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Colossians 2:11
11 In [en] whom [hos] also [kai] ye are circumcised [peritemno] with the circumcision [peritome] made without hands, [acheiropoietos] in [en] putting off [apekdusis] the body [soma] of the sins [hamartia] of the flesh [sarx] by [en] the circumcision [peritome] of Christ: [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; NASB
Circumcision is a physical surgical act, which represents the spiritual principle of salvation. Introduced in Genesis 17, Abraham was commanded to circumcise himself as well as all of the male members of his group, in order to be a representative sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.
Abrahams name was changed from Abram, just as his physical nature was changed (literally in the circumcision) as well as symbolically for his belief in Gods promise.
Moses was ordered (Ex. 12), to be circumcised as was his son and all of the male members of the nation of Israel because they had lost track of the birth ritual of circumcision, during their four-hundred year enslavement in Egypt.
Zipporah, Moses’ wife, was not pleased with the ritual, and after she circumcised her son, threw the dead cut off skin in Moses’ face, calling him a husband of blood. Which oddly enough is also representative of the work of Christ on the Cross.
Circumcision became associated with the Feast and ordinances of the Passover in Ex. 12, and Ezekiel 44 clearly states that anyone who is not circumcised will not be able to participate in the Passover festivities. Which really means that circumcision is representative of faith in Christ, which further means that without faith, there is no salvation. Therefore, anyone who rejects circumcision, symbolizes an unbeliever. And, anyone who participates in the ritual symbolizes the believer in Christ.
The physical surgical procedure of circumcision is not faith, but only representative of faith. You still have to believe in Christ in order to be saved, regardless of whether you are circumcised or not.
Note, that circumcision is a male surgical procedure, not a female surgical procedure. And even though female circumcision exists, it is nothing more than an attempt to distort the principle of salvation taught in the Bible.
Now, circumcision is the cutting away of the dead skin, which has no useful value, from the male infants’ penis, usually at about eight days of age. This represents the process of doctrine, cutting away the persons unbeliever status (which has no useful value), through faith in Christ. You might be able to find a visual example of the surgical procedure online on You-Tube, which would be a good educational addition to your understanding.
And in so doing makes way for the usefulness of the individual, through spiritual growth. Which growth was not possible prior to salvation.
The circumcision made without hands, is the spiritual circumcision obtained through faith, making it now possible for the believer to advance in their spiritual life, because they have discarded the worthless barrier of unbelief.
