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T he
S ig n
o f
th e
C o v e n a n t"
(R om ans
4 :9 -1 2 )
In tro d u c tio n :
I t
h a s
b e e n
o u r
p le a s u r e
th is
m o
t o
w itn ess
th e
c o v e n a n t
b a p tis m
o f
th re e
c h ild re n .
I t
i s
a
p le a s u r e
b e c a u s e
i t
re m in d s
u s
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t
m e rc ie s
o f
G od,
th a t
H e
w o u ld
in c lu d e
th e
c h ild re n
o f
th o s e
w ho
h a v e
b e lie v e d
i n
th e
c o v e n a n t
th a t
th e y
m ig h t
re c e iv e
th .e
m E ln y
b e n e fits
o f
liv in g
w ith in
th a t
c o v e n a n t.
I t
i s
fo r
th is
r e a s o n
th a t
w e
b a p tiz e
th e m ,
n o t
b e c a u s e
w e
n e c e s s a r i l y
b e lie v e
th a t
th e y
a re
s a v e d ,
b u t
b e c a u s e
w e
re c o g n iz e
th a t
G od
in c lu d p .s
th e m
i n
H ts
c o v e n a n t.
B a p tism
i s
th e
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t.
I t
i s
a
s ig n
a n d
s e a l
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t
o f
g r a c e
a n d
th e
c o v e n a n t
g r a c e
o f
G od.
T h a t,
b y
th e
w ay.
i s
a ls o
w hat
c irc u m c is io n
w as
fo r
th e
O ld
C ovenant
p e o p le
o f
G od.
T h o s e
w ho
w ere
i n
th e
c o v e n a n t>
i.v h e th e r
th e y
w ere
a d u lts
o r
in fa n ts ,
a ll
re c e iv e d
th e
b e c a u s e
th e y
w ere
a ll
in cJu d e d
i n
th e
c o v e n a n t.
T h e y
\v e re
n o t
n e c e s s a r i l y
s a v e d
b y
th a t
in c lu s io n ,
fo r
w e
u n d e r s ta n d
th a t
i n
a ll
a g e s
th e re
h a v e
b e e n
th o s e
b r a n c h e s
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t
tre e
w h ic h
s to o d
b y
fa ith ,
a n d
th o s e
w h ic h
w ere
c u t
o ff
th ro u g h
u n b e lie f;
th e re
w ere
th o s e
b r a n c h e s
w h ic h
w ere
c o n n e c te d
t o
th e
l i f e
w h ic h
i s
i n
C h rist,
a n d
th o s e
w h ic h
o n ly
lo o k e d
a s
th o u g h
th e y
w ere;
th o s e
w h ic h
\ " e r e
th e
tru e
v J h e a t
w h ic h
h o re
fru it
5
a n d
th o s e
w h ic h
i.v e re
th e
ta re s
w h ic h
h ro u g h t
n o
fru it
t o
m a tu rity .
T he
d :iffe re n c e
b e tw e e n
th e
tw o
g ro u p s,
o f
c o u r s e ,
w as
w h e th e r
o r
n o t
th e y
h a d
tru e
s a v in g
fa ith
th ro u g h
th e
n e w
b irth
\'\lh je h
com es
s o v e re ig n ly
fro m
a b o v e .
I t
d id
n o t
a n d
d o e s
n o t
d e p e n d
u p o n
th e
s
i t s e l f .
I n
O llr
te x t
th 1 ,S
m o rn in g ,
w e
le a rn
th a t
A braham
b e lie v e d
i n
th e
L o rd
a n d
th ro u g h
th e
in s tru m e n ta lity
o f
h is
fa ith .
h e
re c e iv e d
th e
r ig h te o u s n e s s
w h ic h
com es
o n
th e
b a s is
o f
fa ttlI,
th e
im p u te d
r ig h te o u s n e s s
o f
C h rist,
H e
re c e iv e d
th is
r ig h te o u s n e s s
b e fo re
h e
w as
c irc u m c is e d ,
s h m \u00a5 in g
u s
th a t
i t
w as
n o t
h is
c irc u m c is io n
th a t
s a v e d
him ,
b u t.
h is
fa ith ,
H e
a ls o
re c e iv e d
c irc u rtlc is :lo n
a fte r
H e
\.;r a s
ju s tifie d ,
t o
s h o w
t o
b o th
th e
Jew s
a n d
th e
G e n tile b
th a t
i t
i s
h is
fa ith
th a t
w e
n e e d
t o
im ita te ,
n o t
h is
c irc u m c is io n ,
a t
le a s t,
n o t
th a t
c irc u m c is io n
w h ic h
w as
o u tw a rd
i n
th e
f l e s h .
