God established His covenant with Abraham and his seed. As a token of God’s covenant with Abraham, God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male child on the eighth day. The circumcision in the flesh on the eighth day, which was as a token of the covenant between God and Abraham, was a foreshadow of the circumcision in Christ. When Christ died on the sixth day and rose from the dead on the eighth day, a New Covenant came into existence that replaced the Old Covenant. Let’s look at how the eighth day became the day of the New Covenant.
The covenant between God and Abraham
God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs (Matendo 7:8)
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. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.And God said unto Abraham, thou shalt keep My covenant therefore, nawe, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
Hili ndilo agano langu, ambayo mtaihifadhi, baina yangu na wewe na uzao wako baada yako.; Kila mtoto miongoni mwenu atatahiriwa. Nanyi mtaitahiri nyama ya ngozi zenu; Na itakuwa ni ishara ya agano lililonitwika mimi na wewe.
Na mwenye umri wa siku nane atatahiriwa kati yenu, Kila mtoto katika vizazi vyenu, Yeye aliyezaliwa katika nyumba, au kununuliwa kwa fedha za mgeni yeyote, ambayo si ya uzao wako. Yeye aliyezaliwa katika nyumba yako, na yule aliyenunuliwa kwa pesa yako, Lazima kutahiriwa: na agano langu litakuwa katika mwili wako kuwa agano la milele.. Na mtoto asiyetahiriwa ambaye nyama yake ya ngozi yake haijatahiriwa, Nafsi hiyo itakatiliwa mbali na watu wake.; Amevunja agano langu (Mwanzo 17:7-14)
The circumcision in the flesh on the eighth day was a token of the covenant
All the males, who were with Abraham, had to be circumcised, including Ishmael. But God said specifically, that God would establish His covenant with Isaac and not with Ishmael. Isaac wasn’t born yet, but God promised this child to Abraham. And God kept His promise and fulfilled His words. Despite the fact that Abraham and Sara had doubts about God’s promise, God kept His promise and fulfilled His words, as God always does.
When Sara became pregnant and Isaac was born, Isaac was circumcised on the eighth day. And all those, who were born of the seed of Isaac were circumcised on the eighth day. It didn’t matter what day the eighth day was. Whether it was on a Sabbath day or a feast day, every male child was circumcised on the eighth day.
An everlasting covenant
Ndugu, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, Sheria ya, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? Mungu apishe mbali: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Kwa maana ninyi nyote mmekuwa wana wa Mungu kwa njia ya imani katika Kristo Yesu. Maana ninyi nyote mliobatizwa katika Kristo mmemvaa Kristo. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Wagalatia 3:15-29).
God said to Abraham, that His covenant would be an everlasting covenant between God and Abraham and his Seed. The Seed refers to Jesus Christ (Wagalatia 3:16).
God mentioned the Seed, kwa sababu, in the Book of Genesis, God had prophesied, that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. (Soma pia: The head of the serpent bruised, Kwa sababu kisigino cha Yesu kilichubuliwa).
Katika Yeremia 31, God promised a New Covenant, which would be a better covenant than the Old Covenant.
Tazama, the days come, asema Bwana, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, asema Bwana:
Lakini hili ndilo agano nitakalofanya na nyumba ya Israeli.; Baada ya siku hizo, asema Bwana, Nitaweka sheria yangu katika matumbo yao, Andika katika mioyo yao; Atakuwa Mungu wao, and they shall be My people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, Kila mtu ndugu yake, akisema, Mjue Bwana: for they shall all know Me, kutoka kwa mdogo wao hadi mkubwa wao, asema Bwana: Kwa maana nitawasamehe uovu wao, Sitaikumbuka dhambi yao tena (Yeremia 31:31-34)
God’s promise of a New Covenant
God promised He would establish a New Covenant, not only with the house of Israel but also with the house of Judah. It would be a different covenant than the covenant, God made with their fathers on the day that God took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
God promised in Jeremiah 31 a New Covenant; the New Covenant in Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
This New Covenant would make it possible for humanity to become born again in the spirit, by faith and regeneration in Jesus Christ, by the baptism in water, the dying of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, and the baptism with the Holy Spirit and become sons of God.
The token of the Old Covenant, between God and the seed of Abraham and Isaac took place on the eighth day.
