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Truth Or Tradition? #318 |
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By Gene H. Miller, Minister Steer Creek Church of Christ 3466 Rosedale Road, Stumptown WV 25267 Phone 304-462-0384 ghmiller@frontier.com Steer Creek Church of Christ The Covenant Of Circumcision. From the time of Abraham circumcision was required for one to be in covenant relationship with God. "And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." (Genesis 17:9, 10, 14). So the uncircumcised male would be cut off from his people, an outcast, because he had broken the covenant. The Same Is True Today. So many literal, material practices that was a part of Judaism, have a spiritual application in Christianity: the Holy Place pictures the Church, the Most Holy Place - Heaven, the Candlestick - the Light of God's Word, the Table of Shewbread - the Lord's Supper, the Altar of Incense - Prayer, etc. The covenant of circumcision has its fulfillment also. Even today, those who are not circumcised, are not in covenant relationship with God. Let's let Paul explain that. Spiritual Circumcision. Writing to Christians (those in covenant relationship with God) Paul writes: "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Colossians 2:11). How had these Christians been circumcised? A circumcision "made without hands" must be spiritual in nature. "The circumcision of Christ"Â…..What's Paul talking about? Read the next verse. Always read the next verse. The Circumcision of Christ. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12). In Judaism circumcision was accomplished with the hands. Spiritual circumcision is made without hands. In circumcision under Judaism, there was a putting away of the flesh of the foreskin. In spiritual circumcision, there is a putting away of the sins of the flesh. Baptism is to the Christian, what circumcision was to the Jew. The Like Figure. In baptism there is a putting away of the sins of the flesh. In baptism there is a Death, Burial, and ResurrectionÂ…Death to sin, Burial in water, and Resurrection to newness of life. Jesus said that when He comes again all the dead will be raised "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:29). Only two ways to come forth from the grave: To life, or to damnation. We must experience the first resurrection (from baptism) in order to escape the second death (the resurrection to damnation). Spiritual circumcision (baptism) is just as essential today as fleshly circumcision was under the law of Moses. If you would like to study this matter in more detail, give me a call.
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