Baptism Has Come in the Place of Circumcision

(a) Rev. James D. Slopsema:

“[That baptism has come in the place of circumcision] is easily demonstrated from Holy Writ. Thus, for example, both baptism and circumcision point to the same spiritual realities. Baptism is a sign and seal of the remission or forgiveness of sins (cf. Acts 2:38) as well as spiritual renewal (cf. Rom. 6:4); But circumcision in the Old Testament carried with it the same significance. It too spoke of a righteousness before God which includes the forgiveness of sins (cf. Rom. 4:11) as well as spiritual renewal (cf. Deut. 30:6). And both of these spiritual realities—the forgiveness of sins and spiritual renewal—are what comprise the washing away of sins depicted so graphically in both circumcision and baptism. In addition to this, the Bible identifies both baptism and circumcision by using them interchangeably. This it does, for example, in Colossians 2:11-12:

‘In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.’

From all this we are led to conclude that there is but one covenant of God throughout all history, the covenant of grace with Abraham and his seed. In the old dispensation this covenant was limited primarily to the natural descendants of Abraham; in the new dispensation it embraces also the Gentiles who are adopted by God’s grace into the covenant as spiritual children of Abraham.

      

In turn, this wonderful covenant of grace has essentially but one sign and seal. The form of this covenant sign changes from one dispensation to the next; nevertheless, there is essentially but one sign and seal of this covenant. In the old dispensation the sign of this covenant was circumcision. Christ had not yet come to establish the covenant in His blood. Hence, God ordained circumcision to be the seal of the covenant. Circumcision was performed as a matter of cleanliness and hygiene. It also involved the shedding of blood. As such, it was a very apt sign of the washing away of sins in the blood of the promised Christ. But now the Christ has come. He has shed His blood to wash away sin and realize the covenant. Hence, the sign of circumcision falls away. With the shedding of the blood of atonement, the shedding of blood, also in circumcision, forever loses its significance for God’s people. In the place of circumcision, God has ordained the sign of baptism. It is essentially the same sign as circumcision. For it too graphically portrays the washing away of sins in the blood of Christ. Circumcision and baptism are essentially one.

… [S]ince baptism has taken the place of circumcision as the sign of God’s covenant, children of believing parents are to be baptized. Even as the children born into natural Israel received the sign of the covenant in the old dispensation in the form of circumcision, so also now in the new dispensation the children of spiritual Israel are to receive the sign of the same covenant by being baptized. They are to be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of God and of God’s covenant. This baptism will have the same effect that circumcision had in the Old Testament. For the true spiritual seed who receive baptism, their baptism will serve as a means of grace. However, when the sign of the covenant comes upon the carnal, reprobate seed, it will serve to harden their hearts according to the purpose of God’s reprobation.”

(Rev. James D. Slopsema, “The Standard Bearer,” vol. 62, no. 17 [June 1, 1986], pp. 400-401)