Stephen was dragged before the Jewish Council because of his witness to the Lord Jesus and for doing “great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.”  (Acts 6:8)

  Stephen continued his defense to the high priest and the Council.  He talked about the Lord God giving the people of Israel a covenant.  (A covenant is an agreement between God and His people, a promise that points to God at work in their lives.)

(NASB) Acts 7:8 “And He (God) gave him (Abraham) the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day (after Isaac’s birth); and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.”

  Stephen briefly sketched the genealogy of all those seated there.  All those hearing him could relate to what he was saying from the facts of history..

  Each man there could relate to the serious binding agreement in the Covenant of Circumcision established by God with Abraham and all the generations following him.
This covenant was an everlasting covenant.  (Genesis 17:1-27)

  Circumcision is a cutting off, and it is done in our hearts spiritually, by the Spirit of God.  We are to serve the living God in the newness of the Holy Spirit which all believers are given at the very moment of receiving Christ as their Savior.  (Romans 2:29, 7:6)

  Spiritual circumcision matters today.  It is a sign of God at work in our lives. God’s work is eternal, man’s work is limited because we are limited.  God is not limited!  He is God!

  Glorious news!  (NASB) Romans 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with Him (Jesus) through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

  Circumcision of our hearts is God’s work of grace, His unmerited favor given to the followers of Christ Jesus.  God chooses to do this, and He marks us out for His own.  God is our living Hope, followers of Christ.

(NIV) Colossians 2:9-12 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.  11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 121having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”

~ Take it to heart ~

Spiritual circumcision matters today.

  Follower of Christ…the covenant of circumcision has a special meaning for you also.  It is the spiritual circumcision of your heart… that you “might walk in newness of life”. 
(Romans 6:4)

Followers of Christ, we have the Hope that is so much more than what the world offers.