God has Secrets and God has Promises By Pastor Dan Kennedy © April 2, 2017 www.pastorkennedy.com It is interesting what initiates the development of a sermon. In this case, the passage to be studied involved a subject which is foreign and distasteful to many in the 21st Century: Circumcision, which is freely discussed in Colossians 2:9-15. · Sign of the Covenant: “Circumcision” is a primary sign of a Covenant given to Abraham. · Many times, in Scripture: It is mentioned in almost 90 verses throughout the Scripture – considerably more than many other Biblical topics. · Necessary for Salvation? (Acts 15) To continue following the Covenant of Circumcision was so important for even the believing Jews in the Early Church, that when Paul was sent out by the Church to evangelize the “uncircumcised” Gentiles, there was considerable dissension and debate from some about circumcision being necessary for Salvation (Acts 15:1-2, 5). It took a decision from the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem, understanding the mind of the Holy Spirit (vs. 28), that we are saved only through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 11), without the necessity of following the law, which the Jews themselves could never wholly follow (Acts 15:3-35). To begin to understand the reason and dynamic of this Covenant we should understand more of the context of the subject. An intent of this message is to do exactly that. Religions, Secret Societies & Organizations Many Organization and Religions have specific customs, traditions and/or rituals that mark those who choose to participate in them, as “members in good standing.” Some “secret” organizations have rituals that are supposed to be known only to their members. Among them could be a secret password, a secret handshake, a secret code, a secret meeting place, and/or a secret rite of passage, along with a vow to keep secret, secret things, etc. God Has Secrets From the dawn of time, throughout millennia, God kept secrets from the unseen spiritual world and from mankind, to protect the integrity of His Plans, but all of them would be revealed at the proper time. · God established His Plans, before the foundation of the Earth, so, among many other objectives during the history of the world, the ultimate completion of His Final Eternal Kingdom could be faithfully undefiled, and uniquely built on Grace, Faith, Truth, and Righteousness, (et al.), and gloriously wedded with God’s own Holiness, Justice, Integrity, and Purpose, (et al.). God’s Obvious Plan, including His Secret Plan, would, of necessity, involve (among many other things) o The Creation of a people made in His Image. o Freedom for His creation to make life-changing decisions. o God’s Divine Sovereignty. o The terrible complication and inclusion of the fall of Lucifer, the kingdom of darkness, and the fall of those made in God’s Image, into Satan’s kingdom. o The Redemption of those who would be saved. o The Establishment of the Eternal Kingdom of His Son, the Lord Jesus. God Initiated Incremental Revelations of His Plan, until, in the fullness of time, His Plans could be revealed. · God’s Secret Plans were formed before the Creation of the World. He knew what must be done to protect the integrity of His plans. (See also 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2; Rom. 16:25-26) 1 Corinthians 2:7–8 7 …We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. · God’s Secret Plan of Redemption Involved His Son and Messiah, Jesus Christ Ephesians 1:5–10 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Colossians 2:2–4 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 1 Timothy 3:15–16 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. · The Mystery of God Involved a Fuller Redemptive Plan for the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ (all who would believe in Him), not limited to God’s Chosen People, the Jews Ephesians 3:1–12 3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Colossians 1:25–27 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. · The Mystery of “the Rapture” – the “Catching Away” or “Gathering” of the Elect 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. Matthew 24:30–31 30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. God’s secrets involved the coming and sacrifice of the promised Messiah, His Son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill His Plan for the Salvation and Redemption of the Jew and Gentile (all who would believe in Christ), together with other “end time” mysteries that God has kept secret until He deemed the time to be right. (See also Rev. 10:5-7; Rev. 17) There are passages that reveal why God was so particular not to reveal certain parts of His Plan until it could be fully exposed without intentional harm from His sworn enemies. God’s Plan was Purposely Hidden from Rulers and Authorities in Heavenly Realms Ephesians 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 1 Corinthians 2:7–8 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Ephesians 3:9-11 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. God not only had the mystery of the secret Plans He established from before Creation, God also incrementally established key