A Sign for Frailty
“So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.” (Genesis 17:14)
Shouldn’t God’s Word be enough? Over and over, Scripture forces us to ask this question. Cold, hard logic would say, “Yes, it is enough!” I mean, it is the Word of the Ever-Living God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Fount of All Good, Beauty, and Truth. What logic doesn’t address is the frailty of our faith. We tend to think of faith in its perfection – certain, firm, assured, but faith in action is stumbling, bumbling, and staggering along the way of life. God in His great kindness provides us handles to keep us from falling. Thus, God gives us sacraments. What are sacraments? Sacraments are sensible signs by which Christ and all His benefits are held to us. In short, they are visible words.
Circumcision is one of the two visible words of the Old Testament, for it holds out all the promises that Abraham has heard thus far. With a mark on his flesh, Abraham would be visibly reminded of the coming Seed that would be cut off for his sake in the bloodiest way (Gen. 3:15; cf. Col. 2:11). When Abraham’s faith felt weak, God provided him with a visible sign to remind Abraham of His promises. Cold, hard logic tells us to “get up,” but God Himself comes down and embraces our frailty. Not only us, but also our children. This sign is applied to children eight days old, as if God would have them know that all the covenant blessings are being offered to them. The very Gospel was emblazoned on their flesh, as if God would allow a single day to pass without them knowing of His promises.
Christian, these truths are not simply for Abraham and his children. No, Paul tells us that baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of the New Covenant. We have been “circumcised with a circumcision made without hands.” How? “Having been buried with Him in baptism.” (Col. 2:1-12). We do not look forward to a bloodied and buried Savior! No, our Savior has risen and has poured out the Holy Spirit upon us for “renewal and the washing of regeneration.” (Titus 3:5; Acts 2:33) Our baptism is the very token of God’s gracious promises to us. When we remember our baptism or when we watch others be baptized, God is not only making promises to them; God is reminding us of His promises! He strengthens our frailty with His faithfulness.
Not only us, but also our children. B.B. Warfield said, “God established His Church in the days of Abraham and put children into it. They must remain there until He puts them out.” They are still part of Christ’s body, entitled to the same sacrament of baptism as God commanded Abraham to circumcise his children. God would have us press upon them from a young age the free offer of the gospel. Are we parenting our children in light of this promise? As they come face-to-face with their own frailty, are they being reminded of God’s faithfulness?
