WEBVTT

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 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Genesis.

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 And we're in chapter 17 this morning.

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 Genesis chapter 17.

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 If this is your first time with us or first time in a while,

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 we're walking through the book of Genesis and we've come to chapter 17.

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 If you don't have a copy of God's Word with you, that's okay.

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 We should have one in a seat back nearby, somewhere close by you,

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 and you're welcome to use that copy of God's Word this morning.

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 But we're in Genesis chapter 17, and when you've found it,

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 let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning.

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 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,

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 I am God Almighty.

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 Walk before me and be blameless,

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 that I may make my covenant between me and you,

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 and may multiply you greatly.

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 Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him,

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 Behold, my covenant is with you,

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 and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.

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 No longer shall your name be called Abram,

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 but your name shall be Abraham,

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 for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

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 I will make you exceedingly fruitful,

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 and I will make you into nations,

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 and kings shall come from you.

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 And I will establish my covenant between me and you,

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 and your offspring after you,

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 throughout their generations,

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 for an everlasting covenant,

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 to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

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 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you,

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 the land of your sojournings,

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 all the land of Canaan,

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 for an everlasting possession,

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 and I will be their God.

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 And God said to Abraham,

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 As for you,

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 you shall keep my covenant,

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 you and your offspring after you,

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 throughout their generations.

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 This is my covenant,

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 which you shall keep,

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 between me and you and your offspring after you.

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 Every male among you shall be circumcised.

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 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins,

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 and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

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 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised.

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 Every male throughout your generations,

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 whether born in your house or bought with your money

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 from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,

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 both he who is born in your house

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 and he who is bought with your money

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 shall surely be circumcised.

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 So shall my covenant be in your flesh,

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 an everlasting covenant.

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 Any uncircumcised male,

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 who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin,

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 shall be cut off from his people.

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 He has broken my covenant.

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 And God said to Abraham,

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 As for Sarai, your wife,

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 you shall not call her name Sarai,

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 but Sarah shall be her name.

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 I will bless her,

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 and moreover,

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 I will give you a son by her.

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 I will bless her,

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 and she shall become nations.

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 Kings of peoples shall come from her.

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 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed

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 and said to himself,

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 Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?

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 Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old,

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 bear a child?

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 And Abraham said to God,

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 Oh, that Ishmael might live before you.

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 God said,

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 No, but Sarah, your wife,

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 shall bear you a son,

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 and you shall call his name Isaac.

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 I will establish my covenant with him

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 as an everlasting covenant

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 for his offspring after him.

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 As for Ishmael,

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 I have heard you.

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 Behold,

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 I have blessed him

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 and will make him fruitful

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 and multiply him greatly.

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 He shall father twelve princes,

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 and I will make him into a great nation.

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 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac,

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 whom Sarah shall bear to you

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 at this time next year.

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 When he had finished talking with him,

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 God went up from Abraham.

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 Then Abraham took Ishmael,

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 his son,

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 and all those born in his house

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 or bought with his money,

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 every male among the men of Abraham's house.

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 And he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins

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 that very day,

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 as God had said to him.

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 Abraham was ninety-nine years old

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 when he was circumcised

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 in the flesh of his foreskin.

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 And Ishmael, his son,

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 was thirteen years old

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 when he was circumcised

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 in the flesh of his foreskin.

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 That very day,

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 Abraham and his son Ishmael

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 were circumcised.

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 And all the men of his house,

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 those born in the house

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 and those bought with money

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 from a foreigner,

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 were circumcised with him.

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 The grass withers

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 and the flower fades,

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 but the word of the Lord

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 endures forever.

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 Father, we praise you

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 for your word.

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 And we pray this morning

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 that as we look at promises made,

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 God, would you give us

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 patient faith.

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 Lord, would you lead us

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 to walk before you

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 and be blameless.

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 And ultimately, Father,

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 would you lead us

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 to look to Christ by faith

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 this morning.

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 And it's in his name

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 that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 Tomorrow is kind of

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 a big day for me.

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 I shared in the

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 Grow Class hour

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 this morning

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 in Sunday school

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 that tomorrow

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 is going to mark

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 thirteen years of marriage

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 for Amanda

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 and myself.

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 Our marriage has officially

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 entered the teenage years.

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 For some of you,

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 that's not saying much.

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 I know you've been married

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 much longer than that.

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 Some of you

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 married less than a week.

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 Thirteen years ago

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 seems like a long time

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 to me.

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 I don't remember a lot

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 from thirteen years ago,

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 but I'll tell you

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 one thing that I remember

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 with just vivid clarity

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 was the process

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 of picking out

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 the perfect engagement ring

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 for my soon-to-be bride.

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 And those of you

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 who have proposed before

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 understand that process.

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 You go through

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 all the catalogs.

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 You visit all

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 the jewelry shops.

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 You go through

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 cut, clarity,

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 carrot,

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 all the four or five C's

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 of picking out

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 the perfect ring.

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 I wanted to pick something

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 that she would love

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 to have on her finger

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 forever

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 and never ever

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 want to take it off.

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 And then I remember

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 the first time

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 that she put my ring

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 on my finger.

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 It felt kind of weird

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 at first,

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 a little unnatural.

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 Now it's,

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 I hardly even notice it.

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 It's kind of a part of me.

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 I rarely ever,

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 if ever,

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 take it off.

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 But I wonder

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 if you've ever thought

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 about why we do

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 that whole thing

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 in the first place.

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 Why do we go through

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 the process

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 of purchasing a ring

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 and putting it

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 on your spouse's finger?

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 And what's the big idea

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 beyond the wedding ring

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 besides just a photo opportunity

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 or to brag

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 and show it off

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 to your friends?

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 Well,

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 that ring,

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 yes,

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 it's beautiful.

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 Yes,

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 it's valuable.

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 But it also serves

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 an important function,

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 doesn't it?

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 That wedding ring

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 on our finger

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 is a sign

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 of the covenant

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 that you have made

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 with your spouse.

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 It's kind of shorthand

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 for the vows,

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 shorthand for the promises

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 that you've made.

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 So it's a reminder

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 of the promises

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 that you've made to her

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 and she has made to you.

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 It points us

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 to our promises

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 and our responsibilities.

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 It's a symbol.

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 It's a sign

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 of the covenant

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 that you made

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 in marriage.

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 In many ways,

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 as we come to our passage

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 this morning here

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 in Genesis chapter 17,

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 we can see

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 that the same

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 is true

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 for circumcision.

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 Circumcision,

00:07:04.659 --> 00:07:05.659
 biblically speaking,

00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:06.659
 is a sign

00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:07.479
 of the covenant

00:07:07.479 --> 00:07:08.819
 that God has made

00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:09.819
 with Abram.

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 And you know,

00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:11.099
 you may have noticed

00:07:11.099 --> 00:07:11.659
 as you read

00:07:11.659 --> 00:07:12.560
 through your Bible,

00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:13.899
 the Bible talks

00:07:13.899 --> 00:07:15.180
 about circumcision

00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:16.419
 kind of a lot.

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 And so this may be

00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:17.879
 a little bit

00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:18.919
 of an uncomfortable thing

00:07:18.919 --> 00:07:19.560
 to talk about

00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:20.079
 this morning,

00:07:20.219 --> 00:07:21.459
 but we kind of

00:07:21.459 --> 00:07:22.439
 got to get used to it

00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:23.339
 as you read your Bible.

00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:24.839
 It's a little bit strange

00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:25.939
 if you're not used to it.

00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:26.339
 Now y'all,

00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:27.339
 I read this passage

00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:28.579
 to my boys this week,

00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:29.019
 right?

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 They had a lot of questions

00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:31.560
 that came up

00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:32.439
 about this passage.

00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.039
 What in the world

00:07:33.039 --> 00:07:33.879
 is going on here?

00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:35.699
 And the Bible talks

00:07:35.699 --> 00:07:36.959
 about circumcision

00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:39.299
 almost a hundred times.

00:07:39.339 --> 00:07:39.919
 And it's not just

00:07:39.919 --> 00:07:41.259
 an Old Testament topic.

00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:42.959
 It's brought up frequently

00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:43.819
 in the New Testament

00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:44.620
 as well.

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 But you know,

00:07:45.719 --> 00:07:46.339
 even if you're

00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:47.679
 a more mature believer

00:07:47.679 --> 00:07:48.839
 in the room this morning,

00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:49.779
 I would be willing

00:07:49.779 --> 00:07:51.459
 to bet that you probably

00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:52.799
 have some questions too.

00:07:52.919 --> 00:07:54.620
 What is this all about?

00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:56.319
 And so this morning

00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:57.100
 as we come to Genesis

00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:58.180
 chapter 17,

00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:00.720
 I want us to understand

00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:03.259
 the sign of circumcision.

00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:04.240
 And what we'll see

00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.079
 is three functions

00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:06.819
 of the sign.

00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:08.300
 This will be our outline

00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:08.780
 this morning

00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:09.720
 if you're a note taker.

00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:10.560
 We're going to see

00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:11.560
 three functions

00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:12.840
 of the sign

00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:14.360
 of circumcision

00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:15.519
 here in Genesis 17.

00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:17.319
 First,

00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:19.860
 we see circumcision

00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:21.759
 is a promise.

00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:24.480
 It is a promise.

00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:26.639
 It really is a reminder

00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.659
 of all of God's promises.

00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:30.099
 Like a wedding ring,

00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:30.939
 it's a symbol,

00:08:31.099 --> 00:08:31.959
 it's shorthand

00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:32.960
 for the promises

00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.399
 that God made to Abram.

00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:35.860
 And we know that Abram

00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:37.179
 needs to be reminded

00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:38.259
 of God's promises,

00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:38.659
 don't we?

00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:39.759
 We've seen over and over

00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:40.860
 and over again

00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:43.399
 this delay in fulfillment

00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:45.399
 has led Abram to doubt.

00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.659
 He needs reassurances

00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:47.700
 of God's promises.

00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:49.240
 Look there to verse 1

00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:49.580
 with me,

00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:50.419
 chapter 17.

00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:51.679
 It kind of gives

00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:52.779
 this time marker here.