revelations of Promise, which we have identified as “Covenants,” made through the ages for those faithful to Him, establishing “glimpses of revelation” revealing the mind and intent of God, during the times of intense mystery, not exposing His Secrets, until the final revelation of His Son, the Messiah, and the fullness of His appointed times in all things. (Gal. 4:4; Mark 1:15; Rom. 5:6; Eph. 1:10) God’s Progression of Covenantal Promises Established through the Ages The Old Testament Covenants o Obedience: The Adamic Covenant – God’s fellowship with human beings He Created was initially based on their faithfulness and obedience to His Word. Adam and Eve were invited to eat of any of the trees in Eden’s garden, but one. They were forbidden to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan deceived Eve, she gave the forbidden fruit to her husband and their covenant with God was broken and has remained broken ever since. o Judgment: The Noahic Covenant – Following Cataclysmic Judgment on a wicked world God Promised to never again destroy the earth by water. The sign of God’s Covenant to Noah, and humans following him was the Rainbow. Genesis 9:8–17 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” 17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” o Faith: The Abrahamic Covenant – God’s promise of a blessed heritage to faithful Abraham and those born into the subsequent Jewish Nation. (more below) o Law: The Mosaic Covenant – The Laws of God’s promise in a Promised Land. The Ten Commandments (and other statutes and ordinances): o Laws for an honorable worship of God looking forward to the Messiah. o A code dictating healthy and beneficial guidelines in an age when surrounding nations were rife with disease, non-restrictive moral codes, and participating in little if any hygiene or food safety practices. o A code outlining guidelines for living and governing practices for individuals, families and corporate governments. Breaking God’s Laws would bring Divine Judgment. The very visible illustration of Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal Deuteronomy 11:29 29 When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. Deut. 27:14-26 and Joshua 8:30-35 Joshua 24:1–28 Before his death, Joshua reaffirmed the Covenant the Israelites had with God, in the inheritance of their Promised Land. Joshua 24:15 15 … “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” o “Thy Kingdom Come”: The Davidic Covenant “The Davidic covenant, indicated to have been instituted by God (2 Sam. 7; 1 Kgs. 8:17ff.), formed the foundation for the greatest ruling dynasty in Israelite history.” “God promised David that through his offspring his kingdom and throne would endure forever (2 Sam. 7:1–17). This promise is known as the Davidic covenant or the divine charter, and is the source of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah; an anointed one of God from the line of David would always rule over God’s people.” [1] It is through David’s kingly line that the final King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, will come. (Jeremiah 23:5–6; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Daniel 7:13–14; Rev. 19:11-16) Let’s return briefly to the Abrahamic Covenant and discuss it more clearly. o Faith: The Abrahamic Covenant – God’s promise of a blessed heritage to faithful Abraham and those born into the subsequent Jewish Nation. 1. A Covenant Ritual regarding a Promised Land Genesis 15:9–10, 18-21 9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” I believe it is important to note that the Lord gave faithful Abram a Covenant in two parts: A Covenant Ritual regarding a Promised Land (Gen. 15:9-10, 18-21)  A Covenant of Circumcision regarding a Promised People (Gen. 17:1-14)  o Private o Purposeful o Permanent o Preventive (of intermarriage with the heathen) o Protective and Predictive (of the coming Messiah and Eternal King from the line of Judah) Genesis 17:7, 9-11 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. o God’s Covenant of Circumcision: Innumerable Descendants - Nations Genesis 17:1–14 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” 9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” Abram (אַבְרָם, avram), his name up to this point, appears to mean “exalted father.” The name Abraham (אַבְרָהָם, avraham), while its etymology is uncertain, is explicitly connected to the promise in Gen 17:5 (“for I have set you as the father of a multitude of peoples”). The significance of the change from Sarai (שָׂרָי, saray) to Sarah (שָׂרָה, sarah) is unclear, as both names seem to mean “princess.”[2] Circumcision – a Continuing Sign, until the First Coming of The Messiah This Simple, Hidden, Permanent and Unusual Covenant was based on faith in God’s promised son to Abraham, to future promised Nations.   It was observed from one household to another, and was fulfilled for thousands of generations, permanently identifying God’s Chosen People, setting apart God’s nation from all others, until the coming of Messiah.   Every time a Jewish couple was intimate, from the time of the covenant until now, the sign brought the possibility of understanding the faith which was given to Abraham and Sarah, in an absolutely hopeless promise…if there had not been a miracle.  