Genesis 17:10-13 KJV, “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.”
Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels, Vol 1, 1870, Ch 20, Pp. 262-263, Steam Press, Battle Creek, MI: “He then required of Abraham and his seed, circumcision, which was a circle cut in the flesh, as a token that God had cut them out and separated them from all nations as his peculiar treasure. By this sign they solemnly pledged themselves that they would not intermarry with other nations; for by so doing they would lose their reverence for God and his holy law, and would become like the idolatrous nations around them.
By the act of circumcision they solemnly agreed to fulfill on their part the conditions of the covenant made with Abraham, to be separate from all nations, and to be perfect. If the descendants of Abraham had kept separate from other nations, they would not have been seduced into idolatry. By keeping separate from other nations, a great temptation to engage in their sinful practices, and rebel against God, would be removed from them. They lost in a great measure their peculiar, holy character, by mingling with the nations around them.”
The pediatric surgeon who repaired my son’s hernia thinks there is no medical benefit for male circumcision but I insisted for religious reasons. He told me he can do it in 2-3 years.
Sister White directly connected the covenant made by the Only True God to Abraham as a token of his seed an obedient nation to the laws of God. It was a binding promise to both parties to abide and fulfill by it. God provided an extra precautionary measure to be sure the covenant is kept. The token of cutting the flesh is a sign and a religious commitment not to intermarry with other nations. This means not to sexually intercourse with unbelievers. Because it will cause idolatry, rebellion, disobedience, and will destroy their promise to God.
Millions if not billions now of families had been shipwrecked by intermarriage especially with unbelievers or idol worshippers. Marriage is connected to the creation and the giving of the Sabbath law. Only by the grace of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, can anyone find a way of escape after millennia of disobeying the covenant.
2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
As I thought about circumcision and why God commanded Abraham to do it, I understand the spiritual import. God desires to preserve a pure, holy, separate, peculiar, and obedient people to honor the One True God. Abraham’s seed failed. And because God is love He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem his seed. God kept His part. Man had not. Christ’s sacrifice perfectly fulfilled the covenant. What the flesh cannot do Christ’s death satisfied. That is why our circumcision is not only by cutting the flesh but by the circumcision of the heart, a spiritual rebirth not to intermarry with idol (trinity) worshippers, lovers of the world, pleasure seekers, and those who violate God’s law. We must teach them and call them to repentance. If they reject the light we must separate from them. This is the reason for circumcision.
Sincerely in the Blessed Hope.
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Mark is an under-shepherd serving under the Master shepherd our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Mark has a weekly Zoom Sabbath service and Wednesday prayer meeting as well as a daily devotional blog. Please consider supporting Mark’s ministry with your tithes and offerings. You can donate electronically by PayPal using this link: https://plangga.com/donation/ or you can write a check to Mark Lastimoso Ministry and mail to:
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