The New Covenant on the eighth day
For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, asema Bwana, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, Ndugu, Ujasiri wa kuingia katika utakatifu kwa damu ya Yesu, Kwa njia mpya na ya maisha, ambayo ameiweka wakfu kwa ajili yetu, Kupitia kwa Veil, Hiyo ni kusema, Mwili wake; na kuwa na kuhani mkuu juu ya nyumba ya Mungu; Hebu tukaribie kwa moyo wa kweli katika uhakikisho kamili wa imani, mioyo yetu imenyunyiziwa kutoka kwa dhamiri mbaya, na miili yetu imeoshwa kwa maji safi (Waebrania 10:14-22)
On the eighth day, the resurrection of Jesus Christ took place. The redemptive work was accomplished, the Old Covenant had passed away and as a token, pazia la Hekalu likapasuka vipande viwili toka juu mpaka chini, when Jesus Christ died as Man on the cross. The New Covenant was established on the eighth day and replaced the Old Covenant.
Isn’t that something, that the circumcision on the eighth day was a token of the Old Covenant, and that the New Covenant was established on the eighth day, when Jesus rose from the dead?
Is there only one way, to be saved?
The New Covenant was not only meant for the people of Israel, but also for the Gentiles. Jesus had made a way for the world to be reconciled with God by faith and regeneration in Jesus Christ, (Oh. Yohana 3:16).
Only through Jesus Christ and by faith and regeneration in Him aka the circumcision in Him, it’s possible to be saved and to be reunited with God. There is no other way! (Soma pia: Je, tohara katika Yesu Kristo inamaanisha nini? na Je, kuna njia moja tu ya uzima wa milele?)
God only wanted one thing and that was to be a God for His people, lakini God was rejected by His carnal people Israel. His people Israel had broken His covenant, therefore a New Covenant had to come.
The New Covenant is a better covenant
But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He saith, Tazama, the days come, asema Bwana, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not, asema Bwana.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, asema Bwana; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, Kila mtu ndugu yake, akisema, Mjue Bwana: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
In that He saith, A New Covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away (Waebrania 8:6-13)
This New Covenant would be so much better than the Old Covenant. God would deal with sin and death that reigns in the flesh of fallen man aka the old man through one sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
God would deal with the sinful nature, that is present in fallen man through the death of the flesh (Soma pia: The difference between the sacrifice of animals and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ)
By the blood of Jesus Christ and regeneration in Christ and the death of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, God wouldn’t remember the sins and the former life as a sinner anymore.
Mzee (unaanguka) with all his sins and iniquities, who lives under sin and therefore is a sinner, doesn’t live anymore but has died in Christ. (Soma pia: Je, wewe bado ni mwenye dhambi? na Yesu arudisha nafasi ya mtu aliyeanguka na The peace, Yesu alirejesha kati ya mwanadamu aliyeanguka na Mungu)
God created a new species, a new generation, Mwanaume mpya; wana wa Mungu (hii inatumika kwa wanaume na wanawake).
The new man is born of God through regeneration in Christ; the death of the flesh and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God put His law in the hearts of the new man.
Kila mmoja, who believes in Jesus Christ and accepts Him as Savior and Lord, shall be saved from eternal death and receives eternal life.
The New Covenant and the circumcision in Jesus Christ
In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, katika kuuondoa mwili wa dhambi za mwili kwa kutahiriwa kwa Kristo: Alizikwa pamoja naye katika ubatizo, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead (Wakolosai 2:11-12)
The New Covenant was meant for the old man; the carnal man, who was born of Abraham, Isaka, ya Yakobo; Israel and through natural birth belonged to Israel, and as a token was the circumcision in the flesh on the eighth day. But due to the fact, that the covenant was broken by God’s people, there had to come a New Covenant, a better covenant, and that New Covenant came.
The New Covenant whereof Jesus Christ is the High Priest and Mediator, is sealed with His blood and everyone can have access by faith and regeneration in Christ.
Katika Agano Jipya, there is no circumcision in the flesh, since the New Covenant is not for the old carnal man, but in the New Covenant, the circumcision in Christ takes place.
You become circumcised in Christ by putting away, the body of sins, and laying down and burry your flesh. You bury your flesh through the baptism in water (Soma pia: ‘Ubatizo ni nini?‘).
In the water baptism, unayatoa maisha yako ya zamani, and through the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, you will be raised in newness of life. From that moment you have become a new creation; a new man and your fallen state has been restored and you live in the New Covenant, which was first meant for God’s carnal people Israel, and then for the Gentiles.
Kuanzia wakati huo na kuendelea, you shall no longer walk after the flesh in the kingdom of darkness and live under the authority of the devil and the spirits of this world in the power of sin and death, but you shall live in Christ in the Kingdom of God, that you’ve entered through regeneration, and you shall represent, preach and bring the Kingdom of God, ambapo Yesu Kristo ni Mfalme, duniani.
‘Kuweni chumvi ya dunia’