Every time Jewish parents brought their baby boy to be circumcised on the 8th day following his birth (from Abraham’s day until now), they are reminded of the unwavering faith of Abraham and Sarah when they were 90 and 100!  A faithful Jewish woman would rather die than bear the child of the uncircumcised.   The purity of the Jewish race and the affirmation of believing faith was established from this one Covenant, founded on a miraculous Act of God. Israel was established as a Nation only because of God’s Miraculous Intervention in fulfilling His Promise of a son to both Abraham and Sarah.  The Covenant Promise to Abraham – and the ups and downs of a life of Faith · The Promise of a Son and Many Nations – from the beginning to when there could be no possibility of natural birth. (This is predictive of the miraculous birth of the coming Messiah through a virgin, promised later in Isaiah 7:14.) · Manipulation, to achieve God’s ends, from the lack of faith – Sarai had given Abram Hagar, her servant, to bear Abram seed…seeking to fulfill God’s promise through human manipulation. (Gen. 16; Gal. 4:21-31) · Compromising Circumstances also presented themselves – Abram put himself and Sarai in compromising positions when lying about Sarai being his “sister,” both in Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20) and with Abimelech, just before Isaac’s birth (Gen. 20:1-18; 26:6-11) – for fear he might be killed and his beautiful wife taken. · Faith Alone – At the beginning of Abram’s walk of faith (Gen. 12:2-3), the “great nation” and “father of many nations” (Gen. 17:4), promised to him at 75 years old (Gen. 12:4) and Sarai, at 65 years old, when they had no children, must be taken by faith even more, by the time Sarah was 89 years old – being “barren” and well past her childbearing years (Gen. 17; Heb. 11:11-12). · Name Changes – God’s changing their names to Abraham and Sarah, at the time the Covenant of Circumcision was given. · Active Faith – Faith was confirmed by Abraham being circumcised, at 99 years of age, his son Ishmael, at 13, and all the males in his household, right after God changed his name and entered this covenant with Abraham. · Confirmed Promise – Faith, to be fulfilled by the birth of a Son of Promise, in the future – the following year. This promise was confirmed by the three Guests who came later, following the Covenant, in Gen. 18. · The Promise Fulfilled – Isaac was born and began the heritage of Promise which is still being fulfilled today, through Children of Faith! The existence of the Nation of Israel is established on this Covenant of believing faith, through belief in God only, in an impossible circumstance. Genesis 21:1–5 The Birth of Isaac 21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. · Faith in Jesus Christ is exampled by Abraham’s Unwavering Faith Romans 9:8 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. Galatians 3:26–29 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. We have reviewed the Covenants in the Old Testament and the Faith of Abraham and Sarah in the preceding Covenant of Circumcision, now let’s look at a comparative of the New Testament Church and the Ordinances we follow today. Ordinances in the New Testament Church – Following Christ’s Example, Remembering His Death, and looking for His Return. 1. Baptism: An outward sign of Obedience – Dying to self and Living to God a. Jesus Taught Baptism (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 3:22; 4:1,2) b. The Apostles and Early Church Leaders Taught Baptism (Acts 2:38; 2:41; 8:12; 8:36, 38; 16:14, 15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16) c. Baptism is a Picture of New Life in Christ i. Symbolic of Dying with Christ (Romans 6:3) ii. Symbolic also of Resurrection with Christ (Romans 6:4) iii. Symbolic of Spiritual Death and Resurrection – old life to New Life in Christ (Colossians 2:12, 20; 3:1; Galatians 2:20) iv. Baptism is a “sign” of our “New Testament Covenant” with Christ, just as Circumcision was a “sign” of the “Old Testament Covenants” with Abraham and Israel (Galatians 3:26-29) 2. Communion: Remembering Christ’s Death until He Comes. Matthew 26:28 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 1 Corinthians 11:25 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Conclusion God has Secrets from before the Creation of the world. He kept secrets so the integrity of His Plan would not be diminished in any way. At the same time God was keeping secrets, He was also sharing Promises of what He was planning to do for those who were faithful to Him. Sometimes those hearing the Promises did not understand God’s unfolding Plan, but if they held steady, trusting in their God, they would not create hardship on themselves, but would have God’s full blessing in the end. The life of faith is a life of trust in God, even through the most insurmountable circumstances. “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11–12 [1] Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 241 and 712). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. [2] Pyles, A. R. (2016). Abraham. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

