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 (IzEnzo 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, wena, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
Lesi isivumelwano Sami, eniyakuzigcina, phakathi kwaMi nawe kanye nenzalo yakho emva kwakho; Wonke amadodana kini makasokwe. Niyakusoka ijwabu lenu; futhi kuyakuba luphawu lwesivumelwano phakathi kwami nani.
Onezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili makasokwe phakathi kwenu, wonke amadodana ezizukulwaneni zenu, ozelwe endlini, loba othengwe ngemali loba ngubani ongamaziyo, ongesiye owenzalo yakho. Ozelwe endlini yakho, lalowo othengwa ngemali yakho, kumele asokwe: isivumelwano sami siyakuba senyameni yenu, sibe yisivumelwano esiphakade. Nomntwana wesilisa ongasokile, ijwabu lakhe elingasokanga, lowo muntu uyakunqunywa kubantu bakubo; usephule isivumelwano sami (Genesis 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
Brethren, 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, umthetho, 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? UNkulunkulu makakwenqabele: 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.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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 (KwabaseGalathiya 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 (KwabaseGalathiya 3:16).
God mentioned the Seed, because, in the Book of Genesis, God had prophesied, that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. (Funda futhi: The head of the serpent bruised, because the heel of Jesus was bruised).
KuJeremiya 31, God promised a New Covenant, which would be a better covenant than the Old Covenant.
Behold, izinsuku ziyeza, isho iNkosi, 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, isho iNkosi:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, isho iNkosi, ngiyakufaka umthetho wami ezibilinini zabo, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, yilowo nalowo umfowabo, ethi, Yazi iNkosi: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, isho iNkosi: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jeremiya 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, isho iNkosi, 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, bazalwane, isibindi sokungena endaweni engcwele ngegazi likaJesu, Ngendlela entsha nephilayo, asingcwelisele lona, ngeveli, okusho ukuthi, Inyama yakhe; Futhi ngokuba nomPristi oMkhulu phezu kwendlu kaNkulunkulu; Masisondele ngenhliziyo eqinisileyo ngokuqiniseka okugcwele kokukholwa, izinhliziyo zethu zifafaziwe kunembeza omubi, nemizimba yethu igezwe ngamanzi acwebileyo (amaHebheru 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, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, 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. UJohane 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! (Funda futhi: Kusho ukuthini ukusoka kuJesu Kristu? futhi Ingabe iyodwa kuphela indlela eya ekuphileni okuphakade?)
God only wanted one thing and that was to be a God for His people, kodwa 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, Behold, izinsuku ziyeza, isho iNkosi, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Hhayi ngokwesivumelwano engasenza nawoyise mhla ngibabamba ngesandla ukubakhipha ezweni laseGibithe.; ngoba abazange bahlale esivumelwaneni Sami, futhi angizange ngibacabangele, isho iNkosi.
Ngoba yilesi isivumelwano engizasenza lendlu kaIsrayeli ngemva kwalezonsuku, isho iNkosi; ngiyakufaka imithetho yami engqondweni yabo, futhi uzibhale ezinhliziyweni zabo: mina ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bazakuba ngabantu kimi: Futhi kabayikufundisa ngulowo lalowo umakhelwane wakhe, yilowo nalowo umfowabo, ethi, Yazi iNkosi: for all shall know me, kusukela komncinyane kusiya komkhulu. Ngoba ngizakuba lesihawu ukungalungi kwabo, nezono zabo nobubi babo angisayikukukhumbula.
Kulokho Akushoyo, A New Covenant, Uluguge olokuqala. Manje lokho okubolayo nokugugayo sekulungele ukunyamalala (amaHebheru 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 (Funda futhi: 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.
Ikhehla (indoda ewile) with all his sins and iniquities, who lives under sin and therefore is a sinner, doesn’t live anymore but has died in Christ. (Funda futhi: Ingabe useyisoni? futhi UJesu wabuyisela isikhundla somuntu owile futhi The peace, Jesus restored between fallen man and God)
God created a new species, a new generation, a new man; amadodana kaNkulunkulu (lokhu kusebenza kokubili abesilisa nabesifazane).
The new man is born of God through regeneration in Christ; ukufa kwenyama nokuvuka komoya kwabafileyo. Ngokuhlala kukaMoya oNgcwele, God put His law in the hearts of the new man.
Wonke umuntu, 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, ekuhlubuleni umzimba wezono zenyama ngokusoka kukaKristu: Wangcwatshwa naye embhapathizweni, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead (AbaseKolose 2:11-12)
The New Covenant was meant for the old man; umuntu wenyama, who was born of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; 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.
Esivumelwaneni Esisha, 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 (Funda futhi: ‘Kuyini ubhapathizo?‘).
In the water baptism, ubeka phansi impilo yakho endala, nangokuvuka kukaMoya kwabafileyo, 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.
Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, 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, where Jesus Christ is King, on earth.
‘Yiba usawoti womhlaba’
