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 was not only a token of the covenant between God and Abraham but also 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.
What does the Bible say about 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 (Nga Mahi 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. A ka hoatu e ahau ki a koe, 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, koe, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
Ko taku kawenata tenei, e puritia ai e koe, i waenganui i ahau ko koe ko ou uri i muri ia koe; Me kotia nga tane katoa i roto ia koutou. A ka kotia e koutou o koutou kikokiko o to kiri matamata; a ka waiho hei tohu mo te kawenata i tutaki i ahau, a ko koe.
A ko te waru o nga ra ka kotia ana i roto ia koe, ia tangata, tena tangata io koutou whakatupuranga, Ko te tangata i whanau i te whare, i hokona ranei me te moni o tetahi manene, ehara nei i to purapura. Ko te tangata i whanau i tou whare, Na ko te mea i hokona me o moni, me kotia te kotinga: Ka tau taku kawenata ki o koutou kikokiko, he kawenata mau tonu;. Me te tamaiti kihai i kotia, i te kiri o tona kiri matamata e kore e kotia, Ka hatepea atu taua wairua i roto i tona iwi; Kua whakataka e ia taku kawenata (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. Heoi ano, God specifically said, that He would establish His covenant with Isaac and not with Ishmael.
Although Isaac wasn’t born yet, God promised this child to Abraham. 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. Me era katoa, 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
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 (Karatia 3:16).
God mentioned the Seed, no te mea, in the Book of Genesis, God prophesied, that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. (Panuitia hoki: The head of the serpent bruised, no te mea i whiua te rekereke o Ihu).
Teina, 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. Na, i korerotia nga kupu whakaari ki a Aperahama ratou ko ona uri. Ka mea ia kaore, A ki nga purapura, rite ki te tokomaha; engari mai i te kotahi, Ki o uri hoki, ko te Karaiti. A ko taku kupu tenei, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, Te Ture, 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 against the promises of God?”
Is the law then against the promises of God? Ma te Atua e arai: 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. Engari i mua i te taenga mai o te whakapono, i puritia matou i raro i te ture, tutakina ki te whakapono e whakakitea mai ana i muri. No reira i meinga ai te ture hei kaiwhakaako mo tatou, hei arahi i a tatou ki a te Karaiti, kia tika ai tatou i te whakapono. Otira i muri iho ka tae mai te whakapono, kua kore matou i raro i te rangatira kura.
He tamariki katoa hoki koutou na te Atua, na te whakapono ki a Karaiti Ihu. Ko te hunga katoa hoki o koutou kua iriiria ki roto ki a te Karaiti, kua kakahuria e koutou a te Karaiti. Kahore he Hurai, kahore he Kariki, kahore he here, he kore utu, kahore he tane, he wahine ranei: he kotahi hoki koutou katoa i roto i a Karaiti Ihu. A ki te mea na te Karaiti koutou, na he uri koutou na Aperahama, me te hunga mo ratou i runga i te kupu whakaari (Karatia 3:15-29).
God’s promise of a New and better Covenant
I roto ia Heremaia 31, God promised a New Covenant, which would be a better covenant than the Old Covenant.
Nana, Ko nga ra ka tae mai, e ai ta Ihowa, na ka whakaritea e ahau he kawenata hou ki te whare o Iharaira, me te whare ano o Hura: E kore e rite ki te kawenata i whakaritea e ahau ki o ratou matua i te ra i pupuri ai ahau ki o ratou ringa, a kawea mai ana ratou i te whenua o Ihipa; which my covenant they brake, ahakoa he tane ahau ki a ratou, e ai ta Ihowa:
Engari ko te kawenata tenei e whakaritea e ahau ki te whare o Iharaira; I muri i aua ra, e ai ta Ihowa, Ka whakatakotoria e ahau taku ture ki o ratou wahi, a tuhia ki roto ki o ratou ngakau; a ko ia hei Atua mo ratou, and they shall be My people.
