THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT

A New Name for Abram

Walk before Me and be blameless

Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”

Genesis 6:9 “These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”

Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

Abram means “exalted father”, while Abraham means “father of a multitude”. Although it had been 24 years since God first called Abram, the Lord had not forgotten or forsaken that promise. He was waiting for the perfect time to bring it about. And that time had almost come!

The certainty of God’s promise

Habakkuk 2:3 “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

The Sign of the Covenant

Circumcision didn’t alter or revoke the covenant that God had previously made with Abraham.

See Galatians 3:15–18...

Circumcision was to be an outward symbol of an inward reality.

God alone made the covenant with Abraham and his descendants, but his people are called upon to demonstrate that they want to partake in that covenant. The means that God chose for them to demonstrate that desire is the rite of circumcision. Circumcision is a bit like the giving of a ring in a marriage ceremony. It doesn’t make the relationship. Instead, it demonstrates that you want to be in the relationship and that you’ve accepted the demands of that relationship. Circumcision is a sign or symbol of the relationship. That is why verse 11 calls it the sign of the covenant.

See Romans 4:9-12...

Galatians 3:7 “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”

The physical act of circumcision never saved anyone. Salvation was always by grace through faith.

Romans 2:28–29 “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

Deuteronomy 10:16 “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” (see Deuteronomy 30:6)

Jeremiah 9:25–26 ““Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.””

Matthew 3:9–10 “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Romans 3:29–30 “Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”

The connection between circumcision and baptism in the New Covenant.

See Colossians 2:11-14...

As assurance to Abraham, God’s promises are cut into his very flesh. He physically bears the sign of the covenant that indicates that he is in relationship with God and that he will receive the blessings of that relationship. Baptism for the Christian has the same value: it indicates that one belongs to the people of God and will inherit the many blessings that come with being in that community.

A Reason for Laughter

Sarai means “my princess”, while Sarah means “princess”.

Romans 4:18–21 “In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Isaac means “laughter or he laughs”.

Romans 9:6–9 “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.””