{"id":3627,"date":"2017-07-05T05:26:49","date_gmt":"2017-07-05T10:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=3627"},"modified":"2024-02-13T08:36:47","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T14:36:47","slug":"circumcision","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision","title":{"rendered":"Religious Rituals and Traditions: Circumcision, Baptism, Communion ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

STUDY TIPS: Click here for Circumcision<\/a>. Click here for Baptism<\/a>. Click here for Communion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RELIGIOUS BRANDING<\/strong>
\nThanks to successful religious branding, <\/a>rituals<\/a> and rites<\/a> in Judaism<\/a>, Islam<\/a> and Christianity<\/a> are\u00a0well-known throughout the world. Some traditions like Christmas, have even been adopted by people who do not otherwise practice the religion<\/a>. This is evidence of the toxic effects of religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While it can be said that rituals and traditions are accepted elements of all religions, God’s attitudes about them is not well understood.<\/a>\u00a0Religious people assume that God approves of rituals and traditions because they find evidence of such activities in the Bible. They further assume that God approves because of the historical practice of rituals and traditions. The thinking goes something like this: If God didn’t want his people to engage in rituals and traditions, he would have said so clearly in the Bible and\/or he would have intervened in a way that would have shut down these activities.<\/p>\n

Regarding what God has said in the Bible, he has said clearly that he does not approve of rituals and traditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Regarding God’s intervention in matters of which he does not approve, he does not intervene, and has never intervened when man chooses to sin. We only need to look at the story of Adam and Eve and all other Bible characters to see that, when people want to sin, God does not intervene.<\/p>\n

And so, it is clear that religious rituals and traditions survive, not because God approves of them, but because God, in his wisdom, is waiting for an appropriate time to intervene in the hearts<\/a> of men and write his laws on their hearts<\/a> — one man\/woman at at time. From that time forward, those men and women whose hearts have been transformed<\/a> will worship God in spirit and truth<\/a> — not through religious rituals and traditions.<\/p>\n

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MULTIPLE KINDS OF CIRCUMCISION<\/strong><\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: Circumcision is a ritual commonly associated with Judaism. It has application for Christians, however, because God uses it in the Bible as a universal example to represent his attitudes about all kinds of rituals and traditions. When reading the word “circumcision” therefore, it is appropriate to apply whatever God says about circumcision to all other religious concepts (e,g, baptism, communion, Easter, Christmas, Shabbat<\/a>, Pentecost, etc.).<\/p>\n

Most readers will be surprised to learn that there are actually four kinds of circumcision mentioned in the Bible: Flesh of foreskin, ears, lips and heart. <\/a>We are well acquainted with circumcision of the flesh and understand its meaning, but circumcision of the ear, heart and lips is confusing because we cannot imagine how it is done in the natural sense.<\/p>\n

That we have this difficulty is a clue that Biblical circumcision is not about a natural act accomplished on a natural human body. If it were only about physical circumcision, it would not apply to females. Rather, it is a spiritual act for both males and females. It is a good example of the “first the natural and then the spiritual” principle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When we stop to think about it, we can begin to understand that neither circumcision nor any other natural act (i.e. act of the flesh\/body) can satisfy God’s commands. If it was possible for physical acts to satisfy God’s spiritual commands, anyone could gain salvation by being physically circumcised. This cannot be so because God only looks at the heart of man — not at the external person.<\/a><\/p>\n

Jews find the justification for their longstanding history with circumcision of male Jewish infants in the literal words of the Bible<\/a>.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See this link<\/a> and this link <\/a>for Jewish reasoning about circumcision.<\/p>\n

Interpreting circumcision as a literal event is too easy and simple. Literal interpretation cannot be applied in a way that contributes to\u00a0teaching, reproof, correction, or training in righteousness<\/a>\u00a0because it applies to men only. Furthermore, circumcision is practiced by many religions<\/a> — not just Judaism. Therefore, to make physical circumcision a religious requirement violates God’s commands that his people should not adopt the religious customs of other nations<\/a>. So there must be a way to interpret scripture about circumcision as a spiritual — not physical — event.<\/p>\n

The short answer to the question is that circumcision is about change of heart<\/a>. Cutting away the foreskin is a symbolic term for a spiritual event in which God transforms an evil, impure heart<\/a> into a clean, pure heart<\/a>. This change is symbolically called circumcision of lips, ears and hearts. These are all spiritual activities accomplished by God — not human hands.<\/p>\n

