Genesis 17:10–11
“This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and thy seed after thee; every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt you and me.”»
Deuteronomy 10:16
«“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.”»
God entered into a covenant with Abraham and established circumcision of the foreskin as the token of that covenant. Every male born in Abraham’s household was required to be circumcised.
Whoever refused to undergo physical circumcision was excluded from the covenant.
Even the slaves within Abraham’s household were required to partake in it. How much more those who refuse the circumcision of the heart, who will be alienated from the covenant of grace?
This physical circumcision served as a sign of the covenant between God, Abraham, and his descendants from generation to generation, to fulfil God’s promises and remain under Abraham’s blessing.
Under the New Testament, believers from every race, tribe, nation, and kingdom who want to partake in Abraham’s blessing by faith must also experience spiritual circumcision, the circumcision of the heart. This becomes the token of the Abrahamic connection between them and God.
You cannot claim to be a born-again Christian while continuing to have an unrepentant heart. Genuine new birth produces a changed heart and a changed life.
The foreskin of your heart must be removed. The stony heart must become a heart of flesh. This is what engrafts you into the covenant of Father Abraham by faith.
God looks at the heart, while human beings often look at outward appearances. The circumcision of the heart is demonstrated by a changed life. You are no longer living according to the flesh but according to the leading of the Spirit of God.
«“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”»
It is not material blessing that qualifies you, nor financial progress, but a change of heart and attitude. You were once a thief, but you steal no more. You once belonged to witchcraft, but you have become a new creation who has nothing to do with the devil anymore.
You no longer live by the dictates of the flesh because you have subdued it under the cross of Christ and overcome it by following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
He who is led by the Spirit of God is a son or daughter of God. It is the circumcised heart that submits to the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
If your heart is circumcised, you will not argue with the Word of God to accommodate your carnal nature. A circumcised heart is open to correction and rebuke.
A circumcised heart is a humble heart because it is the meek who will inherit the earth, not the proud.
A circumcised heart will not be selective in obeying God’s Word. It agrees with whatever comes from God’s mouth without subtraction or addition.
He lives by “Thus saith the Lord,” whether it is convenient or not. His greatest concern is to please the Lord in every circumstance, even when men say otherwise.
A circumcised heart will not allow sin to have dominion over it because it has been brought under the blood of the Lamb. Heart circumcision can only be accomplished at the feet of the cross.
This is where the work of transformation takes place, where iniquity is pardoned, and sins are forgiven. It is at the cross that the power of sin is confronted and the flesh that continually rebels against God is put to death.
You cannot remain far from the cross, avoid its demands, and claim that you have been circumcised. Even though you’re among the called but not ready to be justified, you cannot be glorified.
It is at the cross that you are justified when the work of the flesh is crucified by removing the spiritual foreskin of the heart that walks in rebellion against the ordinances of heaven.
Even when the Israelites were circumcised in the flesh, their hearts remained uncircumcised. They remained stiff-necked against the Word of God.
They continually erred and refused to walk according to the ordinances of the Almighty. That is why they could not enter the Promised Land.
As a believer who wants to enter the rest of God while still living on earth, you should not dare to follow the ways of the people of Israel. Instead, follow the way of the living God. It is only through heart circumcision that a believer can enter His rest.
The children of Israel walked after the flesh rather than according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Their physical circumcision could not compensate for an uncircumcised heart, and their disobedience placed them among the rebellious nations.
The token of the covenant is not merely what is done outwardly. God requires a circumcised heart, a heart that has been surrendered to Him, corrected by His Word, led by His Spirit, and separated from the dominion of sin.
The token of the covenant approved by God for becoming His son is spiritual circumcision. If you are not circumcised in your heart, you cannot claim to belong to Him.
If you are still controlled by the flesh, you are a servant to the devil who is ready to return to his father’s house, because servants do not remain in the house forever. Only sons do.
As uncircumcised souls cannot claim the fatherhood of Abraham, so those who are spiritually uncircumcised cannot lay claim to the fatherhood of God.
Just as there are different categories of people in a large household, some of whom serve the master, but only the sons have access to the heritage of the father. Servants and slaves will eventually relocate to their fathers’ house, but the sons remain in the house and inherit their father’s heritage.
Prayer
My Father and my God, remove from me the garment of slavery and put on me the garment of sonship, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
