Circumcision – the seal of the Covenant
The Abrahamic Covenant was sealed by the rite of circumcision. This we see in Genesis 17. Circumcision is the cutting off of the foreskin of the male reproductive organ, leaving a permanent irreversible mark on the body. All males born in Abraham’s household and all slaves bought with money or born in Abraham’s house were to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. Any man child who was not circumcised by the eighth day was excluded from the Covenant and from the house of Israel forever.
God referred to circumcision as a ‘token’ of his Covenant with Abraham. In other words it was a symbol or sign of the promises to come in Christ. Until Christ came circumcision had to be performed for one to confirm their allegiance to the covenant.
When Christ came, he ushered in a spiritual Covenant, not of the works of the flesh. Our circumcision, or seal of adoption, is no longer that of the flesh, but of the heart and of the ears. It is a spiritual experience where God cuts away the desires of the flesh from our inner man by the sword of the word, our ears are circumcised so that we hear the things of the Spirit, and our hearts awakened to the chastening of the Holy Spirit. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, put to death the works of the flesh in us so we can bear the fruit of righteousness. This is a painful process but very necessary for our salvation.
“So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.” Romans 7:4-5 NIV
Christ himself performs this spiritual circumcision in his saints:
“In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12 NIV
(Please note: above where it talks about baptism, this is speaking to the death of Christ on Calvary by which he defeated sin in the flesh – we are raised with Christ unto a new man by faith. He was immersed into the waters of judgement and raised to life by God)
Any slave bought by money could be counted as Abraham’s family as long as they were circumcised. Through Christ, people of all nations are bought off the slave market of sin by his precious blood, we are adopted into his holy family. And the seal or permanent sign of our adoption is the Holy Spirit. He is the guarantee of our entry into the Kingdom of God and the assurance of eternal life.
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV
We have this confidence as sons of God that:
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans 8:16 NKJV
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14 NKJV
Unto the Lamb belongs the glory and honour. He prevailed in the work of our salvation. Even as the four beasts and the twenty four elders fell before the throne in Heaven, we join them and proclaim:
“…….“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV