Covenant of Circumcision

Intro: Covenant is an important part of the Christian faith. We speak of the Old and New Covenant. This is perhaps a broad term when we speak of the Old Covenant. It was made up of multiple covenants along the way. We don’t use the word covenant as much in normal language. Marriage would be the most common. We covenant with a spouse to do certain things. We experience the joys of this union within boundaries. In doing this there is a certain excluding of others. There are parameters to this covenant.

This covenant of circumcision is referred to often in the Bible.

Gen. 15 God made a covenant with Abram. In Gen. 15 it was only contingent on God keeping it. At this time God puts somethings on Abraham.

God’s requirement

Abram is 99, so Ishmael would be 13.

Imagine hearing this.... “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless”.

He was given a tall order. One author noted...

The commands were demanding, but then God commands nothing less. Moreover, the task of being a blessing to the nations would require obedience in Abram.

The importance is for us to note as well.

Being used and blessed by God is wonderful.

It must be accompanied by reverence, obedience and humility.

Otherwise great damage can be done.

Exodus 4:21-26

This was serious that the son of Moses was not circumcised.

Moses was going on this huge task, but this was important to God.

Ezekiel 44:5-9 This was a problem that the uncircumcised were entering God’s sanctuary.

God then made promises to Abraham.

God will multiply him.

God changed his name.

Abraham; “for I have made you a father of many nations”.

This wasn’t happening yet, but God said it as a fact.

God establishes His covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

The Covenant of Circumcision

God gave Abraham the terms of the covenant.

One Abraham needed to walk before God and be blameless.

He needed to be in a place of being a worthy ambassador of this covenant.

So also, we are to work worthy of our calling.

17:7 God is to be their God.

This was exclusive.

There was more than just the sign.

So it is with Christians today. Many believe we just need to say a prayer and get baptized.

Lev. 26:41-46

The covenant was really that they would be God’s people and He their God.

Every male must be circumcised.

We don’t have anything recorded about Abraham balking about this.

We can’t help but question why this?

What is the significance?

Circumcision involves the most sensitive and private part of a man.

It is helpful in explaining what the New Covenant actually is.

We will see this by how much it was used to explain the New Covenant.

Vs. 11 says Circumcision will be a sign of the covenant.

Vs. 12-13. Whoever came and joined them must be circumcised.

If not they will be cut off.

This was to be an everlasting covenant. What happened to this?

Gen. 17:13 an everlasting covenant.

You can understand why Jewish believers were concerned about this.

Council was convened in Jerusalem. Acts 15

They didn’t need to do this.

Jer. 31:31-33 since the Hebrew people had broken the Old Covenant, God would establish a new one.

Jer. 9:23-26 God was going to address this problem in the future. Those who were not circumcised outwardly or inwardly.

The New Covenant

Deut. 10:12-22 God wants a circumcised heart.

Deut. 30:1-6 God will circumcise your hearts.

We already looked at Jeremiah.

There is a circumcision that is made without hands.

Colossians 2:11-15 We are partaking in this when we repent and follow Jesus.

Colossians 2:16,17 Sabbaths, food restrictions, the sacrifices.... were a shadow of the the things to come, but are now realized in Christ.

Colossians 3:8-11

This is the circumcision of the heart that God wanted all along.

All people are brought together in Christ.

Christ is all in all.

As they cut off the foreskin, so we are to cut off things in our life.

We then experience new life.

The New King James Version Chapter 12

24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Luke 22:20 NKJV

20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

2 Corinthians 3:6 NKJV

6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Hebrews 9:14–15 NKJV

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

We want to have the same devotion as Abraham had.

He was willing to be circumcised at a very old age.

He circumcised the other men.

We want to be willing to have those parts cut off and be renewed.