Luke 2
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
On this first day of the new year, we remember His circumcision. Circumcision means the putting away of the sinful flesh. But Jesus had no sinful flesh to put away, for He is God and is completely holy. However, Jesus came to be identified with us sinners, and took upon Himself sinful flesh; even as He also came to be baptised by John for the “baptism of repentence.” When John tried to prevent Him, Jesus replied in Matt 3:14, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
The law could not prevent man from sin because of the weakness of sinful flesh, but Jesus came to put away sinful flesh as we read in Rom 8:3, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.”
Jesus took our sins upon Himself, so that He can circumcise us spiritually, inside. We who have Jesus in our hearts are circumcised spiritually.
If you claim to be circumcised spiritually, but still live in sin, you’re a liar. When Jesus works in a person’s life He cuts away anger, immorality, lust, gossip etc.
The angel told Joseph to name Him Jesus, “for He will save His people from their sins.” John says in 1John 3 that there is something wrong with you if you sin again after making it right. He also says in 1John 3:7-9, “… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
Those who are born of God, finish with sin. May it be that you confess your sins and then it is the end of the matter.
May this year be like none before it, that we live for God with all our hearts. We don’t know what we will experience this year; whether it will be joy or suffering, life or death. But we can enter into this year boldly and courageously, because we know that we enter the year with Him. The death of a believer is precious in God’s sight. We might think it is a tragedy, but not so with God. Our suffering and sorrow will be halved because we have Him.
We are hidden in His Hand; we are held in His Hand like the stars in the sky – nothing can touch us. We already have a foretaste of heaven while we are here on earth, living with Him Who said, “I am the same yesterday, today and forever.” A life with Jesus is indescribable. One cannot fathom or explain it in the languages of men or angels.
Let us enter into 2007 under this portal, “Jesus – circumcised for us”, through Whom we conquer satan, sin and the world. May we walk on this highway to heaven, with the portals of heaven open to us.