7 THEN Joshua circumcised their sons [the sons of those who died in the wilderness] whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 SO it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.
9 THEN the Lord said to Joshua, "THIS DAY I HAVE ROLLED AWAY THE REPROACH OF EGYPT FROM YOU [I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt]." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day."
Joshua 5:7-9 (NKJV)
28 FOR HE IS NOT A JEW WHO IS ONE OUTWARDLY, NOR is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
29 BUT he is a Jew who is ONE INWARDLY; AND CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, NOT IN THE LETTER; WHOSE praise is not from men but from GOD."
Romans 2:28,29 (NKJV)
• Sinfulness.
- Sinfulness is in the flesh of mankind, we have corruptible nature, the fallen nature or body which we inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12,19; Colossians 3:5; Galatians 5:17).
THE flesh or body is also called the old man (Ephesians 4:22). - We have a promissory note for the redemption of our bodies: "AND not only the creation, BUT WE OURSELVES, WHO HAVE THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, GROAN INWARDLY AS WE WAIT EAGERLY FOR ADOPTION AS SONS [and daughters], THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODIES" (Romans 8:23 ESV).
- Albeit, before a new body is given at the coming of Christ Jesus, you have a responsibility to subdue the flesh, that is, the body, In the present state (Romans 12:1).
a. You present your body as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).
b. You mortify it. The sinful passion in the flesh should be crucified (Colossians 3:5).
c. You do not gratify the flesh, that is, give what the flesh craves for, to it (Galatians 5:16).
d. You deny the flesh, the sinful nature, whatever it demands that would not edify you:
6 FOR to be carnally minded is death, BUT to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; FOR it is not SUBJECT to the LAW OF GOD, NOR indeed can BE. 8 SO THEN, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD" (Romans 8:6-8 NKJV). - A Believer needs have the life [Zoe] of God, in order to conform the flesh. The life is drawn from the Word of God and prayer. JESUS says: "THE WORDS I SPEAK TO YOU ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE" (John 6:63).
THE life in the Word of God is drawn for sanctification through the studying of the Word, praying in the Holy Spirit, and living a fasted life. - Until you give attention to the Word of God; reading, studying, and meditating on it, in addition with prayer and fasting, your flesh would not be totally subdued.
- The flesh is subdued through the knowledge of the Word of God and the practice or doing of it (James 1:22,25).
- If you are being controlled by the flesh, you desire the things of the world strongly, even at the expense of your spiritual life—things that can enhance your spiritual growth; It means you are fleshly and carnal:
5 FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH SET THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 SO THEN, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD" (Romans 8:5-8 NKJV). - Take Note:
a. You need to mortify your flesh and the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1,2). Know that, until your heart is circumcised, the reproach of Sin would not be totally rolled away in your life.
b. Your body is the temple of the LORD, you must not defile your body (1 Corinthians 6:15,19,20).
c. Deal with every Sin that is lurking in your system, your body (Colossians 3:5).
• God would allow or permit the devil to try you.
- Job was tried and tested by the devil with the permission from God (Job 1:12; 2:6).
- When such trials are permitted, they are instrumental to your purification—to produce the fruit of the spirit:
2 MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS, 3 KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE [the fruit of the spirit]" (James 1:2,3 NKJV). - That you might have the approved character that befits a child of God—Believer:
3 AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE ALSO GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS, KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE; 4 AND PERSEVERANCE, [approved] CHARACTER; AND CHARACTER, HOPE" ( Romans 5:3,4 NKJV). - God would allow those who are loyal to the devil, to rise and persecute you, that you may know how to grow or develop the fruits of the SPIRIT (2 Timothy 3:12).
- Every ego has to be dealt with, in the process of circumcision.
- God allows tribulations to humble the Believers who are willing to submit totally, and break every ego in the lives of such people:
"AND you shall remember that THE LORD your God LED you all the way these FORTY YEARS in the WILDERNESS, TO HUMBLE YOU AND TEST YOU, TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, WHETHER YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS OR NOT" (Deuteronomy 8:2 NKJV).
READ: Romans 5:3,4
• Problems and tribulations are the instruments of circumcision and purification.
- Circumcision is painful. It takes a couple of days or weeks for the cut or wound to be healed (Joshua 5:8).
- God will keep cutting the flesh, the carnal nature, until the person, whomever it is, becomes what He desires such a Believer to be.
- If the circumcision is not done, you will not be part of the Blessings of God's covenant for His people. Circumcision is the mark of the covenant that makes you qualify for the Blessings of God.
- Remember, Circumcision is of the heart, and not of the flesh, for the Believers in Christ Jesus to be part of the Blessings of God's Kingdom:
"I have come to the conclusion that A TRUE JEW IS NOT THE MAN WHO IS MERELY A JEW OUTWARDLY, AND a real circumcision is not just a matter of the BODY. THE TRUE JEW IS ONE WHO BELONGS TO GOD IN HEART, A MAN WHOSE CIRCUMCISION IS NOT JUST AN OUTWARD PHYSICAL AFFAIR BUT IS A GOD-MADE SIGN UPON THE HEART AND SOUL, AND RESULTS IN A LIFE LIVED NOT FOR THE APPROVAL OF MAN, BUT FOR THE APPROVAL OF GOD" (Romans 2:28,29 (Philips).
• Another translation says:
28 FOR YOU ARE NOT A TRUE JEW just because you were BORN OF JEWISH PARENTS or because you have gone through THE CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISION.
29 NO, A TRUE JEW IS ONE WHOSE HEART IS RIGHT WITH GOD. AND true circumcision is NOT merely obeying the letter of the LAW; RATHER, IT IS A CHANGE OF HEART PRODUCED BY THE SPIRIT. AND A PERSON WITH A CHANGED HEART SEEKS PRAISE FROM GOD, NOT FROM PEOPLE."
Romans 2:28,29 (the Living Bible)
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!