is CIRCUMCISION still to be followed?

[kjijujoseph]

In the old testament its being told that all the male should get circumcised for them to be saved. But why then is that the Christianity not insisting on the practise of it? From when did the practice got changed and why caused the change while its being told that God's word and law are for ever?

Please do give me a very brief explanation of it.... preferably some add on biblical support will help me in getting my answer.

[god_guided_guy]

Here is the earliest account of circumcision, I believe this is what you were refering to:

This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Genesis 17:10-14

The simple answer to your question would be that, that is an old testament law and we are no longer bound by the laws of the old testament because Jesus came for us. Now I am not sure if you share the belif that you have to be circumcised to be saved, because that is what the pharisees taught:

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Acts 15:1

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.

Acts 15:5

Circumcision was never a requirement to being saved, if you are speaking about the earliest account that I posted, that is simply a sign of the covenant between that person and the lord.

Gods word and the things that he has told us in his book are forever, the word of God is living and it is something that we can use for our everyday lives to find guidance and help. It is our handbook of what is right and wrong, and it does not change, God is unwavering.

Please examine this verse:

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 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 2:25-29

Hope that helped.

[Pilgrimtozion]

In addition, I advise you to read Galatians to get a better idea of the relationship between being saved through works of the Law and being saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This will answer your question to a great extent, I believe.

[Frances]

Acts 15 will help you with your question re. circumcision.

[skc53]

Not to change the subject on circumcision, but I saw on Good Morning America a few days ago a discussion on this very subject. It was reported that circumcision is healthier for a male. They said the foreskin holds more germs and bacteria and etc. and men are more likely to get and spread diseases. Even tho it's an old testament law, I think if I were a male, I would want to have this proceedure done. It's healthier. Any thoughts on this? This may not be in the right forum!

[Soj]

God_guided_guy hit the nail on the head!

Apart from the physical circumcision that the OP refers to there is a spiritual circumcision that every born again believer experiences upon salvation, called "the circumcision of Christ", this is where our outward man the body of flesh is circumcised (cut away) from the inner man of the spirit!

Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 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.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

[Naphal]

Many fleshy, carnal shadows/types found in the OT have been replaced by better, deeper, more spiritual things. Circumcision of the male penis, water baptism and literal rest on Saturdays are examples of this.

[Jesusinmyheart]

kjijujoseph,
i hope sopmeone combines your two threads on the same topic.
I also hope you have read my reply in your other thread which is here:

http://bibleforums.org/showpost.php?...89&postcount=4

[BadDog]

In the old testament its being told that all the male should get circumcised for them to be saved. But why then is that the Christianity not insisting on the practise of it? From when did the practice got changed and why caused the change while its being told that God's word and law are for ever?

Please do give me a very brief explanation of it.... preferably some add on biblical support will help me in getting my answer.

Many have already posted some good stuff, so I'll be brief: No.

We are no longer under the Law.

Romans 2:25-29 For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law's requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart--by the Spirit, not the letter. His praise is not from men but from God.

Circumcision was used in the OT to distinguish those who were followers of God. The closest thing we have to that now is baptism. There is absolutely no evidence in the NT of people who were saved being then circumcized. In fact, Paul took Timothy with him on his 2nd missionary journey - who had a Jewish mother but a Gentile father, and hence had not been circumcized - and only circumcized him at one point in the journey to avoid undue hassles with the many Jews when he would approach their synogogues. In general, he never circumcized converts.

If anyone insists upon such things as circumcision they really do not understand that we are saved by grace, not by works. We are no longer under the Law.

BD

[humbled]

In the old testament its being told that all the male should get circumcised for them to be saved. But why then is that the Christianity not insisting on the practise of it? From when did the practice got changed and why caused the change while its being told that God's word and law are for ever?

Please do give me a very brief explanation of it.... preferably some add on biblical support will help me in getting my answer.

Circumcision wasn't a requirement for salvation. It was a sign of the covenant God had with Israel.

We are taught that Abraham was saved BEFORE circumcision.

Romans 4:9-12
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

In fact, the first several chapters of Romans will develop this topic for you

Grace to you