WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Thank you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Thank you. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.000 Thank you. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:32.000 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Thank you. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.000 Thank you. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.000 Thank you. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:15.900 Circumcision no more set Israel apart from the nations than Apple iPhones set Americans apart from Japanese. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:20.800 Both of them use the same phones, don't they? Even though Apple phones are made in America. 00:03:21.819 --> 00:03:28.319 So if circumcision was primarily, not primarily a national marker, what was it? What was the purpose of it? 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:39.599 And God tells us here in Genesis 17, circumcision was a sign of God's everlasting covenant between Abraham and his descendants. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:04:07.479 Physical circumcision was not primarily a national marker. It was primarily a spiritual marker. Circumcision marked Abraham and his children out as being in a covenant relationship with God. It was a sign that God was their God and they were God's people. And this is what made Israel's circumcision so unique compared with the other nations. 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:18.480 It was not a national marker. It was not a national marker. It was a sign of a spiritual covenant personal relationship with their God. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:25.540 Now just think about when this sign was applied to Abraham's children compared to Abraham himself. 00:04:26.520 --> 00:04:31.240 For Abraham the sign was applied after he repented and after he believed God's promises. 00:04:32.520 --> 00:04:43.560 Abraham first repented, turned away from worshipping false gods in the era of the Claudians and then Abraham trusted in God's promise of a new land. 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:48.560 And then 24 years later, he was circumcision. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:56.560 For Abraham's children though, the sign was applied before they repented, before they believed God's promises. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:02.560 The order for them was circumcision and then faith and repentance. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:07.560 And so they were raised in the faith of their father. 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:16.480 Now remember, step with me, that circumcision was primarily a sign of the spiritual relationship between God and his people. 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:28.160 And God commanded Abraham to put that sign on his children before there was any desirable signs of repentance and faith. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:31.160 And that is why we baptise our children. 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:41.160 Because if in the Old Testament God commanded that the sign of a spiritual relationship should be applied before a child repented and believed, 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:45.160 then why will we arrive at the New Testament when that will be reversed? 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:48.160 It makes no sense to reverse the order. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:51.160 But when do you apply the sign? 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:56.160 The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:58.160 The New Testament doesn't change the Old Testament. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.160 It fulfills it. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:05.160 It makes no sense to reverse the order of when to apply the sign in the New Testament. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:10.160 Because the God of the New Testament is the same God of the Old Testament. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.160 And God does not change. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.160 He does not change in himself. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:22.160 And therefore, he does not change in the way that he relates to these people wonderfully. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:28.160 Let me read you from Acts chapter 2, verse 30, from the New Testament. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.160 Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:38.160 And he says, the promise is for you and your children and all who are far off. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:40.160 That's what the Lord will call. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:44.160 I just want you to notice there are three categories. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:52.160 It's for you, Jewish adults, your children and those who are far off, John Turtles. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:57.160 Those three categories parallel exactly the categories in the covenant of Satan and Satan. 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:04.160 With Abraham, he was the Satan himself, his children and all the foreigners in his house. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:10.160 And so if the newness of the new covenant is that children are no longer included, 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:15.160 then why at the very point of inaugurating the new covenant, 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:19.160 would Peter speak in old covenant language? 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:24.160 He speaks in old covenant terms because there's continuity. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.160 Not just continuity. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.160 And so that is why we've baptized our children. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:32.160 Because God commanded Abraham to circumcise his children. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:37.160 And he did it before they showed any signs of discernible faith. 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:39.160 Any signs of repentance. 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:45.160 And if baptism is the equivalent covenant sign of circumcision, 00:07:45.160 --> 00:07:48.160 then we are to apply baptism to our children, 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:53.160 even before we see any sign of baptism or of faith or repentance. 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:55.160 And you may say, okay, I see the logic. 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:58.160 But how are we baptized? What does it do? 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:03.160 Well, baptism, like circumcision, is a means of grace. 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:11.160 Baptism is one of the ways that God uses to bring people to repentance and faith. 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:16.160 Because like baptism, like circumcision, baptism says to you when, 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.160 when you need God's grace. 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:22.160 When you need God to save you. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.160 When you need to be born again. 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:28.160 And that is what baptism says to a child. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.160 Because that is what circumcision says to a child. 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:36.160 The contrast between Israel's circumcision and the circumcision of the surrounding nations 00:08:36.160 --> 00:08:38.160 was actually when it's a place. 00:08:38.160 --> 00:08:42.160 Surrounding nations, Egypt, Eden, Moab, Ammon, 00:08:42.160 --> 00:08:47.160 they all circumcised their boys at puberty, kind of 12-13, 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:50.159 as they entered manhood. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:53.159 Circumcision for those nations, it's said, 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:55.159 you know man myself. 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:57.159 You're self-attained man. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:09:01.159 You're strong enough, you've got the courage to undergo the knife. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:05.159 And if you underwent circumcision, you became a man. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.159 But an Israelite boy, you run from Genesis 17, 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:10.159 was circumcised on the eighth day. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:11.159 After birth. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:18.159 No sign of self-attachment or personal strength or courage. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:21.159 Circumcision had nothing to do with the little boy, 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:23.159 but it had everything to do with God. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:26.159 In circumcision, the child was passive. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:29.159 Something was done to them, 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:31.159 before they did anything in response. 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.159 First they were catching. 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:35.159 And then they cried. 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:37.159 You see, the eighth day was chosen because 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:39.159 it was the beginning of a new week. 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:42.159 It symbolised new creation. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:44.159 And only God does the work of creation. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.159 And it's a single baptism. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.159 And so when I baptise, 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:50.159 there was Juan this morning. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.159 He will be passive in his father's arms. 