27 Bible Verses about Circumcision, spiritual

for it is not the Jew in outward appearance, neither is it the external mark of circumcision: but it is the Jew, who is so inwardly, and it is the circumcision of the heart, according to the spiritual, not the literal sense, which have the approbation, I do not say of men, but of God.

Circumcision indeed is an advantage, if you keep the law: but if you violate the law, your being a Jew makes you no better than a heathen. if therefore an uncircumcised Gentile keep the moral precepts contained in the law, shall not he be reckon'd, as if he were circumcised? and shall not a Gentile, tho' he is not actually circumcised, if he fulfil the law, condemn thee, who, tho' literally circumcised, dost yet transgress the law?

circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, in comparison of obeying the divine commands.

for in the christian-dispensation, neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but an active benevolent faith.

since it is one God, who will justify both the Jews and the Gentiles, through faith.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:

Is this happiness then for the circumcised only, or for the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. how was it then accounted? whilst he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? he was not then circumcised, but uncircumcised: and he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the justification by that faith, which the uncircumcised have: that he might be the father of all those who believe, tho' they are uncircumcised, that it might be accounted to them also for righteousness:read more.
and the father of the circumcised, that is of those who are not barely circumcised, but who imitate that faith which our father Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised.

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what benefit is there from circumcision? much every way: chiefly, because they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

However some that arrived from Judea, told the Gentile converts, unless you are circumcised agreeably to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved. upon which Paul and Barnabas having warmly contested the point with them, it was resolved, that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles upon this question. so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren.read more.
and being arrived at Jerusalem, they were receiv'd by the church, by the apostles, and presbyters, to whom they related all that God had done by them. but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses. The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair. and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith. God who knows their hearts has granted them a testimonial, by giving them the holy spirit, even as he did to us: making no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by the faith. why therefore do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear? but we believe that it is by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are to be sav'd, as well as they. The whole assembly were very silent, whilst Barnabas and Paul related what miracles and prodigies God had wrought among the Gentiles by their ministry. After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention. Simon has related how God began to visit the Gentiles, to chuse from among them a people consecrated to his name. and this is agreeable to the oracles of the prophets: as it is written, "after this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: I will repair its ruins, and raise it up: that the rest of mankind, even all the nations, that profess my name, may seek the Lord. he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world. wherefore my opinion is not to disquiet the Gentile converts: but only to write to them,

In the mean time, the apostles, and the brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had likewise receiv'd the word of God. and when Peter was return'd to Jerusalem, the Jewish converts objected to his conduct, and ask'd him, why did you go to eat with the uncircumcised?

Peter was yet speaking, when the holy spirit descended on all that heard him. all the Jewish converts, who came with Paul, were astonished to see that the gift of the holy spirit was diffused likewise among the Gentiles. for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.

then Peter thus began, now I plainly perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, for he was to be blamed. for till certain Jews came thither from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, for fear of those, who were for circumcision: and the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas himself was carried away with their hypocrisy.read more.
but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize? We are Jews by birth, and not of the sinful race of the Gentiles, yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification.

Stand fast therefore, and be not hampered again with the yoke of bondage. take notice, 'tis I Paul declare it to you, that if you are circumcised, Christ shall be of no advantage to you. for I testify to every man that is circumcised, that he is under an obligation to perform the whole law.read more.
Christ is of no use to you, whoever of you seek to be justified by the law; you have lost all interest in the gospel-dispensation. but as for us, our minds are possessed with the hopes of justification by faith. for in the christian-dispensation, neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but an active benevolent faith.

however, Titus who was then with me, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised: and as to the false brethren, who insidiously crept in to spy out our liberty which we have by Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into servitude; I did not show them the lest compliance by way of submission, that the doctrine of the gospel might remain among you.

that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised.

You set out well in your course: who hath obstructed your progress in the truth? this opinionativeness does not come from him that called you. a little leaven affects the whole mass.read more.
I have confidence in you, that, through the Lord, you will be of the same mind with me, so that he who troubles you shall fall under the censure he deserves, whoever he be. as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross. I wish they who unsettle you were entirely circumcised.

they who desire to make a figure in the world, constrain you to be circumcised, only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. for even they who are circumcised, do not themselves observe the law in other respects; but they dedesire to have you circumcised, that they may have matter of glorying upon that account.

be upon your guard against snarlers, against the contrivances of the crafty, against the spurious breed; for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:

For there are many, especially among the Jews, who are obstinate, vain talkers and deceivers; who ought to be curb'd, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for sordid lucre.

by whom also ye have obtain'd the true spiritual circumcision, not effected by men, when you were by a christian circumcision divested of all your carnal affections, which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead.

by which there is now neither Greek, or Jew; circumcised, or uncircumcised; Barbarian, or Scythian; slave, or freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

which I might do more justly than any other man can pretend to: being circumcised the eighth day, of the family of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew by descent, by sect a Pharisee. if zeal is to be regarded, I persecuted the church; if the integrity prescrib'd by the law, I am without reproach;read more.
these advantages I renounce for Christ, nay I think them disadvantages when put in competition with the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord: for whose sake I abandon all these things, and count them as straw, that I may gain Christ, and be his true disciple, not professing that justification, which is derived from the law, but that which is from the gospel,

by whom also ye have obtain'd the true spiritual circumcision, not effected by men, when you were by a christian circumcision divested of all your carnal affections, which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead. Even you, who were in a dying sinful state, and were uncircumcised Gentiles, has God raised to life, as he did Christ, having pardoned all your sins:

and he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the justification by that faith, which the uncircumcised have: that he might be the father of all those who believe, tho' they are uncircumcised, that it might be accounted to them also for righteousness:

now it is God who keeps you fix'd in the doctrine of Christ; who has appointed me, and mark'd me with his seal, and given me the earnest of the spirit in my heart.

by whom you also have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: and having believed in him, ye were mark'd with the seal of the holy spirit, which was promised: