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Abraham can be justified without circumcision, but not perfected. This is vividly
brought out by the apostle in Phil. 3: where before speaking of the perfection to which
he pressed, he spoke of those who were likeminded believers as "the circumcision who
had no confidence in the flesh". That is the true significance of the rite. The flesh is
repudiated. After having begun in the spirit, asked Paul of the Galatians, are you now
made perfect by the flesh? To the Colossians the apostle expressed his earnest desire that
he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. This statement follows the record of
their perfect acceptance in Christ, and is followed by the reference to their circumcision in
Christ.
1. "In the body of His flesh to present you holy and unblameable" (1: 22).
2. "That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (1: 28).
3. "In Whom ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
the putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (2: 11).
So it is that the changed name follows the command to be perfect, and is in turn
followed by "My covenant which ye shall keep". This was to be the token of the
"everlasting covenant" already mentioned.
Sarai's name is now changed to Sarah. The meaning of the two names does not differ
much. Sarai means "princely" and Sarah "princess". The same letter "H" which was
added to Abram's is added to Sarai's.
There are eight covenants that are made with Abraham, and each is suggestive when
we observe its numerical order:--
1.
The great nation. "Thee" (personal) seven times (Gen. 12: 1-3).
2.
The Seed. Redemption. Altar (Gen. 12: 7).
3.
The land. Only Abraham's in resurrection (Gen. 13: 14-17).
Boundaries. 400 years. 4th generation (Gen. 15: 13-21).
4.
5.
Grace, the changed name. "H" = 5 in Hebrew. Circumcision and perfection.
"Abraham laughed" (Gen. 17: 1-22).
6. The flesh a failure. "Sarah laughed" (Gen. 18: 9-15).
7. Isaac, not Ishmael. "Let him laugh" (Gen. 21: 12).
AFTER THE OFFERING OF ISAAC.
8. Blessing in resurrection. The oath (Gen. 22: 15-18).
It may also have been remarked that in chapter 17: we have a fuller statement of the
sevenfold covenant of Gen. 12: This covenant has seven "I wills", but the promises are
fuller. It commences the second set of four covenants. The first four are concerning the
great nation, the promised seed, the promised land, and its geographical boundaries.
These are covenants made with Abram. The second four are covenants made with
Abraham. They include circumcision as the token, the promise concerning Sarah, the
exclusion of Ishmael, and the "better promises" obtained by Abraham, revealed for the
first time centuries after in the epistle to the Hebrews. The earthly inheritance is given in
15: 13-21, the heavenly is contained in 22: 16-18.