Can you give me some examples of this?
Amazing thing to study. Praise God for the knowledge you have been given.
Hello Kolistus . . . This is a huge topic; one that I would like to write a book about.
Genesis 3:22-24 is the first example, to my knowledge, that gives a demonstration of what we are to expect, which is that if we eat from the Tree of Life, we are lifted of the Adamic Curse that includes the Sinful Way, or Nature of a person. This is what the entire Bible is about, which is for Christ to redeem us of the malady that Adam and Eve set into motion. Jesus fixes this problem. So, when we read of the Tree of Life in the Garden, we are reading of Jesus Christ on the Cross. If you would, please entertain the NLT, consider what is presented, and then consider it within your favorite translations.
Genesis 3:22-24 NLT - "Then the LORD God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!" 23 So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
This is the purpose of Christ . . . the Purpose of Creation: To eat from only that of which grants Eternal Life. Jesus is the only "thing" that grants Eternal Life. Now, we know that this "live forever" cannot be in reference to the physical world because the physical world will not last forever. Genesis 3:22-24 is pointing to Christ on the Cross and His incredibly Holy Work. Here it is, and again, using the NLT (the KJV is also my equal favorite - both are amazing translations regarding Circumcision of Heart).
Colossians 2:10-15 NLT - "So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
If you're interested, the First Book of Adam and Eve confirms this notion, for this Book actually reports that as Adam begged and begged God to take away all of their new problems that they have incurred, they were told that humanity would have to wait "5000" years to eat of that incredible and Holy Fruit, which is Christ. When we read that God did not allow Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Life, this is to say that humanity must wait for Christ to receive this Holy Circumcision of the Heart. This means that when God said to Himself (or angels), "They will live forever," this is what it means to be Circumcised. No one can "live forever" without the Circumcision of Christ.
My friend . . . this is just the beginning. Then we must consider all of the Old Testament passages that were "kept hidden" as Paul teaches.
Deuteronomy 30:6 KJV - "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."
God was Circumcising the hearts of those who He caused to lead Israel, such as Abraham, our Father of Faith (because his Heart was Circumcised by Christ), Moses, Aaron, Eldad, and Medad (by "accident"), David . . . and many many more. The Holy leaders, judges, kings, and even a few prophets were all Purified by Christ so as to be Led into Righteousness.
And then we have the Ezekiel passages, which clearly shows the Power of God in how He alone changes us. We don't change ourselves, but Scripture makes it clear that it is the Lord who causes change. Yes, there are passages that make it seem clear that we are to change ourselves and even Circumcise our own Hearts to the Lord, but these things are written so as to help keep this Plan of God "hidden" just as Paul described in Ephesians.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 KJV - "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
Ezekiel 11:19-20 KJV - "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."
There are so, so many passages throughout scripture that deal exactly with the Promises above. And these [are] the Supreme Promises of God that few seem to recognize.
I could write probably a three to five hundred page book on this topic, as it is the absolute Centerpiece of our Holy Book. As stated, this is only a start. If you'd like to hear more, here is a link to a video on Circumcision of Heart and it might help even more:
Years ago, I began cataloging and categorizingScripture in an Excel Spreadsheet so that I could easily track ideas and concepts. So as I would read the Bible, I would literally be looking for answers to very specific doctrines and issues. This changed my life! Once I realized that the Bible revolved around Circumcision of Hearts, that was the day that the Bible actually began to make reasonable and logical sense. Until then, however, it was a total, complete Mystery (yet I somehow believed that I understood His Word - I didn't.) If we continue in our discussions, and if you are kind and show genuine interest, I would consider sharing this Excel Spreadsheet and even teach you how to use it. It is the single most important thing in my life other than the actual Bible. If I lost this spreadsheet, I would be completely devastated.
Ecclesiastes 12:9 NLT - "Keep this in mind:
The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs,
studying and classifying them."