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THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS

CHRIST.

LUKE ii, 21.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; every male among you shall be circumcised.

Genesis xvii, 10.

XI.

THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS CHRIST.

LUKE ii, 21.

Circum

cision. John i, 1, 14.

Luke i, 35.

Luke ii, 7.

THE august promise of many a century has at The length been fulfilled. The Word, who in the beginning was and was with God and was God, has become flesh, having been divinely conceived in Nazareth of Galilee, and humanly born in Bethlehem of Judea. And now, seven days having Luke ii, 21. elapsed since the holy birth, the Divine Babe, in accordance with Jehovah's commandment in his Genesis xvii. covenant with Abraham, is duly circumcised. By that rite he is officially enrolled as a member of the Hebrew nationality, and, as such, entitled to all the privileges and prerogatives belonging to a son of the Covenant.

Reason of the
Circumcision.

1 John ii, 2.

But why, we can not help asking, must he, who came to be the propitiation, not only for the sins of the Jew, but also for the sins of the whole world, be subjected to a rite so intensely Jewish? Let Holy Scripture itself answer : When the fullness of the time came, God sent Gal. iv, 4, 5. forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. God in his wisdom saw fit to prepare

Heb. ii, 17.

Rom. xv, 8-12.

The True Circumcision.

Heb. ii, 9.

Col. ii, 14.

Gal. iii, 28.
Col. iii, 11.

Rom. ii, 28, 29.

Collect.

a lost world for its Saviour through the separation and training of the Jewish nation-through the rites and symbols, the ordinances and prophecies of the Jewish economy. Hence it behooved the Saviour of the world in all things to be made like unto his brethren. Accordingly, he became a Jew, and a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, in order to save both Jew and Gentile.

ever.

But the Jewish economy was not to last forJesus Christ, having accomplished the work which the Father had given him to do, having by the grace of God tasted death for every man, has forever blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Henceforth there is in him neither Jew nor Gentile, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, neither Greek nor Scythian, neither male nor female; but all are one in Christ; and Christ is all, and in all. Henceforth the true circumcision is inward. And so is fulfilled the apostle's saying: "He is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true Circumcision of the Spirit; that our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS

CHRIST.

LUKE ii, 22-24.

Sanctify unto me all the first-born.

Exodus xiii, 2.

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