God created us in His image, male and female, with personhood and sexual passions, so that when He comes to us in this world there would be these powerful words and images to describe the promises and the pleasures of our covenant relationship with Him through Christ. God made us powerfully sexual so that he would be more deeply knowable.                                  –John Piper, Sex and the Supremacy of Christ[i]

Truth Statement: God purposefully chose this passionate symbol for righteousness. Circumcision of the flesh targeted a fleshly drive motivated by self-preservation. Circumcision of the heart targets emotional connection. Driven by belief, circumcision of the heart allows me to identify with Jesus’ experience and the sacrifice required to take on the perspective of an-‘other.’

Before I believed in Jesus, I never considered life to be particularly dark. I was intentional about having fun! Alcohol lessens inhibitions, and loneliness was drowned out by house-parties and women. But I couldn’t deny the growing emptiness of the days in between. Knowing something was missing, a silly little tract I picked up at a bar reminded me of something I’d heard but never believed for myself; sin is a darkness that keeps us from God. And Jesus lights the way to find Him. I figured if God made me, He must know what’s missing. After following Jesus, I realized how dark life was, and how much better it could be!

Sex and Biblical circumcision share an essential element: a man’s penis. In my social circles, the discussion of these was shrouded by hushed tones and questions that didn’t have sufficient answers. Sex and sexuality felt particularly dark. A mystery surrounded these spiritual and sexual icons. Biblically spirituality and sexuality seemed somehow related, …yet completely opposed! There was a dark, yet sacred, heaviness surrounding sexual intimacy that was especially personal. Some could discuss these subjects openly. Often those conversations lacked respect of privacy and person. I asked God why. Why did He choose circumcision, a man’s penis, to identify His people? Why is the topic of sex and sexuality uncomfortable, especially at church? And finally, why would a good God move boldly into this personal area to make a statement about righteousness?

Understanding the direction sexuality would take under His adversary’s influence, by choosing circumcision as His symbol of righteousness, God declared, no matter how distorted or to what measure His Image is concealed from view, God’s enemy has no authority. Taking back what the enemy would commandeer, God promises that nothing can keep humankind from walking by faith, celebrating the Gospel with God and one another, and reflecting God’s wholeness and the relevance of His Image expressed through human passion.

God Knows the Strategy of His Enemy

Read Romans 1:18-28

• From verses 24, 26&28, what four-word phrase identifies God’s response to mankind’s choice to follow his own path rather than live according to God’s instruction?

Years ago, because of verse 18, I read the words “God gave them over” as a wrathful act of God against fallen man, done with a bit of a kick and a shove: “You want it your way? So there!” Judgment. However, I’ve come to read this passage with a view of God that is more compassionate. Broken relationships have resulted from my sin, my blindness, and my tendency to dismiss truths that feel out of reach. And God gave ME over to sin, and the neediness that results. I’m one of “THEM,” and no better off than another. Without exception all wrestle, by those means at our disposal, to survive. We feel deeply and do what we can to cope with the relationships we know. Broken as we are, we affect one another in our need. 

Let me explain: experience clarifies. For me, silence is a peaceful place to collect my thoughts and be energized. Socially, unless I feel confident of my contribution, I default to what is quiet. And until I pursued understanding relationships and communication beyond my norm, I had no idea that my silence was frequently interpreted as disapproval by my children, self-righteous judgment by my in-laws, and indifference, by others of my friends and acquaintances. These are facts about me I could only understanding by hearing and connecting with others, and how they experienced me.

God’s plan is purposeful, and He reveals His way at the right time. Accepting feedback from others is a means of His revelation. I cannot know my effect on others until I hear from them, and God makes it clear. Passionately created to reflect Him, God sheds light on my limited perspective as I interact with people.

• At the point of humankind’s deception, when their relationships became divided, what happened, as stated in Romans 1:21?
• Name a few of the circumstances God knew He was giving us over to from Romans 1: 23-25, 27, 29-31.

I cannot know my effect on others until I hear from them, and God makes it clear.

Human passions, our deep sense of feeling, and our beliefs remain. We long to be affirmed by what we feel and know. Yet, since we are created to unite, but bereft of God’s Spirit that would unite us, our experience is that passionate expression seems safest as diversity becomes less. The consequence is isolation. Though isolation opposes our deepest longings and passions, it seems safest and most preferred. Directed toward “self”-ish thinking and increasingly isolated, we long for what we cannot grasp.