Restating this, it can be said that circumcision is a matter of salvation. People with evil, impure hearts cannot hear God’s spoken voice are spiritually dead because they cannot hear. People with clean, pure hearts are spiritually alive because they can hear God’s spoken voice.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice Part 1. <\/a>Also see\u00a0Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Exactly why God uses the symbolism of circumcision of the male sexual organ to represent a change of heart is not perfectly clear. A\u00a0 reasonable guess, however, that he sees\u00a0communication (he speaks, and his people hear his spoken voice) as an act of deep intimacy<\/a> which, in the natural world, is typically represented as human sexuality.<\/p>\n

Regardless of why God uses circumcision of the male sexual organ to represent change of heart, circumcision is clearly prescribed in the literal words of the Bible as a condition for being in a right covenant relationship with God<\/a>. That is why obedience to the command to be circumcised is one of Judaism’s 613 commandments.<\/a>\u00a0Most Christians do not subscribe to such legalism, but they have their own list of religious rules<\/a> (e.g. baptism, communion, etc.) which they say must be followed in order to be in a right relationship with God.<\/p>\n

What neither Jews nor Christians understand, however, is that God wants obedience to his spiritual laws<\/a> — not religious laws. Religious laws are false doctrines because they provides that salvation depends on something that man does — not on what God does. The same criticism applies to all other traditions that depend on man doing something physical to cause a spiritual result. That is what religion believes and practices but it is not how God works: God is the one who circumcises the heart. The spiritual principle is found in this scripture:<\/p>\n

Zechariah 4:6:<\/a> Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power<\/a>, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Circumcision of the flesh is accomplished by human effort. Circumcision of the heart can be accomplished only by the spirit of God.<\/p>\n

In discussing circumcision we must be careful to remember that circumcision was practiced in ancient pagan religions and is still practiced in some contemporary religions as we see in these links: History of male circumcision;\u00a0<\/a>Religious male circumcision.<\/a>\u00a0This is a clue that literal circumcision is not something that God commands because doing so would violate his commands not to follow the customs of other religions.<\/a><\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See these scriptures<\/a> for understanding of how God see circumcision.<\/p>\n

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TRUE AND FALSE CIRCUMCISION<\/strong>
\nCircumcision is one of many Biblical topics that mislead us if we interpret it in the natural sense that we find in a literal interpretation of the Bible. As we have said so many times elsewhere in this website, these literal interpretations miss the spiritual message<\/a> hidden in the symbolism. The following scriptures help us get to that symbolism.<\/p>\n

Romans 2:17-29<\/a>: But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, <\/span>18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, <\/span>9 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, <\/span>20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,<\/span>21a\u00a0 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: These verses are a scathing condemnation of self-righteous Jews who pride themselves on their ability to keep all aspects of the written law of Moses. It says that they practice all of the religious laws<\/a> which they know very well, but do not know or practice the spiritual law<\/a> which is contained in the symbolism of the written law.<\/p>\n

21b You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? <\/span>22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: These statements verify that there are two kinds of stealing, adultery and idolatry: The kinds that are represented in the terms of the literal law<\/a> and the kinds that are spiritual<\/a>. In other words, the Jews do not physically steal, commit adultery or practice idolatry because that would be inconsistent with the literal law of Moses. They do, however, practice spiritual stealing by robbing God of his glory and receiving tithes and offerings from people. They practice adultery by not being faithful to God in keeping his spiritual laws. And they practice idolatry by worshiping spiritual idols instead of idols of wood or stone.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIPS: See COMMENTARY ON INTIMACY, ADULTERY, PROSTITUTION AND SEX:<\/a>, Commercial Religion<\/a>,\u00a0Religion is Idolatry<\/a>, Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings, <\/a>and\u00a0Tithes <\/a>for understanding of the spiritual meaning of these sins.<\/p>\n

23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? <\/span>24 For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: In their prideful displays of their religious activity, Jews bring glory and honor to themselves instead of to God. Because they presume to represent God to the Gentile world, the Gentiles reject God because they know that the Jews are hypocrites. In effect, the Jews violate the Third Commandment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: The law that the Jews practice is the written law which calls for circumcision of the flesh. They do not practice the spiritual law that should be written on their hearts according to the terms of the New Covenant<\/a>. Thus, for the reasons described above regarding stealing, adultery and idolatry, we see that the Jews are not New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n

People who transgress the New Covenant are circumcised in their hearts and ears. This is the true, spiritual circumcision. Jews who are Old\/First Covenant religionists are only circumcised in the flesh. In God’s view they are not circumcised at all (i.e. they are spiritually uncircumcised). This kind of circumcision has no value to God.<\/p>\n

