala 5:17 There is absolutely no doubt that God had this in mind from the beginning. All the way back in Deuteronomy 10:16 God gave this admonition to Israel, "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
Circumcision wasn't something everyone could see. You could see the effects of circumcision. A Jewish man followed the law of God (or should have). Likewise you can't see if a person has a circumcised heart, but you should be able to see the results of it. This causes a real problem for those in the Church who like to judge after the flesh. God can be doing a work in someone's heart and the effect has not yet been reflected in the outer life. We must be careful to "judge righteous judgment" as Jesus instructed us in John 7:24. True life-change starts inside, in the heart, not outside in the flesh.
In conclusion, God wants our hearts circumcised, the flesh cut off till we receive glorification and it is performed by the Spirit. By yourself you will fail terribly.
Is there a difference of when you received salvation and now? are you trying to circumcise yourself? are you still a slave to the flesh?
May we yield to the Spirit of God and desist all flesh, taking up our cross and following Jesus!
We all are born are born with the sinful nature and with sin Psalm 51:5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. and for one to receive salvation that comes by faith through grace in Jesus Christ God has to work on you and especially the sinful nature so that you receive newness in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. This then means that you are no longer a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness Romans 6:18 but the process of dying to self continues till you are glorified and become one with Jesus.
When we try put in the traditional aspect of circumcision of the male children, they say that is a transition to adulthood and it is usually a MUST do process to undergo for all male children. Now, when one receives circumcision of the heart, you first of all give up WILLINGLY your flesh and allow yourself to be under the control of the Spirit. He operates in you with His Word Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God speaks, is alive and full of power(making it active, operative, energizing and effective), it is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life(soul) and the spirit(the immortal), and of the joints and marrow( the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. It might not be so interesting because you are giving up what you so much held important, so that you begin living for Christ. Those habits you have to leave, the friends, the music, everything that is of the world, you give it up so that you receive what pertains the Kingdom of God and begin working your salvation.
The Spirit resides in you and His work is to help you in thine salvation. This though does not mean you are not to be tempted or you are not a sinner but what is of joy is that you have already overcome sin, and every desire of the flesh so by the help of the Spirit of God you will not give in to do what displeases the Lord God. Genesis 17: 11-14 shows how God wanted circumcision to be done and this are the few things I could jot down:
It was not optional- it was kept and went from generation to another.
It was also for foreigners who dwelled and were born among the Israelite's.
It was a sign of the covenant.
It was done on the 8th day after birth which is symbolic- it was understood that at this time the baby boy has gained stability and they will not bleed to death once they undergo the process.
You cannot circumcise yourself.
It involved cutting off the flesh, the foreskin.
It was done on a private part of the body.
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 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.
Colossians 10:13 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Firstly, if you then want to be a christian you have to get circumcised. Under God's Old Testament illustration circumcision is not optional. It is something that the Jews had to submit to. If God's pictures are to convey any truth at all they must remain consistent. I believe that God was telling us that spiritual circumcision is not an optional part of Christianity. Not to go through spiritual circumcision would be a breaking of God's spiritual covenant, just as failure to be circumcised was a breaking of His natural covenant. We need to understand this spiritual principle and yield our lives to it.
How does this apply to our spiritual lives? First, many people make a profession of faith in Christ, but their lives never changed. By its very nature, salvation is a life altering experience. It isn't a mental assent to live better or turn over a new leaf. It is a personal, spiritual encounter with God whereby a person's very nature is changed from the inside out. These passages in Romans 2 and Colossians 2 point out that the spiritual circumcision is performed by the Spirit of God.
When a person is born again a circumcision takes place. Something of the old flesh nature is cut away and the Spirit of God is imparted. Where no life change take place there has been no spiritual circumcision and thus no salvation.
One of two problems exists today in this area of cutting off our flesh. Either we've never been told it is necessary, or we set about to do it on our own. Spiritual circumcision is something that we must rest in. It came on the 8th day after a day of rest.
