The children of Israel circumcised their male children on the eighth day as God commanded Abraham. They took pride in it and regarded people of other nations as uncircumcised. They forgot that what they glorified in was merely an act of consecration and commitment to the Lord by their parents, which they could not claim. More importantly, they would not know that today, God is no longer concerned about fleshly circumcision. He is interested in the circumcision of the heart.

“And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” The circumcision of the flesh does not make anyone to love, fear or obey the Lord. Therefore, in the new covenant, “that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh” is not significant for one to have a relationship with God or prepare for eternity.

The Israelites were not conscious of the necessity and importance of heart circumcision, which was embedded in the old covenant. While the circumcision of the flesh was only for the male children, the circumcision of the heart, which God personally performs, is for everyone both male and female. Fleshly circumcision does not lead to obeying the Lord, performing His will or committing ourselves to His commandment. But the circumcision of the heart makes us to love God with our strength, obey “(His) voice… and do all his commandments.”

The promise of heart circumcision is given to every believer. Prior to this experience, a believer must possess genuine salvation with evidence of righteous living. This is what makes a person a citizen of heaven, and convinces God that such a person needs the circumcision of the heart. God circumcises “(our) heart, and the heart of (our) seed, to love (Him) with all (our) heart, and with all (our) soul.” This was a commandment as well as a promise that the Lord made to the children of Israel. He promised to “take the stony heart out of their flesh, and …give them an heart of flesh.” In the fleshly circumcision, the foreskin is taken out with hands; but in the heart circumcision, the stubborn and depraved heart is taken away “without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” This operation enables the beneficiaries to have a soft and submissive heart.

Heart circumcision is the same as inward purity that God acknowledges. Fleshly circumcision and outward conformity are not enough, hence God commands us to have “charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” Christ purifies our hearts through His sacrifice on the cross at calvary and we receive this blessing by faith.

Although God has promised us heart circumcision, we must pray like the psalmist, “purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” There is need to ask God for the circumcision of heart, also known as the sanctification experience.

•Further reading (King James Version): Genesis 21:4; 17:10,14. Deuteronomy 30:6-8. Romans 2:28,29. Ezekiel 11:19,20; 36:25,26; Colossians 2:11. Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:5; Titus 2:14. Psalm 51:6,7,10; Ezekiel 36:26,37; 1 Thessalonians 5:22,23. Romans 2:25. Jeremiah 6:10,13-16; 9:25,26; Acts 7:51; Jeremiah 4:3,4. Matthew 23:25-28,33. John 5:14; 8:11; Romans 6:9-12,18,22. Romans 2:28,29.

Jeremiah 31:31,33; Hebrews 8:6,8,10. 2 Peter 1:3,4; Luke 1:72-75; 24:49.