My two cents. And sorry in advance for the rambling.
The law and the prophets, sola scriptural, as it is written is where we get our daily bread .Outside of it we can know nothing pertaining to God... not seen.
I don’t think its seeking the approval of our God by not following a commandment of the Lord. The temporal commandment as a mere shadow simply does not apply anymore.
Defining words can sometimes help get to the foundation of the doctrines of God. Changing the meaning of even one word intended by the author can change the whole doctrine. We must be careful on how we hear what I would consider poetic language of God. And that is whether it is historical true as a parable or uses as a story to give us the spiritual understanding .In either case so that we can hear God who remains without form properly .
Circumcision as any ceremonial law that uses the temporal flesh, a shadow or metaphor as part of the fleshly ordinance was required but did nothing for the conscience. it cannot enter ones soul . To circumcise is to “cut off” the flesh or be “cut off from the land of the living” saying the same thing in another way .
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:Which was a figure/parable for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them “until the time of reformation”. Heb 9:8
It along with other fleshly ordinances was used to announce the coming of our bloody husband, Christ used to show the suffering of Christ, the gospel of our salvation. This was beforehand and the glory that did come .The veil was rent in indicating the time of reformation has come. Christ came in the flesh and was "cut off" from the flesh when he said it the demonstration is finished.... the Holy Spirit Christ returned to the father, while His literal blood, literally returned to the lifeless, spiritless rudiment of this corrupted world as where it came from.
What I have experienced is most people simply do not look at it as a reformation. In doing so according to my bias today I believe they can lose the benefit as seeing it as a key like all of God word as that in which the gates of hell could never prevail against.
Again the ceremonial laws in respect to the flesh as that seen all where used to point ahead ubtill the time of reformation. they administered the gospel of our salvation that today Christians are receiving.
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, “but unto us” they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that” have” preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1Pe 1:9
This was up until the time of reformation when he did come in the fullness of time. .. It was required for the period of time beginning with Abraham, ending with Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. A total of 42 generations. When looking at the "generations" of Christ in Mathew 1
The book of "the generation of Jesus Christ", the son of David, the son of Abraham.Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; Mat 1:1-2
Through verse 17 ending with Joseph married to Mary.
Mat 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
In many cases it would appear a person must seek the spiritual understanding found in parables, again what I consider the poetic language of God . They like used with the doctrine of circumcision and must be mixed with faith the unseen principle for hearing God aright.
We are given an example as a lesson to Moses who was considered as we are a member as part of the bride of Christ the church, in the parable below. Twice in the valuable space of scripture God uses Christ as our “bloody husband” to announce the gospel of Christ beforehand.
And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. So he(the Lord God ) let him (Moses) go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Exo 4:24-26
Isaiah helps further the gospel in respect to the suffering of Christ beforehand also again to circumcise is to be cut off from the flesh to show that "not seen" the faith principle ....spirit life was given.
Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
