Spiritual Circumcision
Chad Johnson
January 6, 2012

"But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter. Whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:29 KJV.

The word circumcision is used many times throughout the Bible. This was a Jewish custom of cutting away the foreskin of the male children. God commanded Abraham to practice circumcision as a sign of His covenant.

Physical circumcision is not required of Christians, but it is used as a symbol of the new birth. We see this here in our text as well as Colossians 2:10-14.

Though there is a great medical and health advantage of circumcision, there is not any spiritual one. (See Galatians 5:12)

I want us now to look at the spiritual comparison between salvation and circumcision. The Jews were and are a very proud people. The Jews thought that because they were from Abraham and the chosen people of God to bring forth the Messiah, that this ensured their salvation. They, being Jews, would of course be circumcised. We see in Romans 1:11-12 that Abraham had received the promise and was counted righteous before he was circumcised.

Our verse tells us that he is a Jew that is one inwardly. Spiritual circumcision, the cutting away of sin, through the work of God in salvation by grace through faith. The Bible tells us that not all of Israel is Israel.

Not all Jews are saved. Only those that have been spiritually circumcised are the people of God – Jew or Gentile.

Every child of God can claim kinship to Abraham by faith in Christ for salvation.

Have you ever been spiritually circumcised?

Religion has many outward things, just as the Jews had to try to obtain their true salvation.

None of these will work, it is repentance and faith for salvation and only by God’s faith. See also Colossians 2:10-15.