00:08:52.899 --> 00:08:53.219
 It says,

00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:54.339
 verse 1 tells us

00:08:54.339 --> 00:08:55.139
 all of this happens

00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:58.159
 when Abram was 99 years old,

00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:58.899
 which means,

00:08:59.000 --> 00:08:59.839
 if you're keeping track,

00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:03.599
 this has been 25 years now

00:09:03.599 --> 00:09:05.139
 since Genesis chapter 12.

00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:07.759
 25 years of waiting

00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.599
 from the time

00:09:08.599 --> 00:09:09.819
 when God first spoke

00:09:09.819 --> 00:09:10.360
 to Abram

00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:11.099
 and first made

00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:12.240
 these promises to him

00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:13.699
 all the way to this point

00:09:13.699 --> 00:09:15.459
 when God is reaffirming them

00:09:15.459 --> 00:09:16.159
 by the sign

00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:17.459
 of circumcision.

00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:19.939
 Between last chapter

00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:20.660
 and this chapter

00:09:20.660 --> 00:09:20.680
 and this chapter,

00:09:20.760 --> 00:09:22.680
 it's been 13 years

00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:23.420
 of waiting.

00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:24.600
 Now these chapters

00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:25.520
 are just back to back

00:09:25.520 --> 00:09:26.600
 to back in our Bible.

00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:27.460
 We can read them

00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:28.060
 sitting down

00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:29.340
 maybe in about 10 minutes

00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:29.960
 total,

00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:31.300
 but we should recognize

00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:32.600
 that from chapter 12

00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:34.000
 here to chapter 17,

00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.160
 this represents

00:09:35.160 --> 00:09:37.660
 25 years

00:09:37.660 --> 00:09:39.120
 of Abram's life.

00:09:40.180 --> 00:09:41.040
 So far as we know,

00:09:41.100 --> 00:09:42.460
 it's been 13 years

00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:43.900
 since God last appeared

00:09:43.900 --> 00:09:45.000
 and last spoke.

00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:45.200
 I mean,

00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:46.140
 that's a long time

00:09:46.140 --> 00:09:46.600
 to wait.

00:09:47.800 --> 00:09:48.660
 Abram's not getting

00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:49.319
 any younger.

00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:51.120
 Sarai is not getting

00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:51.759
 any younger.

00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:52.919
 She's still barren.

00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.299
 The promises have

00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:55.719
 yet to be fulfilled

00:09:55.719 --> 00:09:56.339
 and again,

00:09:56.459 --> 00:09:57.379
 Abram here needs

00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.819
 to be reassured.

00:09:59.439 --> 00:09:59.779
 God,

00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:00.679
 will you do

00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:02.079
 what you've promised?

00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:02.659
 So,

00:10:03.719 --> 00:10:04.600
 verse 1 says,

00:10:04.719 --> 00:10:05.120
 the Lord

00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.000
 appeared to Abram

00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.500
 and he reveals himself

00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.740
 by a new name here.

00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:10.120
 He says,

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:11.439
 I am God

00:10:11.439 --> 00:10:12.659
 Almighty.

00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:15.000
 El Shaddai.

00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.679
 God reminds Abram

00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:19.799
 that I am powerful

00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:21.559
 to fulfill my word.

00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:23.200
 I am God Almighty.

00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:24.480
 Nothing's too hard for me.

00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:26.259
 Don't focus so much

00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:27.899
 on your weakness

00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:29.519
 and your inability

00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:31.360
 and your struggle.

00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:32.960
 Focus instead on me

00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.320
 and my strength

00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:35.200
 and my power.

00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:36.559
 I am God Almighty.

00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.799
 I will do

00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:38.820
 what I promise.

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:39.200
 You know,

00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.299
 that's what faith is,

00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:40.840
 by the way.

00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:42.679
 Faith is looking

00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:44.279
 away from yourself,

00:10:45.079 --> 00:10:46.739
 away from your ability

00:10:46.739 --> 00:10:47.639
 and inability,

00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.339
 away from your weakness

00:10:49.339 --> 00:10:51.599
 and looking in trust

00:10:51.599 --> 00:10:52.919
 to the power of God.

00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:54.699
 Faith is clinging

00:10:54.699 --> 00:10:56.120
 to the promises of God,

00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:57.239
 not what we can do,

00:10:57.319 --> 00:10:58.699
 but what He alone

00:10:58.699 --> 00:10:59.479
 is able to do.

00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:01.599
 God comes,

00:11:01.699 --> 00:11:02.159
 He appears,

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.399
 and He speaks.

00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.439
 He commands Abram,

00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.759
 walk before me

00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.740
 and be blameless

00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:08.740
 that I may make my covenant

00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.959
 between me and you

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:12.600
 and may multiply you greatly.

00:11:12.780 --> 00:11:13.440
 And what does Abram do

00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:13.960
 in response?

00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:15.920
 He falls on his face.

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.680
 That's the right response

00:11:18.680 --> 00:11:20.940
 to the presence of the Lord,

00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:21.639
 by the way.

00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.560
 He falls flat on his face

00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:26.780
 in reverence

00:11:26.780 --> 00:11:28.280
 and in fear

00:11:28.280 --> 00:11:29.740
 and in awe

00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:31.160
 and in worship.

00:11:31.400 --> 00:11:32.220
 And God again,

00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:33.639
 once again,

00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:35.280
 reaffirms His covenant

00:11:35.280 --> 00:11:36.519
 with Abram.

00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.079
 You wonder,

00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:38.439
 13 years has gone by.

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:38.679
 What,

00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.439
 what's God gonna do now?

00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:42.319
 What is God gonna,

00:11:42.439 --> 00:11:43.419
 gonna say now?

00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.960
 It's been 13 years, God.

00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.059
 What are you gonna give me now?

00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:47.819
 God comes

00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:50.639
 and He simply reaffirms

00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:51.600
 yet again

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.960
 the very same promises

00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:54.939
 He's already made.

00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.399
 Verses 4 through 8

00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:59.019
 are basically just a repeat

00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.319
 of what we've already seen

00:12:00.319 --> 00:12:00.740
 and heard.

00:12:00.819 --> 00:12:02.039
 You remember chapter 12?

00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:03.740
 God calls Abram.

00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.560
 He promises to multiply

00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:06.500
 His offspring,

00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.639
 to give them the land of Canaan,

00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.740
 to make Him an agent

00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.500
 of blessing to the whole world.

00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.879
 Chapter 15,

00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:13.659
 God appears.

00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:15.460
 He confirms these promises

00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:16.200
 in a covenant.

00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:17.279
 And now,

00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.200
 chapter 17,

00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:20.299
 He gives this visible,

00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:22.120
 tangible sign

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:23.080
 of the promises.

00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.080
 But notice again,

00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:25.600
 it's all essentially

00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.580
 the same promise,

00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.019
 isn't it?

00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:30.019
 This is not a new covenant

00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.200
 made with Abram.

00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.640
 It's the same promises

00:12:33.640 --> 00:12:34.879
 that He's been waiting for

00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:37.580
 for the last 25 years.

00:12:37.640 --> 00:12:38.220
 Only now,

00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.960
 He gives a sign.

00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:41.700
 He puts a ring

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.759
 on Abram's finger,

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:43.860
 so to speak,

00:12:43.920 --> 00:12:45.180
 to remind him

00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:46.780
 of the promises.

00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:47.160
 Well,

00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:48.740
 let's remind ourselves

00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:49.560
 this morning.

00:12:49.640 --> 00:12:50.160
 What are they?

00:12:51.140 --> 00:12:51.840
 What are the promises

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.540
 God's made?

00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:53.379
 You can think about it

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:55.200
 basically in three categories

00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:55.879
 here,

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.980
 the promises God makes

00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:57.520
 to Abram.

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.560
 It's a promise

00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.099
 of posterity,

00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:02.679
 a promise of place,

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.239
 and a promise

00:13:04.239 --> 00:13:05.599
 of prosperity.

00:13:07.099 --> 00:13:08.819
 Promise of posterity,

00:13:09.359 --> 00:13:09.899
 prosperity,

00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:11.379
 and place.

00:13:11.479 --> 00:13:11.759
 God,

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.979
 here in verse 4,

00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:13.639
 look there with me.

00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:15.199
 He reaffirms this promise

00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:16.299
 of posterity,

00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:16.939
 offspring.

00:13:17.339 --> 00:13:17.839
 Behold,

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:18.559
 verse 4,

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.219
 my covenant is with you.

00:13:20.739 --> 00:13:22.059
 You shall be the father

00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.419
 of a multitude

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:24.779
 of nations.

00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:27.839
 And God affirms this

00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:28.899
 by giving Abram

00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:29.959
 a new name here,

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.439
 doesn't He?

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.179
 No longer shall you

00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:33.519
 be called Abram,

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:35.179
 which means great father,

00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.860
 but now your name

00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.379
 will be Abraham,

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.120
 which means father

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:41.720
 of a multitude.

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:43.720
 I will make you

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.959
 exceedingly fruitful,

00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:45.759
 verse 6,

00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:46.819
 and I will make you

00:13:46.819 --> 00:13:47.519
 into nations,

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.039
 and kings shall come

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.519
 from you.

00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:50.659
 Now that's new information,

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.120
 isn't it?

00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.139
 Kings shall come

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.480
 for you.

00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.439
 This is a new development.

00:13:55.319 --> 00:13:55.759
 And we see

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.319
 a royal promise.

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.759
 Kings now will come

00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.259
 from the line of Abram.

00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:01.379
 That's the posterity

00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.299
 promise.

00:14:03.439 --> 00:14:04.519
 God reaffirms

00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.939
 the promise of prosperity

00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:07.019
 here in verse 7.

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.959
 This is blessing,

00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:09.039
 a promise of blessing.

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:11.120
 I will establish

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:11.740
 my covenant

00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.799
 between me and you

00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:13.399
 and your offspring

00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.179
 after you

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:15.600
 throughout their generations

00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.319
 for an everlasting covenant

00:14:17.319 --> 00:14:19.159
 to be God to you

00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.159
 and to your offspring

00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.220
 after you.

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:21.959
 What's the blessing?

00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:24.759
 What's the prosperity?

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.959
 The prosperity promised here.

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.539
 It is God himself.

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.319
 God promises

00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:33.259
 to be their God,

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.399
 to be with them

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.819
 as their God.