This scripture has application for Christians as well as Jews. Circumcision is not a doctrinal issue for Christians, but they do have other doctrines that they profess and practice with the same kind of zeal that Jews have regarding circumcision of the flesh. Examples include: Baptism, confirmation, Communion\/Eucharist, prayer, regular church attendance and others that vary from one denomination to another. In God’s view, these are all types of circumcision because of the doctrinal weight placed on them.<\/p>\n

26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? <\/span>27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: In God’s view, anyone who places a religious value on physical circumcision is considered to be spiritually uncircumcised. He\/she may be faithful to observe religious\u00a0 laws<\/a> but they transgress God’s spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n

28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly *, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. <\/span>29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: True Jews in God’s eyes are New Covenant disciples who have his spiritual laws<\/a> written on their hearts.<\/p>\n

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1 Corinthians 7:18-19<\/a> Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: God does not care if people are circumcised or not. What he cares about is if they keep his spiritual laws (i.e. commandments).<\/p>\n

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Galatians 6:12-15: <\/a>Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. <\/span>13<\/strong> For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. <\/span>14<\/strong> But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. <\/span>15<\/strong> For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. <\/span><\/p>\n

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COMMENTARY: Religious people think it is virtuous to compel others to follow religious laws. They do this at the expense of disobeying God’s spiritual laws. For them, religion is all about making a name for themselves<\/a>.<\/p>\n

God does not care if people are physically circumcised or not. The only thing he cares about is if they have been born again spiritually. See this link<\/a> for more about becoming a new, spiritual creation.<\/p>\n

Ephesians 2:8-12: <\/a>For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; <\/span>9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. <\/span>10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. <\/span>11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ” Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands <\/span><\/p>\n

12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Physical works such as circumcision will not save anyone. They are all religious works in which religious people take\u00a0 pride and boast.<\/a><\/p>\n

People who are circumcised by human hands are strangers to the New Covenant and do not have God.<\/p>\n

Philippians 3:1-6: <\/a>Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. <\/span>2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; <\/span>3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, <\/span>4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: <\/span>5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; <\/span>6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

Colossians 2:8-14<\/a>: See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.<\/span><\/span> 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,<\/span><\/span> 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;<\/span><\/span> 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;<\/span><\/span> 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.<\/span><\/span> 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,<\/span><\/span> 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Jeremiah 9:25-26:<\/a>“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD , “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised –<\/span><\/span>26\u00a0Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.” <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: ***<\/p>\n

Romans 2:25-29:\u00a0<\/a>For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: The law in view here is God’s spiritual laws<\/a>. The value, however, is not a spiritual value. Obedience to God’s spiritual laws has its own value that is fully spiritual and has nothing to do with whatever people might do to their flesh.<\/p>\n

People who follow God’s spiritual laws have circumcised hearts. Whether they are circumcised physically or not does not matter to God. God’s only concern is the condition of the heart.<\/a><\/p>\n

People who follow religious laws<\/a> (e.g. circumcision, baptism, communion, etc.) with the belief that these activities have some spiritual value may be circumcised in the flesh, but their hearts are not circumcised. If their hearts are not circumcised (i.e. uncircumcision), they transgress God’s spiritual laws.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See\u00a0The Law<\/a>,\u00a0Two Covenants Part 1,<\/a> and\u00a0Two Covenants Part 2 <\/a>for more understanding about the law.<\/p>\n

26\u00a0So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This is the way to paraphrase this verse:<\/p>\n

If anyone, male or female, obeys God’s spiritual laws<\/a>, that person will be regarded by God as having a circumcised heart — even if that person is not physically circumcised.<\/em><\/p>\n

27\u00a0And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY:\u00a0This is the way to paraphrase this verse:<\/p>\n

People, who obey God’s spiritual laws are able to make righteous judgments about people who observe religious laws and do not obey God’s spiritual laws<\/em>.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY ON RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS: All of God’s judgments are with respect to his spiritual laws<\/a>. The basic question for God is this: Do they follow his spiritual laws<\/a> or do they follow religious laws<\/a> made by men. This question refers to the basic definition of sin<\/a>. Because God’s laws are written on their hearts, New Covenant disciples are also able to make the same kind of judgments. Basically, what they do is discern between good and evil<\/a>.<\/p>\n