The 8th day also signifies a new beginning. Something is different after circumcision. It is the start of a new thing in our lives. Sometimes people come to know the Lord and are really excited about God, but after a while they get stagnant. Newness comes after the old has been cut off. And the reverse is true also. There are some new things we can't enter into until we've submitted our lives to spiritual circumcision.
You cannot also receive salvation anyhow, you are always fed by the Word of God so that you begin believing in God and He nurtures you and prepares you so that you come to an understanding of what you are embracing and what pertains it. You then willingly allow the Spirit of God to circumcise your heart and you receive newness. It is an ongoing work an everyday thing, that is why Apostle Paul says I die DAILY! There's a curious scripture in Joshua 5:2 "At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time."
God called it a second circumcision for the nation of Israel. It was a re-establishing of the covenant. God left us an example of it being possible for spiritual circumcision to be an ongoing work of grace in our lives.
Circumcision was the "cutting off of the flesh." While salvation is a free gift of God through Jesus Christ, God does require that we get rid of the old flesh nature. Paul and Jesus required us to "take up the cross daily." The cross had but one purpose ... it was to kill the flesh. Spiritual circumcision is the removal of the old flesh nature. It started at conversion, continued through baptism and will remain a principle throughout our lives. Every time we face the issue of the old flesh nature, it must be "cut off." Not to do so is to allow sin to overwhelm us again and with it, the possibility of losing our faith in Christ.
So many Christians have the idea that God's sole objective is to forgive our sins and get us to heaven. Salvation is only the starting place of a much deeper work God desires to accomplish in our lives.We are told to do what Jesus did ... "take up your cross and follow me...." We are to carry our cross. And we are to yield to the crucifixion of our flesh. But we aren't capable of doing it ourselves. Even in the physical sense you could, at best, only nail your feet and one hand down.
This is for several reasons. The first is that God placed within us a sense of self-preservation. We are not real good at accomplishing that which causes us pain. It's too easy to stop short. When you go through spiritual circumcision and your flesh is being cut off, it isn't dead flesh, but living flesh that is being trimmed out of your life.
Another reason is that God wants us to learn to YIELD to His Spirit. There are two agencies at work in spiritual circumcision. The first is the Spirit of God and the second is God's ordained ministry.
It is important to understand what God has to say about the flesh nature. A lot of people get confused when you start talking about the flesh. They think in terms of the outer covering of this natural body, but the principle of the flesh is much more than that. While we are here, let me interject a thought. God is not against our bodies. The Bible says, "The body is ... for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." I Cor. 6:13 Paul goes on to say that our physical bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
God isn't against our physical bodies. He is against the sinful fleshly nature that dwells in our bodies and causes us to sin. We need to understand this principle if we are going to understand and yield to spiritual circumcision. Lets see what the New Testament has to say about the flesh nature.
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:" John 6:63 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: for sin: or, by a sacrifice for sin. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." Gala 5:17 There is absolutely no doubt that God had this in mind from the beginning. All the way back in Deuteronomy 10:16 God gave this admonition to Israel, "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.
Circumcision wasn't something everyone could see. You could see the effects of circumcision. A Jewish man followed the law of God (or should have). Likewise you can't see if a person has a circumcised heart, but you should be able to see the results of it. This causes a real problem for those in the Church who like to judge after the flesh. God can be doing a work in someone's heart and the effect has not yet been reflected in the outer life. We must be careful to "judge righteous judgment" as Jesus instructed us in John 7:24. True life-change starts inside, in the heart, not outside in the flesh.
In conclusion, God wants our hearts circumcised, the flesh cut off till we receive glorification and it is performed by the Spirit. By yourself you will fail terribly.
Is there a difference of when you received salvation and now? are you trying to circumcise yourself? are you still a slave to the flesh?
May we yield to the Spirit of God and desist all flesh, taking up our cross and following Jesus!
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