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.399
 We call this

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.079
 the Emmanuel principle.

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:39.759
 It's God with us.

00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:41.379
 God commits

00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.559
 to be with

00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.100
 the offspring of Abram

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.579
 and for them.

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.179
 His presence

00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.559
 will go with them

00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:48.399
 as their God.

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:48.439
 God,

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.720
 this is the primary blessing

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.360
 of this covenant.

00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:52.199
 Everything else

00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:53.100
 is icing on the cake.

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.600
 But he goes on

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.000
 and he reaffirms

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:57.539
 yet again

00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.319
 this promise

00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.360
 of a place

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.899
 here in verse 8.

00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:01.939
 I will give you

00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.179
 and your offspring

00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:03.959
 after you

00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:04.879
 the land

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.379
 of your sojournings,

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.959
 all the land

00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:08.519
 of Canaan

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.419
 for an everlasting

00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.100
 possession.

00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:10.779
 And again,

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:11.220
 he says,

00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:12.419
 I will be

00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:14.360
 their God.

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.840
 So you see

00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:15.460
 these three

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.680
 categories here.

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.019
 Again,

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:17.919
 God reaffirms

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:18.500
 his promise

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.340
 of people,

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.440
 prosperity,

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.879
 and place.

00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.360
 And would you just

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.139
 notice the emphasis

00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:23.600
 here?

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.700
 This emphatic

00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:26.860
 language of God,

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.860
 I will multiply

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.659
 you, Abram,

00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.680
 not just a little bit,

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.440
 but greatly.

00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.779
 Not just nations,

00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.639
 but a multitude

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.500
 of nations.

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.100
 I won't make you

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.840
 just fruitful,

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.860
 but exceedingly fruitful.

00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.560
 This isn't just

00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:40.039
 a covenant,

00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:41.120
 it's an everlasting

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.720
 covenant.

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:44.159
 25 years

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:44.740
 later,

00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:46.279
 Abram may have

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:46.899
 some issues here

00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:47.839
 understanding how

00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:48.639
 God's going to do

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:48.860
 this,

00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:50.059
 but God has not

00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:51.319
 wavered one bit,

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:51.799
 has he?

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.620
 God has not

00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.819
 backed down

00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.959
 off of his promise.

00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:57.799
 He's doubling

00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.740
 down here.

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.219
 Church,

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.600
 we should take note

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.279
 here,

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.179
 just for a moment

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.019
 as we apply this

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:05.620
 to us.

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:08.480
 Do not let

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.360
 the delay

00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:11.139
 between God's

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.679
 promise

00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:13.579
 and fulfillment

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:15.300
 lead you

00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:15.900
 to doubt.

00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:18.420
 Do not let

00:16:18.420 --> 00:16:19.000
 the delay

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.940
 between God's

00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:20.460
 promise

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.520
 and fulfillment

00:16:21.520 --> 00:16:22.620
 put you

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.180
 in a state

00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:24.139
 of distress.

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.500
 God is

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.060
 not

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:27.920
 slow

00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:29.100
 to fulfill

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:29.980
 his promises.

00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.720
 Two thousand

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.160
 years

00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:33.660
 since Christ

00:16:33.660 --> 00:16:34.000
 came,

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.660
 and he promised

00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:37.139
 he's coming

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.560
 back.

00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.960
 He promised

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:40.280
 us

00:16:40.280 --> 00:16:40.820
 Christ

00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.259
 will come

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:41.600
 back.

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.139
 He will

00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:42.980
 crush the

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.319
 serpent.

00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:43.919
 He will

00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.779
 end evil

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.340
 for good.

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:45.819
 He will

00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:46.179
 put an

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.740
 end to

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.139
 sin.

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:47.659
 He will

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.179
 renew

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.179
 all things.

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:49.840
 Death,

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.519
 grief,

00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.159
 pain,

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:51.759
 sin,

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:52.399
 sorrow,

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.039
 all of it

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.480
 is gone

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.240
 for good.

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.080
 When will

00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:55.620
 it happen,

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:55.919
 Lord?

00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.100
 This delay

00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:00.360
 between promise

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.460
 and fulfillment

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.799
 can easily

00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.460
 lead us

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.099
 to doubt,

00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.240
 can easily

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.779
 lead us

00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.619
 to distress.

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.440
 Our God

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.000
 who stands

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.839
 outside of

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.019
 time is

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:13.740
 just as

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.379
 committed to

00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.079
 his word

00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.899
 25 years

00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:17.319
 later,

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.319
 2,000 years

00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:19.720
 later,

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:20.720
 as he was

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.259
 the moment

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.000
 he first

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.839
 spoke his

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.299
 promise.

00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:25.700
 But we

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:26.639
 need to be

00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.480
 reminded often.

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.299
 So here,

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.059
 knowing this,

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.420
 God gives

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.619
 Abram a

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.740
 sign of

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.759
 the promise,

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.599
 a reminder

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.200
 in his

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.640
 flesh,

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.259
 the sign

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.779
 of circumcision.

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.279
 Just as I

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.620
 can look at

00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:40.039
 my wedding

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.579
 ring and

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.420
 see this

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:41.960
 reminder,

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.799
 I belong

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.259
 to my

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.680
 wife,

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.680
 she belongs

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.240
 to me,

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:45.839
 we have

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.400
 promised to

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.000
 be faithful

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.480
 to each

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:47.700
 other,

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.039
 we have

00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.599
 promised to

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.339
 love one

00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:49.759
 another,

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.779
 so now

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.500
 Abram and

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:51.980
 his offspring

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.700
 after him

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.859
 can see,

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:54.839
 can look at

00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.559
 this physical

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:56.279
 sign of

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.920
 circumcision

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.660
 and remember

00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.339
 God's

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.420
 promises made

00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:00.579
 to them.

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.359
 But it also

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.740
 goes the

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.279
 other way.

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:05.059
 The second,

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.680
 we see,

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.339
 yes,

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.019
 circumcision is

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.559
 a promise,

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.359
 but second,

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.299
 circumcision is

00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.400
 a prescription.

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.180
 The sign

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:16.039
 itself is

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.160
 a responsibility

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.799
 for Abraham.

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.120
 It's not just

00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:21.620
 what God

00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.039
 will do

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.880
 for Abraham,

00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.960
 it's also

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.039
 what Abraham

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.620
 and his

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.039
 offspring

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.680
 must do

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.900
 in order to

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.740
 enjoy all of

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.380
 these blessings.

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.099
 Look there

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.620
 to verse 9.

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.380
 God says

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:35.920
 to Abraham,

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.859
 as for you,

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:37.299
 you shall

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.180
 keep my

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:38.559
 covenant,

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.259
 you and

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:39.720
 your offspring

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.400
 after you

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.940
 throughout their

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.519
 generations.

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.740
 This is my

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.599
 covenant which

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.180
 you shall

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.700
 keep between

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.480
 me and you

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:46.759
 and your

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.500
 offspring after

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:47.700
 you.

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.279
 Here it is.

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.259
 Every male

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.920
 among you

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.000
 must be

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.160
 circumcised.

00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:54.759
 You shall be

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.559
 circumcised in

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.039
 the flesh of

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.839
 your foreskins,

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.519
 it shall be a

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.140
 sign of the

00:18:58.140 --> 00:18:58.720
 covenant between

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.279
 me and you.

00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.359
 He who is

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.099
 eight days old

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.660
 among you

00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.220
 shall be

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:03.040
 circumcised.

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.740
 Every male

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.300
 throughout your

00:19:04.300 --> 00:19:04.960
 generations,

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.140
 whether born

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.740
 in your house

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.620
 or bought in

00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:07.900
 with your

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.440
 money from

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.019
 any foreigner

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.580
 who is not

00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:09.820
 of your

00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:10.220
 offspring,

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.300
 they all

00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:11.680
 must be

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.500
 circumcised.

00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:14.060
 Verse 14

00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:14.320
 says,

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.720
 any uncircumcised

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.300
 male who

00:19:16.300 --> 00:19:17.180
 is not

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.220
 circumcised in

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:18.820
 the flesh of

00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:19.680
 his foreskin

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:21.100
 shall be cut

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.140
 off from

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:22.840
 his people.

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.279
 He has

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.160
 broken my

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.500
 covenant.

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.040
 Now that's

00:19:25.040 --> 00:19:25.500
 some clever

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:25.940
 language,

00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:26.340
 isn't it?

00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:28.040
 You notice

00:19:28.040 --> 00:19:29.019
 that play on

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.759
 words there

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.299
 with this

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.099
 cutting

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.779
 language,

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.180
 right?

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:33.579
 In the

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.220
 ancient world

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.500
 when they

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.019
 made a

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.359
 covenant,

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:35.920
 they didn't

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.400
 just make

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:36.960
 a covenant,

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:37.519
 the language

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.099
 they used

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.480
 was they

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.240
 cut a

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.539
 covenant.

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:40.920
 And here

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.519
 God says,

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.079
 I'm cutting

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.579
 a covenant

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.119
 with you

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.539
 Abraham,

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.819
 and you

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.819
 must cut

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.379
 off,

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.119
 or you

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.700
 will be

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.519
 cut off.

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.299
 This is

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.660
 not optional,

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.119
 is it?

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.480
 That raises

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:55.940
 an important

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.700
 question though,

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.160
 doesn't it?

00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.279
 Is this

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:58.859
 covenant

00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:00.339
 conditional

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:02.179
 or is it

00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:02.539
 not?

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.019
 Theologians

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:06.500
 debate this

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.059
 sort of thing.

00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:07.519
 This might not

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:07.939
 be interesting

00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:08.359
 to you,

00:20:08.459 --> 00:20:09.579
 but theologians

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:09.919
 sort of get

00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:10.679
 boxed up

00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:11.039
 in these

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.699
 categories.

00:20:11.979 --> 00:20:12.419
 Is this

00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:12.959
 conditional

00:20:12.959 --> 00:20:13.699
 or is it

00:20:13.699 --> 00:20:14.319
 unconditional?

00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:14.959
 Is it

00:20:14.959 --> 00:20:15.579
 bilateral?

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:16.199
 Is it

00:20:16.199 --> 00:20:17.199
 unilateral?

