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NASB | Genesis 17:10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 17:10 "This is [the sign of] My covenant, which you shall keep and faithfully obey, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. |
Bible Question: What does it mean to be circumcised of the heart? |
Bible Answer: shpagach, welcome to the Forum. We greet you in the name of Christ, the Messiah. To understand circumcision of the heart one must look at Genesis 17. This is the account of Abram, which means HIGH FATHER, and the covenant that God made with him. God asks Abram to "walk before Him and be perfect. Alfred Barnes in his commentary of the Old Testament says: For, first, he has now faith in the Lord, which is the fruit of the new man in him prevailing over the old, and is therefore competent to obey; and, next, the Lord in whom he believes is God Almighty, the all-efficient Spirit, who worketh both to will and to do in the destroying of sin and building up of holiness. “Walk”—act in the most comprehensive sense of the term; “before me,” and not behind, as one conscious of doing what is, not displeasing, but pleasing to me; “and be perfect,” not sincere merely, unless in the primitive sense of duty, but complete, upright, holy, not only in walk, which is provided for in the previous clause, but in heart, the spring of action. Me again. Abram agrees and God makes a covenant with him. He tells him he will be the father of many nations. Abram is 99 years old and has no children. He believes what God has said "The Promise" and God changes his name to Abraham, which means FATHER OF A MULTITUDE. Every time someone addressed Abraham they were calling out the promise of God to him (verses 1-8). Abraham's part of the covenant was to be circumcised. This is the cutting off of the foreskin of the male. Covenants are agreements between two parties that ensure a relationship. They are sealed with blood. If either party of a covenant breaks the covenant the other has the right to take their life. God made a covenant by Himself to Abraham. Abraham was to seal his covenant with God ( to walk before Him and be perfect) by circumcision. This confirmation of the covenant was for all generations (more promise, verses 9-27). Now all that being said. Paul says in Romans 2:17-29 that it is not the fact that one has the physical sign (circumcision) of partaking of the Abrahamic covenant. It is a heart thing. It is not the fact that you are missing some skin that makes you someone who walks before God. It is the condition of your heart. You see at the time of Christ and even now the Jews think that they are something and the righteousness of God just because they are Jews. God says that you do not get into heaven just because of who you are. It is because of what you are. It is because you have believed God, that He sent His Son to die for you on the Cross and rasied Him from the dead, that YOU have circumcised your heart and entered into covenant with God. You have become a Jew (Rom 2:29). God is not interested in outward signs. He is not impressed by how loud you sing or shout Hallelujah or quote scripture. He is concened about your heart condition. Have you given your heart to Him. Have you surrended your life to Him. Is He your all in all? If your answer is YES then your heart has been crcumcised. I hope this has answered your question? If not ask another. Shalom Asis |
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shpagach | ||
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seanD |