Who does God hold responsible for this? Am I to blame for the dark side of my experience or is God? Or does the Bible indicate something else?

Read Luke 23:34

• What did Jesus say about this as He was hanging on the cross.

Jesus refused to blame individuals for the jaded perspective dictating behavior. Even in the worst circumstances, He maintained an-‘other’ perspective. God knew blind decisions result in devastating consequences, and He held an attitude of reconciliation even while His offenders were unaware.

What did Jesus know that kept him walking this path of grace? How could Jesus offer a perspective of unity to those around Him even though it would lead to death, lonely, on the cross? In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul addresses how it looks to live in unity by joining together as one in Christ.  In the final chapter, he addresses the spiritual battle set against our unity and the bigger picture that Jesus understood.

Read Ephesians 6:10-12

• With whom should we identify?
• Who is responsible for our experience of conflict?

God’s enemy isolates people from the passionate unity of our design. This satan initiates the dark side of our experience, conflict, and confusion that divides us. The darkness we feel is a spiritual battle set against unity and against humanity joining the Tri-unity in His work. Sometimes, it’s felt sexually, but always passionately. Either these passions drive us toward one another to understand and connect, or they’ll drive us away from one another toward isolation.

• Consider the spiritual forces set against our unity that crush and bruise Jesus’ efforts. Identify three nouns named in Romans 1:24, 26&28, to which God gave mankind over.

Passions drive us to understand and connect, or they’ll drive us away from one another to isolate.

God Knows the Outcome

Read Genesis 3:15

Bible scholars regard God’s words to His enemy in Genesis 3:15 as the Bible’s first Messianic prophecy.[ii] Since Adam and Eve every person, except one, has been born from uniting the seed of a man with the seed of a woman. Only Jesus was conceived in a woman without the presence of a man (Matthew 1:18-25).

• From Genesis 3:15 what two consequences would result from the satan’s deception?

The NAS uses the same word twice (bruise). However, the NIV says Jesus will “crush” the enemy’s head while the satan will “strike” Jesus’ heal. Whichever word you prefer, each is appropriate. The original Greek uses one word in both places, “shuwph.” The meaning of shuwph is “to bruise, crush, gape upon,” with a possible usage being to “strike out.”[iii]

I like the NIV’s choice of the word crush. In the first portion of the sentence, God forewarns what will happen to His enemy and all that he does. The second phrase predicts Christ’s affliction.

• In a way neither translation does, but for the sake of consistency and application, read Genesis 3:15 using the word crush in both places. “He [Jesus] will _________________ your head, and you [the satan] will ________________ His heel”.
• What part of God’s enemy will be destroyed?
• What part of Jesus will be destroyed?
• Which injury is fatal?
• Who will continue walking and complete the journey despite injury?

The passion of Christ kept Him connecting with people when He walked this earth. His passionate love keeps Him moving meaningfully even in peoples’ lives today. Jesus’ walk would continue beyond His life on earth, into our lives walking by the Spirit of God’s holiness. Though God’s enemy seeks to destroy relationships through passionate struggle, Jesus would come to demonstrate the way to reconnect meaningfully.

Jesus’ passion keeps Him moving meaningfully in peoples’ lives today.

God Knows the Truth

• From Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25&31, How did God describe His handiwork at the end of every stage of creation?

God spoke of  the rightness of all of creation. “It is good!” Passionate relationships were good and unified from the beginning. This is what God’s righteousness and plan for restoration are about. Without unity, relationships are no longer right. Unrighteous and divided, we are, however, not beyond hope. God is at work, and He is still good.

Read Philippians 1:3-8

• Which verses make it evident that God’s “good work” in our lives is a work of connection and community?
• What is the promise contained in these verses?

From Romans 1:18-20

• What is the effect of unrighteousness? (vs. 18)
• If unrighteousness suppresses truth, in contrast, what will be the effect of righteousness? (vs. 19)
• In what ways has God made Himself evident so we might embrace His truth and know He is good and may be trusted? (vs. 20)
• When did God begin revealing Himself to mankind?
• When and how did God begin revealing Himself to us?

