Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 3/19/2005

Question
In Genisis we are told that God makes an ever lasting covenant with Abraham that all the males must be circumcised. Then when Jesus comes he is circumcised and he states that we should keep the law and anyone who breaks the law or preaches it will be cast out. Then Paul claims that we no longer need to get cicumcised and that the EVERLASTING COVENANT that God previously agreed was now to be changed to a 'circumcision of the heart' . The commas are there as for me this does not add up to reason and so far no minister or person has been able to give me a satisfactory or logical answer. Afterall God gave us reason and logic to use in this life so it should be used in our religion as we use it in our daily lives.


Answer
Dear Roger,
   Thanks for writing.  
   There's a lot in Hebrews about the shadow pictures in the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New Testament. (Old and New Covenant), but I'm not sure you accept the New Testament as the supernaturally provided and preserved Word of God.
   I might mention that Psalm 110:4 predicted God's "change" of priesthood from the Levites to Jesus (who was from the tribe of Judah).  Malachi 3:6 says that God does not change, but there are times that God repented that He did something like make man on earth (Genesis 6:6).  
   The Bible can develop deep thinking, but God gave us reason and logic, as you mentioned.  You'll agree that God's character never changes--He's always perfect in goodness, love, justice, etc.  We were created in His image, but we have all wanted to reflect our own image instead of God's, so we have all been separated from our Source of Life (we all face death Gen.2:17).
   The Old Testament teaches God's character, how humans fall short, and the substitutionary death payment for sin.  Obviously even one sin allowed into a perfect place like Heaven would corrupt it like sin ruined the world.  If we receive the perfect life of Jesus as a substitution for our imperfect lives, we have God's strength to fulfill our created purpose of reflecting His image.("whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it" Luke 9:24)  Jesus, living a perfect human life, fulfilled the law, so only through faith in Him (submission to Him) can we have eternal life with God. (John 14:6 "Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father but by me.'")
   Maybe you already agree with me so far, but should physical circumcision be a part of submission to God?  The everlasting covenant God has is spiritual because God is a Spirit, not bound by a physical body, but He created the physical body and is Lord of it as well as Lord of everything else.  Even though Jesus fulfilled the law because we could never fulfill it perfectly, the principles remain to provide a better life for us and to protect us from harm.  Physical circumcision is only good for this physical life if there is no spiritual circumcision to go along with it.  The Old Testament saints had to have faith in the future Messiah who would provide the perfect sacrifice for their sins, in order to live forever with God.
   Children learn in a concrete manner with pictures and physical examples, but non-concrete concepts build on the earlier learning for more adult understanding.  The Old Testament is God's way to teach us about Himself beginning as with children (the children of Israel).  The New Testament develops God's teaching of His character in more complex concepts, beginning with the concrete physical example of Jesus and expanding into Jesus' everlasting, spiritual authority and plan for mankind.  
   The physical expression of circumcision teaches a spiritual submission of our creative physical life expressed through male leadership.  God has always wanted our trust in Him by our willing submission, but it starts as it starts with children--with rules and consequences (sometimes spankings) in order to learn the principles by which we should think and live productive adult lives.  
   I'm glad you mentioned this subject because the static caused by the Southern Baptist statement against having women as senior pastors, really shows up as rebellion against God's principle shown through circumcision.  I hadn't realized that before writing to you about this.
   I apologize about the length of this response.  Actually there is a lot more a person could discuss, like the Israel--church comparison, double fulfillment of prophecy, and so on, but without eternal life through Jesus Christ, not much else matters.  I pray that you have eternal life and will share the good news with others before they are eternally separated from the Source of Life.
   Mrs. Priscilla Lyons