27 Bible Verses about Circumcision, spiritual

For the real Jew is not the man who is one outwardly, and the real circumcision is not outward in the flesh; but the real Jew is one inwardly, and real circumcision is heart??ircumcision, spiritual, not literal, praised not by men, but by God.

Circumcision does indeed profit, if you are obedient to the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision is become uncircumcision. So if the uncircumcised keeps the ordinance of the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned equivalent to circumcision. And shall not those who are physically uncircumcised, but who keep the Law, condemn you who are a breaker of the Law, although you have a written law and circumcision?

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands in everything.

because in Christ neither circumcision has any value, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works through love.

since there is one God who will justify the circumcised through faith, and by their faith will he justify the uncircumcised.

Even as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness?

Is this blessing, then, for the circumcised alone? or for the uncircumcised also? Abraham's faith, I say, was imputed to him for righteousness. How then was it imputed to him? When he was circumcised? or uncircumcised? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision; and he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the faith-righteousness which he had while he was in uncircumcision; in order that he might be the father of all who believe, even though they are uncircumcised; so that righteousness might be imputed to them.read more.
He is the father of circumcision to those who are not merely circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he held while he was as yet uncircumcised.

What special privilege, then, has the Jew? Or what is the use of circumcision? Much in every way. First of all, because to them were entrusted the oracles of God.

But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses' custom, you cannot be saved." Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.read more.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them. But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider the matter; and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us; "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith. "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? "On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved." Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. When they had finished speaking, James said: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name. "And this is in harmony with the language of the prophets, which says. "After these things I will return, And I will rebuild David's fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up; "So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, "Says the Lord, who has been making this known from the beginning of the world. "My judgment therefore, is against troubling those who turn to God from among the Gentiles;

Now the apostles and the brothers that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God; so, when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party disputed with him, saying, "You went into the houses of the uncircumcised and ate with them!"

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message. And all the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter began to speak. "Of a truth I begin to see quite plainly that God is no respecter of persons;

But when Cephas came to Antioch I resisted him to his face, because he stood self-condemned. For until certain men came from James he used to eat with the Gentile Christians, but when they came, he began to draw back and to separate himself, because he was afraid of the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jewish Christians also dissimulated with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.read more.
But when I saw that they were not walking a straight path, in the presence of the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all. "If you, although you are a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you try to compel the Gentiles to become Jews? "We are Jews by birth, and not 'Gentile sinners'; "yet because we know that no man is justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we ourselves also have put our faith in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for "By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."

stand firm then, and do not be again entangled in a yoke of bondage. Listen to me! I, Paul, declare to you that if you are to continue to follow the rite of circumcision, Christ will be no profit to you. I solemnly testify to every man who submits to circumcision that he obligates himself to keep the whole Law.read more.
If you are being justified by law, you are cut off from Christ; you are fallen away from grace. But we are not, for we through the Spirit are eagerly waiting by faith for a hope of righteousness (a hope well founded); because in Christ neither circumcision has any value, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works through love.

But although Titus, my companion, was a Greek, they did not compel even him to be circumcised. Yet there were false brethren who had crept in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us again. To them we did not yield submission even for an hour, in order that the truth of the gospel might abide unshaken among you.

to the end that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.

You were running your race nobly. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? The influence brought to bear does not come from him who is calling you. A little leaven is leavening the whole lump.read more.
As for me, I am fully trusting you in the Lord that you will be no otherwise minded; but he who is trying to unsettle you will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be. But I, brothers, if I "still preach circumcision," why am I still persecuted? Then surely the stumbling-block of the Cross has ceased to be an obstacle! Would to God that those who are trying to unsettle you would even have themselves mutilated.

Those who are trying to compel you to be circumcised are such as wish to make a fair show in the flesh, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Even those who are being circumcised, are not themselves keeping the Law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may glory in your flesh.

Beware of "these dogs," these mischievous workers, beware of the concision! For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and make our boast in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in outward rites,

For there are many individuals who are unruly, empty talkers and deceivers, particularly those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; for they upset whole households and, for filthy lucre's sake, teach what they ought not to teach.

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands; even in putting off your sensual nature in Christ's own circumcision, when you were buried with him in baptism. In baptism also you were raised with him, through your faith in the energy of that God who raised him from the dead.

In it that new creation there is no "Greek and Jew," "circumcised and uncircumcised," "barbarian," "Scythian," "slave," "free man," but Christ is all, and in us all.

although I myself might have confidence in outward rites. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I; circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from the Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which comes through law, blameless.read more.
But what was once gain to me, that I have counted loss for Christ. In very truth I count all things but loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and esteem them but refuse that I may gain Christ, and be found in him; not having my own righteousness of the Law, but that alone which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which comes from God, founded upon faith.

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands; even in putting off your sensual nature in Christ's own circumcision, when you were buried with him in baptism. In baptism also you were raised with him, through your faith in the energy of that God who raised him from the dead. And you also, at one time dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sensual nature, he has made alive together with himself. For he forgave us all our transgressions,

and he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the faith-righteousness which he had while he was in uncircumcision; in order that he might be the father of all who believe, even though they are uncircumcised; so that righteousness might be imputed to them.

And he who has established me with you in the Anointed One, and has anointed me, is God. He has also set his seal upon me, and given me the pledge of his Spirit in my heart.

And in him, because you listened to the proclamation of the truth, the evangel of your salvation, and trusted it, you Gentiles too were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,