用割礼所坚立的约（接上篇）
割礼是本于信得称义的记号，印记（罗四11）。然而，许多基督徒却忽略这记号。他们也许认识并宣告已经本于信得称义，但在本于信得称义之后，他们却没有了结己的记号。你怎能向人显示你已经被神称义了？你必须过一种了结己的生活。你必须给人看见，你不再凭自己活，乃是凭基督活。这样，你的生活就成为你已经得称义的记号。在基督的复活里过钉十字架的生活，乃是我们得称义的记号。假定我这得救的人已经被神称义，但我仍然凭自己生活、行动、工作，凭自己作一切，若是这样，人就很难看出我是得称义的人，他们甚至会怀疑我是否得救了。但若过钉十字架的生活，把自己摆在一边，接受基督作我的生命，就没有人会怀疑我本于信得称义了。
藉割礼坚立约，与达成神目的的后裔和地有关（创十七2～8）。为了达成神要人彰显并代表祂的永远目的，我们需要得着基督作我们的后裔和地。为了得着基督作我们的后裔和地，以达成神的目的，我们需要受割礼，并过钉十字架的生活。割礼是为着达成神的目的。当肉体、己和旧人被了结，门就开了，让神进来而生出以撒。
犹太人总是在出生后第八日行割礼（创十七12）。第八日是新的七日的第一日，表明在复活里新的开始，新的起头。每当我们过钉十字架的生活，我们就在复活里有新的起头。当我们拒绝并否认自己，且过钉十字架的生活，我们立刻在复活里有新的开始。甚么时候有割礼，甚么时候就有第八日。换句话说，甚么时候我们过钉十字架的生活，甚么时候我们就在复活里。
所有不受割礼的人都与这约隔绝。在十七章十四节神对亚伯拉罕说，“但不受割礼的男子，必从民中剪除，因他背了我的约。”今天这也是真实的。我们若不过钉十字架的生活，我们便与基督，与教会生活，并与神圣乳房的供应隔绝。甚么时候我们不愿受割礼，在达成神永远的目的上，我们就了了。今天我们享受神，凭基督活着，实行教会生活，全在于一件事，就是受割礼，过钉十字架的生活。
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Confirming the Divine Covenant with Circumcision (6) – Gen. 17:12-14
The Covenant Confirmed by Circumcision (Continued)
Circumcision is a sign, a seal, of the righteousness which is of faith (Rom. 4:11). However, many Christians neglect this sign. They may recognize and declare that they have been justified by faith, but after being justified by faith, they do not have the sign of the termination of the self. How can you show people that you have been justified by God? You must live a life of the termination of the self. You must show others that you no longer live by yourself but by Christ. In this way, your living becomes the sign that you have been justified. Living a crucified life in the resurrection of Christ is the sign of our justification. Suppose I, a saved person, have been justified by God, but I still live, move, work and do everything by myself; if this is the case, it is very hard for people to see that I am a justified person. They might even doubt whether I am saved. But if I live a crucified life, putting myself aside and receiving Christ as my life, no one will doubt that I am justified by faith.
Confirming the covenant by circumcision is related to the seed and the land for the fulfillment of God’s purpose (Gen. 17:2-8). In order to fulfill God’s eternal purpose that man would express and represent Him, we need to have Christ as our seed and land. In order to have Christ as our seed and land to fulfill Gods purpose, we need to receive circumcision and live a crucified life. Circumcision is for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. When the flesh, the self, and the old man are terminated, the door is opened for God to come in and bring forth Isaac.
The Jews always performed circumcision on the eighth day after birth (Gen. 17:12). The eighth day is the first day of a new week, signifying a new beginning, a new start in resurrection. Whenever we live a crucified life, we have a new start in resurrection. When we reject and deny ourselves and live a crucified life, we immediately have a new beginning in resurrection. Whenever there is circumcision, there is the eighth day. In other words, whenever we live a crucified life, we are in resurrection.
Everyone who is not circumcised is cut off from this covenant. In 17:14 God said to Abraham, “And the uncircumcised male… shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” This is also true today. If we do not live a crucified life, we are cut off from Christ, from the church life, and from the supply of the divine udder. Whenever we are unwilling to be circumcised, we are finished regarding the accomplishment of God’s eternal purpose. Today, our enjoyment of God, our living by Christ, and our practicing the church life depend entirely on one thing — receiving circumcision, living a crucified life.