Saturday September 25, 2010

Read Colossians 2:1-12

Do you understand what Christ has done for you? Of course you do! But have you ever realised that circumcision of the Old Testament is akin to baptism in the New Testament?

But let’s back track a little bit. When God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans He entered into a covenant with him. The sign of the covenant was circumcision. Interestingly, not only Abram (later called Abraham) was circumcised. All his family (males) and servants were circumcised as well. God entered into a covenant with Abram and his family entered into it as well, because Abram was the head of the household. Circumcision was a symbolic removal of sin. Joshua 5:7-9 shows the relationship with the ritual and the removal of sin.

You and I have entered into the New Covenant with God through Christ Jesus. In effect, we have the sign of the New Covenant  that is the Old Testament equivalent.

How did I come to this conclusion? Look at Colossians 2:11-12.

You and I were circumcised in Jesus. You simply cannot get a greater link to OT circumcision and baptism than this verse right here.  Our sinful nature was put off or cut off when God entered into the New Covenant with us. We were buried with Christ in our baptism and raised with Him through faith in the power of God. The symbolic nature of the washing of water (see 1 Peter 3:21) is parallel to the symbolic nature of the removal of sin through circumcision.

The Covenant that was initiated with Abraham has been fulfilled in Christ and you have been included through the circumcision done by Christ Jesus.

Prayer:-

m Pray that you and your brothers and sisters would be ready to stand before God tomorrow and worship Him in purity and truth.

m Pray that our worship will be acceptable.

m Pray for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan who are undergoing a terrible trial by fire. Pray for strength, for courage and for the Spirit given ability to love their enemies, bless them and to minister Christ to them.

Get Into It!

Ring another believer and ask how you can be praying for him/her/them before our church gathering tomorrow.