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Scripture Reading:
Romans 4:9-12 (English Standard Version – ESV)
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9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
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Thought for the day:
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I think it’s fair to say that for most of us, whenever we start reading passages of the Bible that mention circumcision, we are either confused, embarrassed or simply are disinterested, thinking that this has no relevance to us today. I guess that over the years, generally speaking, there hasn’t been much teaching on the subject and therefore there is a significant lack of knowledge about it.
So, let’s try to give a very simple definition and explanation of circumcision. Genesis 17 is the first recording of this act and every male was required to have their foreskin cut away. God instituted this procedure to be a physical sign of the covenant He was making with Abraham and his descendants. The rite demonstrates a gracious movement of God toward mankind but also derived from that is consecration of mankind to God. The covenant was a series of promises and were personal, national and spiritual. However, this was only a sign of the covenant, God also required members of that covenant to show it outwardly through obedience to His law. There is a relationship between circumcision and obedience and is a constant theme throughout the scripture. Deuteronomy 30:6 talks about God circumcising our hearts and refers to a willing obedience to love Him and serve Him where our personal desires are ‘cut away’. Jeremiah 9:25 says ‘“The days are coming” says the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh”’. This clearly implies that being physically circumcised without the spiritual obedience that should follow, is meaningless and defunct.
In the New Testament, we as Gentile Christians are instructed not to ignore circumcision but neither are we to use it as an example of salvation through works. We must be aware of its meaning, particularly in regard to ‘The circumcision of Christ’ when we are told to ‘put off the body and the flesh’.
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Prayer and Application:
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It is an incredibly difficult subject but remember that we are to make a conscious decision to ‘cut away’ anything that detracts from our walk with God.
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