A depiction of Simon the Prophet at the Temple in Jerusalem acknowledging Jesus as Messiah when Mary and Joseph presented the Lord at 8-days-old for circumcision in obedience to the covenant law.
Today, points are shared on the circumcision of infant boys as a sacred practice and sign of divine covenant relationship. Circumcision continues as a device used by GOD that makes visible unseen divine operations to cleanse, heal, preserve and seal mankind by removing the overlay of inherited and individual sin upon the heart within the descendants of Adam. The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum who uses the ID “leveret” (Level 1 with 6 points, a member since June 07, 2014) posted the following:
Should kosher slaughter and circumcision of infant boys become illegal?
I think its wrong to kill animals without stunning them first. its cruel to make them feel physical pain.
also I think circumcision of children should become illegal. if someone wants to mutilate their genitals they can do so once they turn 18.
what do you guys think?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5: 3-6, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Flesh, Then Beyond (05/23/2017); The Heir To Abraham (10/23/2016); In Relationship With Divinity? (08/16/2016); Ye Are Abraham’s Seed (07/10/2015); Suffering Circumcision? (06/08/2014); Three Covenants? (06/09/2014); Circumcision and Promise? (07/16/2013); The Bible and Stupid People (07/17/2013)
“leveret”, here are some points you many find useful on circumcision as a seal of covenant and a visible incarnation of divine presence:
1. Sacred knowledge and practice (we say, sacraments) among Christian believers identify circumcision as a sacred event and a response to the revelation that divinity can and will communicate, exchange and interact with created beings and living creatures in continuous, personal relationships.
2. Divinity engages mankind using covenant relationships that are grounded in faith, hope, divine proclamation, promise, and prophecy.
3. While GOD is a spirit (who has appeared on the earth using human form as Jesus Christ), divinity is no mere abstraction, explanatory principle, figment of imagination, or hypothetical construct. GOD indwells the living as life essence (we also say, breath, spirit, Word). Inseparable aspects of the divine makeup may be imparted to mankind on the earth such as faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, righteousness, wisdom and wrath against sin.
4. To exist without mortality and continue as a companion to immortal, incorruptible GOD, mankind must undergo permanent change and transformations carried out by the Spirit of GOD (we also say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth). The primary focus and process for consciousness and self-will within mankind are no longer to be determined by aspects of the flesh (e.g., appetite, sensation, emotion/mind), and features of the sphere of life such as time and space.
5. Saying this another way, using language from the Bible:
a. Romans 4: 8-12, King James Version (KJV): 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
b. Romans 2: 25-29, KJV: 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 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? 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.
c. Isaiah 63: 15-17, KJV: 15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? 16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. 17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
d. Colossians 2: 8-12, KJV: 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 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: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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