The Covenant Sign of Circumcision
In Genesis 17, as a formal way to mark off God’s covenant people from the world, God gives Abraham the covenant sign of circumcision. Circumcision positively symbolizes the removal of sin and consecration to God and negatively a threat of judgement and disinheritance. In the New Covenant God also has marked off the church from the world as his new covenant people. It is our responsiblity to help one another be who God has called us to be. In this sermon we walk through this narrative in four parts: 1) God’s covenant-promises (1-8), 2) God’s covenant-stipulation (9-14), 3) God’s covenant-son (15-21), 4) Abraham’s covenant-obedience (23-27).