Understanding the truth about who He is and who we are, very good beings of intimate connection, God spoke of the demise of His enemy (Genesis 3:15).  Initially, creation revealed God’s goodness; and through His life, Jesus affirmed the same.

Remember Jesus’ words of John 14:6? Jesus indicated that in Him we would find the way to live, and it would be a path of life that facilitates understanding. Joining Him leads to the Father. As our relationship with Him is restored, He ultimately unites us with one another also.[1]

By living righteously, the huMan[2], Jesus, would show a way out of the darkness that surrounds God’s good creation. Following Jesus’ pattern for life and relationships, we can see and begin to share the experience of an-‘other.’ Just as we know good exists because of the good that surrounds us in creation, we are aware that good relationships exist because Jesus’ focus on an-‘other’ perspective reflects a goodness of huMan interaction that cannot be forgotten or destroyed.

The hu-Man, Jesus, would show a way out of the darkness that surrounds God’s good creation.

The huMan’ perspective offers a way out of the dark and into the light of truth. Not only theological truth but truths that exist between us. We need one another to understand and be accepted. Jesus came to lead the way in knowing God and others in the truth of every day.

Read the “Come” verses in Matthew 11:28-30 & Luke 9:23

• What does Jesus promise is the result of adopting His way of relationships?
• From each of these verses, how do we “take His yoke” on ourselves?
• How frequently will we need to face this choice for regarding an-‘others’ experience?

Jesus, who was one with the Trinity, prioritized connecting with people in their realities of daily life. He lived so that we might observe, join Him, and follow His way of connecting in truth (with intimacy of genuine understanding) to restore life. Accepting Jesus’ perspective and way of relating doesn’t come naturally. It’s a choice made as situations arise every day. Often, it’s vulnerable; always, it’s real. His promise is that developing unity with others lightens the load as we share. Jesus’ point of view requires we give up our ‘self’-ish perspective, to embrace an-‘others’ perspective. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus’ Prodigal Parable illustrates God’s knowledge of passionate consequences AND His passionate response.

God Cares and Waits

Read Luke 15:11-32

Prodigal is descriptive of one who spends money or uses resources freely, recklessly, wastefully, and extravagantly. To be prodigal is to do something on a lavish scale.[iv] While the young son of Jesus’ story was certainly prodigal, when the son returned, the father’s response was extravagant and lavish beyond that of his youngest boy!

Consider the section headings of this chapter, and Jesus’ prodigal story. Knowing His enemy’s strategy, God also knows the outcome and the truth about our deepest needs and motivations.

God knows the outcome.

• What did the prodigal father do that suggests he knew his son would return? (vs. 20)
• How did the father respond when His son returned that fueled emotions in his eldest son? (vs. 22, 23&29)
• Which word is most descriptive of the father’s actions:                   Fair    or    Extravagant

God knows the strategy of His enemy.

• What did the prodigal father know? (vs. 24&32)

God knows the truth about our deepest needs and motivations. What this prodigal father knew about relationships may be observed in his interaction with each son.

• How did the father respond to his youngest son? (vs. 12)
• How did the father respond to his eldest son? (vs. 28, 31&32)

In Jesus’ story, this prodigal father represents the lavish response of our Prodigal Father. God doesn’t deny people their right to act in ways that seem correct. Lavish, wasteful, angry, even destructive, our Prodigal Father, while pursuing a relationship, honors personal choice and waits for each to arrive at the place of greatest reward: connecting hearts. Connecting hearts happen in times of understanding and restoration.

It was an insult for the youngest to request his inheritance since the young man’s father was still alive. Nevertheless, the prodigal father granted his wish. Knowing the inevitable would happen, the prodigal father grieved, cared, and anticipated his son’s return.

Our Prodigal Father pusues relationships, honors personal choice, and waits for each to arrive at the place of greatest reward: connecting hearts.

When the day arrived that the father and son would reunite, the older son, now angry, confronted. And once again facing the stinging words of his own offspring, the prodigal father implored his eldest to let go of his fury. Begging him to join the celebration, he appealed to the integrity of their relationship and identified the possibility of restoration through the resurrection of what had been lost. The prodigal father knew that to be meaningful, his oldest son must choose his response. He pleaded. He cared. But He waited.

