The Sign of the Covenant

The sign of the covenant, “an external expression of an internal reality” Genesis 17 Intro: Have you ever been mistaken for someone you are not? My mom’s husband. CPS: God is disgusted with counterfeit people (Rev. 3:16), so stop pretending with God and allow Him to shape you into the person He has created you to be by living in open covenant with Him. I. A permanent mark. Genesis 17: 9-14 a. God’s call to circumcision was a result of His call to Covenant commitment: i. “Live in My presence and be blameless” b. Without a commitment a mark is useless i. Acts 7:51 (Stephen’s Sermon) 1. Stephen (a deacon) called to trial but delivered a Holy Spirit led sermon 2. Described all of redemptive history in defense of accusations he taught against the “customs of Moses” 3. In vv. 51-53 accused the Jews: 51 “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. 53 You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.” c. “You stiff-necked people” refers to those who had the mark but they had no spiritual commitment. i. They were committed to the religion and not the Savior. ii. They had no redemptive attitude for the lost iii. No empathy for those with need iv. No desire to stop living for themselves II. The Old vs. The New, Same But different. a. The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis) and the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) i. is the Old Covenant b. Jesus initiated the New Covenant Himself i. 1 Corinthians 11: 25 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ii. The Old before the cross The New after the cross 1. Different Applications a. with Identical Results. c. John 3:5-7; Matthew 28: 19-20 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. • Note Jesus surprise Nicodemus did not know you must be born again! 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” • Do you live with an external expression of an internal reality? III. A Believer’s Commitment a. We practice Believers Baptism because we hold dear to biblical truth: i. that you are only in covenant when you make the personal decision to submit your life to Christ and allow yourself to die in Him and be raised up with Him. 1. Though we do take issue with baptizing babies, the main point is: a. You must Commit your life to Christ to be in a committed relationship with Him b. Quarantined with Rachel i. Just because I wear a ring, change my name, share a bank account, doesn’t mean I’m committed to Rachel 1. I am faithful to here, I said no to everyone else when I said “I do” to her a. Are you faithful to God i. Are you holding back and sharing yourself with other passions and pursuits above Him? 2. I spend quality time with her, “Me” time is of no value to me without “Us” time. a. Is your commitment to God quality and quantity time? c. If you made a false commitment to God when you were Baptized be certain: i. You have been transparent with God, Are you a Counterfeit? ii. Totally commit your life to Him. Not blameless, but Commit to live in His Presence iii. Show the world you are following Him with a permanent mark, Spiritual and Physical Baptism CPS: God is disgusted with counterfeit people (Rev. 3:16), so stop pretending with God and allow Him to shape you into the person He has created you to be by living in open covenant with Him.