The Circumcision of Christ

[Mr. M]

Colossians 2:

11 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,

12 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. 

It is clear that there is a “death” and a “resurrection” to being born again and circumcised in the heart.

It becomes evident that it is a grievous offense to reduce baptism to “empty ritual”.

While some may have accepted this as something “symbolic”,

it is actually a willful public acknowledgement of the demands of the New Covenant,

and cannot be approached casually.

Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

The heavenly Father’s verdict against sin must be willfully accepted,

and reckoned upon the conscience of every believer.

Romans 6:3-7 Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,

that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also

should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death,

certainly we also shall be of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,

that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

For he who has died has been freed from sin. 

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin,

but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Faith in “the working of God” which is the Spirit of Christ received from His Son, ”the Word of God”. 

The circumcision of Christ provides “discernment of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart by the Spirit, we can

“bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

Now the Holy Spirit can testify to our spirit, providing the believer with the preeminent

Spirit of Truth, manifesting in the “fruit of our lips”.

Daniel 5:12 Inasmuch as a preeminent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams,

solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar,

now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.

The Spirit manifested by the Word of Life declares the righteous judgment of the Lord.

John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

The circumcision of Christ must manifest as a spirit of impartiality towards others,

thereby proving “the death of the sinful nature.”

James 2:

1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  

Failing to hold to the faith in this matter is a transgression of the Law

9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 

Abiding in the anointing by the circumcision of Christ is to walk in the Spirit of liberty,

and is the basis for our judgment in the Body of Christ.

12 So speak and so do, as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

This is to remove the veil on the heart, by the circumcision of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:

16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Set Free to Serve the Body of Christ

Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty

as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

[Alive]

The circumcision that God commanded Abraham. Why did God choose this? What does it signify in addition to making Israel different--if anything?

[Mr. M]

11 minutes ago, Alive said:

The circumcision that God commanded Abraham. Why did God choose this? What does it signify in addition to making Israel different--if anything?

Genesis 17:13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised,

and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again from above.’

To abide in Christ, the Saints must clearly discern flesh, from Spirit. 

This requires the circumcision of Christ.

Of course, this is two different covenants. Gentiles covenant by the sure mercies of David,

and is not a covenant of flesh, but of the heart, in the Spirit. Romans 2:28 & 29

[Alive]

Could it be a symbol regarding the wounding of or cutting away of the strength of the natural fleshy man, to be replaced by a New Life of the Spirit and Christ to come? A reliance on God instead of a man's own strength.

[Mr. M]

10 minutes ago, Alive said:

Could it be a symbol regarding the wounding of or cutting away of the strength of the natural fleshy man, to be replaced by a New Life of the Spirit and Christ to come? A reliance on God instead of a man's own strength.

I also once linked the destruction of the firstborn for a similar purpose of judging the perceived strength

associated with the first male to open the matrix. I based this conclusion of this prophetic word:

Genesis 49:

3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,

the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou went up to thy father's bed;

then defiled it: he went up to my couch.

[Alive]

Just now, Mr. M said:

I also once linked the destruction of the firstborn for a similar purpose of judging the perceived strength

associated with the first male to open the matrix. I based this conclusion of this prophetic word:

Genesis 49:

3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,

the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou went up to thy father's bed;

then defiled it: he went up to my couch.

The theme is all through scripture. Moses preparation brought him low, Jacob was a man of much natural ability, talent and craftiness. He became Israel after being wounded in his strength--on and on. Peter, Paul. Every character--every tool--was worked in preparation for some service or another.

One way or another, we see Christ there.

[Mr. M]

On 12/20/2022 at 3:03 PM, Alive said:

The theme is all through scripture. Moses preparation brought him low, Jacob was a man of much natural ability, talent and craftiness. He became Israel after being wounded in his strength--on and on. Peter, Paul. Every character--every tool--was worked in preparation for some service or another.

One way or another, we see Christ there.

This is to partake in the humiliation of Christ, to prepare the heart to receive.

Acts 8:33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

21 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,

according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

Edited May 11, 2023 by Mr. M

[Alive]

13 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

This is to partake in the humiliation of Christ, to prepare the heart to receive.

Acts 8:33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

21 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,

according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord:

but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy;

I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.alm

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, thou wilt not despise.

Amen brother! Excellent post.

[Mr. M]

A heart of contrition

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy;

I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things have mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord:

but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart,

O God, thou wilt not despise.