28\u00a0For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly , nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.<\/span><\/span>29\u00a0But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Jews are commonly considered to be an ethnic race with unique dna. God’s idea of a Jew, however, is some one who has a circumcised heart. Ethnic\/religious Jewish men take great pride in the fact that they are physically circumcised. In fact, physical circumcision is used as an outward sign of their ethnic dna.<\/div>\n
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Circumcision of the flesh is accomplished by Jewish religious leaders and the results are seen in the flesh of Jewish men. Being circumcised in the flesh is a matter of pride among Jewish people.<\/div>\n

Circumcision of the heart is accomplished by God, but only God knows the condition of the heart<\/a> of a man or woman whose heart has been circumcised. God, therefore, honors (i.e. praises) people with circumcised hearts.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that these scriptures about circumcision also apply to other religious rituals such as baptism and communion. These and all other rituals are conducted in public view. They are all conducted for the purpose of gaining public praise.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See Public Prayer<\/a> and\u00a0Making a Name for Yourself\u00a0<\/a>for more about things religious people do to gain public praise.<\/a><\/p>\n

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THE SIGN OF THE OLD COVENANT<\/strong>
\nPhysical circumcision is a big thing for the Jews for whom it is the one, unique indicator of being Jew. It is unimportant for Christians who see it as one of many Jewish legalistic practices.The way we see, it they both have it wrong. The Jews err because they emphasize physical circumcision. Christians have it wrong because, in their eagerness to reject anything Jewish, they ignore spiritual circumcision.This thinking by both Jews and Christians is evidence of Old\/First Covenant theology and practice. For both, it is all about the letter of the law and nothing about the spirit of the law. We will try to remedy this wrong thinking by first reviewing the origins of circumcision.<\/p>\n

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Genesis 17:10-14<\/a> This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, shall be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”<\/p>\n

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COMMENTARY: This scripture establishes the foundation of circumcision for those who are in a New Covenant relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is an everlasting covenant, but it is possible that people will break the covenant and be separated from God’s people.<\/p>\n

This scripture poses some problems for people who do not understand the symbolism of circumcision. If circumcision is a sign of being in covenant relationship with God, and if circumcision in the flesh cannot be reversed, then how can it be possible that someone can break the covenant? And what does this requirement for circumcisions of males suggest about women being in covenant with God? The answers are found in later scriptures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Genesis 17:23-26<\/a> Then Abraham took Ish’mael his son and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ish’mael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ish’mael were circumcised;<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This implies that Abraham circumcised himself, Ishmael and other male members of his extensive household in one day<\/a>. If this is referring to actual circumcision of the foreskin, we are challenged to imagine how it could be done. While it is not impossible, a more believable explanation is that the circumcision that occurred here was a spiritual circumcision of the heart and not circumcision of the flesh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Exodus 12:43-51<\/a> And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it; 44 but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No sojourner or hired servant may eat of it. 46 In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth any of the flesh outside the house; and you shall not break a bone of it. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” 50 Thus did all the people of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Again we have a story that suggests large scale circumcisions in one day. And again we are challenged to accept that all these people submitted to physical circumcision in one day and then began their arduous escape from Egypt on foot without benefit of modern medicinal treatments. While this is all possible, a more likely explanation is that the circumcisions that occurred were of the heart by God and not of man in the flesh.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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SIGN OF THE NEW COVENANT<\/strong>
\nIt is important to review this history of Jewish circumcision because it is tied to the covenant between God and Abraham that is the basis of all of the rest of the Bible. It is also important because Abraham’s circumcision is referenced in the New Covenant. But we do not need to wait to read about that in the New Testament because it appears in the following Old Testament scriptures.<\/p>\n

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Deuteronomy 10:16 RSV<\/a> Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.<\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: Here we have the explanation for a spiritual circumcision. The fact that it appears in one of the books of the Law of Moses suggests that the terms of the law were symbolic and not meant to be taken literally. This helps us to accept that large-scale circumcision events in previous scriptures were spiritual and not physical.<\/div>\n
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This scripture provides the first clues that references to the heart are code words about the New Covenant. It anticipates Jeremiah 31:31-34<\/a><\/div>\n
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Deuteronomy 30:6 RSV<\/a> And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.<\/div>\n

COMMENTARY: This is another scripture that strongly suggests that earlier commandments in the Law of Moses were symbolic representations of spiritual events. Clearly God is doing the work here and it is done on the heart — not on the flesh.<\/p>\n