God has Secrets and God has Promises

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

It is interesting what initiates the development of a sermon. In this case, the passage to be studied involved a subject which is foreign and distasteful to many in the 21st Century: Circumcision, which is freely discussed in Colossians 2:9-15.

· Sign of the Covenant: “Circumcision” is a primary sign of a Covenant given to Abraham.

· Many times, in Scripture: It is mentioned in almost 90 verses throughout the Scripture – considerably more than many other Biblical topics.

· Necessary for Salvation? (Acts 15) To continue following the Covenant of Circumcision was so important for even the believing Jews in the Early Church, that when Paul was sent out by the Church to evangelize the “uncircumcised” Gentiles, there was considerable dissension and debate from some about circumcision being necessary for Salvation (Acts 15:1-2, 5). It took a decision from the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem, understanding the mind of the Holy Spirit (vs. 28), that we are saved only through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 11), without the necessity of following the law, which the Jews themselves could never wholly follow (Acts 15:3-35).

To begin to understand the reason and dynamic of this Covenant we should understand more of the context of the subject. An intent of this message is to do exactly that.

Religions, Secret Societies & Organizations

Many Organization and Religions have specific customs, traditions and/or rituals that mark those who choose to participate in them, as “members in good standing.”

Some “secret” organizations have rituals that are supposed to be known only to their members. Among them could be a secret password, a secret handshake, a secret code, a secret meeting place, and/or a secret rite of passage, along with a vow to keep secret, secret things, etc.

God Has Secrets

From the dawn of time, throughout millennia, God kept secrets from the unseen spiritual world and from mankind, to protect the integrity of His Plans, but all of them would be revealed at the proper time.

· God established His Plans, before the foundation of the Earth, so, among many other objectives during the history of the world, the ultimate completion of His Final Eternal Kingdom could be faithfully undefiled, and uniquely built on Grace, Faith, Truth, and Righteousness, (et al.), and gloriously wedded with God’s own Holiness, Justice, Integrity, and Purpose, (et al.).

God’s Obvious Plan, including His Secret Plan, would, of necessity, involve (among many other things)

o The Creation of a people made in His Image.

o Freedom for His creation to make life-changing decisions.

o God’s Divine Sovereignty.

o The terrible complication and inclusion of the fall of Lucifer, the kingdom of darkness, and the fall of those made in God’s Image, into Satan’s kingdom.

o The Redemption of those who would be saved.

o The Establishment of the Eternal Kingdom of His Son, the Lord Jesus.

God Initiated Incremental Revelations of His Plan, until, in the fullness of time, His Plans could be revealed.

· God’s Secret Plans were formed before the Creation of the World. He knew what must be done to protect the integrity of His plans. (See also 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2; Rom. 16:25-26)

1 Corinthians 2:7–8

7 …We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

· God’s Secret Plan of Redemption Involved His Son and Messiah, Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:5–10

5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Colossians 2:2–4

2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

1 Timothy 3:15–16

15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

· The Mystery of God Involved a Fuller Redemptive Plan for the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ (all who would believe in Him), not limited to God’s Chosen People, the Jews

Ephesians 3:1–12

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Colossians 1:25–27

25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

· The Mystery of “the Rapture” – the “Catching Away” or “Gathering” of the Elect

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Matthew 24:30–31

30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

God’s secrets involved the coming and sacrifice of the promised Messiah, His Son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill His Plan for the Salvation and Redemption of the Jew and Gentile (all who would believe in Christ), together with other “end time” mysteries that God has kept secret until He deemed the time to be right. (See also Rev. 10:5-7; Rev. 17)

There are passages that reveal why God was so particular not to reveal certain parts of His Plan until it could be fully exposed without intentional harm from His sworn enemies.

God’s Plan was Purposely Hidden from Rulers and Authorities in Heavenly Realms

Ephesians 6:12

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

1 Corinthians 2:7–8

7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Ephesians 3:9-11

9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God not only had the mystery of the secret Plans He established from before Creation, God also incrementally established key revelations of Promise, which we have identified as “Covenants,” made through the ages for those faithful to Him, establishing “glimpses of revelation” revealing the mind and intent of God, during the times of intense mystery, not exposing His Secrets, until the final revelation of His Son, the Messiah, and the fullness of His appointed times in all things. (Gal. 4:4; Mark 1:15; Rom. 5:6; Eph. 1:10)

God’s Progression of Covenantal Promises Established through the Ages

The Old Testament Covenants

o Obedience: The Adamic Covenant – God’s fellowship with human beings He Created was initially based on their faithfulness and obedience to His Word. Adam and Eve were invited to eat of any of the trees in Eden’s garden, but one. They were forbidden to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan deceived Eve, she gave the forbidden fruit to her husband and their covenant with God was broken and has remained broken ever since.

o Judgment: The Noahic Covenant – Following Cataclysmic Judgment on a wicked world God Promised to never again destroy the earth by water. The sign of God’s Covenant to Noah, and humans following him was the Rainbow.

