Lesson 18: Circumcised in Christ
 
Circumcision in the Bible was a procedure by which a personal and intimate judgment sets one aside from others for the purpose of identification and purity. It carries with it a deep sense of belonging.

In Romans 2:29 God says true circumcision is of the heart rather than of the body. He judged our sin nature on the cross, and at the moment we accepted His gift of salvation He removed from our heart that part of our sin nature that made us a slave to sin. This removal of the slavery to sin sets us apart from other people of the world who have not been judged in Christ – for we have died in Christ to that slavery to sin, and have been raised to a new life in Christ by the power of His resurrection. This is the picture we celebrate when we are baptized in water upon confession of our faith in Him.

God wants to continue to remove from our heart the things that keep us from being pure and separated from this world. This continuation of cutting away is something we must allow Him to do, it is our choice.