Abraham’s Covenant and Baptism in Jesus name

The LORD appeared to Abram, saying to him, “walk before me, and be perfect”.

The LORD said he would make his covenant between him and Abraham. He promised he would multiply Abraham exceedingly, that Abraham would be a father of many nations, he would be exceeding fruitful, and nations and kings should come out of him. He told Abraham it would be an everlasting covenant between him and Abraham, and his seed, and that he would give him the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession.

What is Abraham’s covenant?

God told Abraham his covenant would be in Abraham’s flesh for an everlasting covenant. The “token” of this covenant would be circumcision.

Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Genesis 17:10-11 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

The covenant of circumcision is fulfilled in water baptism in Jesus name.

Colossians 2:11-13 ¶In whom [Christ] also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

While circumcision removes the flesh of the foreskin, baptism removes the sins of the flesh.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When we are baptized in Jesus name, we bury the “old man” of sin in our life.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Just as with circumcision the flesh is cut off, when we have repented and been baptized in Jesus name we put off the sins of the flesh, the old man with his deeds and lusts.

Colossians 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

The LORD told Abraham,

Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

If we do not believe and are baptized, we are cut off from the people of God; we are damned.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

When the LORD made his covenant with Abraham, he changed his name. He changed it from Abram to Abraham.

While the token of the covenant – circumcision - was only possible for the men to observe, water baptism, the fulfilment of the covenant of circumcision, is for both men and women. At the time of the giving of the covenant of circumcision, God changed the names of both Abraham and Sarah. In water baptism, we are given a new name, the name of Jesus.

Genesis 17:5, 15 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

When we are water baptized, we are given the name of Jesus.

James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?)

Abraham is an example to us, that when God commanded him to be circumcised, he did not delay.

Genesis 17:26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

When the Lord sent Ananias to baptize Paul, Ananias did not want to delay to baptize him. He said to Paul,

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Likewise Peter, when Cornelius and his household received the Holy Ghost, commanded them to be baptized in Jesus name.

Acts 10:47-48 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.