Genesis 9:8–17

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

o Faith: The Abrahamic Covenant – God’s promise of a blessed heritage to faithful Abraham and those born into the subsequent Jewish Nation. (more below)

o Law: The Mosaic Covenant – The Laws of God’s promise in a Promised Land. The Ten Commandments (and other statutes and ordinances):

o Laws for an honorable worship of God looking forward to the Messiah.

o A code dictating healthy and beneficial guidelines in an age when surrounding nations were rife with disease, non-restrictive moral codes, and participating in little if any hygiene or food safety practices.

o A code outlining guidelines for living and governing practices for individuals, families and corporate governments.

Breaking God’s Laws would bring Divine Judgment.

The very visible illustration of Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal

Deuteronomy 11:29

29 When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses.

Deut. 27:14-26 and Joshua 8:30-35

Joshua 24:1–28 Before his death, Joshua reaffirmed the Covenant the Israelites had with God, in the inheritance of their Promised Land.

Joshua 24:15

15 … “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

o “Thy Kingdom Come”: The Davidic Covenant

“The Davidic covenant, indicated to have been instituted by God (2 Sam. 7; 1 Kgs. 8:17ff.), formed the foundation for the greatest ruling dynasty in Israelite history.”

“God promised David that through his offspring his kingdom and throne would endure forever (2 Sam. 7:1–17). This promise is known as the Davidic covenant or the divine charter, and is the source of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah; an anointed one of God from the line of David would always rule over God’s people.” [1]

It is through David’s kingly line that the final King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, will come. (Jeremiah 23:5–6; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Daniel 7:13–14; Rev. 19:11-16)

Let’s return briefly to the Abrahamic Covenant and discuss it more clearly.

o Faith: The Abrahamic Covenant – God’s promise of a blessed heritage to faithful Abraham and those born into the subsequent Jewish Nation.

1. A Covenant Ritual regarding a Promised Land

Genesis 15:9–10, 18-21

9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”

10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.

18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”

I believe it is important to note that the Lord gave faithful Abram a Covenant in two parts:

1.A Covenant Ritual regarding a Promised Land (Gen. 15:9-10, 18-21)
2.A Covenant of Circumcision regarding a Promised People (Gen. 17:1-14)

o Private

o Purposeful

o Permanent

o Preventive (of intermarriage with the heathen)

o Protective and Predictive (of the coming Messiah and Eternal King from the line of Judah)

Genesis 17:7, 9-11

7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

o God’s Covenant of Circumcision: Innumerable Descendants - Nations

Genesis 17:1–14

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Abram (אַבְרָם, avram), his name up to this point, appears to mean “exalted father.” The name Abraham (אַבְרָהָם, avraham), while its etymology is uncertain, is explicitly connected to the promise in Gen 17:5 (“for I have set you as the father of a multitude of peoples”). The significance of the change from Sarai (שָׂרָי, saray) to Sarah (שָׂרָה, sarah) is unclear, as both names seem to mean “princess.”[2]

Circumcision – a Continuing Sign, until the First Coming of The Messiah

•This Simple, Hidden, Permanent and Unusual Covenant was based on faith in God’s promised son to Abraham, to future promised Nations.
•It was observed from one household to another, and was fulfilled for thousands of generations, permanently identifying God’s Chosen People, setting apart God’s nation from all others, until the coming of Messiah.
•Every time a Jewish couple was intimate, from the time of the covenant until now, the sign brought the possibility of understanding the faith which was given to Abraham and Sarah, in an absolutely hopeless promise…if there had not been a miracle.
•Every time Jewish parents brought their baby boy to be circumcised on the 8th day following his birth (from Abraham’s day until now), they are reminded of the unwavering faith of Abraham and Sarah when they were 90 and 100!
•A faithful Jewish woman would rather die than bear the child of the uncircumcised.
•The purity of the Jewish race and the affirmation of believing faith was established from this one Covenant, founded on a miraculous Act of God.