I muri nei ka mutu ta ratou whakaako i tona hoa, i tona hoa, me tona tuakana, tera, ki tona teina, e kii ana, Kia mohio ki te Ariki: for they shall all know Me, mai i te iti o ratou tae noa ki te mea nui o ratou, e ai ta Ihowa: no te mea ka murua e ahau to ratou kino, a heoi ano maharatanga ki o ratou hara (Heremaia 31:31-34)
God promised He would establish a New Covenant, not only with the house of Israel, but also with the house of Judah.
This covenant would be different than the covenant, which 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 a New Covenant; the Covenant in Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Born again in the spirit
This New Covenant would make it possible for humanity to become born again in the spirit. Pehea? Na te whakapono me te whakahoutanga i roto ia Ihu Karaiti (through the baptism in water, Ko te mate o te kikokiko me te aranga o te Wairua mai i te hunga mate, me te iriiri me te Wairua Tapu) and become sons of God (Nga tane me nga wahine).
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
On the eighth day, the resurrection of Jesus Christ took place. The redemptive work was accomplished. The Old Covenant passed away. As a token, Ko te arai o te temepara i haea i waenganui i te tihi ki raro, 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! 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?
For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Ko te Wairua Tapu ano hoki hei kaiwhakaatu ki a tatou: i muri mai hoki i korero ai ia i mua, Ko te kawenata tenei e whakaritea e ahau ki a ratou i muri i aua ra, e ai ta Ihowa, I will put My laws into their hearts, a ka tuhituhia e ahau ki o ratou hinengaro; E kore hoki e maharatia e ahau o ratou hara a muri ake nei. Inaianei kei hea te murunga o enei, kua kore he whakahere mo te hara. Na, na reira, teina, Ka maia te uru ki te tino tapu na te toto o Ihu, E te ara hou me te ora, i whakatapua ia mo tatou, na roto i te arai, ko te korero, Tōna kikokiko; He tohunga nui ia mo te whare o te Atua; Kia whakatata tatou me te ngakau pono i roto i te tino whakapono o te whakapono, Ko te tau o te ngakau i te hinengaro kino, Na ka horoia o tatou tinana ki te wai parakore
Hiperu 10:14-22
Is there only one way, to be saved?
The New Covenant was not only meant for the people of Israel, engari mo nga Tauiwi hoki. Jesus made a way for the world to be reconciled with God through faith and regeneration in Him, (Aue. Hone 3:16).
Only through Christ, by faith and regeneration in Him aka the circumcision in Him, you can be saved and reconciled with God. Kaore he huarahi ke atu!
God only wanted one thing and that was to be a God for His people. Heoi ano, 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
This New Covenant would be so much better than the Old Covenant. In this new Covenant, God would deal with sin and death that reign as king in the flesh of fallen man (te koroua). Pehea? Through one sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
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, kare ra i rapua he wahi mo te tuarua. Mo te rapu he ki a ratou, Ka mea ia, Nana, Ko nga ra ka tae mai, e ai ta Ihowa, ina whakaritea e ahau he kawenata hou ki te whare o Iharaira, ki te whare ano hoki o Hura: E kore e rite ki te kawenata i whakaritea e ahau ki o ratou matua i te ra i pupuri ai ahau ki o ratou ringa, a arahina mai ana ratou i te whenua o Ihipa; mo ratou kihai i mau ki taku kawenata, a kihai ahau i whakaaro ki a ratou, e ai ta Ihowa.
Ko te kawenata hoki tenei e whakaritea e ahau ki te whare o Iharaira i muri i aua ra, e ai ta Ihowa; Ka waiho e ahau aku ture ki roto ki o raatau hinengaro, ka tuhia ki o ratou ngakau: A ko ahau hei Atua mo ratou, a ka waiho ratou hei iwi maku: e kore ano ratou e whakaako i tona hoa, i tona hoa, me tona tuakana, tera, ki tona teina, e kii ana, Kia mohio ki te Ariki: ka mohio katoa hoki ki ahau, mai i te iti ki te rahi ka tohungia hoki e ahau a ratou mahi kino, e kore ano e maharatia e ahau o ratou hara, o ratou kino a muri ake nei.