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:17.979
 Let's just

00:20:17.979 --> 00:20:18.979
 try and keep

00:20:18.979 --> 00:20:19.419
 it simple

00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:19.799
 here.

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.799
 I think

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.339
 the best

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:21.719
 way to

00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:22.240
 understand

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.500
 what's

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:22.799
 happening

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.240
 here is

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.759
 to simply

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.419
 say what

00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:24.899
 the Bible

00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:25.399
 clearly

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:25.899
 says.

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.319
 It is

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.000
 pretty clear

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.479
 to me

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.420
 there are

00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.160
 conditions.

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.039
 Abram

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.059
 must do

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.519
 this.

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.299
 Cut off

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.819
 or be

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.500
 cut off.

00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:34.960
 It's not

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.360
 optional.

00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:36.779
 And at

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.180
 the same

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.700
 time,

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.160
 it is

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.559
 clear,

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.339
 God

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.200
 will make

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.740
 certain

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.759
 that the

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.279
 promises

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.799
 of the

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.059
 covenant

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:44.980
 are fulfilled.

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.299
 One way

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.579
 to think

00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:47.980
 about it

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.440
 is that

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:48.920
 God

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.140
 will

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.579
 certainly

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.160
 fulfill

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.500
 his

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.079
 promises,

00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.259
 but not

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.160
 every

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.240
 individual

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.920
 offspring

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.299
 of

00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.839
 Abraham

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.259
 will

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.519
 get

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:56.799
 to

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.279
 enjoy

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.700
 them.

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.980
 Why?

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.640
 Because as

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:00.980
 you read

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.420
 on in

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:01.559
 your

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.019
 Bibles,

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.019
 they

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.640
 break

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.160
 covenant

00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.640
 with the

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:04.960
 Lord.

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.779
 God

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.099
 does

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.660
 everything

00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:07.879
 he

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.359
 promises.

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:08.720
 He

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.319
 brings

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:09.700
 Israel

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.079
 out of

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.379
 Egypt.

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.660
 He

00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.640
 multiplies

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:11.819
 the

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.259
 offspring.

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:12.619
 He

00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.059
 brings

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.240
 them

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.480
 into

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:13.680
 the

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:13.960
 land

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.160
 of

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:14.619
 Canaan.

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.220
 Eventually,

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:15.980
 praise

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.400
 God,

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.980
 he brings

00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.359
 about

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.579
 the

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:17.960
 promised

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.599
 Messiah

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.299
 through

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:19.539
 the

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:19.839
 line

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.000
 of

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.420
 Abram.

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.800
 the

00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:21.100
 Bible

00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:21.279
 is

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.800
 abundantly

00:21:21.800 --> 00:21:22.240
 clear.

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:22.980
 God

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.240
 has

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.740
 fulfilled

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.440
 every

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.900
 promise

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:25.180
 made

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.320
 to

00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:25.740
 Abraham.

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.880
 But for

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.400
 Abram

00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:28.880
 and his

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.420
 descendants

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.300
 to enjoy

00:21:30.300 --> 00:21:30.600
 these

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.080
 blessings,

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.560
 they

00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:31.980
 must

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.440
 obey

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:32.740
 this

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.240
 command.

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:33.560
 You

00:21:33.560 --> 00:21:34.000
 must

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.480
 be

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.759
 circumcised.

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.200
 In

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.340
 fact,

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.580
 as you

00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:38.140
 read on

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.860
 and see

00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.840
 in the

00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.080
 book of

00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:40.220
 the

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.560
 law,

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.039
 we see

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.740
 circumcision

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.300
 becomes

00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.539
 shorthand

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.000
 for the

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.259
 whole

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.660
 law.

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:45.880
 The

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.400
 law is

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:46.640
 not

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.000
 unclear,

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.460
 is it?

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:47.720
 It

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.320
 is do

00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:48.700
 this

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.000
 and

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.460
 live.

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:50.940
 Obey

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.259
 my

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:51.660
 law

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.420
 and

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:52.660
 you'll

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:52.920
 get to

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.240
 enjoy

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:53.440
 the

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:53.840
 blessing

00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:54.180
 in the

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.480
 land.

00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:54.640
 You'll

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:54.860
 get to

00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:55.580
 be my

00:21:55.580 --> 00:21:56.160
 people.

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:56.800
 But

00:21:56.800 --> 00:21:57.580
 disobey,

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.340
 break my

00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:58.680
 covenant,

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.420
 you will

00:21:59.420 --> 00:21:59.660
 be

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.240
 exiled,

00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:00.980
 just like

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.560
 Adam and

00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:01.960
 Eve in

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.080
 the

00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:02.360
 garden

00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:02.560
 were

00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:03.080
 exiled.

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.279
 And

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.620
 of course,

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:03.779
 what

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.279
 happens?

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.259
 They

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.660
 break a

00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:06.920
 covenant,

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.400
 and they're

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:08.980
 sent away.

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.160
 God

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.779
 guarantees

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.600
 what he

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.300
 will do,

00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:13.860
 but there

00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:14.200
 is a

00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.680
 condition

00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.460
 here for

00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:15.940
 Abram

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.820
 and his

00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.240
 offspring

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.720
 to enjoy

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.000
 it,

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.519
 not just

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:19.700
 his

00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.119
 physical

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:20.559
 offspring

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.019
 either.

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.359
 Look,

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:21.940
 look here.

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.119
 Notice here

00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:23.599
 that from the

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:23.900
 beginning,

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.480
 this covenant

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.240
 is open to

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.819
 the nations.

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.079
 Did you

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.559
 notice that?

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.220
 It is not

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.880
 just the

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.660
 physical

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.460
 descendants of

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:31.859
 Abram,

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.700
 it's also

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.380
 those who are

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.420
 brought in

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:34.940
 from the

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.460
 outside,

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.079
 from the

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.339
 very beginning,

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.619
 God's plan

00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:41.160
 is to bless

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.599
 the world,

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.480
 and he will

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:44.980
 do it.

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.460
 But at

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:46.740
 the very

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.539
 same time,

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.160
 we see

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.140
 there is

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.740
 a condition.

00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.140
 They must

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.559
 meet this

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.299
 condition in

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.880
 order to

00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:53.120
 enjoy these

00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.779
 blessings.

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.360
 You can

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.740
 imagine,

00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.059
 even still,

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.599
 after all

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:58.799
 these

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.559
 reassurances,

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.160
 all these

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.140
 appearings,

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.500
 all these

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.960
 promises,

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.740
 reassured,

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.940
 reaffirmed,

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.980
 Abram here,

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.460
 99 years

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.980
 old, he

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.579
 still has

00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:07.799
 to be

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.099
 wondering,

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.480
 God,

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.660
 how will

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.339
 you do

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:10.680
 it?

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:13.019
 how in

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.680
 the world

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.100
 are you

00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.460
 going to

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.000
 multiply

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.779
 me

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.400
 and my

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:16.880
 offspring?

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.120
 So here

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:19.460
 again,

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:19.740
 look at

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.320
 verse 15.

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.080
 Yet again,

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.880
 God reaffirms

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.660
 the promise.

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.380
 God said

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:26.940
 to Abraham,

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.720
 as for

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.340
 Sarai,

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.180
 your wife,

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.080
 you shall

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.420
 not call

00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:30.840
 her name

00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:31.400
 Sarai,

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.100
 but Sarah

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:32.840
 shall be

00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:33.320
 her name.

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.560
 I will

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.220
 bless her,

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.240
 and moreover,

00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:36.799
 I will give

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.539
 you a son

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.779
 by her.

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.039
 I will

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.560
 bless her,

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:40.940
 she shall

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.319
 become

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.139
 nations,

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.839
 kings of

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.460
 peoples shall

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.419
 come from

00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:45.039
 her.

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.579
 And once

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.119
 again,

00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.559
 what does

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.039
 Abram do?

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.779
 He falls

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.379
 on his

00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:49.960
 face,

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.480
 only this

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.980
 time he's

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.159
 not

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:51.639
 worshipping,

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:51.960
 what's he

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.200
 doing?

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.460
 Verse 17,

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.519
 Abram falls

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:56.879
 on his

00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.339
 face and

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.159
 he laughs,

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.599
 he can't

00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.200
 believe it.

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.159
 Shall a

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:01.639
 child be

00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.319
 born to

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:02.759
 a man

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.379
 who's

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:03.819
 100

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.559
 years old?

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:04.940
 Are you

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.379
 serious?

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.039
 Shall

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.559
 Sarah,

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.279
 who is

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.139
 90 years

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:09.720
 old and

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.559
 barren?

00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.120
 Is she

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.539
 really going

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:11.799
 to bear

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.200
 a child?

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.420
 God,

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:12.559
 you've

00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:12.720
 got to

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:12.860
 be

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.100
 kidding

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.400
 me.

00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.200
 Now,

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.400
 I know

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.700
 you keep

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.259
 saying

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.740
 this,

00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.180
 I know

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.680
 you're

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.299
 not backing

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:18.920
 down off

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.140
 of your

00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.480
 promise,

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:19.920
 but this

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.380
 is just

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.980
 so crazy,

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:22.720
 so

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.700
 impossible,

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.180
 so unlikely,

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.720
 I can

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.940
 hardly believe

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.120
 it.

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.500
 So God,

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:27.720
 I've got

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.160
 an idea.

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.819
 How about

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.120
 you just

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.339
 take

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.839
 Ishmael?

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:33.839
 Can you

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.519
 just bless

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.480
 Ishmael?

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.660
 Oh,

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.500
 that Ishmael

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.259
 might live

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.000
 before you.

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.720
 Maybe this

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:41.000
 plan made

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.700
 in the flesh

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.119
 can just

00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.619
 work out

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.220
 after all.

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.500
 Don't you

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:43.859
 just love

00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.099
 that?

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.440
 And don't

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:46.879
 we tend

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:48.619
 to operate

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.039
 the same

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.319
 way?

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.859
 We make

00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.440
 our own

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.279
 plans without

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.740
 a thought

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.099
 to the

00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.420
 Lord.