We also get our first clue that circumcision is related to the New Covenant. References to the heart always point to the New Covenant because the New Covenant<\/a> provides that the law will be written on the hearts of men<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This scripture says that a New Covenant relationship with God was always possible — even in the time of Moses. This fact spoils the common assumption that the New Covenant was established only after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The New Covenant was, in fact, always available as the spiritual alternative to the literal Law of Moses. More to the point, it was always the desired covenant from God’s perspective.<\/p>\n

What this says about circumcision is that God was always looking for people who would be circumcised in their hearts. Circumcision of the flesh was, and is, only a symbolic representation of circumcision of the heart.<\/p>\n

Joshua 5:1-7 RSV <\/a> When all the kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites that were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them, because of the people of Israel. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the people of Israel again the second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the people of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people that were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, perished, because they did not hearken to the voice of the LORD; to them the LORD swore that he would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their stead, that Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: These verses continue to reinforce circumcision of the heart as a New Covenant feature. Joshua is a type of Christ who leads Israel into the Promised Land which is a literary term for the New Covenant<\/a>. This story about Joshua prophetically forecasts Jesus leading both Jews and Gentiles into the Promised Land.<\/p>\n

The command to circumcise the people before entering the Promised Land is God’s way of saying that the law must be written on the hearts of the people before they can enter into the New Covenant relationship with God. But it is a command to circumcise the heart and ear — not the flesh.<\/a><\/p>\n

Jeremiah 6:8-10 KJV: <\/a>Be thou instructed<\/span> , O Jerusalem,<\/span> lest my soul<\/span> depart <\/span>from thee; lest I make<\/span> thee desolate,<\/span> a land<\/span> not inhabited<\/span> . <\/span> 9<\/span> Thus saith<\/span> the LORD<\/span> of hosts,<\/span> They shall thoroughly glean<\/span> the remnant<\/span> of Israel<\/span> as a vine:<\/span> turn back<\/span> thine hand<\/span> as a grape gatherer<\/span> into the baskets.<\/span><\/span> 10<\/span> To whom shall I speak<\/span>, and give warning<\/span> , that they may hear<\/span>? Behold, their ear<\/span> is <\/span>uncircumcised, and they cannot<\/span><\/span>\u00a0hearken: behold, the word<\/span> of the LORD<\/span> is unto them a <\/span>reproach; they have no delight<\/span> in it.<\/span><\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: In this scripture, circumcision is equated with the ability to hear. God is warning people who cannot hear that they will be reproached<\/a> for their inability to hear his word and delight in it.<\/p>\n

Jeremiah is full of such warnings to Israel. They are all preambles to Jeremiah 31:31-34 <\/a>which contains God’s clear promise to usher his people into New Covenant status. Thus, people with uncircumcised ears are equated to Old\/First Covenant believers with uncircumcised hearts. They can hear and read God’s literal word but cannot understand the spiritual, symbolic meaning of what God is saying.<\/p>\n

Acts 21:19-21<\/a> After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed; they are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs.<\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: It is believable that the Apostle Paul would tell converts not to circumcise children or observe other Jewish customs. He would do this because he understood the difference between the Old\/First Covenant and New Covenant<\/a>. He understood that circumcision of the flesh meant nothing to God.<\/a><\/div>\n
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Romans 4:1-11\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?\u00a0<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.<\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/span>\u00a0For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: Circumcision of the flesh is a religious law. People who follow religious laws<\/a> do it with a sense of pride and boasting<\/a> of how righteous they are because they follow religious laws. This is true for all religious people — including Jews and Christians.<\/div>\n
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Faithfulness to obey religious laws is honored only by people who follow those same religious laws. God is not at all impressed by obedience to religious laws. In fact, God calls obedience to religious laws sin<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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The only obedience that God honors is with respect to his spiritual laws<\/a> that are written on the heart. God credits righteousness only to people who believe him (i.e. hear and obey his spoken voice<\/a>). Nothing else matters to God. All he really cares about is the condition of the heart<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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4<\/span>\u00a0Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.\u00a0<\/span>5<\/span>\u00a0And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: People who serve God through religious works\/activities<\/a> believe that their works earn favor with God. Thus, whatever they might\u00a0 receive from God, whether while they are physically alive or after they die, is considered to be a reward for doing the religious activity. If it is a reward for working, it is not a free gift.<\/div>\n
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This is a very different situation from the rewards that God gives to people who hear his spoken voice<\/a>: The promised land.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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6 So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:\u00a07<\/span>\u00a0“Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;\u00a0<\/span>8\u00a0<\/span>blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin.”\u00a0<\/span>9<\/span>\u00a0Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised?\u00a0<\/span>We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.\u00a010<\/span>\u00a0How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.<\/span><\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: ***<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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11 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,<\/span><\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: The circumcision that Abraham received was of the heart — not of the flesh. That means it was a spiritual circumcision that was accomplished by God — not by man<\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n
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It is important to recognize that Abraham had faith before he was physically circumcised. As the scripture says, the reason it happened in this order is to make the point that righteousness is not dependent on physical circumcision. This also makes the point that righteousness is not dependent on baptism, communion, or any other religious ritual.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Titus 1:10-15<\/a> For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially the circumcision party; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted.<\/div>\n
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COMMENTARY: The circumcision party is a collective term that applies to anyone who adheres to and promotes religious laws.<\/a>\u00a0In the New Testament, it applied to religious Jews, but it now refers to all religious people. They are considered to be insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers. Such people are to be rebuked sharply so they might be turned from religion to faith.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Luke 2:21<\/a> And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.<\/p>\n