•Israel was established as a Nation only because of God’s Miraculous Intervention in fulfilling His Promise of a son to both Abraham and Sarah.

The Covenant Promise to Abraham – and the ups and downs of a life of Faith

· The Promise of a Son and Many Nations – from the beginning to when there could be no possibility of natural birth. (This is predictive of the miraculous birth of the coming Messiah through a virgin, promised later in Isaiah 7:14.)

· Manipulation, to achieve God’s ends, from the lack of faith – Sarai had given Abram Hagar, her servant, to bear Abram seed…seeking to fulfill God’s promise through human manipulation. (Gen. 16; Gal. 4:21-31)

· Compromising Circumstances also presented themselves – Abram put himself and Sarai in compromising positions when lying about Sarai being his “sister,” both in Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20) and with Abimelech, just before Isaac’s birth (Gen. 20:1-18; 26:6-11) – for fear he might be killed and his beautiful wife taken.

· Faith Alone – At the beginning of Abram’s walk of faith (Gen. 12:2-3), the “great nation” and “father of many nations” (Gen. 17:4), promised to him at 75 years old (Gen. 12:4) and Sarai, at 65 years old, when they had no children, must be taken by faith even more, by the time Sarah was 89 years old – being “barren” and well past her childbearing years (Gen. 17; Heb. 11:11-12).

· Name Changes – God’s changing their names to Abraham and Sarah, at the time the Covenant of Circumcision was given.

· Active Faith – Faith was confirmed by Abraham being circumcised, at 99 years of age, his son Ishmael, at 13, and all the males in his household, right after God changed his name and entered this covenant with Abraham.

· Confirmed Promise – Faith, to be fulfilled by the birth of a Son of Promise, in the future – the following year. This promise was confirmed by the three Guests who came later, following the Covenant, in Gen. 18.

· The Promise Fulfilled – Isaac was born and began the heritage of Promise which is still being fulfilled today, through Children of Faith! The existence of the Nation of Israel is established on this Covenant of believing faith, through belief in God only, in an impossible circumstance.

Genesis 21:1–5

The Birth of Isaac

21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

· Faith in Jesus Christ is exampled by Abraham’s Unwavering Faith

Romans 9:8

8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

Galatians 3:26–29

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

We have reviewed the Covenants in the Old Testament and the Faith of Abraham and Sarah in the preceding Covenant of Circumcision, now let’s look at a comparative of the New Testament Church and the Ordinances we follow today.

Ordinances in the New Testament Church – Following Christ’s Example, Remembering His Death, and looking for His Return.

1. Baptism: An outward sign of Obedience – Dying to self and Living to God

a. Jesus Taught Baptism

(Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 3:22; 4:1,2)

b. The Apostles and Early Church Leaders Taught Baptism

(Acts 2:38; 2:41; 8:12; 8:36, 38; 16:14, 15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16)

c. Baptism is a Picture of New Life in Christ

i. Symbolic of Dying with Christ (Romans 6:3)

ii. Symbolic also of Resurrection with Christ

(Romans 6:4)

iii. Symbolic of Spiritual Death and Resurrection

– old life to New Life in Christ (Colossians 2:12, 20; 3:1; Galatians 2:20)

iv. Baptism is a “sign” of our “New Testament

Covenant” with Christ, just as Circumcision was a

“sign” of the “Old Testament Covenants”

with Abraham and Israel (Galatians 3:26-29)

2. Communion: Remembering Christ’s Death until He Comes.

Matthew 26:28

28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

1 Corinthians 11:25

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Conclusion

God has Secrets from before the Creation of the world. He kept secrets so the integrity of His Plan would not be diminished in any way.

At the same time God was keeping secrets, He was also sharing Promises of what He was planning to do for those who were faithful to Him. Sometimes those hearing the Promises did not understand God’s unfolding Plan, but if they held steady, trusting in their God, they would not create hardship on themselves, but would have God’s full blessing in the end.

The life of faith is a life of trust in God, even through the most insurmountable circumstances.

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”

Hebrews 11:11–12

[1] Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 241 and 712). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

[2] Pyles, A. R. (2016). Abraham. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.