Circumcision & Flesh

Colossians 2:11-12

I bet you have not given much thought to circumcision of late, it’s sure not on my little pea picking mind.  But verse eleven gives this insight “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.” 

It is helpful for me to look up words so that what I think I understand is correct.  In the above verse we need to clarify two words, circumcision and flesh, it is a given that Christ is the in him used above.  So let us begin with the word “Circumcision”, this was the covenant between God and his chosen people: “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.  He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised.  Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised.  So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.” (Genesis 17:11-13)

Now the circumcision talked about above was made with human hands, so that is not the circumcision that Colossians is making reference to; God is talking about something that happens to a persons spirit at the very moment they enter into Christ by faith.  But what does it mean “by putting off the body of flesh?”  First, let’s deal with what is not being referred to, in no way is Scripture referring to the removing of the foreskin in this verse.  Nor is it making reference to biological tissues, which consists of skin, fat, skeletal muscles.

So what is being referred to as flesh in Colossians 2:12?  It is important to note that when flesh is used in the New Testament most of the time it is not about skin, it is about living independent of God.  Each of us, before entering into a relationship with Christ, learned how to get our needs met, and after we interred into Christ the battle is, will we depend on our flesh, or on Christ.  We should not be foolish in this area, our culture and the world system we live in tells us to look out for number one. 

In Romans 7:18, we have this account of the apostle Paul, sharing that he also is effected by this battle with his flesh.  “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”  What a message to all of us over achievers, Paul is trying in his ability to serve God, and that is called flesh.  We must always be on guard, our flesh can minister to the poor, it can help old people across the street, it will do many good things, but it wants the credit, and no lasting good dwells in the flesh.

If we replace the word “Jew” for Christian in Romans 2:28-29, it might help us grasp this message. “For no one is a (Christian) who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.  But a (Christian) is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.  His praise is not from man but from God.

From the Back Porch

Bob Rice