CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART
Romans 2:25-29
THE JEWISH PROBLEM
1. The Jews were putting an improper emphasis on the things given by God as with the name Jew, the Law, their choosing by God, and here their circumcision (v. 17-24).
2. They were putting their faith in their position or possessions rather than God. The above things and are never talked about in a negative light in Scripture until they are placed above God or until the recipients trust in the thing rather than God Himself. This is the case with circumcision. Not only did their faith rest in the outward provisions but they neglected what God really desired – them, to know Him (John 1:26, 31; 8:19, 53-56; 10:4-5; 14:7-9; 17:1-3; Philippians 3:10).
3. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for neglecting the more excellent things saying “23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24)
THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION
1. Established with Abraham as part of keeping the covenant or if neglected, breaking covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). It was not to be despised.
2. Circumcision is a sign of the covenant between God and the Jew (Genesis 17:11).
3. Circumcision is a seal of righteousness by faith (Romans 4:11). Abraham was justified and made righteous and circumcision sealed it and was a sign of the covenant.
4. Faith is not to be in the sign or seal or anything but God. Today it is common for men to put faith in things other than God, even the things commanded and given by God. While circumcision may not be the issue, the same problem remains. Nothing more than grace is needed for salvation, for to put faith in anything else makes that thing a work by which someone is saved (whether that thing is good or bad, doesn’t matter).
Baptism. Today men put their trust in their act of baptism and miss what really occurs at baptism. Baptism, like circumcision, is no where mentioned in a negative light for it is commanded by God. But men think that baptism is their guarantee into heaven regardless of whether they trust in the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus.
Lord’s Supper. Men also act as if the Lord’s Supper saves us. It does not but rather reminds us of the blood that does save us. Again, this is certainly not despised but Jesus Himself told us to “do this in remembrance of Me”.
Assembly. The assembly is not to be forsaken by any means. However, some imagine that their mere attendance at the church building for one hour per week makes them pleasing to God.
The reasoning goes like this “Were you baptized? Do you partake of the Lord’s Supper? Do you assemble with the saints?” Yet there is no mention of Jesus or God or faith in Him. While these things are commanded by God they do not take the place of the God who created and commands them. Circumcision, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Assembly are of no value without Jesus Christ. Churches even endorse this problem by only focusing on or requiring these things and neglecting the “weightier things”.
5. Acts 15. Circumcision in the flesh caused trouble for Jews in Christ as they made is essential to salvation in Christ (v. 1) and that anyone becoming a Christian from the Gentiles must be circumcised and directed to “observe the Law of Moses” (v. 5). Peter clears up the matter declaring that their hearts are cleansed “by faith” and they are “saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (v. 7-11). James admonished the Gentiles to “abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication” to which all agreed, becoming of “one mind” and encouraged the Gentile brethren (v. 13-29).
CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART
1. Circumcision is not just an Old Testament teaching. It is also essential for a person today to be circumcised. But circumcision is not of the flesh but “of the heart.” “28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). Circumcision of the heart was always the goal of God (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4).
2. The Jew is “one inwardly.” Circumcision in the flesh was a type of the circumcision of Christ. Paul encouraged the church in Colossae (predominantly Gentile) of this fact “and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11). The word translated removal is the Greek word APEKDUSIS meaning “putting off or stripping” as is the case in physical circumcision. The truth is, whether Jew or Gentile, the person in Christ HAS been circumcised.
3. Circumcision is done “by the Spirit.” According to the context of this text I believe that the “s” in “Spirit” should be lower case, that is, our spirit and not God’s. This is the way most translations read. It is not done in the flesh but in the spirit. However, a capital “s” understanding is also true. While this circumcision is done “in Him” as declared in Colossians 2 it is done “by or in the Spirit” as stated here and also is called a “working of God.” Suffice it to say that this circumcision is of a spiritual nature and not a physical or fleshly nature. It is of the heart.
4. The circumcision of Christ occurs upon a person’s baptism. The circumcision is NOT the baptism but the circumcision occurs at the baptism. “having been buried with Him is baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). This work is accomplished by God who circumcises the heart of the believer. Therefore, our boasting is not in baptism but in God who is at work. In baptism, man is not working, God is.
5. Praise is “from God.” If it were of a physical nature, praise would be from man but as it is our praise is from God. Men often view baptism in this manner as what they call “an outward sign of an inward grace”. This indicates that baptism is for those who perceive and witness it as confession is. But baptism is “an appeal to God for a clear conscience” (1 Peter 3:21). Jesus often rebuked men for doing things for the praise of men (prayer, giving etc). The only thing that matters is whether we receive praise from God or as Hebrews states it “gained approval” (Hebrews 11:2, 39).