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:54.839
 We do

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.519
 what we

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.119
 think we

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.539
 have to

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:56.980
 do to

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.440
 get what

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.019
 we think

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.460
 we have

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.000
 to have

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.339
 and then

00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.799
 we ask

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.180
 God's

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.579
 blessing

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.220
 on our

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.619
 plans

00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.119
 after the

00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:02.420
 fact,

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:02.779
 once they're

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.259
 already in

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.559
 motion.

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:03.859
 You ever

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.200
 do that?

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:07.279
 God won't

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.539
 do it

00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.039
 that way.

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.180
 The promises

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.220
 of God

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.599
 cannot be

00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.299
 achieved

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.319
 by human

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.660
 effort.

00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:16.940
 The promises

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.579
 of God

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:19.500
 cannot be

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.139
 earned,

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.400
 achieved,

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.420
 merited,

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.660
 brought about

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.859
 by anything

00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:26.160
 in us.

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.000
 So God

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.599
 says in

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.359
 verse 19,

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.180
 no,

00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:32.440
 Sarai,

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.079
 Sarah,

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.740
 your wife

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.180
 will bear

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.539
 you a

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.019
 son and

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.680
 you shall

00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.320
 call his

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.940
 name Isaac.

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.200
 Again,

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.539
 here,

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:41.860
 two new

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.360
 names,

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.640
 two new

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:43.940
 names.

00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:44.460
 Sarah,

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.160
 which means

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:46.000
 princess,

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.560
 that's a

00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:46.980
 hint of

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.940
 the royalty

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.420
 that's to

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:48.860
 come from

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.519
 her womb

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.600
 and Isaac,

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.400
 which means

00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.900
 he laughs.

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.440
 Now,

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.100
 Abram would

00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:56.660
 be reminded

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.299
 every time

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.820
 he called

00:25:57.820 --> 00:25:58.600
 Isaac's

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.160
 name that

00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.160
 God's

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.779
 word,

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:01.740
 his

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.500
 promises,

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:02.940
 however

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:04.160
 unlikely they

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.620
 seem,

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.559
 is nothing

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.319
 to laugh

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.579
 at.

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.219
 He is

00:26:07.219 --> 00:26:07.859
 God

00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:08.579
 almighty

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.319
 and he

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:09.719
 will

00:26:09.719 --> 00:26:10.359
 accomplish

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.359
 everything

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:11.599
 he

00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.039
 promises.

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.539
 God

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.159
 promises an

00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.539
 offspring,

00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:17.779
 Isaac,

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.379
 through

00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:19.119
 Sarah and

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.739
 he promises

00:26:19.739 --> 00:26:20.459
 now to

00:26:20.459 --> 00:26:21.739
 extend the

00:26:21.739 --> 00:26:22.099
 covenant

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.819
 blessings

00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.559
 through

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.739
 him.

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.319
 Don't lose

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.759
 sight of the

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.279
 big picture

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.539
 here.

00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:26.959
 Remember the

00:26:26.959 --> 00:26:27.419
 big picture?

00:26:28.479 --> 00:26:29.000
 We are

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.139
 tracing the

00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:30.959
 promise God

00:26:30.959 --> 00:26:31.479
 made all the

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.000
 way back in

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.740
 Genesis 3

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.940
 of the

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.819
 seed of

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.400
 the woman,

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.220
 an offspring

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.200
 of Eve,

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.940
 an offspring

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.579
 of the woman

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:38.920
 who will

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.500
 come and

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.339
 crush the

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:40.940
 head of

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.539
 the serpent.

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.299
 It's in

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.980
 him that

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.440
 all the

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.940
 nations of

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.240
 the earth

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.559
 will be

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.000
 blessed.

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.660
 It's in

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.160
 him that

00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.640
 this curse

00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:47.120
 of sin

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.500
 will be

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.799
 peeled back

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.680
 and undone.

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.599
 And now

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:50.980
 we have

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.500
 clarity.

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.160
 God says

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.360
 this promised

00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:54.259
 Messiah will

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.059
 now come

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.819
 through

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.960
 Isaac.

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.740
 I will

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.380
 establish my

00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:00.960
 covenant with

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:02.120
 him as an

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.600
 everlasting

00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:03.420
 covenant for

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.980
 his offspring

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.779
 after him.

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:05.920
 As for

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.500
 Ishmael, I

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.000
 have heard

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.319
 you, I

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.519
 haven't

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.779
 forgotten

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.299
 about him.

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:09.700
 And behold,

00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.059
 I have

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.700
 blessed him

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:10.960
 and will

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.340
 make him

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.079
 fruitful and

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.779
 multiply him

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.259
 greatly.

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.019
 He shall

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.759
 father twelve

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.500
 princes, I

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:15.920
 will make him

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.500
 into a great

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.840
 nation, but I

00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:18.720
 will establish

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.600
 my covenant

00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:20.880
 with Isaac.

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.940
 By the way,

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.420
 he's coming

00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.019
 next year.

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.440
 Sarah shall

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.779
 bear,

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.460
 to you,

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.180
 this child,

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.799
 at this

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.720
 time next

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.460
 year.

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:30.779
 Can you

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.360
 imagine this

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.000
 anticipation?

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.299
 Twenty-five

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.039
 years of

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.900
 waiting, and

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.360
 now we're

00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:37.319
 less than a

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.980
 year away.

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.759
 The child of

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.400
 promise is

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.079
 coming.

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.720
 We're almost

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.120
 here.

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.500
 So how does

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.740
 Abram respond?

00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.200
 Look there to

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.039
 verse 22.

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.740
 Abram responds

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.680
 in the obedience

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:51.100
 of faith.

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.200
 How do we

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.180
 see faith?

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.460
 If faith is

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.259
 trust in

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.799
 the promises

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.559
 of God,

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.640
 that's

00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.079
 invisible.

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.559
 We can't

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.180
 really see

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.960
 faith, can

00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.100
 we?

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.500
 How do we

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.840
 see it

00:28:02.840 --> 00:28:03.600
 manifested?

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.519
 We see

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:06.279
 faith manifested

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.600
 externally in

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.120
 obedience.

00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.380
 When he had

00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.559
 finished talking

00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.340
 with him, God

00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:12.880
 went up from

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.200
 Abram, and

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.600
 then Abraham

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:15.579
 took Ishmael,

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.299
 his son, and

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.019
 all those born

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.840
 in his house,

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.880
 or bought with

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.360
 his money,

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.259
 every male among

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.680
 the men of

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.600
 Abraham's house,

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:23.659
 circumcised the

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.299
 flesh of their

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.179
 foreskins that

00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:26.199
 very day, as

00:28:26.199 --> 00:28:26.959
 God had said

00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.359
 to him.

00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:28.779
 Abraham was

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.319
 ninety-nine

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.039
 years old when

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.980
 he was circumcised

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.639
 in the flesh of

00:28:31.639 --> 00:28:32.319
 his foreskin.

00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:33.519
 Ishmael, his

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.219
 son, was thirteen

00:28:34.219 --> 00:28:35.000
 years old when

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.899
 he was circumcised

00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.500
 in the flesh of

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.119
 his foreskin.

00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:38.740
 That very day,

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.719
 no delay in it,

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.399
 no waiting,

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.219
 Abraham and

00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:44.000
 his son Ishmael

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.959
 were circumcised,

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.639
 and all the men

00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.179
 of the house,

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.359
 those born in

00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:47.779
 the house,

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.419
 those bought with

00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:49.000
 money from a

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.259
 foreigner, all of

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.980
 them were

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.519
 circumcised with

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:52.819
 him.

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.819
 This is quick,

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:56.240
 complete, total,

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.799
 immediate obedience.

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.799
 That's what faith

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.440
 looks like.

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.460
 The obedience of

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:02.879
 someone who's

00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:03.720
 trusted in the

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.680
 promise of God.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:07.619
 So, we see that

00:29:07.619 --> 00:29:09.039
 circumcision served

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.980
 as a promise,

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.759
 we've seen it

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.599
 served as a

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.720
 prescription, but

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.240
 there is a third

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.460
 function here, and

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:15.980
 here's where it

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.839
 comes to us this

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.859
 morning, church.

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.259
 Here's where it

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.099
 comes to bear on

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.419
 us.

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:22.619
 Third, circumcision

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.939
 is a pointer.

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.419
 It is a pointer.

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:30.219
 As we read

00:29:30.219 --> 00:29:31.159
 through the Old

00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:32.139
 Testament, and we

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:33.299
 see God's dealings

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.359
 with Abraham, and

00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.419
 we see how he

00:29:35.419 --> 00:29:35.919
 deals with his

00:29:35.919 --> 00:29:36.819
 people under the

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:39.159
 Old Covenant, we

00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:40.119
 need to understand

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.579
 that that's not

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.740
 where it stops.

00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:45.339
 All of this is

00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:46.299
 pointing us

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:48.039
 forward to a

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.700
 new and better

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.799
 covenant, the

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.859
 new covenant of

00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:53.460
 grace in Jesus

00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.139
 Christ.

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:57.220
 These promises here

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.099
 made to Abraham,

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:58.940
 they have a

00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.440
 partial fulfillment

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.359
 in the life of

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:02.940
 Israel, yes, but

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.740
 that's not all.

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.059
 They are

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.159
 ultimately,

00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:08.159
 finally fulfilled

00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:09.379
 in Christ.

00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:09.500
 Christ.

00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.800
 This is good

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.600
 news for us,

00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.000
 church.

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.240
 We shouldn't

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.840
 read this and

00:30:15.840 --> 00:30:16.540
 think, man, it

00:30:16.540 --> 00:30:17.120
 must be nice to

00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.560
 be a Jew.

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.480
 I wish I had some

00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.080
 of those promises,

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.400
 right?

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.960
 I wish that God

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.660
 would be for me.

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:23.600
 I wish that God

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.640
 would give me a

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.060
 land and a place.

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.820
 I wish God would

00:30:26.820 --> 00:30:28.120
 bless me and give

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:29.640
 me a certain hope

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.120
 and a certain

00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:31.540
 future and be my

00:30:31.540 --> 00:30:31.960
 God.

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.040
 Don't you see?

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.080
 Christian, you can

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:36.680
 read these promises

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.759
 and rejoice.

00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.779
 All of these are

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:41.000
 yours by faith in

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.440
 Christ.

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.620
 Think about this

00:30:44.620 --> 00:30:45.259
 with me for a

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.400
 minute.

