Must Circumcise Away
the Works of the Flesh
As the apostle Paul stated in Eph. 2:1-3, it is Satan and the environment he has created through deception that causes us to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and mind at every turn in life. We must identify these lusts of the flesh and cut them out of our lives so that we can begin to develop the righteousness of the New covenant. "Now the WORKS OF THE FLESH are manifest, which are these:
ADULTERY (voluntary sexual intercourse of a married person with someone other than his or her lawful spouse)
FORNICATION (unlawful lust, voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons, idolatry)
UNCLEANNESS (morally impure, unchaste, obscene, vulgar, contemptibly offensive, vile, morally low, without dignity or sentiment, mean-spirited, selfish, characterized by excessive sexual transgressions, corrupt, debased in character, depraved)
LASCIVIOUSNESS (lustfulness, wanton, lewd, arousing illegal sexual desires)
IDOLATRY (worship or devotion to anything before or instead of the true God: an image or a statue)
WITCHCRAFT (sorcery, magic, poisoner, individual who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits, black magic)
HATRED (intense dislike, hostility, animosity or a feeling of ill will that tends to display itself in harmful action, abhorrence, strong dislike for that person)
VARIANCE (disagreeable, quarrelsome, disputing attitude)
EMMULATIONS (effort or desire to equal or excel others, jealous rivalry, competition)
WRATH (strong, stern or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; vengeance or punishment motivated by anger; rage)
STRIFE (vigorous or bitter conflict, discord or antagonism, quarrelsome, struggle, clash with others; competition or rivalry)
SEDITIONS (incitement of public disorder or rebellion: insurrection; mutiny)
HERESIES (religious or doctrine at variance with accepted doctrine)
ENVYINGS (sense of discontent or jealousy with regard to anothers advantages, successes or possessions in life; desire for the advantages possessed by others)
MURDER (killing of a human being with malice aforethought)
DRUNKENNESS (intoxication, inebriated, tipsy, having ones faculties impaired by an excess of alcoholic liquor)
REVELLINGS (take great pleasure or delight in sinful activities; merrymaking and boisterous festivities; to raise tumult)
and SUCH LIKE: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
Circumcision of the heart is merely the divine operation of God by His Holy Spirit to empower us to cut out of our hearts and minds human nature and for the first time ever in our lives we can begin to develop the righteousness of the New Covenant.
Results of the Circumcision
of the HeartSaul, who became the apostle Paul, is the classic example of our new approach and attitude toward God that we should exhibit once we truly come under the New Covenant. "For when we were in the flesh (before circumcision of the heart), the motions of sins, which were by law (the law identifies sin), did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death (penalty for sin). But now we are delivered from the law (death penalty for breaking the law), that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in NEWNESS OF SPIRIT, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? GOD FORBID. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law (tells what sin is): for I had not known lust, except the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet (Rom. 7:5-7). Paul now has a whole new approach since a change in heart has taken place. Notice further v. 12, "the law is HOLY, and the commandment HOLY, and JUST, and GOOD." V. 14, "For we know that the law is SPIRITUAL:". V. 22, "For I DELIGHT in the law of God after the INWARD MAN:". V.25, "So then with the MIND I myself serve the law of God:".
And finally, Paul ends his discourse by stating that before this circumcision of the heart occurs we cannot please God. "Because the CARNAL (fleshly) MIND is ENMITY AGAINST God; for it is NOT subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are IN THE FLESH (living by the works of the flesh of Gal. 5:19-21) CANNOT PLEASE God (Rom. 8:7-8).