God knows that passionate expression outside of His plan leads to personal devastation and broken relationships. He also knows that the neediness and loneliness of devastating circumstances eventually bring us back to Him. His passionate image requires autonomous expression to be meaningful. Embracing unity that reflects His Image, brings us back into fellowship with one another.

In His interactions with: 1)the rich young ruler, 2)Zacchaeus, and the 3)Jewish leaders who prepared to stone an adulterous woman, we observe how Jesus waited for each person to autonomously make the right choice.

Read Luke 18:18-25 with Luke 19:1-9.

From these passages note how Zacheus and the rich young ruler faced similar choices. Each recognized truths, deeply seated in their story.

• Which of the men’s response would have created unity in the community?
• Why was the rich man sad?
• What is the point of these interactions?

☐Sharing Everything              ☐ Relationships             ☐ The Evils of Wealth

Read John 8:1-11.

• Was the woman’s behavior socially Acceptable?
• Circle the words that describe Jesus’ response:

Judgment        Compassionate           Ignorant         Understanding           Loving

• What choice did the Jewish leaders face because of Jesus’ words?
• How was the woman affected by this response?

God cares but waits for us to choose how we will respond in a relationship with Him and those He places in our lives. Right actions can’t be the rule, or they’re shallow. Right behavior as a choice is only valuable when it comes from a right heart. Right actions flowing from genuine love can unite hearts and create integrity, even when there are opposing views. A graceful approach conveys a unified perspective and waits for understanding and a genuine choice so the relationship can grow.

Jesus came to lead the way in knowing God and others in the truth of every day.

Romans chapter one indicates that, like the prodigal father, God gives us over to our choices. Some choices, apart from God’s ways, are more devastating than others. Choosing not to believe God, rather than ruling in the authority God had given him, huMankind gave way to spiritual opposition.[3] And from that time, humanity, now apart from God’s Spirit is affected by the unhappy circumstances that focus  inward, on self. Living in the satan’s domain, through Jesus’ life, God provided the only way to move away from our ‘self’-ish perspective. Apart from Jesus’ way of life, we’re stuck in human patterns of broken relationships.

Believing God creates a new approach to relationships as we join Jesus’ walk of faith. Patterning our way of thinking after Jesus’ viewpoint, when an-‘other’ perspective becomes part of us, the understanding created opposes the satan’s patterns of confusion and brokenness! The love of the Trinity focuses us outward to connect with others by way of Jesus’ huMan perspective.

Righteousness is about right relationships and isn’t something we can create. Righteousness is given when we believe God and is demonstrated as we live out what we believe. To live huManly speaking, as Jesus, we’ll live passionately and compassionately connecting in the way of truth and life.

Passionate Expression in His Image

The Jewish tradition of circumcision was a passionate reminder of the sacrifice required for relationships to be right. Whether considering circumcision of the flesh or circumcision of the heart, each reminds us that physically and emotionally God’s promises extend to generations. It is not only extended to the physical descendants but also to the spiritual descendants who would follow Jesus’ way of relationships.

Circumcision reminds us: anything that drives, whether emotional or physical, needs to be placed under God’s authority to reflect His plan. Apart from surrendering self to identify with an-‘other,’ like Jesus, drives will intrinsically oppose God’s Image and move us toward isolation. Outside of His design and authority, directing our focus to self, the opposition maintains deception. And so doing, conceals our worth, and potential as God’s Image bearers. Without understanding Jesus’ way of relationships, passions fail to point us to the truth of who we are and how we are created to reflect Him in the rightness of relationships that are One.

Passionate expression is good, sexual or otherwise when it points us to God and the expression of His Image and heartfelt unity. Christian traditions have moved away from the symbolic relevance of sex and marriage as they pertain to God’s Trinitarian Image. The Trinity, and Image of God have lost the notion of the passionate unity of humanity as God designed. Accepting the single-minded view that passions and especially sexual desires are merely for pleasure, most cannot see the spiritual significance of intimacy and especially intercourse. Without the Trinitarian view that values passionate love and connection, Christianity and religion seem irrelevant in sexually charged communities.

Passionate expression is good and intended to point us to God: A tangible expression of Him.

Read Revelation 3:15&16

• What is God’s preference when it comes to how we express ourselves?
• How does He view a neutral or dispassionate approach to life?