00:30:45.580 --> 00:30:47.140
 The God who

00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:48.940
 made all things,

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:51.180
 rules over all

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.340
 things, spoke all

00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.360
 things into being,

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.539
 holds all things

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:54.980
 together.

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.039
 This God is

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.640
 your God.

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:02.220
 He is your God

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.860
 in Christ.

00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:06.620
 He is for you

00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.299
 in Christ.

00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.640
 He delights in

00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.620
 you in Christ.

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.940
 He loves you

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.680
 in Christ.

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.140
 He stands to

00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:14.120
 defend you from

00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:14.860
 all your enemies

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.539
 in Christ.

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.980
 He is working

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.960
 out all things

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.940
 for the good of

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.640
 those who love

00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:20.940
 him.

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.980
 And are called

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.680
 according to his

00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.180
 purposes.

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:25.299
 This God is yours

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.299
 in Christ.

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.560
 We are the most

00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:29.980
 prosperous people in

00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.720
 all the earth,

00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:31.200
 church.

00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.080
 Who is more

00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:33.980
 blessed than us?

00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.019
 What blessing

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.759
 could we desire

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.380
 more than the

00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.100
 Lord himself?

00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.720
 He says, I'm

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:41.000
 yours in Christ.

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.000
 Not only this,

00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.600
 but we have a

00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:47.400
 future place to

00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:47.799
 inherit.

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.779
 Not just Canaan.

00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.340
 Canaan is too

00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:49.699
 small.

00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:53.759
 Romans 4 tells

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.659
 us the promise

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.859
 made to Abraham

00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.339
 and his

00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:57.619
 offspring was

00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:58.259
 that they would

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.539
 be heirs of

00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:01.519
 all the world.

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:04.440
 all the earth.

00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:06.599
 Just imagine it.

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.240
 Totally renewed,

00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.960
 freed from sin,

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.980
 no more curse,

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.940
 no more evil,

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:15.279
 no more pain,

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.720
 no more death,

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.460
 no more tears.

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:19.099
 A perfect place

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:20.359
 where Christ the

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.720
 King will reign

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.599
 forever and ever.

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.579
 Where Christ,

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.619
 our Emmanuel,

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.980
 will be God

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.779
 with us

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.519
 forever more.

00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.200
 forever more.

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:30.220
 That is your

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:32.119
 future in Christ.

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.259
 And who can come

00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.779
 enjoy it?

00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:38.779
 All the people

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.980
 of God.

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.779
 His spiritual

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:44.259
 posterity.

00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:46.160
 Not just the

00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:46.980
 children of Abraham

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.879
 according to the

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:49.000
 flesh, but those

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.039
 who share the

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:51.639
 faith of Abraham.

00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:52.960
 Children of God

00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.019
 from every tribe,

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.019
 every tongue,

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.039
 every nation.

00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.079
 These promises

00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:58.480
 of people,

00:32:58.859 --> 00:32:59.279
 place,

00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:00.240
 prosperity,

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.740
 are all fulfilled

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.700
 in Christ

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:04.019
 and in Him.

00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:05.660
 By faith in Him.

00:33:05.879 --> 00:33:06.160
 Church,

00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:07.539
 we are heirs

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.240
 of all the

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.359
 promises of God.

00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.539
 But there is

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.180
 one condition.

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.059
 You know what it is?

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.940
 You must be

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:23.259
 circumcised.

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:26.240
 not according

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:26.980
 to the flesh,

00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.519
 but according

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:31.400
 to the Spirit.

00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.940
 You must be

00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.940
 circumcised

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.980
 in your

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.160
 heart.

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.440
 Meaning,

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.619
 you must be

00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.319
 born again

00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:43.319
 by the Spirit

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:43.920
 of God

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:45.839
 through faith

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.700
 in Christ.

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:47.980
 You must be

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.759
 given a

00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.579
 new

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.420
 heart.

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:52.600
 you must be

00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:53.560
 spiritually

00:33:53.560 --> 00:33:55.480
 circumcised.

00:33:55.580 --> 00:33:55.900
 In fact,

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.779
 that's exactly

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.560
 what this

00:33:57.560 --> 00:33:58.220
 fleshly

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:59.000
 circumcision

00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.960
 is pointing

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.560
 to.

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.800
 Physical

00:34:02.800 --> 00:34:03.680
 circumcision

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:05.600
 is a

00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.620
 pointer.

00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:07.480
 It's a

00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:07.940
 shadow.

00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:09.300
 It's this

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.800
 partial

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.659
 black and

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:10.960
 white

00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.420
 fuzzy

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.059
 image.

00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.300
 But as we

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:13.940
 come forward

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.559
 through the

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.320
 new covenant

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:15.740
 and the

00:34:15.740 --> 00:34:16.420
 new testament

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:16.980
 and we see

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:17.500
 what Christ

00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.119
 has done,

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.819
 we see

00:34:18.819 --> 00:34:19.460
 this image

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.359
 in full

00:34:20.359 --> 00:34:21.380
 4K

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.319
 high definition

00:34:22.319 --> 00:34:22.839
 color.

00:34:23.779 --> 00:34:24.679
 We see

00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.299
 the substance

00:34:25.299 --> 00:34:25.759
 to the

00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.159
 shadow.

00:34:27.859 --> 00:34:28.539
 Physical

00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.380
 circumcision

00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.239
 is pointing

00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:30.799
 us

00:34:30.799 --> 00:34:31.519
 forwards

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.779
 to true

00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:33.980
 spiritual

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.219
 circumcision.

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:37.039
 Not to

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.960
 baptism,

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.980
 by the way,

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.559
 which our

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.319
 Presbyterian

00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:40.699
 friends,

00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:41.139
 who I love

00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:41.500
 them so

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.059
 dearly,

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:42.819
 believe,

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.500
 but to what

00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:45.699
 baptism represents.

00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.619
 physical

00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.500
 circumcision

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.199
 points us

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.279
 forwards to

00:34:50.279 --> 00:34:51.199
 true

00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:52.279
 spiritual

00:34:52.279 --> 00:34:53.199
 circumcision

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.099
 by faith

00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:55.259
 in Christ.

00:34:55.379 --> 00:34:55.779
 And if you've

00:34:55.779 --> 00:34:56.699
 received that,

00:34:56.879 --> 00:34:57.359
 then we

00:34:57.359 --> 00:34:58.480
 baptize you.

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.039
 If you want

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.519
 to be one

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.019
 of the people

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.659
 of God,

00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:06.039
 if you want

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:06.279
 to be an

00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:07.139
 heir of all

00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:07.819
 the promises

00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:08.579
 of God,

00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:09.019
 there is

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:10.379
 one way,

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:11.779
 one condition.

00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:12.799
 You must

00:35:12.799 --> 00:35:13.819
 be spiritually

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.899
 circumcised.

00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.420
 That's the

00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:15.980
 requirement.

00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:18.019
 That's the

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.639
 condition.

00:35:19.740 --> 00:35:20.180
 But this is

00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:20.700
 what brings

00:35:20.700 --> 00:35:21.559
 you into

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.019
 the new

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.440
 covenant.

00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:24.660
 The good

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.099
 news for

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.420
 us,

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:25.880
 church,

00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:27.519
 is that

00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.260
 God

00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:29.240
 himself

00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:30.599
 does this

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.500
 work by

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.880
 his grace

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.599
 in his

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.059
 people.

00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:35.420
 It cannot

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.300
 be accomplished

00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:37.059
 in the flesh.

00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:39.099
 Which means,

00:35:39.240 --> 00:35:39.760
 praise God,

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.660
 it cannot be

00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.440
 forfeited in

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.000
 the flesh.

00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:45.760
 God

00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.380
 himself

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.340
 meets

00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.079
 this

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.719
 condition

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:49.519
 of the

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:49.739
 new

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:50.179
 covenant

00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:51.500
 for us

00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:52.380
 and in

00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:52.900
 us.

00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.280
 We can't

00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:53.780
 give ourselves

00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:54.679
 new birth.

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:57.119
 We can't

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:57.760
 spiritually

00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:58.800
 resurrect a

00:35:58.800 --> 00:35:59.420
 dead heart.

00:35:59.539 --> 00:35:59.800
 We can't

00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:00.280
 give ourselves

00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:01.320
 new life.

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:02.519
 God must

00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:03.179
 do it.

00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:03.760
 And God

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:05.039
 has done

00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.260
 it.

00:36:05.260 --> 00:36:07.980
 God has

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:08.440
 accomplished

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.280
 our salvation

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.120
 in such

00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:10.620
 a way

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.040
 that if

00:36:11.040 --> 00:36:11.960
 you have

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.140
 it,

00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.240
 you cannot

00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:14.220
 lose it.

00:36:15.680 --> 00:36:16.480
 You cannot

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.400
 be exiled

00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:17.740
 from the

00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.360
 new creation.

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.620
 We are

00:36:20.620 --> 00:36:21.240
 born again

00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:21.900
 of his

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.600
 spirit

00:36:22.600 --> 00:36:23.660
 by faith

00:36:23.660 --> 00:36:24.240
 in Christ,

00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:24.860
 brought in

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.480
 to his

00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:25.860
 covenant

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:26.680
 by his

00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:27.300
 work,

00:36:27.600 --> 00:36:27.960
 his

00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.660
 grace,

00:36:29.040 --> 00:36:29.460
 his

00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:30.200
 plan,

00:36:30.560 --> 00:36:31.060
 his

00:36:31.060 --> 00:36:32.160
 power.

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:32.560
 God

00:36:32.560 --> 00:36:33.720
 gave

00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:34.200
 Abram a

00:36:34.199 --> 00:36:34.679
 glimpse of

00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.059
 this,

00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.539
 didn't he?

00:36:37.879 --> 00:36:38.359
 In a

00:36:38.359 --> 00:36:39.119
 miraculous

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.899
 birth to

00:36:39.899 --> 00:36:40.239
 an old

00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:40.679
 man as

00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:40.980
 good as

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:41.259
 dead,

00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.000
 he got

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:43.439
 to see

00:36:43.439 --> 00:36:44.379
 El Shaddai

00:36:44.379 --> 00:36:45.299
 in part,

00:36:45.399 --> 00:36:46.000
 but church,

00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:47.539
 we see

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.059
 the power

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.599
 of God

00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.259
 displayed

00:36:49.259 --> 00:36:49.899
 most

00:36:49.899 --> 00:36:50.619
 clearly

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.319
 in the

00:36:51.319 --> 00:36:51.819
 regeneration

00:36:51.819 --> 00:36:52.799
 of sinners

00:36:52.799 --> 00:36:53.259
 from the

00:36:53.259 --> 00:36:53.619
 dead.

