One of the topics we’ve discussed extensively on Wednesday nights lately is that 1 John has a lot of repetition. John doesn’t repeat the exact same thing over and over, but there are definitely recurrent themes.

This presents a problem (to me) when I approach such a book in my usual style, which is dig into the book verse by verse. I like to approach it kind of like a jigsaw puzzle. It comes assembled, then disassemble it, then put it all back together, trying to get both the “big picture” and understand all the little pieces that make up that big picture. The repetition throws me, though, because I’m thinking, “I’ve seen this before.”

Look at Genesis 17:1-2, for instance.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." (ESV)

In the following verses, God reaffirms the covenant he has already made at least twice before with Abram. And, while there are some new details here (like that kings will come from Abram’s line), for the most part it reads like we’ve read it before.

When we read this passage in our English versions, verse 1 says “the Lord appeared” but it should be noted that the Hebrew there is “El Shaddai”. Recognize that phrase? We just sang it a few minutes ago. What’s it mean? “El” is Hebrew for “God” (basically). Combine it with Shaddai and we translate it “God Almighty” or “Lord”. Shaddai comes from “shadad” which means to “be violent” or “irresistibly strong”, like a mountain.

So, why does someone who is irresistibly strong like a mountain need to keep repeating this covenant?

I think the answer is found in Abraham.

Genesis 17:5
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. (ESV)

Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. (NIV)

Our name is who we are. There’s the old joke of the Aggie who’s at a football game. Surrounded by thousands of people. Someone shouts out, “Hey Fred!!” and the Aggie looks around. He doesn’t see anyone he knows, so he starts watching the game again. A few minutes later he hears the voice shout out again, “Hey Fred!!”, so he stands up and looks around. Still doesn’t see who might have called out, so he sits back down (obviously, they’re not at Kyle Field). Later the voice calls out again, “Hey Fred!!” so the Aggie stands up and shouts, “My name ain’t Fred!!”

Ever been walking through a store or a park and you hear someone say something that sounds like your name? What do you do? You turn and look. Sometimes it’s a friend, sometimes it’s a parent calling out to their child, and sometimes you can’t figure out what you heard. But you stopped and turned because your name draws your attention.

With this new iteration of the covenant, God gives Abram a new name because Abram has finally, after 99 years, become a new man. He has become the man God wants him to be. Notice, though, that this happens during Abram’s lifetime. He has become who God wants him to be in life!! You and I, we don’t get our new name—our real name—until we have completed this life.

Genesis 17:10-13
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. (ESV)

This is the first time God has asked for anything from Abraham’s side of the covenant. If you’ll remember, at the end of the story of Noah I mentioned that some people think rainbows had already been around and God took an existing symbol and associated his promise with it. Similarly, circumcision was not a new thing. Many of the cultures around Abraham practiced circumcision, but it was generally performed at the onset of puberty as a symbol of dedication one’s sexual activity to the gods.

This, however, being on the 8th day, has nothing to do with sexuality. God would establish later that on the eighth day an animal was eligible for sacrifice because it was considered independent. Perhaps God chose the 8th day for the male children to be circumcised, symbolizing that this is a new, independent, commitment to God.

And notice: this is something that only the man, his parents, and God will know about for sure. While this was a public covenant that all Israelite men would share, it was a private covenant that only the man and his wife would know about.

What about the women? We can only presume that they were consecrated into the covenant by their fathers and by the fact that they married consecrated men and saw that their sons were so consecrated. That doesn’t sound right in our PC society … but oh well. Let me remind you: we’re not in charge.

How does all this apply to us?

“Through the fleshly seed of Abraham, the worship of the living and true God (monotheism) and the basic principles of the moral law were preserved and handed down to posterity; through the spiritual seed of Abraham, eternal good news of redemption through Christ Jesus is proclaimed to all nations for the obedience of faith.” --CC Crawford

And, notice that God told Abraham to do this not just to himself and his sons, but every male in his household. This “badge of honor” is good for everyone, not just a select few. Later, the mark of people of God would be the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, it’s an exclusive badge of honor … but it’s available to all!!

Physical circumcision involved the cutting off of an “intimate bit of skin” while our spiritual circumcision involves the cutting off—from the interior man—the guilt of sin.

What do I DO with this?

Have you been (spiritually) circumcised? Do you keep your side of the covenant set forth at Calvary?