The Painful Truth The Painful Truth

About About CircumcisionCircumcisionRomans 4:9-12Romans 4:9-12

““Is this blessing then upon the Is this blessing then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS RECKONED also? For we say, “FAITH WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” How TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” How then was it reckoned? While he was then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, that he might be had while uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe without being the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them, and the father of reckoned to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.”which he had while uncircumcised.”

The QuestionThe Question““Is this blessing then on the Is this blessing then on the

circumcised, or on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?”uncircumcised also?”

The AnswerThe Answer““For we say, FAITH WAS For we say, FAITH WAS

RECKONED TO ABRAHAM AS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Another QuestionAnother Question““How then was it reckoned? While How then was it reckoned? While

he was circumcised, or he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?”uncircumcised?”

The AnswerThe Answer““Not while circumcised, but while Not while circumcised, but while

uncircumcised.”uncircumcised.”The issue is not about having faith…

It’s having faith alone!

Defining Signs That WronglyDefining Signs That WronglyBecome Defining Works for Become Defining Works for

SalvationSalvation CommunionCommunion Baptism of infants and adultsBaptism of infants and adults ConfirmationConfirmation Joining the church (the right one of Joining the church (the right one of

course!)course!) Receiving last rightsReceiving last rights Traveling on a religious pilgrimageTraveling on a religious pilgrimage

Religious ceremony without spiritual reality

are empty…worthless…and destructive.

If He Was Saved Without If He Was Saved Without Circumcision,Circumcision,

Then Why Have It?Then Why Have It?““And he received the sign of And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the circumcision, a seal of the righteousness he had by faith while righteousness he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised…”he was still uncircumcised…”

Sign- external; it points to something.Sign- external; it points to something. Pierced earsPierced ears

Seal- a guarantee; a confirmation; a Seal- a guarantee; a confirmation; a promise;promise; it authenticates it authenticates something.something. Official transcripts; a tomb; the Holy Spirit.Official transcripts; a tomb; the Holy Spirit.

““In Him, you also, after listening to the In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holysealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of ourpromise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,inheritance, with a view to the redemption of with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14Ephesians 1:13-14

““He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”righteousness of God in Him.” 2 2 Corinthians 5:21Corinthians 5:21

Why Circumcision Was A Why Circumcision Was A Great SignGreat Sign

(or, why a ring just won’t (or, why a ring just won’t cut it!)cut it!) Circumcision points to the Abrahamic Circumcision points to the Abrahamic

Covenant.Covenant. land, seed, blessing.land, seed, blessing.

Circumcision points to the reality that Circumcision points to the reality that mankind has something inheritantly mankind has something inheritantly unclean that needs to be removed.unclean that needs to be removed.

““Moreover the Lord your God will Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heartcircumcise your heart and the heart of your and the heart of your descendants (seed), to love the Lord you descendants (seed), to love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.soul, in order that you may live.Deuteronomy 30:6Deuteronomy 30:6

Circumcision points to the 8Circumcision points to the 8thth day. day. Infants were to be circumcised on the 8Infants were to be circumcised on the 8thth day. day. The 8The 8thth day signified “a new order”. day signified “a new order”. The resurrection sealed a new order on the 8The resurrection sealed a new order on the 8thth

day.day. Circumcision points to the serious and Circumcision points to the serious and

personal degree in the offering up of one’s personal degree in the offering up of one’s self in living life as a follower of Christ.self in living life as a follower of Christ.

““I urge you therefore, brethren, by the I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, mercies of God, to present your bodiesto present your bodies as as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of God which is your spiritual service of worshipworship.”.” Romans 12:1Romans 12:1

“…“…that he might be the that he might be the father of all father of all whowho believebelieve without being without being circumcised, that righteousness circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them, and the might be reckoned to them, and the father of circumcision to those who father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, not only are of the circumcision, but who also but who also follow in the steps of follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abrahamthe faith of our father Abraham which he had while which he had while uncircumcised.”uncircumcised.”