W hat
w e
r e a ]l y
n e e d
i s
th a t
c irc u m c is io n
\v h ic h
i s
in w a rd ,
th e
c irc u m c is io n
o f
th e
h e a rt.
th a t
\\u00a5 h ic h
p r o d u c e s
fa ith
i n
th e
L o rd
J e s u s
C h rist.
A nd
w hat
I
w ant
y o u
t o
s e e
th is
m o rn in g
i s
th a t,
C ir c u m c is .io n
am i
b a p tis m
b o th
am i
s e a l
tb e
sam e
th e
C O lle n a n t
o .f
G race
t o
th o s e
w ho
r e c e iv e
i t ,
b u t
th o s e
b l
o n ly
r e c e iv e d
th r o u g h
fa ith
i n
th e
L o rd
J e s u s
C h rist.
r{h a t
I
w o u ld
lik e
u s
t o
c o n s id e r
th is
n w r n in g
i s
{;T h a t
c ir c u m c :is .io n
is ,
th a t
i t
i s
a
s ig n
a n d
a
s e a l
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t
g r a c e
o f
G od,
th a t
b a p tis m
s ig n .ifie s
a n d
s e a ls
th e
sam e
b .l
a s
th a t
o f
c in .:u m c L < :;jo n ,
b llt
tb a t
th e s e
b le s s in g s
a re
n o t
c o n fe r r e d
b y
th e
a n d
s e a l
:itse .Z [
b u t
th r o u g h
[ a ith
i n
C h rist.
I. \ue000F irst,
I
liT a n t
Y o u
t o
S e e
W hat
C
j
r
c
u
m
c
i
s
~
i
o
n
\ue000I s .
A. \ue000
F .irst
W e
L e a rn
fr o m
O ur
T e x t
th a t
C
i
:
r
c
L
l
r
n
c
~
i
s
i
o
n
\ue000I s
a
S ig n .
L
A
i s
th a t
w h ic h
p o in ts
aw ay
fr o m
iL seL f
t o
s
o
m
e
t
h
~
i
n
g
\ue000{ ; ls e <
a. \ue000
I t
i s
r e a lly
n o t
th a t
m uch
d iffe r e n t
fr o m
th e
w ay
th a t
{ ,le
u se
s ig n s
i n
o u r
c u ltu r e .
b. \ue000
W hen
w e
s e e
a
s to p
s ig n
w e
k n o ffJ
th a t
i t
p o in ts
b e y o n r .lH s e lr
t o
th e
la w
o f
th e
la n d
w h ic h
com m ands
u s
t o
o u r
c a r s
t o
a
c o m p le te
s to p
b e fo r e
w e
c r o s s
th e
~
i
n
t
e
r
s
e
c
t
i
o
n
.
\ue000
c. \ue000
W hen
w e
s e e
a
w h ic h
te lls
u s
th a t:
S a c r a m e n to
: i s
3 0
m ile s
aw ay,
tlle
u n d e r s ta n d
th a t
i t
i s
p o in tin g
b e y o n d
its e lf
t o
th e
c ity
w h ic h
i s
y e t
u p
2
d. \ue000
E v e n
th e
w o rd s
v .lh ic h
w e
s p e a k
a re
s y m b o ls
w h ic h
a re
p o L n tin g
b e y o n d
th e m s e lv e s
t o
Iv h ic h
th e y
e
.
i
s
s o m e th in g
fd lic h
re p re s e n ts
.s o m e
e ls e .
I t
c a u s e s
u s
t o
lo o k
b e y o n d
i t
t o
f;,!i1 8 t
.- i t
re p re s e n ts .
I t
i s
n o t
tb e
jis e .If,
b u t
~
i
t
\ue000
u s
t o
i t .
f. \ue000
T h e
s a c ra m e n t
o t'c ir c u m c .is io n
w as
a
s ig n
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t
g ra c e
o f
G od.
I t
w as
n o t
tb a t
g ra c e ,
b u t
i t
p o in te d
th e
p e o p le
o f
G od
t o
. - i t .
I t
p o .in te d
t
h
(
~
m
\ue000t o
th e
g ra c e
o f
th e
n e w
b irth
th ro u g h
. f[ dt h
i n
C h rist ,
2, \ue000
T h e
B ib J e
te lls
u s
th a t
c :ir c u m c is io n
IfiN U 3
a
s
. i n
t " l 0
{< la y s ,
a .