Through circumcision, God profoundly affirmed His enemy’s demise and Jesus’ victory: the walk of faith! Each of us is somewhere on this journey to understand. Will we believe God and trust His way is best …or not? Will we accept His right relationship, though we don’t deserve it? Will we follow His lead by viewing people and circumstances from the other’s perspective? Will we connect passionately, vulnerably, and meaningfully as God designed for all huManity?

Indicating the satan’s head would be crushed, Genesis 3:15 suggests that by living according to God’s plan, the adversary is completely destroyed in the light of understanding. By contrast, only Jesus’ heel is crushed by His opposer; for the one following Jesus’ way of relationship, the journey continues, albeit with difficulty.

Circumcision is no longer necessary to be identified as one of God’s children. It has never been a requirement for salvation. And it’s not even considered necessary as a demonstration of faith. But circumcision remains an icon of passionate belief. Sexually charged, the concept of sacrificing something of physical intimacy is relevant to healing in real time. Actions demonstrate core beliefs. If we choose to believe God and follow Jesus by sacrificing something of self in  an-‘other’ perspective, He rewards our faith and considers us righteous. Right behavior simply demonstrates that we’ve chosen to connect our hearts with God and others rather than to focus inward on self. Right behavior should never be dictated because behavior is not the source of change, yet behavior evidences heart change. When God heals relationships, there is whole-hearted change that prioritizes relationships to connect. This is what God calls the circumcision of our hearts.

Right behavior should never be dictated. behavior evidences a genuine change of heart.

Conclusion

God blatantly moved into this area of sexuality with the intention of making His power personal. The Biblical Picture and truths that emerge from this Picture transform the act of sexual intercourse from a leisurely pass-time to a meaningful celebration. Our Prodigal Father passionately celebrates us when we accept the righteousness He offers. Reuniting with God and others by following Jesus, connecting hearts heals huManity.

Sexual passions can be a means to celebrate life and the genuine love and unity Jesus offers. This is righteousness: right relationships that require lots and lots of grace. Daily. Believing God engages Him to demonstrate that, humanly speaking, His way is trustworthy. Trinitarian love values passionate expression and waits for understanding that can bring people together once again. Like the prodigal father, our Prodigal Father entreats us to join the celebration of renewed relationships. Choosing to consider an-‘others’ perspective rather than focusing inward crushes the adversary’s efforts to destroy the unity of love that reflects the Trinity. Crushed heels make life difficult. However, reunited in the realities of huMan life and love, His Image is seen more clearly than ever before.

Time for Reflection

Consider these questions on your own or with a friend.

• The dark side of our experiences is a spiritual battle set against unity in relationships. What has this looked like in your life?
• Knowing that we’re each born with a ‘self’ -ish perspective, and Jesus embraced an-‘other’ perspective. How can you and I adopt Jesus’ perspective in our relationships?
• Can you believe that people really “don’t know what they are doing” without being critical? How would this help you be more compassionate?
• Relationships must be a choice to be meaningful. What should we do when there is not a willingness to reconcile? What did Jesus do?
• Do you feel crushed? Bruised? Pray about these things, and ask God to give you His perspective.

End Notes

[1] John 17:21-23, Romans 12:3-6 15:5-8, and Ephesians 2:14-22

[2] Capitalization within huMan is intentional to emphasize God’s design for humanity that is fulfilled in Jesus.

[3] Colossians 1:13, John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11

Foot Notes

[i] Piper, J; Taylor, J. (2005). Sex and the Supremacy of Christ. Wheaton. Crossway. Kindle Edition. (pp. 29-30).

[ii] Gill, J. (1697-1771). The Writings of John Gill. The Prophecies of the Old Testament, Respecting the Messiah. The Bible Truth Library CD. Pg. 11.

[iii] Hebrew Lexicon :: H7779 (KJV). Retrieved from http://www.blueletterbible.orghttps://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm . 21 October 2015.

[iv] English, Oxford Living Dictionaries. Retrieved from: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/prodigal. 16 March 2017.

Cited In Text

Torrance, T.F. (1984). The Christian Doctrine of Marriage. Edinburgh. The Handsel Press. (p. 9).

Unpublished work, copyright 2026, Greg and Carlene Seghers