Circumcision and baptism

[tonychanyt]

God promised Abram land, descendants, and blessings to all nations. Genesis 17:

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

Abraham would be the father of Jews and Gentiles.

11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

Circumcision was a sign of the covenant.

12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant to be God's people. Paul understood that as an OT type and turned the sign into a seal in Romans 4:

11 He [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Circumcision was the sign of covenant and a seal of righteousness. Today, Abraham is the father of God's people in faith and righteousness even without physical circumcision.

Paul saw another update in (NIV) Col 2:

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,

Baptism in Christ corresponds to the circumcision by Christ.

in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

The physical circumcision was updated with the circumcision in Christ by baptism. However, Paul fell short of calling it a sign or seal. 2C 1:

21 It is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Strictly speaking, the indwelling Spirit, not baptism, is the seal of the New Covenant.

NT Baptism paralleled OT circumcision. Circumcision was a sign of the Old Covenant, while baptism was nearly a sign of the New Covenant. Just as circumcision identified someone as part of the Old Covenant community, baptism identified someone as part of the New Covenant community. Loosely speaking, baptism is a sign of the New Covenant.

See also

• What is the purpose of infant baptism?

 

[David Lamb]

God promised Abram land, descendants, and blessings to all nations. Genesis 17:


Abraham would be the father of Jews and Gentiles.


Circumcision was a sign of the covenant.


Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant to be God's people. Paul understood that as an OT type and turned the sign into a seal in Romans 4:


Circumcision was the sign of covenant and a seal of righteousness. Today, Abraham is the father of God's people in faith and righteousness even without physical circumcision.

Paul saw another update in (NIV) Col 2:


Baptism in Christ corresponds to the circumcision by Christ.


The physical circumcision was updated with the circumcision in Christ by baptism. However, Paul fell short of calling it a sign or seal. 2C 1:


Strictly speaking, the indwelling Spirit, not baptism, is the seal of the New Covenant.

NT Baptism paralleled OT circumcision. Circumcision was a sign of the Old Covenant, while baptism was nearly a sign of the New Covenant. Just as circumcision identified someone as part of the Old Covenant community, baptism identified someone as part of the New Covenant community. Loosely speaking, baptism is a sign of the New Covenant.

See also

• What is the purpose of infant baptism?

I'm glad you said "Loosely speaking." Circumcision was only applied to boy babies. Circumcision was performed on all boys born to Israelite parents, in other words, Israelites by nature. Baptism is not restricted to males, and it is performed on those who have already believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. As Philip said when the Ethiopian requested baptism:

“If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."” (Ac 8:37 NKJV)

 

[eleos1954]

God promised Abram land, descendants, and blessings to all nations. Genesis 17:


Abraham would be the father of Jews and Gentiles.


Circumcision was a sign of the covenant.


Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant to be God's people. Paul understood that as an OT type and turned the sign into a seal in Romans 4:


Circumcision was the sign of covenant and a seal of righteousness. Today, Abraham is the father of God's people in faith and righteousness even without physical circumcision.

Paul saw another update in (NIV) Col 2:


Baptism in Christ corresponds to the circumcision by Christ.


The physical circumcision was updated with the circumcision in Christ by baptism. However, Paul fell short of calling it a sign or seal. 2C 1:


Strictly speaking, the indwelling Spirit, not baptism, is the seal of the New Covenant.

NT Baptism paralleled OT circumcision. Circumcision was a sign of the Old Covenant, while baptism was nearly a sign of the New Covenant. Just as circumcision identified someone as part of the Old Covenant community, baptism identified someone as part of the New Covenant community. Loosely speaking, baptism is a sign of the New Covenant.

See also

• What is the purpose of infant baptism?

Your link does not work.
It's not unusual for the Lord to use the physical to help explain/understand the spiritual.

Baptism represents dying to sin and being raised to a new life in Christ, similar to the concept of being buried and resurrected.

• 
  
• Baptism is seen as a public declaration of faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.
  

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

God promised Abram land, descendants, and blessings to all nations. Genesis 17:


Abraham would be the father of Jews and Gentiles.


Circumcision was a sign of the covenant.


Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant to be God's people. Paul understood that as an OT type and turned the sign into a seal in Romans 4:


Circumcision was the sign of covenant and a seal of righteousness. Today, Abraham is the father of God's people in faith and righteousness even without physical circumcision.

Paul saw another update in (NIV) Col 2:


Baptism in Christ corresponds to the circumcision by Christ.


The physical circumcision was updated with the circumcision in Christ by baptism. However, Paul fell short of calling it a sign or seal. 2C 1:


Strictly speaking, the indwelling Spirit, not baptism, is the seal of the New Covenant.

NT Baptism paralleled OT circumcision. Circumcision was a sign of the Old Covenant, while baptism was nearly a sign of the New Covenant. Just as circumcision identified someone as part of the Old Covenant community, baptism identified someone as part of the New Covenant community. Loosely speaking, baptism is a sign of the New Covenant.

See also

• What is the purpose of infant baptism?

Although your posting does not directly say it, but it seems to suggest New Covenant Baptism has replaced physical circumcision for Israel - and by thus also implying a physical Israel (as descendants of the 12 tribes) as the chosen people of God does not exist anymore; and the church is the New Israel - full replacement theology; am I right?

New Covenant books indeed illustrate Baptism with circumcision of the heart (= this can only apply to believers, not infants), but this was already mentioned in the TNK/OT:

Deuteronomy 30:6

"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."

The foretelling of circumcision of the heart does NOT say that this would coincide with the abolition of physical circumcision.

Jeremiah 4:4

"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem."

This is an immediate call for circumcision of the heart WHILE the command for physical circumcision was also still valid for Israel.

Ezekiel 44:9

"Thus says the Lord God: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, shall enter my sanctuary, including any foreigners who are among the children of Israel."

Nowhere do Yeshua or any other NT writer abolish circumcision; e.g. in Acts 21:17-26 Paul is challenged to publicly demonstrate he does not teach the abolition of circumcision for Jews; and he complies. Also the believers in Jerusalem were zealous of the Law; the males were circumcised and baptized; as was Yeshua Himself.

TNK/OT texts show that 'circumcision of the heart' does not replace 'circumcision of the flesh'. Romans 11 shows there still is a physical Israel (trying to read it while replacing 'Israel' with 'the church' leads to non-sense); prophecies in the TNK/OT show there is still a distinction between Israel and the (believing) Nations; Sabbaths are even mentioned. In Matthew 24:20 Yeshua says 'Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.'

For Jews today physical circumcision (for males) and Sabbath are still relevant.

Paul (Galatians) and the leadership in Jerusalem (Acts 15) argue against requiring Gentile male believers to be circumcised - but that is not the same as saying that Baptism (for male + female believers) replaces physical circumcision (for only male infants).

Have you spoken to Yeshua believing Jews lately about this?

Be blessed !

 

[tonychanyt]

Although your posting does not directly say it, but it seems to suggest New Covenant Baptism has replaced physical circumcision for Israel -

No.

and by thus also implying a physical Israel (as descendants of the 12 tribes) as the chosen people of God does not exist anymore;

No.

and the church is the New Israel - full replacement theology; am I right?

No. In fact, Judaism could continue until Jesus returns.

New Covenant books indeed illustrate Baptism with circumcision of the heart (= this can only apply to believers, not infants),

See What is the purpose of infant baptism? and follow up there.

Have you spoken to Yeshua believing Jews lately about this?

A few years ago, I did, but not to challenge them, only to understand their positions.