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COMMENTARY: Christians teach that Jesus was sinless. The fact that he was circumcised as an infant according to Jewish religious laws indicates that his parents sinned by having him circumcised.<\/p>\n

The fact that Jesus spent some time in Egypt<\/a> and was raised in the synagogue<\/a> system symbolically represents that he was indoctrinated with religion. The fact that as an adult he willfully submitted to baptism also indicates that he participated in the sin of religion up to the moment before he was spiritually baptized by God<\/a>. It was only after his spiritual baptism that it could be said that Jesus was sinless because all of his pre-baptism sins were forgiven according to the terms of the New Covenant.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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BAPTISM AND WASHING IN WATER<\/strong>
\nBecause baptism is a very visible kind of tradition and appears so prominently in the Bible, most Christians hold very strong beliefs about it. There are different doctrines about adult immersion and infant sprinkling, of course, but these religious practices all have their origins in popular Biblical stories. Jews and Muslims also have\u00a0 doctrines and practices about washing with water that they justify through their understanding of the literal Bible.<\/p>\n

All religions that use water in washing rituals err in thinking that literal, physical water has some sort of spiritual power — especially when applied by a religious leader. This thinking is wrongly based on literal interpretations of the Bible.<\/a>\u00a0Thus they believe that if it happened in the Bible, they should also do it. They do not understand the “first the natural and then the spiritual” principle<\/a>. In the case of water baptism, washing, or dunking, is the natural event that precedes a spiritual event which is cleansing the heart from the sin of religion.<\/p>\n

Baptism is another way of representing the process of being born again<\/a>. It symbolizes the miracle of creation<\/a> in which God changes evil, impure hearts<\/a> to clean, pure hearts.<\/a> This all happens only when people hear God’s spoken voice<\/a>. Only God’s words have the power to change hearts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Heart condition is represented in the Bible as covenants. There is the Old\/First Covenant<\/a> which represents evil, impure hearts that follow religious laws<\/a>. And there is the New Covenant<\/a> which represents clean, pure hearts that follow God’s spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The seeds of religion<\/a> and religious laws exist in the literal words of the Bible. Religious leaders (i.e.\u00a0Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Priests, Pastors, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists<\/a>) sow these seeds in teachings based on the literal words of the Bible. God calls these words of these teachers the fruit of Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil <\/a>(i.e. false prophets<\/a>). They are sown into evil, impure hearts<\/a> of Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists, and sprout and grow (i.e. carried out, fulfilled) as those religious people raise religious children and evangelize others to become religious. We see this principle in these scriptures:<\/p>\n

Mark 7:15\u00a0<\/a> Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: This statement by Jesus was made in response to complaints by pharisees that his disciples did not observe Jewish traditions about hand washing. Jewish hand washing evolved out of belief that eating food with dirty hands would lead to spiritual defilement.<\/p>\n

Jesus corrects this belief with the truth that religious words<\/a> and behaviors<\/a> are what defile them.<\/p>\n

Mark 7:18-23<\/a>\u00a0 \u201cAre you so dull?\u201d<\/span> he asked. \u201cDon\u2019t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? <\/span><\/span>19<\/span> For it doesn\u2019t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.\u201d<\/span> (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Jews, and some Christians observe dietary laws found in the literal Bible. Because they have constructed their religion on the literal words of the Bible, they believe that certain foods defile them spiritually. Jesus corrects this belief with the truth that spiritual defilement results from religious thoughts and religious words that go into the heart, while food only goes into the stomach and then out of the body.<\/p>\n