I t
w as
a
o f
in c h ls :io n
i n
th e
C O Ile n a n t
c o m m u n ity
o f
G od.
) \ue000
T h e
L o rd
s a id
i n
G e n e s is
7 ,: 1 0 \u00b7\u00b7\u00b71 1 ,
> tT IlIS
I S
l i l Y
C O V E N A N T ,
W H IC H
Y O U
S H A L L
K E E P ,
BETW EEN
M E
A N D
Y O U
A N D
Y O U R
D E S C E N D A N T S
A F T E R
Y O U :
E V E R Y
lv fA L E
A M O N G
YO U
SH ALL
B E
C IR C U M C IS E D .
A N D
Y O U
S H A L L
B E
C IR C U H C IS E D
I N
T H E
F L E S H
O F
Y O U R
F O R E S K IN ;
A N D
I T
S H A L L
B E
T H E
S IG N
O F
T H E
C O V E N A N T
BETW EEN
M E
.4 N D
Y O U ,"
) \ue000
T h -i.c .:,
i n
o tb e r
w o rd s ,
w as
b o w
t l I e
L o y d
d e s ig n ate d
w ho
w as
in c lu d e d
i n
th e
c o v e n a n t.
E v e ry o n e
w ho
w as
. i n
th e
c o v e n a n t
h a d
t o
re c e .iv e
th a t
s ig n .
I f
a
m a le
d id
1 1 o t,
th e n
h e
{iJ a s
c u t
o u t
o f
th e
c o v e m m t.
T h e
L o rd
s a id ,
"B U T
A N
U N C IR C U M C IS E D
M ALE
W HO
I S
N O T
C IR C U M C IS E D
I N
T H E
F L E S H
O F
H IS
F O R E S K IN ,
T H A T
P E R S O N
S H A L L
B E "G U T
O FF'
F R O M
H IS
P E O P L E ;
H E
H A S
B R O K E N
M Y
C O V E N A N T "
(G e n .
1 7 :1 4 ).
b. \ue000
I t
w a .s
a ls o
a .
o f
th e
in w a rd
c h a n g e
o f
th e
h e a rt
w h ic h
i s
n e c e s s a ry
t o
becom e
a
p a rta k e r
o f
th e
r ic l1
b le s s in g s
o f
th e
c o v e n a n t.
(1) \ue000
I t
w as
a
s ig n
o f
th e
g ra c e
o f
G od
i n
re g e n e ra tio n .
I t
r..a .s
a
o f
th a t
im 4 a n l
c h a n g e
o fh e a rt
w h ic h
. i s
n e c e s s a ry
t o
p Ie a s e
th e
L o rd .
( il)
M oses
[.;}'T o te
i n
D e u te ro n o m y
1 0 ,
"A N D
NOW ,
IS R A E L ,
W HAT
D O E S
TH E
LO R D
Y O U R
G O D
R E Q U IR E
F R O M
Y O U ,
B U T
1 '0
F E A R
TH E
LO R D
Y O U R
G O D ,
T O
W ALK
I N
A LL
H IS
W AYS
A N D
L O V E
H IN ,
A N D
T O
S E R V E
T H E
LO R D
Y O U R
G O D
filT H
A LL
Y O U R
H E A R T
A N D
riIT H
A LL
Y O U R
S
O
U
l
~
,
\ue000
A N D
T O
K E E P
T H E
L O R D 'S
C O M M A N D M E N T S
A N D
H IS
S T A T U T E S
W H IC H
I
M f
C O N J > fA N D IN G
Y O U
T O D A Y
F 'O R
Y O U R
G O O D ?
B E H O L D ,
1 '0
TH E
LO R D
Y O U R ,
G O D
B E L O N G
H E A V E N
A N D
T H E
H IG H E S T
H E A V E N S ,
TH E
E A R T H
A N D
A LL
T H A T
I S
I N
IT .
Y E T
O N
Y O U R
F A T H E R S
D ID
T H E
LO R D
S E T
H IS
A F F E C T IO N
T O
L O V E
1 1 1 17 1 1 ,
A N D
H E
C H O S E
T H E IR
D E S C E N D A N T S
A F T E R
T H E M ,
E llE N
Y O U
A B O V E
A LL
P E O P L E S ,
A S
I T
I S
T H IS
D A Y .
