From Flesh to Spirit: The Meaning of Circumcision

Circumcision Introduced: Genesis and the Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis 17:9–14

"Then God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you... Every male among you shall be circumcised.'"

In Genesis 17, God formalizes His covenant with Abraham, a turning point in salvation history. Circumcision is introduced not as a random cultural practice but as a sacred sign of this relationship.

Spiritual Meaning:

• Covenant Marking: Circumcision sets Abraham’s descendants apart as God’s chosen people.

• A Sign in the Flesh: It embodies a commitment that extends beyond words—a physical, visible reminder of divine promises.

• Symbol of Separation: The act of "cutting away" points to a life separated from sin and dedicated to holiness.

This early establishment plants the seeds for a deeper spiritual message that will unfold over time.

Circumcision Becomes Law: The Israelite Community and Identity

Leviticus 12:3

"On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised."

Under Moses, circumcision was codified in Israel’s law. It became part of Jewish identity, intimately tied to being in covenant with God.

Key Point: Circumcision distinguished Israel from surrounding nations—not as a matter of ethnic pride, but of spiritual calling.

However, God would soon reveal that the true meaning of circumcision was not just physical—it pointed to something deeper.

The Shift Begins: God Desires Heart Circumcision

Deuteronomy 10:16

"Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer."

Deuteronomy 30:6

"The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."

Here, God begins to reveal that true circumcision is not just a physical act, but a metaphor for spiritual transformation.

Spiritual Circumcision Means:

• Removing stubbornness and sin from the heart.

• Cultivating a soft, humble, responsive spirit toward God.

• Living in deep covenant love, not just outward compliance.

This reveals God’s intention: not merely external signs, but inner renewal.

The Prophets Echo the Call for Inner Change

Jeremiah 4:4

"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem..."

Jeremiah 9:25–26

"The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh..."

The prophets challenge superficial religion. Being circumcised in body means nothing if the heart remains unfaithful. This deepens the theme: God desires internal transformation, not just ritual observance.

Jesus and the Fulfillment of the Covenant Sign

Luke 2:21

"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus..."

Jesus, born under the Law, was circumcised according to the covenant given to Abraham. He honored the Old Covenant, yet came to inaugurate a new one—written not on stone or in the flesh, but in the heart.

Through Jesus, the meaning of circumcision would reach its true fulfillment—not in human ritual, but in spiritual rebirth.

Paul and the New Covenant Understanding

The Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee and expert in the Law, boldly redefines circumcision in light of the gospel.

Romans 2:28–29

"A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly... No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code."

Philippians 3:3

"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh..."

Colossians 2:11–12

"In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off... having been buried with him in baptism..."

Paul teaches that:

• True circumcision is spiritual, not physical.

• It is accomplished by the Holy Spirit, not human hands.

• Baptism now serves as the sign of entering into the New Covenant—symbolizing death to the old self and new life in Christ.

Conclusion: A Symbol That Leads to Transformation

From Genesis to the epistles, circumcision was never meant to be just a religious duty—it was a divinely orchestrated symbol, pointing toward the deeper work God longs to do in our hearts.

Summary of Spiritual Themes:

1. Covenant Belonging – Circumcision identified people as God's own.

2. Call to Holiness – A cutting away of sin and fleshly desires.

3. Inner Renewal – Prophets and apostles clarify: the heart is where God truly wants change.

4. Fulfilled in Christ – Jesus brings a new and better covenant, where the Spirit transforms us from within.

Reflection

• Have you experienced this kind of “heart circumcision”—a cutting away of pride, rebellion, or old identity?

• Are you living in the power of external rituals, or internal transformation?

• How does the idea of belonging to God’s covenant people shape your daily walk?

My Story

If you're new to my website, I encourage you to explore the Mental Health section of my blog before reading further. It will help you better understand the context of what I’m about to share. If you’ve been here before, then you already know that I experienced what the mental health field commonly labels as psychosis with religious grandeur.

However, I now understand, what mental health believes to be a mental instability, I've come to learn it to be a spiritual awakening. And I’m not alone—millions around the world are going through similar experiences, often without guidance or support to help them uncover the deeper meaning behind what they’re living through. This is the core purpose of my website: to offer help, truth, and hope to those navigating these spiritual journeys.

Here’s my story:

During my one-and-a-half-month journey—driving in and out of Florida while in the midst of psychosis—I reached a point, near the end, where I began speaking to a voice, I had come to recognize was God. During those moments, I physically felt something inside of me: like a force chiseling away at my heart. It was as if God Himself was peeling back the hardened layers, exposing the softness beneath.

This experience is incredibly hard to describe, as many psychosis stories are, but it was real. I believe God was circumcising my heart—bit by bit, day by day—until I could finally see the truth: my psychosis was not a mental health episode, but a divine awakening.

I was being awakened by God—by Christ Himself.

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