Spiritual circumcision of the heart vs.circumcision of the flesh 507 - 3 - 3

Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

“The heart - There is nothing so false and deceitful as the heart of man; deceitful in its apprehensions of things, in the hopes and promises which it nourishes, in the assurances that it gives us; unsearchable by others, deceitful with reference to ourselves, and abominably wicked, so that neither can a man know his own heart, nor can any other know that of his neighbour's.” [John Wesley Notes on the Bible]

Colossians 2:11, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:” 

“By whom also ye have been circumcised - Ye have received the spiritual blessings typified of old by circumcision. With a circumcision not performed with hands - By an inward, spiritual operation. In putting off, not a little skin, but the whole body of the sins of the flesh - All the sins of your evil nature. By the circumcision of Christ - By that spiritual circumcision which Christ works in your heart.” [John Wesley Notes on the Bible]

More than four years ago, I wrote that Paul had introduced me to the concept of the “Israel of God.” Paul classifies physical Israel as including all Jews. However, spiritual Israel includes those Jews who are believers. In this respect circumcision or non-circumstance has no real relevancy. When speaking of “the circumcised” it was a mindset, an equivalency to those who live by the Mosaic laws rather than the removal of a little piece of skin. Those known as “the circumcised” were adding works to grace and/ or being trapped in legalese.

Paul also spoke of circumcision either of the heart (spiritual) or of the flesh (outwardly). Romans 2:27-29 “And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Circumcision of the flesh sounds like it was being done out of pride rather than devotion.

As for the question, has my heart been circumcised, I humbly think yes though faith in Jesus. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:11 “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” And 2 Corinthians 5:!7 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Add to that, Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”