Gen 17:10-13 | KingComments | STEP | As a seal or sign of the covenant, God commands Abraham to circumcise every male. Stéfanus speaks of “the covenant of circumcision” ( ), which indicates how much this covenant and the circumcision are connected. Abraham must cut away the foreskin of the male genitalia. Breeding takes place via this organ, through which sin is also bred. Practically it is a painful matter ( ). God considers the omission of circumcision a mortal sin. Even Moses experiences this when he was neglectful to circumcise his son ( ). What is a literal matter for Israel, an outward sign that they form the covenant people of God, has a spiritual and far-reaching meaning for the Christian. It means that the believer lives from the awareness that God’s judgment on the flesh is carried out in the judgment that has come on Christ. Because of this he no longer lives according to his own ‘I’ ( ; ; ; ).

‏ Genesis 17:10-13

The Circumcision

As a seal or sign of the covenant, God commands Abraham to circumcise every male. Stéfanus speaks of “the covenant of circumcision” (Acts 7:8), which indicates how much this covenant and the circumcision are connected. Abraham must cut away the foreskin of the male genitalia. Breeding takes place via this organ, through which sin is also bred. Practically it is a painful matter (Gen 34:24-25).

God considers the omission of circumcision a mortal sin. Even Moses experiences this when he was neglectful to circumcise his son (Exo 4:24-25).

What is a literal matter for Israel, an outward sign that they form the covenant people of God, has a spiritual and far-reaching meaning for the Christian. It means that the believer lives from the awareness that God’s judgment on the flesh is carried out in the judgment that has come on Christ. Because of this he no longer lives according to his own ‘I’ (Rom 2:28-29; Col 2:11; Rom 8:3; Gal 2:20).