00:36:55.399 --> 00:36:56.139
 If anyone

00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:56.460
 is in

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:56.919
 Christ,

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.519
 he is a

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:58.779
 what?

00:36:58.919 --> 00:36:59.239
 Help me.

00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:00.839
 A new

00:37:00.839 --> 00:37:01.379
 creation.

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.399
 The old

00:37:03.399 --> 00:37:03.859
 is gone.

00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:04.460
 Behold,

00:37:04.620 --> 00:37:05.160
 the new

00:37:05.160 --> 00:37:06.160
 has come.

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.579
 This has

00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:06.960
 been the

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.380
 plan of

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:07.820
 God from

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.360
 the beginning.

00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.320
 All the

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.820
 way back to

00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.440
 Deuteronomy,

00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:12.160
 the promise

00:37:12.160 --> 00:37:12.720
 was made,

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.300
 the Lord

00:37:13.300 --> 00:37:13.940
 your God

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.380
 will

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.260
 circumcise

00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:15.599
 your

00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:16.640
 heart

00:37:16.640 --> 00:37:17.860
 and the

00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:18.360
 heart of

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:18.880
 all your

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.400
 offspring

00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:20.400
 so that

00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:20.700
 you will

00:37:20.700 --> 00:37:21.200
 love the

00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:21.559
 Lord your

00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.019
 God with

00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:22.620
 all your

00:37:22.620 --> 00:37:23.180
 heart and

00:37:23.180 --> 00:37:23.680
 all your

00:37:23.680 --> 00:37:24.539
 soul that

00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:24.980
 you may

00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.460
 live.

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:25.940
 In fact,

00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.660
 I'll go a

00:37:26.660 --> 00:37:27.360
 step further

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:27.820
 and go to

00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:28.200
 Romans.

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.140
 This is

00:37:29.140 --> 00:37:29.500
 what it

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:29.980
 means to

00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.539
 be a

00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.000
 true

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.519
 Jew,

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.640
 Paul says

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.159
 in Romans.

00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:35.719
 A true

00:37:35.719 --> 00:37:36.319
 Jew,

00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.219
 an heir

00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:38.579
 of the

00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:39.059
 promises,

00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:40.699
 one who

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:41.480
 is included

00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.000
 in the

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.579
 people of

00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:42.920
 God,

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.519
 one who

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.119
 has been

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:45.039
 circumcised

00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.659
 in the

00:37:45.659 --> 00:37:46.500
 heart by

00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.179
 the Spirit.

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.079
 Paul makes

00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.440
 this clear

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:48.799
 in Romans

00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.039
 2.

00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:50.679
 He says,

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.500
 no one

00:37:51.500 --> 00:37:51.980
 is a

00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:52.419
 Jew who

00:37:52.419 --> 00:37:52.899
 is merely

00:37:52.899 --> 00:37:53.239
 one

00:37:53.239 --> 00:37:54.000
 outwardly,

00:37:54.339 --> 00:37:55.379
 nor is

00:37:55.379 --> 00:37:56.039
 circumcision

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.879
 outward and

00:37:56.879 --> 00:37:57.319
 physical,

00:37:57.839 --> 00:37:58.819
 but a

00:37:58.819 --> 00:37:59.359
 Jew is

00:37:59.359 --> 00:37:59.739
 one

00:37:59.739 --> 00:38:00.719
 inwardly,

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:01.579
 and

00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:02.339
 circumcision

00:38:02.339 --> 00:38:02.799
 is a

00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:03.319
 matter of

00:38:03.319 --> 00:38:03.980
 the heart

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:04.819
 by the

00:38:04.819 --> 00:38:05.299
 Spirit,

00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:06.379
 not by

00:38:06.379 --> 00:38:06.579
 the

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:06.839
 letter.

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:07.779
 His

00:38:07.779 --> 00:38:08.339
 praise is

00:38:08.339 --> 00:38:08.899
 not from

00:38:08.899 --> 00:38:09.319
 man,

00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.559
 but from

00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:11.099
 God.

00:38:12.859 --> 00:38:13.659
 So Paul

00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:14.119
 can say

00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:15.119
 in Philippians

00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:15.859
 chapter 3

00:38:15.859 --> 00:38:16.919
 to a group

00:38:16.919 --> 00:38:18.099
 of Gentiles,

00:38:18.419 --> 00:38:19.519
 we are the

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.320
 circumcision,

00:38:20.719 --> 00:38:22.980
 we are the

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.699
 circumcision,

00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:25.460
 who worship

00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.059
 by the

00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:26.940
 Spirit of

00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:27.460
 God and

00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.400
 glory in

00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:29.139
 Christ Jesus

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:29.619
 and put

00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:30.960
 no confidence

00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.780
 in the

00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:32.199
 flesh.

00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:32.579
 He goes

00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.219
 on in the

00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:33.800
 passage that

00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:34.099
 was read

00:38:34.099 --> 00:38:34.599
 this morning

00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:35.380
 from Colossians

00:38:35.380 --> 00:38:35.980
 chapter 2.

00:38:37.159 --> 00:38:38.059
 In him,

00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:38.820
 in Christ

00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:39.679
 also,

00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:41.000
 you were

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:42.119
 circumcised

00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:43.199
 with a

00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:43.759
 circumcision

00:38:43.759 --> 00:38:44.659
 made without

00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.519
 hands,

00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:46.880
 by putting

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:47.320
 off the

00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:47.800
 body of

00:38:47.800 --> 00:38:48.440
 the flesh

00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:49.300
 by the

00:38:49.300 --> 00:38:49.920
 circumcision

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:51.420
 of Christ.

00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.039
 Having been

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:53.800
 buried with

00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:54.200
 him in

00:38:54.200 --> 00:38:54.740
 baptism,

00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.240
 in which

00:38:55.240 --> 00:38:55.580
 you were

00:38:55.580 --> 00:38:56.740
 also raised

00:38:56.740 --> 00:38:57.260
 with him

00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:58.200
 through faith

00:38:58.200 --> 00:38:58.840
 in the

00:38:58.840 --> 00:38:59.300
 powerful

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.100
 working of

00:39:00.100 --> 00:39:00.640
 God who

00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:01.320
 raised him

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:01.800
 from the

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:02.080
 dead.

00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.519
 And you

00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.600
 who were

00:39:04.600 --> 00:39:05.080
 dead in

00:39:05.080 --> 00:39:05.220
 your

00:39:05.220 --> 00:39:05.920
 trespasses

00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:06.440
 in the

00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:07.420
 uncircumcision

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:07.840
 of your

00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:08.380
 flesh,

00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.740
 God made

00:39:09.740 --> 00:39:10.880
 alive together

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.640
 with him,

00:39:12.640 --> 00:39:13.360
 having forgiven

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:14.060
 all our

00:39:14.060 --> 00:39:14.760
 trespasses

00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:15.800
 by canceling

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.500
 the record

00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:16.960
 of debt

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.420
 that stood

00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:18.240
 against us

00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:18.919
 with his

00:39:18.919 --> 00:39:19.859
 legal demands.

00:39:20.399 --> 00:39:21.079
 This he

00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:21.959
 set aside,

00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:23.239
 nailing it

00:39:23.239 --> 00:39:24.359
 to the

00:39:24.359 --> 00:39:24.959
 cross.

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.039
 I ask you

00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:30.439
 a personal

00:39:30.439 --> 00:39:31.199
 question this

00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:31.479
 morning.

00:39:33.479 --> 00:39:34.199
 Hopefully by

00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:34.519
 now you

00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:34.979
 understand.

00:39:34.979 --> 00:39:35.279
 Have you

00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:38.339
 been circumcised?

00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:41.680
 not according

00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:42.000
 to the

00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:42.539
 flesh that

00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:42.940
 matters

00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:44.300
 close to

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:44.620
 nothing.

00:39:45.660 --> 00:39:46.579
 Have you

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:47.860
 been circumcised

00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:49.039
 in the

00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:49.380
 heart?

00:39:51.019 --> 00:39:52.280
 Has God

00:39:52.280 --> 00:39:54.200
 by his

00:39:54.200 --> 00:39:54.700
 grace

00:39:54.700 --> 00:39:57.000
 sent the

00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:57.780
 message of

00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:58.340
 the gospel

00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.120
 to you

00:39:59.120 --> 00:39:59.880
 in such a

00:39:59.880 --> 00:40:01.460
 way that

00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:02.019
 you hear

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:02.260
 it,

00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:03.880
 you believe

00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.100
 it,

00:40:04.180 --> 00:40:04.880
 you respond

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.800
 with faith

00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:06.200
 that your

00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:07.200
 heart is

00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:08.039
 alive to

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.600
 the glories

00:40:08.600 --> 00:40:09.300
 of Christ?

00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:10.940
 That by

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:11.460
 faith you

00:40:11.460 --> 00:40:11.860
 see I

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.780
 have no

00:40:12.780 --> 00:40:13.960
 hope of

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.480
 standing

00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:15.260
 before this

00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:15.980
 holy God

00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.600
 on my

00:40:16.600 --> 00:40:17.039
 record,

00:40:17.180 --> 00:40:17.800
 I must

00:40:17.800 --> 00:40:18.580
 have a

00:40:18.580 --> 00:40:19.039
 savior.

00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:21.380
 Have you

00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:22.480
 trusted in

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.120
 Christ alone

00:40:23.120 --> 00:40:23.800
 by faith?

