Circumcision

[FatherApe]

What was the reasoning and importance of circumcision in the Old Testament?

 

[HeatherJay]

It was part of the old covenent...part of the holy code that was to be followed for admittence into heaven. Jesus is the new covenent so adherrence to the old testament rituals is no longer neccessary.


Love, Heather

 

[Blueberry Sponge]

What was the reasoning and importance of circumcision in the Old Testament?

It's a token of a particular covenant that God made with Abraham (Genesis 17:11) having to do with God giving him and his seed the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession (Genesis 17:8). It never had any merit toward salvation - Abraham's faith was already accounted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3:6, Genesis 15:6) years before Abraham was circumcised (Genesis 17:24).

 

[HeatherJay]

It's a token of a particular covenant that God made with Abraham (Genesis 17:11) having to do with God giving him and his seed the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession (Genesis 17:8). It never had any merit toward salvation - Abraham's faith was already accounted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3:6, Genesis 15:6) years before Abraham was circumcised (Genesis 17:24).

Yes, Abraham was already counted as righteous by God...that's what made him worthy of a covenent with God...that's the reason God chose him to make the covenent with. But circumcision was part of the deal. God told him that he and all his family, all his servants had to be circumcized to recieve the blessings the Lord promised...the Promised Land, to be God's chosen people, that they would prosper and multiply, etc. The way to heaven in the OT is obedience to God.

Love, Heather

 

[Blueberry Sponge]

The way to heaven in all ages has been through faith, which in turn causes obedience, but never through obedience to the law. Becoming circumcised never caused or helped cause anyone to go to heaven.