“Circumcision profiteth indeed, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. If, then, the uncircumcised keep the justices of the law, shall not this uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not that which by nature is uncircumcision, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? For it is not he is a Jew, who is so outwardly; nor is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh: but he is a Jew, that is one inwardly; and the circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Circumcision is a kind of volunteering to obey the entirety of the Law: “And I testify again to eve3ry man circumcising himself, that he is a debtor to do the whole law” (Galatians 5:3). Therefore, to do it and transgress the Law is to remit the promise one made of oneself. The act itself points to a spiritual reality, the circumcision of the heart that it may praise God, which the Law itself points towards: “Therefore I also will walk against them, and bring them into their enemies; land until their uncircumcised mind be ashamed: then shall they pray for their sins” (Leviticus 26:41); “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and stiffen your neck no more” (Deuteronomy 10:16). Therefore, those who without the heritage, promise, and cultural integration of the Law obeyed the Law can look at those who did possess these things with confusion, for to have so many resources and not do what is commanded by the Most High is to fail to use the gifts that are given by God. Therefore, the one who, from an abundance of love for God in the heart, obeys God, is truly His child: “Do not begin to say, ‘We have Abraham for our father.’ For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Luke 3:8). All of this is important because, in turning to God, you have received the promise of spiritual circumcision: “But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22). You have agreed to obey the commandment of love, to love as God has loved you: endlessly, without measure, without counting the cost. You have promised yourself to Him, that you may keep His ways: “I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words” (Psalm 118:101). Therefore, it is wonderful to consider the rewards of the Old Covenant in spiritual terms, and realize that they are open to you: “And all these blessing shall come upon thee and overtake thee: yet so if thou hear his precepts” (Deuteronomy 28:2). You have opened your heart to God, that He may enter, and now you are His earthly dwelling place, His living tabernacle. Therefore, the entirety of the love story of Sacred Scripture is open to you: “as his unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him” (1 John 2:27). Thus, you are one of God’s chosen people, and you are called to walk according to His spirit, which is love. Therefore praise Him! Let your mouth be filled with rejoicing and praise, for this is the sacrifice pleasing to Him: “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle” (Psalm 97:1), “I will give praise to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart” (Psalm 9:2), “And these things we write to you, that you may rejoice, and your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4). Love as God loves, and sing to Him always, for this is the fruit of a heart circumcised of sin, guilt, and sadness