Religious thoughts and words are the seeds of religion sown by religious leaders (i.e. false prophets)<\/a> who preach religious doctrines<\/a> and practice them in public<\/a> for others to observe and do.<\/p>\n

20<\/span> He went on: \u201cWhat comes out of a person is what defiles them. <\/span><\/span>21<\/span> For it is from within, out of a person\u2019s heart, that evil thoughts come\u2014sexual immorality, theft, murder, <\/span><\/span>22<\/span> adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. <\/span><\/span>23<\/span> All these evils come from inside and defile a person.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Religious people are defiled by the religious things that they say and do. Religious words<\/a> and religious behaviors<\/a> all flow out of evil, impure hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0See this link for spiritual understanding of references to sexual sins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

See this link for understanding of deceit.<\/a><\/p>\n

See this link for understanding of arrogance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

See this link for scriptures about greedy religious leaders <\/a>who extort money through commercial religion.<\/a><\/p>\n

Luke 6:45\u00a0<\/a>“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: See this link<\/a> and this link<\/a> for understanding of the treasures of the heart of a good man.<\/p>\n

See this link<\/a> for understanding of the treasures of the heart of an evil man.<\/p>\n

Matthew 15:18\u00a0<\/a>“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: What proceeds out of the mouth of religious people is meaningless religious talk.<\/a><\/p>\n

Psalm 73:7-8<\/a> From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.<\/span> <\/span>They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Iniquity is another word for sin. The root of sin, therefore, is found in evil, impure hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n

STUDY TIPS: See this link for more about arrogance. <\/a>See this link for more about oppression.<\/a><\/p>\n

All of the defiling things mentioned in these scriptures are evil, soulish food<\/a> eaten (i.e. heard) by people who are hungry for religion. Religion begins in the heart, and is acted out through words and actions. Religious words and behaviors are called flesh. <\/a><\/p>\n

Flesh and religion are features of Old\/First Covenant religion. They are not what God wants for his people. God says this religion is defiled. What God wants is New Covenant<\/a> disciples<\/a> who worship him in spirit and truth<\/a> in their hearts — not in their flesh. This religion is pure religion.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See this link for comparisons of Old\/First Covenant religion and New Covenant worshipers.<\/a><\/p>\n

God’s strategy for converting Old\/First Covenant religionists to New Covenant<\/a> disciples<\/a> is to wash them with his spoken word. They become religious because they listen to the words of false prophets, and he saves them from religion<\/a> when they learn how to hear his spoken voice.<\/a> Washing with God’s word is symbolically represented as baptism in water.<\/p>\n

Baptism (i.e. washing) with physical water symbolically refers to hearing God’s word (i.e. his spoken voice<\/a>). Washing with physical water only cleans the outer body. God’s spoken word has the power to change hearts.<\/a> God’s spoken word (i.e. living water) has the power to cleanse the heart from the desire to practice the sin of religion. Spiritual water<\/a> has the same healing power as spiritual blood<\/a>. This is why we are told that Jesus came by water and blood.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

From the story of Jesus’ baptism, we can see how Jesus came by water, but we can’t so easily see how he came by blood. Understanding comes clear, however, when we recognize that the spirit, water and blood are one.<\/a> That means that the spirit, water and blood are all terms used to symbolically represent God’s voice.<\/p>\n

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COMMUNION\/EUCHARIST***<\/strong>
\nCommunion, like baptism, is based on literal interpretations of the Bible. Religious people, therefore, believe that there is spiritual significance to eating and drinking if Bible characters also did those same things. That this is wrong thinking is confirmed in these scriptures:<\/p>\n

Romans 14:17 <\/a><\/span>For\u00a0the\u00a0kingdom\u00a0of God\u00a0is\u00a0not a matter of\u00a0eating\u00a0and\u00a0drinking,\u00a0but of righteousness,\u00a0peace,\u00a0and\u00a0joy\u00a0in\u00a0the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Most christian doctrines include communion\/eucharist in their list of “must do” rituals. They base this belief on certain scriptures that seem to prescribe such activity<\/a>. The problem is that Christians do not understand the symbolism of bread, wine<\/a> and blood<\/a>. If they did, they would understand that Jesus is symbolically referring to the spoken word of God — not to physical bread, blood and wine.<\/p>\n

STUDY TIP: See\u00a0Bread, Food and Wine<\/a> for understanding of the symbolism of these physical things.<\/p>\n

