Theology Thursday
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:9-12
In Genesis 17 we encountered circumcision for the first time. God commanded Abraham to cut off the foreskin of his household immediately and into the future as a sign of the covenant.
This isn’t the first sign of a covenant between God and man. The rainbow holds that honour. But like the rainbow (a war bow pointed away from the world), circumcision points to a reality of the covenant. To break covenant is to be cut off from God and His people. And God says to Abraham that circumcision is an everlasting covenant.
So that does that mean for Christians today? Well, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7, “circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothingâ€. Which would have most likely been deeply offensive to Jews! But how can he say that?
Well, because of Christ. Christ fulfilled the law of Moses and the Old Covenant including its visible sign - circumcision. He was cut off from God and His people - paying the penalty for our breaking of covenant and having finished this work He now gives us a new sign of the covenant - baptise and communion.
But it’s worth noting there might be a bit more to it all. Firstly, there is a circumcision in the New Covenant, but instead of the foreskin, it is of the heart. God’s Spirit circumcises our hearts - that is, changes them to trust Him and follow Him (Deuteronomy 30:6). Circumcision therefore becomes an inward sign. But as Paul says in Romans 2:25-29 - circumcision was only ever meaningful if your heart/spirit was also ‘circumcised’.
So, what does this mean for Christians? Well, in Christ and through the work of the Spirit, our hearts have been circumcised so that we can and will trust God and live His ways. And we visibly enact this spiritual reality through baptism where the old self is cut away under the way and a new person rises up.
This is how you and we know that you are a citizen of God’s kingdom and a follower of Jesus. By your baptism and the ongoing taking of communion. But again, these things are only ‘true’ because of a spiritual, internal reality of the circumcision of your heart by God.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father for His patterns and plans across history for His people. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who was cut off for our sake. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others trust in Him and be reminded of Christ through baptism and communion.
Colossians 2:9-12
In Genesis 17 we encountered circumcision for the first time. God commanded Abraham to cut off the foreskin of his household immediately and into the future as a sign of the covenant.
This isn’t the first sign of a covenant between God and man. The rainbow holds that honour. But like the rainbow (a war bow pointed away from the world), circumcision points to a reality of the covenant. To break covenant is to be cut off from God and His people. And God says to Abraham that circumcision is an everlasting covenant.
So that does that mean for Christians today? Well, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7, “circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothingâ€. Which would have most likely been deeply offensive to Jews! But how can he say that?
Well, because of Christ. Christ fulfilled the law of Moses and the Old Covenant including its visible sign - circumcision. He was cut off from God and His people - paying the penalty for our breaking of covenant and having finished this work He now gives us a new sign of the covenant - baptise and communion.
But it’s worth noting there might be a bit more to it all. Firstly, there is a circumcision in the New Covenant, but instead of the foreskin, it is of the heart. God’s Spirit circumcises our hearts - that is, changes them to trust Him and follow Him (Deuteronomy 30:6). Circumcision therefore becomes an inward sign. But as Paul says in Romans 2:25-29 - circumcision was only ever meaningful if your heart/spirit was also ‘circumcised’.
So, what does this mean for Christians? Well, in Christ and through the work of the Spirit, our hearts have been circumcised so that we can and will trust God and live His ways. And we visibly enact this spiritual reality through baptism where the old self is cut away under the way and a new person rises up.
This is how you and we know that you are a citizen of God’s kingdom and a follower of Jesus. By your baptism and the ongoing taking of communion. But again, these things are only ‘true’ because of a spiritual, internal reality of the circumcision of your heart by God.
For Today:
- Have you ever wondered about circumcision?
- Has your heart been circumcised? Do you trust Jesus/desire to follow Him?
- Reflect on your baptism and its meaning.
Pray:
Praise the Father for His patterns and plans across history for His people. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who was cut off for our sake. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others trust in Him and be reminded of Christ through baptism and communion.
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