This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see
what’s happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

This passage is extremely important because
God gives Abram a new sign of his promise.

As the rainbow was a sign of the
promise he made to Noah and the world,

this new sign would be for Abram and the
nation that would come from his line.

God instructs Abram and
his household to be circumcised.

This may seem like a strange, possibly random
sign, but it actually couldn’t be more appropriate.

The whole book of
Genesis so far has been about

a descendant of Eve who would crush
the head of sin and death.

We learned that this descendant
would come through Abram,

since it is through him that
God would bless all nations.

Therefore, God gave Abram and his people the
sign of circumcision as a constant reminder

that it would be from their line,
that a final blessed one would come.

This physical sign on their
reproductive organs, palpably showed

that this line of people was
marked off for a very specific purpose.

From this line, one would come
who would fix the entire world.

In renewing his covenant and giving this sign,
God also changed Abram and Sarai’s name.

Both name changes signify a
new identity and a new reality.

Abraham would be the blessed father of a
multitude, and he had been given the sign to prove it.

Sarah would be the princess of a nation.
She would be barren no more.

Ultimately, we know that the final son of
Abraham and Sarah who blesses all nations is Jesus.

And Jesus gives us a sign better
than the circumcision given to Abraham.

Ours is a circumcision of the heart
made inwardly by the Holy Spirit.

The reason for an inward circumcision is that
the true children of Abraham are not the ones

who come straight from Abraham’s line,
but those who believe in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit changing our hearts is the
new sign of this new covenant.

And just as Abraham’s circumcision was a
sign put on his body guaranteeing the fulfillment

of the promise that was to come, the New
Testament says that the Holy Spirit’s sign in us

is our guarantee that all of Jesus’
promises will be fulfilled as well.

Christians also receive a new
name like Abraham and Sarah did.

In fact, we are renamed twice.

The first name is given to you
when you put your faith in Jesus.

You are made a new creation.

At that moment, you are
given so many new names:

Bride of Christ, Adopted Son or Daughter,
Beloved of God. The list goes on and on.

And there’s a second name
every Christian will receive as well.

The last book in the Bible,
Revelation, says that

Jesus will give new names to
everyone who perseveres to the end.

Now, no one knows what this
name is or what it will be.

It may be that Jesus gives each of
us a private name that only he calls us.

A sweet little pet name
between us and our savior.

That’s a name worth looking forward to.

I pray that the Holy Spirit would show you
the God of faithfulness and that you would

see that Jesus has given us his
Spirit as a guarantee of what is to come.