The concept of admission into the Church of Israel through circumcision is deeply rooted in the Abrahamic covenant and the laws given to Moses. Circumcision served as a physical sign of the covenant between God and His chosen people, Israel. This rite was not merely a cultural or ethnic marker but a profound spiritual symbol of belonging to the community of God's people.

Biblical Foundation

The practice of circumcision as a sign of the covenant is first introduced in Genesis 17:10-11, where God commands Abraham: "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you" . This command established circumcision as an essential rite for Abraham's descendants, marking them as participants in God's promises.

Mosaic Law and National Identity

Under the Mosaic Law, circumcision was further reinforced as a requirement for all male Israelites. Leviticus 12:3 states, "On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised" . This practice was not only a religious obligation but also a critical component of Israelite identity, distinguishing the Israelites from surrounding nations.

Circumcision was also a prerequisite for participation in the Passover, as noted in Exodus 12:48: "If a foreigner residing with you wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in his household must be circumcised; then he may take part, like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised male may eat of it" . This requirement underscored the importance of circumcision as a means of full integration into the religious and communal life of Israel.

Spiritual Significance

Beyond its physical and communal aspects, circumcision held deep spiritual significance. It symbolized the cutting away of sin and the dedication of one's life to God. Deuteronomy 10:16 exhorts the Israelites, "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more" , indicating that the physical act was meant to reflect an inner spiritual reality.

The prophets also emphasized this spiritual dimension. Jeremiah 4:4 calls the people to "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts" , highlighting the need for genuine repentance and commitment to God.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the role of circumcision in the Church of Israel is re-evaluated in light of Christ's redemptive work. The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in several of his epistles, particularly in Romans and Galatians. In Romans 2:28-29, Paul writes, "A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code" . This teaching underscores the transition from a physical to a spiritual understanding of circumcision within the Christian faith.

In Galatians 5:6, Paul further clarifies, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love" . This shift reflects the New Covenant's emphasis on faith in Christ as the true means of admission into the people of God, transcending the physical rite of circumcision.

Conclusion

The rite of circumcision as a means of admission into the Church of Israel holds significant historical, cultural, and spiritual importance. While its role evolves in the New Testament, its foundational place in the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants remains a critical aspect of understanding the identity and faith of God's people throughout biblical history.Genesis 17:10-14
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall ... our initiation into the fellowship
of the Church is, by ... teach us that we have no admission into the family ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Jews
... of the Samaritan, is to arrive at the admission of the ... for his brethren of the seed
of Israel, and his ... a time of peace and increase to the Church, during which ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter i the foundation of.htm

Titus i. 5, 6
... be affected who presides in the Church, not to ... the wanton, and not permitting their
admission into this high ... Seest thou not that God upbraids Israel with this ...
/.../homily ii titus i 5.htm

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... Thus Israel, though many of them did not enter into ... by vowing habitually and performing,
the Church ought to ... The admission of it into any engagement is sinful. ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

The Conversion of Cornelius.
... acknowledged and worshipped the God of Israel, but did ... without circumcision, into
the fellowship of the Church. ... obviate all objections to the admission of the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiii the conversion of.htm

Analysis of the Westminster Confession.
... but much more a sacrament of our admission into the Church ... For, although the Church
of England, as a body ... and to the typical redemption of Israel from bondage ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 95 analysis of the.htm

The Return to Capernaum - Healing of the Centurion's Servant.
... Israel's hope; and this, even by the admission of our ... our days the expectancy of
the Church, but are ... feast in which the Great Householder, Israel's King, would ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xix the return to.htm

The Synod of Jerusalem, and the Compromise Between Jewish and ...
... of circumcision, or of the terms of admission of the ... the People" (Obliam), and the
intercessor of Israel who prayed ... and as far as the Jewish church was willing ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 34 the synod of.htm

Acts VII
... also had been rejected, notwithstanding the admission, by his ... as Moses, divinely
selected to deliver Israel from bondage ... interest to the young Church, and well ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts vii.htm

On Turning the First Page of the Review which Follows...
... begins with Abraham." (Ibid.)""After this admission, it is ... to Jeremiah or to "the
collective Israel,""(p.73 ... was the earliest creed of the Church, and it ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/ii on turning the first.htm

Questions about the Church (All) | GotQuestions.org

What was the first / original church? Is the original / first church the true church? | GotQuestions.org

Is there supposed to be only one church? | GotQuestions.org

Church: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus