Genesis 17:9-14

Again we come to Abraham's part. Abraham and his descendants must keep the covenant. Then God describes the covenant as circumcision of every male child. God also describes it as an everlasting covenant, and says that anyone who does not keep it will be cut off from His people. It also applied to all people who were brought into the household. From all this it is easy to see why the Jews held it so dear, and why there were such fierce arguments in the early church.

There are two things that can be said immediately. One is that God here describes circumcision as the sign of the covenant, it is not the covenant itself. Then in Deuteronomy it becomes clear that it is circumcision of the heart that counts.

So what are we to make of all this? Just brush it aside as of relevance to the Jews only? No. While there is no need for us to be circumcised, the principles do count. It was a circumcision in the flesh, a change took place in their flesh. When we become Christians a change takes place in our flesh. New life comes into every part of our being, and our flesh is to be dedicated to God. If there is no change in our life, then the evidence is pretty compelling that we do not actually belong to Christ. It is impossible to be a Christian and not be changed.