00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:26.420
 Has God

00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:26.820
 put his

00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:28.820
 spirit in

00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:29.360
 your heart

00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:30.700
 as a sign

00:40:30.700 --> 00:40:31.420
 and a

00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:31.980
 guarantee

00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:32.960
 of promises

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.519
 made,

00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:35.480
 of an

00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.000
 assurance

00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.659
 of a

00:40:36.659 --> 00:40:37.099
 future

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:37.699
 glorious

00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:38.220
 hope,

00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:40.059
 of an

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:40.639
 enabler

00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.740
 of obedience

00:40:41.740 --> 00:40:42.460
 of faith

00:40:42.460 --> 00:40:42.659
 that's

00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:43.380
 required of

00:40:43.380 --> 00:40:43.579
 you?

00:40:45.480 --> 00:40:46.079
 Has God

00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:46.480
 by his

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:46.760
 grace

00:40:46.760 --> 00:40:47.579
 circumcised

00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:48.039
 your heart?

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.139
 If so,

00:40:49.300 --> 00:40:49.800
 then friend,

00:40:50.159 --> 00:40:51.480
 rejoice that

00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:51.800
 by the

00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:52.340
 grace of

00:40:52.340 --> 00:40:52.699
 God,

00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:53.860
 all the

00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:54.300
 promises

00:40:54.300 --> 00:40:55.119
 of God

00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:55.980
 are yours

00:40:55.980 --> 00:40:56.679
 in Christ.

00:40:58.679 --> 00:40:59.420
 And if

00:40:59.420 --> 00:40:59.800
 not,

00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:00.420
 then friend,

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.159
 the invitation

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:01.760
 is yours

00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.340
 this morning.

00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:02.620
 Would you

00:41:02.620 --> 00:41:03.059
 come to

00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:03.340
 Christ

00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:03.860
 by faith?

00:41:05.559 --> 00:41:06.200
 Would you

00:41:06.200 --> 00:41:06.539
 look to

00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:06.920
 him who

00:41:06.920 --> 00:41:07.700
 was cut

00:41:07.700 --> 00:41:08.600
 off for

00:41:08.600 --> 00:41:09.140
 you so

00:41:09.140 --> 00:41:09.660
 that you

00:41:09.660 --> 00:41:10.340
 might be

00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:11.360
 included in

00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:11.740
 the people

00:41:11.740 --> 00:41:12.300
 of God,

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:12.920
 made an

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.400
 heir of

00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:14.059
 his promises,

00:41:14.680 --> 00:41:15.420
 adopted as

00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:15.980
 a son and

00:41:15.980 --> 00:41:16.360
 a daughter

00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:16.920
 of God?

00:41:17.240 --> 00:41:17.579
 Would you

00:41:17.579 --> 00:41:18.240
 look to

00:41:18.240 --> 00:41:18.980
 Christ by

00:41:18.980 --> 00:41:19.600
 faith?

00:41:23.019 --> 00:41:23.220
 Now,

00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:23.500
 when I

00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:24.100
 look at my

00:41:24.100 --> 00:41:24.860
 wedding ring,

00:41:25.860 --> 00:41:27.059
 I'm reminded

00:41:27.059 --> 00:41:28.280
 of promises

00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:28.960
 made,

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:29.559
 I'm reminded

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.320
 of my

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.039
 responsibilities,

00:41:31.500 --> 00:41:31.940
 I'm reminded

00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:32.280
 of the

00:41:32.280 --> 00:41:32.820
 vows that

00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:33.340
 my wife

00:41:33.340 --> 00:41:34.480
 made to

00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:34.760
 me,

00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:35.179
 but I

00:41:35.179 --> 00:41:36.000
 should also

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.700
 be reminded

00:41:36.700 --> 00:41:38.300
 that this

00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:38.780
 marriage is

00:41:38.780 --> 00:41:39.340
 not forever.

00:41:41.420 --> 00:41:41.960
 It too

00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:42.420
 is a

00:41:42.420 --> 00:41:43.280
 pointer

00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:44.679
 towards a

00:41:44.679 --> 00:41:45.159
 greater

00:41:45.159 --> 00:41:45.740
 forever

00:41:45.740 --> 00:41:46.380
 union

00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:46.740
 between

00:41:46.740 --> 00:41:47.320
 Christ

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:48.019
 and his

00:41:48.019 --> 00:41:48.480
 bride.

00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:48.920
 It is a

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.860
 picture of

00:41:49.860 --> 00:41:50.360
 a greater

00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:51.320
 reality to

00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:51.679
 come.

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:54.179
 In the

00:41:54.179 --> 00:41:54.679
 very same

00:41:54.679 --> 00:41:54.980
 way,

00:41:55.079 --> 00:41:55.740
 this sign

00:41:55.740 --> 00:41:56.679
 of circumcision,

00:41:56.679 --> 00:41:57.440
 it points

00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:57.799
 us

00:41:57.799 --> 00:41:59.299
 forward to

00:41:59.299 --> 00:42:00.019
 true

00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:01.119
 circumcision

00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:01.759
 of the

00:42:01.759 --> 00:42:02.299
 spirit.

00:42:04.139 --> 00:42:04.500
 And this

00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:05.239
 gathering of

00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:05.919
 believers,

00:42:06.919 --> 00:42:07.759
 churches,

00:42:07.879 --> 00:42:08.199
 we come

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:08.579
 together

00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:09.199
 week in

00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:10.079
 and week

00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:10.519
 out and

00:42:10.519 --> 00:42:10.859
 we sing

00:42:10.859 --> 00:42:11.539
 songs of

00:42:11.539 --> 00:42:12.239
 worship and

00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:12.819
 we enjoy

00:42:12.819 --> 00:42:13.839
 fellowship with

00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:14.379
 one another

00:42:14.379 --> 00:42:15.500
 as we rejoice

00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:16.199
 in the truths

00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:16.899
 of the gospel,

00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:17.739
 as we meet

00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:18.199
 with the

00:42:18.199 --> 00:42:19.099
 living God.

00:42:19.419 --> 00:42:20.179
 This too

00:42:20.179 --> 00:42:20.819
 is a

00:42:20.819 --> 00:42:21.519
 pointer to

00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:22.079
 greater

00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:22.800
 day to

00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:23.179
 come

00:42:23.179 --> 00:42:25.000
 when Christ

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.579
 returns

00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:27.320
 and all

00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:27.679
 of his

00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:28.300
 people from

00:42:28.300 --> 00:42:29.219
 every tribe,

00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:29.960
 tongue,

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:30.920
 and nation

00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:31.500
 will be

00:42:31.500 --> 00:42:32.219
 gathered as

00:42:32.219 --> 00:42:33.380
 one in

00:42:33.380 --> 00:42:34.340
 worship before

00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:34.820
 the king.

00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:36.960
 And on that

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.519
 day we will

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:38.759
 see every

00:42:38.759 --> 00:42:40.599
 promise kept

00:42:40.599 --> 00:42:42.300
 by our

00:42:42.300 --> 00:42:42.639
 God.

00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:44.960
 Father,

00:42:45.099 --> 00:42:46.900
 we praise

00:42:46.900 --> 00:42:47.139
 you,

00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:47.639
 Lord.

00:42:47.739 --> 00:42:48.079
 All of

00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:48.900
 this is

00:42:48.900 --> 00:42:51.199
 to the

00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:51.639
 praise of

00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:52.199
 your glorious

00:42:52.199 --> 00:42:52.779
 grace.

00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.659
 God,

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:55.319
 we praise

00:42:55.319 --> 00:42:56.039
 you that

00:42:56.039 --> 00:42:56.899
 you have

00:42:56.899 --> 00:42:57.259
 worked

00:42:57.259 --> 00:42:58.000
 salvation

00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.659
 in your

00:42:58.659 --> 00:42:59.319
 people by

00:42:59.319 --> 00:43:00.039
 your grace

00:43:00.039 --> 00:43:01.019
 through faith

00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:01.619
 in Christ,

00:43:01.719 --> 00:43:02.000
 that you

00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.359
 have spiritually

00:43:03.359 --> 00:43:04.599
 circumcised our

00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:05.019
 hearts,

00:43:05.139 --> 00:43:05.659
 given us a

00:43:05.659 --> 00:43:06.399
 new heart

00:43:06.399 --> 00:43:06.980
 that loves

00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:07.399
 you and

00:43:07.399 --> 00:43:08.460
 desires to

00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:08.819
 keep your

00:43:08.819 --> 00:43:09.379
 commands.

00:43:09.559 --> 00:43:09.739
 Lord,

00:43:09.799 --> 00:43:10.159
 that did

00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:10.719
 not come

00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:11.379
 from us.

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:13.539
 Father,

00:43:13.619 --> 00:43:14.139
 the promises

00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:14.639
 of God

00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:15.679
 cannot be

00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:16.199
 accomplished

00:43:16.199 --> 00:43:17.079
 in the flesh,

00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:17.619
 but Lord,

00:43:17.859 --> 00:43:18.579
 you've taken

00:43:18.579 --> 00:43:18.960
 it upon

00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:19.639
 yourself to

00:43:19.639 --> 00:43:20.219
 do all

00:43:20.219 --> 00:43:20.519
 that's

00:43:20.519 --> 00:43:20.779
 needed.

00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:22.559
 And

00:43:22.559 --> 00:43:22.799
 sending

00:43:22.799 --> 00:43:23.239
 Christ

00:43:23.239 --> 00:43:23.899
 to live

00:43:23.899 --> 00:43:24.219
 and to

00:43:24.219 --> 00:43:24.500
 die

00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:24.739
 and to

00:43:24.739 --> 00:43:25.000
 rise

00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:25.179
 for

00:43:25.179 --> 00:43:25.399
 sinners

00:43:25.399 --> 00:43:25.719
 like

00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:26.079
 us.

00:43:27.159 --> 00:43:27.519
 Lord,

00:43:27.579 --> 00:43:27.939
 we love

00:43:27.939 --> 00:43:28.219
 you and

00:43:28.219 --> 00:43:29.079
 we rejoice

00:43:29.079 --> 00:43:29.379
 in your

00:43:29.379 --> 00:43:29.859
 faithfulness

00:43:29.859 --> 00:43:30.359
 to us.

00:43:31.379 --> 00:43:31.619
 We pray

00:43:31.619 --> 00:43:31.960
 all this

00:43:31.960 --> 00:43:32.279
 in Jesus'

00:43:32.460 --> 00:43:32.619
 name.

00:43:33.659 --> 00:43:33.939
 Amen.

00:43:33.939 --> 00:43:34.039
 Amen.