{"id":2977,"date":"2013-05-20T08:33:59","date_gmt":"2013-05-20T15:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=2977"},"modified":"2014-08-23T15:42:33","modified_gmt":"2014-08-23T22:42:33","slug":"to-circumcise-or-not-to-circumcise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/05\/20\/to-circumcise-or-not-to-circumcise\/","title":{"rendered":"To Circumcise or Not to Circumcise \u2014 That Is the Question"},"content":{"rendered":"

Romans 4:11, Sign of circumcision.<\/i><\/strong> Circumcision is a seal<\/i> of righteousness<\/b> not the cause<\/i><\/b> of righteousness. Humans are perpetually endeavoring to mold religion into their own image in order to highlight their goodness and remove the focus off of YHVH\u2019s terms and conditions for receiving his grace, love, imputed righteousness resulting ultimately in the glorification of man. This is humanism, the fundamental premise of which is the goodness of man resulting in the promotion or elevation of man (in his own eyes, at least) and the demotion of Elohim.<\/p>\n

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The religion of humanism originated in the Garden of Eden where the serpent (Satan), in the first lie, told man that he could attain immortal life not<\/i> by having faith in and assiduously adhering to the word of Elohim, but by twisting or conforming the word of Elohim to suit man\u2019s carnal passions. After Adam and Eve had succumbed to the alluring lies of the serpent, they attempted to make amends for their disobedience to YHVH\u2019s word by covering themselves in their own works of self-righteousness. This they did when they fashioned an apron of fig leaves to cover the shame (the result of their disobeying YHVH\u2019s word) of their (spiritual and physical) nakedness. These garments\u2014a symbol of man\u2019s self-righteousness based on his own \u201cgood works\u201d\u2014were made to conform to man\u2019s body. In Hebraic thought, fig leaves are a metaphor for Torah (YHVH\u2019s instructions in righteousness). Man\u2019s first sin was to twist YHVH\u2019s word and to rebel against that word or the instructions of YHVH (i.e., the Torah). His first religious and legalistic act was to attempt to atone for his own sins (by covering himself with fig leaves) through his own efforts. They attempted to conform the Word of Elohim to fit their own carnal passions. This scheme of man to save himself through his own works-based or humanistic attempts didn\u2019t relieve man of his sin guilt nor redeem him from the wages or result of sin, which is death, then, and it doesn\u2019t work now. Atonement of sins occurs only through the shedding of blood, which likely occurred when YHVH made animal skins (most likely from a lamb) for Adam and Eve to wear to replace the fig leaves they had made for themselves (Gen 3:21).<\/p>\n

A Biblical Overview of the Subject of Circumcision<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The first question many will ask is whether redeemed believers should practice circumcision today or not. There is definitely a blessing anytime we obey YHVH\u2019s commands, including circumcision. Being circumcised is not a condition for salvation, but it brings us closer to YHVH, and we must endeavor to obey all his commandments because we love him (John 14:15). In the Torah, an Israelite had to be circumcised in order to keep the Passover (Exod 13:48). This requirement never ceased. Furthermore, circumcision of the heart doesn\u2019t replace physical circumcision. YHVH wants both. The Torah mentions both types of circumcision, and so does Ezekiel (Ezek 44:7).<\/p>\n

Heart Circumcision<\/strong><\/p>\n

The idea of heart circumcision did not originate in the Testimony of Yeshua, but in the Torah.<\/p>\n

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. (Deut 10:16)<\/p>\n

And YHVH thy Elohim will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love YHVH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (Deut 30:6)<\/p>\n

Circumcise yourselves to YHVH, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. (Jer 4:4)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Requirement to Keep Passover<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>Physical circumcision was a requirement for keeping Passover.<\/p>\n

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to YHVH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (Exod 12:48\u201349)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Requirement for Entering the Promised Land<\/strong><\/p>\n

See Joshua 5:1ff.<\/p>\n

A Requirement to Enter Into Ezekiel\u2019s Temple<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Ezekiel\u2019s temple, which may be a picture of a millennial temple or it may be a picture or allegorical description of the spiritual body of Yeshua of our day, YHVH tells us that he wants his people to be both physically circumcised, and circumcised in heart, and that none who are uncircumcised will enter into his sanctuary.<\/p>\n

In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. (Ezek 44:7).<\/p>\n

Thus saith Adonai YHVH; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel. (Ezek 44:9)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Circumcision Was the Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s note some reasons why YHVH chose circumcision to be the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Remember, physical circumcision is not pass\u00e9, but is still a requirement for those desiring to be priests in YHVH\u2019s spiritual temple (Ezek. 44:7,9). It is not a requirement of salvation (Acts 15), but doing so is an act of obedience that indicates one\u2019s identity with the Abrahamic Covenant of salvation and with the people of Israel. Additionally, the Torah makes it clear that circumcision is necessary for all men who desire to take Passover, and those who do not keep the Passover will be cut off from Israel (Exod 12:47\u201348):<\/p>\n