Only in people who hear God’s spoken voice understand Biblical symbolism.<\/a>\u00a0The ability to understand symbolism is evidence of being born again<\/a>.It is God’s voice that brings righteousness, peace and joy<\/a>, and these inner spiritual qualities are only available through the medium of the holy spirit. They are not accessed through physical food or drink or physical activity. Righteousness, peace and joy in the spirit all happens in the heart, and are not expressions of anything that is accomplished with the physical body (i.e. flesh<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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Colossians 2:16-17 <\/a>Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath.\u00a0<\/span>17<\/span>These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: All religions have doctrines about foods that are permitted and forbidden. Prohibition of eating pork is one, good example. And all religions have festivals and holy days that are observed year after year. Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, Hanukkah, Yom Kippur, Shabbat and Ramadan<\/a> are examples of religious holidays.<\/p>\n

This scripture says clearly that these and all other religious activities are only shadows of spiritual activity in the heart.All religions are known by their doctrines about food and holidays. It is impossible to be a member in good standing of a religion without observing those doctrines. It is impossible, for example, to be a good Christian (whether Catholic or Protestant) in the eyes of other Christians without taking communion\/Eucharist with some regularity. And it is impossible to be a good Christian (whether Catholic or Protestant) in the eyes of other Christians without observing Christmas and Easter. And it is impossible for people who eat pork and do not observe Shabbat to be considered real, legitimate Jews.<\/p>\n

If people who claim to be members of a particular religion do not observe all, or most, of that religion’s major doctrines, and if they do not believe what others in that religion believe, the Pharisees<\/a> of their religion will judge them (i.e. make a legal determination) that they are not true members of the religion. In the words of\u00a0Colossians 2:16, the Pharisees pass judgment on them and find them guilty of blasphemy with respect to the religious beliefs and laws by which the religion is known. ***<\/span><\/p>\n

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STUDY TIP: See Sixth Commandment<\/a> for more about judging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

1 Corinthians 8:8 <\/a>\u00a0But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY: Traditions of eating or not eating certain foods do not bring people closer to God. Following such traditions brings people closer to other people<\/a> who follow the same tradition, but not closer to God. It is all the same to God if people eat certain foods or avoid certain foods.<\/p>\n

However, when people eat or avoid certain foods as a matter of obedience to religious traditions made by men, they sin because what they do is not a matter of faith that cannot be seen. <\/a>God searches the heart and is not concerned with what people do and do not do with their bodies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The only thing worth knowing about communion is that the picture of the last supper symbolically refers to hearing God’s word (i.e. his spoken voice<\/a>). This event is not a picture of people eating natural bread and drinking natural wine. It is a symbolic picture of people eating good spiritual food<\/a> served by a true prophet (i.e. Jesus).<\/p>\n

Followers of Jesus should see themselves in this picture. Here we have Jesus teaching his disciples. All true followers of Jesus should have disciples. If they don’t have disciples, they are followers in name only which means they are useless to God. If they don’t have disciples they have not fulfilled the commands to “go make disciples and baptize them in the name (i.e. character) of God”<\/a> and to feed God’s people (i.e. sheep)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When Jesus was teaching his disciples he was actually baptizing (i.e. washing) them with God’s spoken word. Those who listened to Jesus were actually hearing God’s word because Jesus spoke for God.<\/a><\/p>\n

Jesus and all other true prophets are anointed messiahs\u00a0<\/a>whom God sends<\/a>\u00a0to speak his laws into the hearts<\/a> of Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists. Those who hear and see God’s spoken word have their spiritual eyes and ears opened<\/a> and become new creations<\/a> (i.e. New Covenant disciples<\/a>). They are spiritually born again, <\/a>when they eat the good spiritual food<\/a> served (i.e. spoken) by a true prophet. Their ears are spiritually circumcised and they are washed in Jesus’ blood (i.e. God’s spoken word.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

GOD HATES ALL RITUALS AND TRADITIONS<\/strong>
\n1 Corinthians 7:18-19<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Galatians 6:12-15 <\/a>say, in effect, that it does not matter if someone is physically circumcised or not, and that the only thing that matters to God is if people obey his spoken word (i.e. his spiritual laws<\/a>). This only happens to people whose ears are spiritually circumcised.<\/p>\n

If this can be said of a physical act that has such prominence in the Bible, it can also be said of all other religious traditions that are acted out in the flesh. That is why God said very clearly that he hates traditions and festivals<\/a>. That means that he hates the following religious traditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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