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.159 He might cry, as most children do. 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:57.159 He will be helpless. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.159 He won't do anything. 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:02.159 But something will be done to him. 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:05.159 In baptism, God comes to Juan 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.159 before Juan comes to God. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:14.159 In baptism, God displays his undeserved favour on Juan. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:15.159 And says to Juan, 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:17.159 I will be your God. 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:21.159 Even before Juan can seek anything in response. 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:25.159 It is grace and all grace. 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:30.159 And it is mysteriously a means of grace. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.159 To bring you to repentance and faith. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:36.159 And John and Lana, as with circumcision, 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:40.159 having your child baptised entails a warning and encouragement. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:42.159 And the warning is this. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:46.159 Do not presume upon your child's baptism. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:53.159 It is a sign and it is a seal of God's gracious covenant of grace to you. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:54.159 But it's not a guarantee. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:59.159 Circumcision was a means of grace, but it was not a means of guarantee. 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:03.159 Abraham circumcised Ishmael as well as Isaac. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.159 Isaac circumcised Esau as well as Jacob. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:11.159 And so as you raise your little boy, you teach him what his baptism means. 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.159 You tell him your baptism means you need a new beginning. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:19.159 What was placed on you on the outside, your baptism, the water of cleansing, 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:21.159 that's got to become a reality on the inside. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:24.159 And just because you are born into a Christian home, 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:27.159 does not mean you are born in a clean heart. 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:30.159 Cleanse your heart today. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:33.159 Through repentance and faith in Jesus. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:35.159 You were washed at your baptism on the outside. 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:38.159 So wash yourself on the inside too. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:43.159 But there is also great encouragement this morning for you as parents. 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:49.159 Because the name of God, into whom one will debaterize, 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:51.159 is a God who does not mind. 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:54.159 Who says to your precious son, 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:57.159 I will be your God. 00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:00.159 And you will be my God. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.159 And that's where your confidence should lie. 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:06.159 So whether you are a visitor or a regular, 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:09.159 that's why I am about to baptize family. 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:12.159 Because God commanded Abraham to circumcise his children. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:16.159 And baptism, we believe, is the New Testament equivalent 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.159 of Old Testament circumcision. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:23.159 John and Alana are children of Father Abraham. 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:28.159 I am going to invite John and Alana in quiet to come to the front. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:32.159 And then I am going to ask them the founds. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:36.159 And then I am going to ask the members of this church family, 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.159 a question to which you respond. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:39.159 And we will. 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:43.159 And I don't know whether there is a will we do or yes. 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:44.159 But all three will do. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:49.159 So our heads in prayer. 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:56.159 And we thank you that you are gracious heavenly God. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:01.159 We praise you that you are the God who has made promises to your children 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:04.159 and to the children of your children. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.159 And we thank you for this sign and seal. 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:14.159 And we pray heavenly Father that you might make this sign and seal a blessing to him. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:17.159 That he might hear his baptism. 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:20.159 That he might trust in Christ all his days. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:25.159 And we pray that you will help John and Alana to keep the bowels available to me. 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.159 We pray in Jesus name. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.159 Amen. 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:28.159 Amen. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:32.159 I am in honour to acknowledge that you are saved only through faith in Jesus. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:35.159 You trust not only anything you have done or ever will do. 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:38.159 But only in his finished work is there upon the cross. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:42.159 By which he took upon himself a penalty for your sins. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:46.159 Do you realise that baptism is not a saving ordinance. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:49.159 And though it signifies Juan's membership in the covenant community. 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:51.159 It is not a matter of matter. 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:56.159 Do you understand that he is himself responsible to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord. 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.159 As he becomes accountable to him. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:05.159 To in this sacrament come up together with God to raise Juan in the instruction, obedience and worship of the Lord. 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:07.159 To pray for and with him. 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.159 To keep him in the fellowship of God's people. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.159 Be faithful and loving in your home. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:14.159 To be an immediate example of faith. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:19.159 And therefore through your utmost belief in the saving knowledge of Christ and early age. 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:25.159 Do you acknowledge that Juan is a gift from God who is of course to be cherished and enjoyed. 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:29.159 But who belongs at last not to you but to God. 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:37.159 Do you undertake to assist him in every possible way as he seeks to lead a life of devoted service to his Lord and Saviour. 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:49.159 Do you with God's help undertake not to complain against God. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:52.159 Should Juan die before you. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.159 The church family. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:02.159 Do the members of this congregation agree to pray for John and Alana as they raise Juan in the Christian faith. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:04.159 And to support them in their efforts. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:09.159 By dividing Juan with further examples of obedience and service to God. 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.159 And should they neglect their God given task. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:14.159 Will you in all humility rebuke and correct them. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.159 Amen. 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:23.159 Juan, Adam said that. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:26.159 I baptise you in the name of the Father. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.159 And the Son. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.159 And the Holy Spirit. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.159 May God bless you. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:34.159 And keep you. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:37.159 May the Lord make his face to shine upon you. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:39.159 May the Lord turn his countenance upon you. 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.159 And give you peace. 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:42.159 And all the people say. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.159 Amen. 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.159 Amen.