I roto i tana korero, He Kawenata Hou, kua whakatawhitotia e ia te tuatahi. Na, ko te mea kua tawhitotia, kua tawhitotia, ka tata ki te memeha (Hiperu 8:6-13)
I mahi te Atua ki te ahua hara o te tangata kua hinga
I roto i te kawenata hou, Ka mahi te Atua ki te ahua hara o te tangata kua hinga na roto i te mate o te kikokiko. (Panuitia hoki: Te taa-ê-raa i rotopu i te tusia animara e te tusia o Iesu Mesia)
Na te toto o Ihu Karaiti me te whanautanga i roto i a ia, E kore te Atua e mahara ki nga hara me te oranga o mua hei tangata hara.
Te koroua (tangata hinga) me ona hara katoa me ona he, e noho ana i raro i te hara, no reira he tangata hara, heoi kua mate i roto i a te Karaiti. (Panuitia hoki: I whakahokia e Ihu te tūnga o te tangata hinga a Te Hau, I whakahokia mai a Ihu i waenga i te tangata hinga me te Atua)
Na te Atua i hanga he momo hou, he reanga hou, he tangata hou; tama a te Atua (Nga tane me nga wahine).
Ko te tangata hou kua whanau i te Atua na roto i te whanau hou i roto ia te Karaiti. Na roto i te nohonga o te Wairua Tapu, Ua tuu te Atua i ta ’na ture i roto i te aau o te taata apî.
Katoa, o tei ti'aturi ia Iesu Mesia e o tei farii Ia'na ei Faaora e ei Fatu, e faaorahia i te pohe mure ore e e farii i te ora mure ore.
he tohu te kotinga i roto i a te Karaiti
He mea kokoti koutou i roto i a ia, he kotinga kore ringa, ki te whakarere i te tinana o nga hara o te kikokiko i te kotinga o te Karaiti: I tanumia ki a ia i te iriiringa, he mea hoki i ara ake ai koutou me ia, i runga i te whakapono ki te mahi a te Atua, Nana nei ia i whakaara ake i te hunga mate (Kolosa 2:11-12)
Ko te Kawenata Hou mo te tangata tawhito; te tangata kikokiko, i whanau i a Aperahama, I a Ihaka, ko Hakopa, ko Hakopa; Ko Iharaira me te whanau maori no Iharaira, hei tohu ano te kotinga i te kikokiko i te waru o nga ra. Engari na te mea pono, i takahia te kawenata e te iwi o te Atua, me tae mai he Kawenata Hou, he kawenata pai ake.
I puta mai te Kawenata Hou i riro ai a Ihu Karaiti te Tohunga Nui me te Takawaenga, i hiritia ki ona toto. Ka taea e nga tangata katoa te uru ma te whakapono me te whanau hou ki a te Karaiti.
I roto i te kawenata hou, kahore he kotinga o te kikokiko. No te mea ehara te Kawenata Hou mo te tangata kikokiko tawhito. Ko te tohu o te Kawenata Hou ko te kotinga i roto i a te Karaiti.
Kua kotia koutou i roto ia te Karaiti i te whakarerenga atu, te tinana o nga hara, ka takoto, ka tanu i o koutou kikokiko. Ka tanu koe i to kikokiko ki roto i te te bapetizoraa i roto i te pape.
He aha te tikanga o te iriiri?
I roto i te iriiri wai ka tuku koe i to oranga tawhito. Na roto i te aranga o te wairua i te hunga mate, ka whakaarahia koe i roto i te houtanga o te ora. Mai i tera wa kua hanga hou koe.
Kua houhia koe ki te Atua, kua hoki ano to ahua hinga. Ka noho koe i roto i te Kawenata Hou, ko te mea tuatahi mo te iwi kikokiko o te Atua a Iharaira, muri iho mo nga Tauiwi.
Mai i te wa i uru ai koe ki te kawenata me te Atua, ka waiho hei hanga hou, e kore koutou e haere i runga i ta te kikokiko a muri ake nei i te rangatiratanga o te pouri, ka noho i raro i te mana o te rewera me nga wairua o tenei ao i runga i te mana o te hara me te mate..
Ka noho koe i roto i a te Karaiti i roto i te rangatiratanga o te Atua me te tohu, kauwhau me te kawe mai i te rangatiratanga o te Atua, Kei hea a Ihu Karaiti hei kingi, hei kingi, I te whenua.
'Kia tote o te whenua'
