How Does Circumcision Point to Christ?

The Scriptures show that true circumcision is not of the flesh but of the heart, where Christ cuts away our sin and makes us alive in Him.

The Scriptures remind us that long ago God spoke through the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1–2). In Genesis 17, God appeared to Abram at ninety-nine years old and gave him a new name—Abraham, the father of many nations. God established His covenant with Abraham and gave a sign: circumcision. Though unusual to our modern ears, the Scriptures make clear that this physical sign was never the end in itself. From the very beginning, it pointed forward to something greater—the circumcision of the heart.

Moses spoke of this when he urged Israel to “circumcise your hearts and do not be stubborn” (Deuteronomy 10:16), and promised that one day God Himself would circumcise their hearts so they could love Him fully (Deuteronomy 30:6). The prophets and apostles echo this truth: what we need most is not a ritual done by human hands, but a work of God’s Spirit within us.

Paul writes in Colossians 2 that through Christ we experience a “circumcision made without hands”—our sin is cut away, nailed to the cross, and we are raised with Him to new life. This means we are no longer dead in our sins but alive in Christ. We are no longer under condemnation but reconciled to God. We are no longer trapped in the kingdom of darkness but transferred into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

This is the beauty of the gospel: God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Sermon Text: Genesis 17

Preacher: Todd Pylant

Date: August 17, 2025