Back the truck up

My New Testament reading is in the book of 1 Corinthians right now. This morning I came across a couple of verses that caused me to pause. Here they are,

1Cor. 7:18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
1Cor. 7:19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Here's the pause--circumcision is a central command of God in the Old Testament, it is a sign of the covenant i.e. a really huge deal when it comes to being obedient to God (see Genesis 17). This comment by Paul tells us that there has been a radical and fundamental shift in what is and is not obedience in the light of the coming of Jesus (and the New Covenant) As such, an important conversation has to be held about what constitutes obedience. Such a conversation was held both in the church (see Acts 15) and in church history (Belgic Confession Article 25
The Fulfillment of the Law
We believe
that the ceremonies and symbols of the law have ended
with the coming of Christ,
and that all foreshadowings have come to an end,
so that the use of them ought to be abolished
among Christians.
Yet the truth and substance of these things
remain for us in Jesus Christ,
in whom they have been fulfilled.
Nevertheless,
we continue to use the witnesses
drawn from the law and prophets
to confirm us in the gospel
and to regulate our lives with full integrity
for the glory of God,
according to his will.)

Even with these historic understandings, the words of Paul prove stunning and call on us in the light of what the church of the past has taught to discover what obedience looks like in the New Covenant of Christ.