Our Responsibility in the Covenant
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Abram has just been shown that he is in covenant with God. He has seen God basically say that He is sovereign over the situation and that He will be the one who establishes Abram.
Remember who you are in covenant with
Remember who you are in covenant with
El Shaddai
El Shaddai
v.1
God almighty
The name that God uses to remind his people that He is able to accomplish what He promised.
If you look back at the last chapter, you see that Abram believed that this covenant would have to be produced in his own strength.
16:1-2
Forgetting that he was in covenant with El Shaddai, God almighty who keeps covenant.
He attempts to produce the nation in his own means.
Be Blameless
Be Blameless
v.1-2
He is a holy God.
To walk in covenant God, we must be blameless.
Not that we will never fail, but that we are mortifying the flesh and living for the true God.
Don’t go about scheming trying to help along the will of God.
This is what we see Abram do, he is not being blameless before God in the way of establishing a nation, he is acquiring multiple wives, trying to do it on his own strength.
16:5
Sarai is now mad at Abram for doing what she said.
Because the counsel she gave was ungodly, and wrong.
This is what happens when those who are called to lead, abdicate their responsibility and authority.
If you are the one who God has placed in authority in your household, you must lead well.
16:12
When people leading go astray....it effects not just us, but those who come after us as well.
The offspring of Ishmael are the Muslims.
They are against everyone and especially Israel.
Signs of the Covenant
Signs of the Covenant
God was telling Abram to remember the covenant.
Now God gives Abram a sign of the covenant. Something for Abram to remember that he is in covenant with God.
Circumcision
Circumcision
v.9-11
Circumcision was a sign and seal of the covenant of grace that God was in with His people.
It was a physical reminder that they were the people of God.
A physical reminder that they were in covenant with God.
With El-Shaddai
This was to be a outward sign, of what was supposed to be taking place within.
Deuteronomy 30:6
Deuteronomy 30:6
This was a physical reminder that they were called to mortify the flesh.
That is to be removing the sinful desires and tendencies!
It wasn’t enough for them to only have the outward sign of the covenant, what was important was having a new heart.
Ezekiel 36:26
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Where it speaks of God giving us a new heart.
This is what must take place within the covenant people of God.
This is why scripture is so important.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The word of God divides soul and spirit. Discerns the thoughts and intentions.
God uses His word, like an expert surgeon to remove the things in our lives that are against Him.
v.14
God states that He will cut off those who are uncircumcised.
In Galatians 5 we see God is referring not to the physical act.
But we must see that we if we call ourselves the covenant people of God, we must act like we are the covenant people of God.
Changes His Name
Changes His Name
v.5
God changes Abram’s name from Abram to Abraham.
From “exalted father to father of a multitude of nations.”
Naming denotes power and authority over a thing.
When God changes a name, He is changing their spiritual status.
Revelation 2:17
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Those who hold fast to the name of Christ, who do not deny the faith. God will give them a new name.
God changing our status.
God claiming us for his own.
We know that it is the work of a sovereign God.
But do you see the responsibility that God has given you? Given me?
For it is when we do what we are called to do.
This week look at Revelation 2:12-17 and write down what God calls them to do to receive a new name. Study out
Signs of the new covenant
Signs of the new covenant
What are the covenant signs that we have in the New Covenant.
The things we are called to do that remind us we are in covenant with El Shaddai.
Communion
Communion
Bread
Bread
We do not believe that the bread becomes the actual body of our Lord.
Luke 22:19 “19 ..... “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
We do believe that Jesus is present with us at while we remember His sacrifice.
Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
He was pierced, crushed for us. We are to remember the physical wounds that He bore for us, and that by Jesus, we are saved.
Wine
Wine
Luke 22:20 “20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
The cup, the wine. It is symbolic of the blood of Christ. His life being poured out for ours.
Hebrews 9:22
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
We have forgiveness becasue of the blood of Jesus.
In communion, we remember that we are in covenant with Him.
That we have forgiveness of sins, that God will complete what He has begun.
We also need to remember, that we are to be blameless.
Paul states that we are to remember this until He comes.
Baptism
Baptism
Another sign of the new covenant that we look to is baptism.
1 Peter 3:21
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Baptism is not a bath, not an outward washing.
It, just like circumcision isn’t about the actual initial act.
It is about what it represents spiritually.
But just like circumcision, it is something that those who are in covenant with God are called to do.
Baptism is a response to the grace of God.
It is a pledge, a statement saying you desire a clean conscience before God.
It is identifying with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection.
It is the sign of the new covenant for believers, saying you will mortify the flesh, and live as a new creation for Jesus.
In the end, as the covenant people of God. We have
a responsibility to live blameless lives before God.
We also have signs of the covenant that we are called to perform to identify with our Lord, we must live not for ourselves anymore but for Him.
Homework:
Genesis 18-19
Revelation 2:12-17
How are they called to hold fast to Jesus’ name?
How did Balaam put a stumbling block in front of Israel & what might that same block be in society today?
Galatians 5:1-15.
What is Paul telling them to trust in besides circumcision?
What is the result of looking to works for salvation?