C IR C U t\fC IS E
T H E N
Y O U R
H E A R T ,
A N D
S T IF F E N
Y O U R
N E C K
N O
M O R E .
FO R
T H E
LO R D
Y O U R
G O D
I S
T H E
G O D
O F
G O D S
A N D
T H E
LO R D
O F
L O R D S ,
T H E
G R E A T ,
T H E
M IG H T Y ,
A N D
TH E
M IE S O M E
G O D
W HO
D O E S
N O T
S H O W
P A R T IA L IT Y ,
N O R
T A K E
A
B R IB E .
H E
E X E C U T E S
.J U S T IC E
FO R
T H E
O R P H A N
A N D
T H E
W ID O W ,
A N D
SHOW S
H IS
L O V E
FO R
T H E
A L IE N
B Y
G IV IN G
H IM
FO O D
A N D
C L O T H IN G .
S O
S H O W
Y O U R
L O V E
FO R
TH E
A L IE N .
FO R
Y O U
W ERE
A L IE N S
I N
T H E
L A N D
O F
E G Y P T ,
Y O U
S H A L L
F E A R
T H E
LO R D
Y O U R
G O D ;
Y O U
S H A L L
S E R V E
l - l I N
A N D
C L IN G
T O
H IM ,
A N D
Y O U
SH ALL
SW EAR
B Y
H IS
N A M E "
( lT v .
1 2 -2 0 )\u2022
L iii) \ue000T h e y
d id
n o t
n C ? c e .s s a ri1 y
r e c e .i'T e
tb e
c
:
i
r
c
l
1
m
c
i
s
~
i
o
n
\ue000o .f
th e
h e a rt
th ro u g h
th e
c ir c u m c is io n
o f
th e ir
[o re s ld n ,
b u t
i t
show ed
th e m
th a t
th a t
o f
b e tl.r t
I,fa s
n e c e s s a ry
L f
w e re
t o
p le a s e
th e
L o rd .
3
(iv) \ue000N o tic e
th a t
th o u g h
. i t
w as
n o t
w ith in
th e ir
pow er
t o
c ir c u m c is e
th e ir
h e a r ts
s o
th a t
th e y
w o u ld
n o t
s tiF fe n
th e L r
n e c k s
a g a in s t
H is
c o m m a n d m e n ts ,
. i t
\:\la 8
s ti.!]
tb e ir
y e s p o n s ib ility
t o
d o
so .
B. \ue000
S e c o n d ly ,
O ur
T e x t
T e lls
U s
th a t
I t
W as
a
S e a l
o f
th e
i:e o u s n e s s
w h ic h
A b ra h a m
H ad
Iv llile
U n c iy c u m c is e d .
1. \ue000
A .
s e a l
i s
a
g U a ra n te e
th a t
th e
o n e
w ho
h a s
m ade
a
p ro m J s e
w ill
fu lfill
i t .
i l .
A
k in g
w o u ld
h a v e
a
s :ig n e t
fA lii l l
fv h ic h
h e
w o u ld
h is
s e a l
u p o n
a n
o ffie L d
d o c u m e n t,
th u s
g u a ra n te e in g
{ ; l i t h
a1 1
h is
a u th o rity
th a t
th a t
docum ent
w as
a u th e n tic
a n d
th a t
w lJ a t
w as
w ritte n
i n
i t
w o u ld
b e
c a .rrie d
o u t
b. \ue000
T ile
o f
a
s e a l
c o n tin u e s
t o
b e
th e
sam e
e v e n
to d a y .
c. \ue000
T h e
P r e s id e n t
h a s
w hat
i s
c a lfe d
th e
G re a t
S e a l
w h ic h
h e
p u /;s
t o
h is
o ffic ia l
d o c u m e n ts
fo r
th e
sam e
p u rp o s e .
d. \ue000
A nd
o fte n
y o u
w ill
b e a r
a
m in is te r
s a y
t,lh e n
h e
i s
a d m L n is
th e
L o rd
I S
S u p p e r,
th a t
th is
i s
G odI S
p e rs o n a l
a n d
a u tllO L ita tiv e
p ro m :is e
t o
y o u ,
th a t
i f
y o u
T A lill
m eet
th e
re q u ire m e n ts
o ffa it h
a n d
re p e n ta n c e ,
th e n
Y O lI
w i1 1
r e c \u00a3 '.iv e
th e
b e n e fits
o f
w hat
.1 .s
_ in
th e
S u p p e r,
th e
c le a n s in g
a l1 d
s tre n g th e n in g
g .l:-a c e
o fC h ris t.
