The feast of circumcision
The feast of circumcision
The feast of circumcision is one of the Lord’s seven minor feasts. The feast is celebrated on the 6th day of the Coptic month of Tubah, which is equivalent to the 8th day following Christmas.
God, almighty meant for there to be an obvious sign in blood – in the flesh of every male. The reason was that it would serve as a witness to a covenant with God – become one of His people, knowing no other God but Him the almighty.
“You shall fear theLordyour God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.” (Deu 6:13)
“You shall fear theLordyour God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.” (Deu 10:20)
Thus every male who was not circumcised was cut-off and expelled from amongst God’s people. However, an important question remains:
Does the concept of circumcision in the New Testament carry the same significance and importance as it did in the Old Testament?
In answering this question we say: The lord Jesus Christ is the core of both Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament served as a preparation for the coming of Christ, where all the rituals referred to the Redeemer who is to come, namely the “lamb” who will bear the sins of the whole world. By accepting to due on our behalf, He relieved us from our sins. Thus, the blood- shed of sacrifices of the Old Testament referred to the blood- shed of the Christ the Redeemer who is to come.
Therefore, blood in the Old Testament referred to the “covenant”. “Circumcision” is (a sign of blood) in the flesh of the body of a male and it serves as a reminder for human beings that they are in dire need of the Redeemer who is to come, namely “the Christ”.
Hence , the importance of “ circumcision “as it is considered a sign made with blood in the flesh of the body, is a symbol of salvation through Christ for those who will accept to join His kingdom and be assigned to Him through faith. If they believe and become baptized, they are saved (Mark 16:16). Faith qualifies them to receive salvation, but baptism exalts them from their sins (Acts 16:22) and purifies them as well. The power of baptism doesn’t lie in the water, for the water doesn’t wash away sin, but in the power of the Holy Spirit that is present on the waters through the prayers. This occurs when the priest calls upon the Holy Spirit to be present, after which the water is transformed into fiery living water, with the power to purify.
John the Baptist makes it clear that there is a difference between his baptism and that of the Lord Jesus Christ. For he says “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Mat 3:11), (Luke 3:16), (Mark 1:8), (John 1:26, 31:33).
As a result, circumcisions i.e. cutting part of the foreskin of the human male body, no longer bear any spiritual significance or importance in the New Testament. All significance and importance go to baptism which is the door way to the New Testament. And as it was not allowed in the Old Testament for any man who was not circumcised to eat from the Passover meal, so is the case in the New Testament, those who have not been baptized cannot receive Holy Communion. Also, as it was the case in Old Testament for those who were not circumcised, not to be counted among Gods people. So is the case now in the New Testament, for those who weren’t baptized in the name of the Christ, not to have any share among those saved and redeemed through Christ’s blood, and aren’t allowed into the Kingdom of God. In other words, they aren’t considered members in Christ’s church.
“Jesus answered and said to him,“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered,“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5) The Holy Bible makes it clear that baptism in Christianity is the new circumcision, i.e. the circumcision of the heart and soul:
“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Col. 2:11-14) Therefore, there is circumcision in the New Testament but not by an apparent cutting the flesh of the body but by cutting- off the old self. “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds…” (Col 3:9) Together with original sin and sins prior to baptism, thus getting rid of it all. Thus, the new creation appears in Christ. In Christ, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” (Gal 6:15)
During the early Apostolic Age, there was a serious argument about circumcision: should those joining Christianity abide by circumcision performed by the human hand in the flesh of their bodies (Eph 2:11)?
What about gentiles who became Christians who don’t follow the circumcision, should they abide by it in order to become Christians? Or has this kind of circumcision been replaced by baptism and thus lost its value and importance, rather irrelevant?
As for the Jews (Acts 10:45), (11:2), (Rom 3:2, 3), (Gal 2:12), (COL 3:11), (4:11) (Titus 1:10), they were stubborn and insisted on the necessity of circumcision and that it is a Divine law. They even went as far as claiming that salvation is possible only for those who were circumcised first in the flesh of their bodies. This means that anon - Jews can never receive the salvation of Christ unless they abide by circumcision in the flesh of their bodies and keeping the Sabbath day holy, in addition to the remaining rituals of the old law.
The Apostles, including St. Paul were disturbed by this claim, for they considered this to be the cancelling the role of Christ, the redeemer, in whom all symbols were realized – that which Christ Himself fulfilled in the act of salvation and Redemption. Thus, all symbols are no longer valid as they were relayed in Jesus Christ and believers in Him are no longer in need of the circumcision of the body, rather Christian baptism replaced the Jewish circumcision.
In order to tackle this serious issue, the apostolic council was held in the year 51/52 A.D. where the issue of circumcision was discussed and a decisive resolution was passed. It is mentioned in the book of Acts that some men came down from Judea and were teaching, saying, “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” As a result the Apostles and priests met together to set things right. They decided to choose two men and send them to Antioch together with St. Paul and St. Barnabas, namely Judas (also called Barsabas), in addition to Silas. With them they sent the following letter: “And certainmencame down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to commandthemto keep the Law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose upandsaid to them: “Menandbrethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just asHe didto us,and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christwe shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Menandbrethren, listen to me:Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says theLordwho does all these things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols,fromsexual immorality,fromthings strangled, and fromblood.For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas,namely,Judas who was also named Barsabas, [e]and Silas, leading men among the brethren. They wrote thisletterby them the apostles, the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You mustbe circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave nosuch commandment—it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immoralityif you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:1-29)
The teaching in the New Testament , in the light of this decision was decreed by the Apostolic Council , as inspired by the Holy Spirit, stated that those who join Christianity need not abide by the ritual of circumcision. (Acts 21:21-28), (Gal 5:11) Moreover, those who were circumcised in the foreskin of their bodies have no privilege over those who were not circumcised (Gal 7:2-9). More importantly is the spiritual circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit that purifies them from sin, in addition to following the commandments of God governed by a clear faith that is observed through their loving deeds. Thus “Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of Godis what matters. (1 Cor 7:18-19)
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” (Gal 5:6). So, “For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who,evenwithyourwrittencodeand circumcision,area transgressor of the law?For he is not a Jew whois oneoutwardly, noriscircumcision that whichisoutward in the flesh;buthe isa Jew whois one inwardly; and circumcisionis thatof the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praiseisnot from men but from God.” (Rom 2:25-29)
Therefore, those who are spiritually circumcised in their hearts are the true Christians. So don’t be proud that you are circumcised in the foreskin of your bodies while others may not be, for, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:circumcised the eighth day…” (Philip 3: 2-5).