Articles
Have You Been Circumcised By Christ?
Initially, circumcision for the Jewish people, began when God established a covenant
with Abram in Genesis 17. God uses this act to set the Jewish people apart from the rest of the
people on earth. “Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you must keep My covenant, you and
your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is My covenant with you and your
descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be
circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between
Me and you’” (Genesis 17:9-11). God sets a precedent when he says, “Any uncircumcised male,
who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken My
covenant" (Genesis 17:14). Likewise, we have to be “circumcised” to be part of Gods family
today.
In Old Testament times only males were circumcised. In the New Testament there are
some verses that are directed to all of us, both males and females, that deal with circumcision.
“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 ).
You may be surprised to find out that as a Christian whether you are male or female, you
have been “circumcised”. This “circumcision” is more important than just a small piece of
missing flesh. This “circumcision” is performed by Jesus during our baptism. This act is the
removal of our old life and freedom from the rule of our flesh. This “circumcision” is part of
what separates us from the world, what makes us different, and gives us hope that we have
eternal life in heaven. ~B Tolbert