2 ..
I n
th e
,c :;,:u n e
w ay,
P a u l
te l1 s
u s
th a t
c ir c l..!m c .is io n
w as
a
s e a l
o f
~
e
\ue000
\ue000
~
h
i
~
.
\ue000
a \ue000
I t
a tte s te d
t o
th e
F a c t
th a t
d o e s
com e
th ro u g h
fa ith .
b. \ue000
I f
a
p e rs o n
b e lie v e d ,
h is
h e a rt
h a d
b e e n
c ir c u m c is e d ,
a n d
h e
h a d
r e c e iv e d
tb a t
w h ic h
G od
c o n tIn n e d
t o
h im
i n
c ir c w llc .is io l1 ,
th e
p ro m i:s e
o f
a
n e w
h e a rt.
c. \ue000
T h e
s e a l
th e n
i s
G o d 's
p r o m is e
th a t
H e
w .i.l1
b e s to w
th e
rig h te o u s n e s s
o ffa it h
t o
th o s e
w ho
m eet
t i w
q u a 1 .ific a tio n s
o ffa ith
a n d
re p e n ta n c e ,
r e a liz in g
th a t
G od
i s
th e
O ne
I-Ih o
m ust
c h a n g e
th e
h e a rt
o r
. i t
w in
)J o t
h a p p e n .
C. \ue000
N oU ce
T h ir d ly ,
th a t
C ir c u m c is io n
W as
A d m in is te r e d
t o
E v e ry
M a1e
W h ic h
W as
In c lu d e d
i n
th e
C o v e n a n t.
"T H IS
I S
M Y
C O V E N A N T
W IlIC H
Y O U
S H A L L
K E E P ,
HETW EEN
M E
A N D
Y O U
A N D
Y O U R
D E S C E N D A N T S
A F T E R
Y O U :
E V E R Y
M ALE
A M O N G
Y O U
S H A L L
B E
C IR C U M C IS E D "
(G e n .
1 7 :1 0 ).
1. \ue000
T l1 is in c lu d e d
A b ra h a m
h im s e L f,
"B E T lil.E E N
H E
A N D
Y O U ."
2. \ue000
I t
.in c lu d e d
e v e ry
m a .le
c h i1 d
w h .ic h
w as
b o rn
t o
h im ,
"L 1 N D
Y O U R
D E S C E N D A N T S
A F T E R
Y O U ."
3, \ue000
I t
a ls o
in c lu d e d
e v e ry
m a le
s e rv a n t,
"A N D
E V E R Y
M ALE
A N O N G
Y O U
W HO
I S
E IG H T
D A Y S
O f,D
S H A L L ,
B E
C IR C lflV C J S E D
T H R O llG H O U T
Y O U R
G E N E R A T IO N S ,
A
S E R V A N T
W JIO
I S
B O R N
I N
Y O U R
H O U S E
O R
W HO
I S
B O U G H T
W IT H
M O N E Y
F R O M
A N Y
F O R E IG N E R ,
W HO
I S
N O T
O F
Y O U R
D E S C E N D A N T S .
A
S E R V A N T
W HO
I S
B O R N
I N
Y O U R
H O U S E
O R
W HO
I S
B O U G H T
W IT H
Y O U R
M O N E Y
S H A L L
S U R E L Y
B E
C IR C U M C IS E D ;
T H U S
S H A L L
N Y
C O V E N A N T
B E
I N
Y O U R
F L E S H
FO R
A N
E V E R L A S T IN G
C O V E N A N T "
(v v .
1 2 -1 3 ).
4
~
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W e
a re
rio t
t o
th _ i1 1 1 {
C h a .t
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c
l
1
~
i
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w e re
1
1
0
t
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\ue000in c lu d e d
i n
th e
c o v e n a n t
b e c a u s e
th e y
w e re
in c a p a b le
o .f
b e in g
c :irc u m c is e d .
I f
a
h a d
b e e n
g iv e n
w h ic .h
c o u ld
h a v e
b e e n
a d m in is te r e d
t o
th e m ,
i t
s u r e ly
w ouJd
h a v e
b e e n ,
fo r
W f;re
in c lu d e d
i n
th e
c o v e n a n t.
5, \ue000
W e
s e e
th e n
th a t
th e
c o v e n a n tin c 1 u d e d
th e
v.7!1 0 }e
flO u s e h o ld
o f
t1 1 e
0 1 1 e
w ho
h e Jie v e d ,
of 00

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