"In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ . . ."
Colossians 2:11
Circumcision
Circumcision was given to Israel as a sign of God's covenant with Abraham.
But with the transition into the New Covenant we see that circumcision is no longer required, and becomes a non-issue "For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision" (1 Cor 7:19).
But there is a circumcision that is spoken of in the NT, but it's not the chopping off of the foreskin (Thankfully). Rather it is a Spirit filled living.
It is described in Col 2:11 as 'putting off the body of flesh'.
1 Corinthians 7:19 (already quoted in part) says "For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God." (emphasis added).
Throughout the NT Paul, and the other authors keep refering to our sinful nature as 'the flesh' or 'the body'. Romans is full of this language:
- "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live." Romans 8:13
- "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do." Romans 8:3
- "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." Romans 6:12
- ". . . walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:4
Cutting off the old nature, the old flesh or sinful desires is the new Circumcision.
Colossians rightly says that it is not done with human hands. Rather it is the Spirit of God at work in our lives because of the finished work of Jesus to cut off our sinful nature and give us a new, Christ-centred one.
Romans 8:13 talks about putting the deeds of the body to death by the spirit and Romans 8:4 talks of living according to the Spirit, not the flesh. Here we see that this circumcision is not one of mere works or moral obedience, but of the Spirit of Christ powerfully working in our lives.
Summary
If circumcision moves forward from the OT, and transitions into something else for the Christian, surely it is to be found in the putting off, or killing of the old sinful nature, and in Spirit filled, Gospel saturated living.
