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Summary

In this discussion, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick and Wim Kerkhoff address whether baptism in the New Covenant replaces circumcision from the Old Covenant. Pastor Kirkpatrick argues that baptism is not the New Testament equivalent of circumcision. Instead, the circumcision of the heart in the New Testament is the anti-type to Old Testament circumcision. He explains that while circumcision in the Old Testament was an outward sign of being set apart, baptism represents the ritual washings of the Old Testament, signifying purification and the washing away of sins. Colossians 2 is examined to support the view that circumcision of the heart is spiritual and not physical. They also highlight the distinction between water baptism and the baptism into Christ’s suffering, emphasizing that baptism is an outward sign of the inward work of cleansing from sin.

Outline

• Is Baptism the Same as Circumcision?
  • Baptism is not the New Testament version of circumcision.
  • Circumcision in the Old Testament was an outward sign, but the New Testament focuses on the heart.
• What Does the Bible Say?
  • Colossians 2: Talks about a “circumcision made without hands,” meaning a spiritual change, not a physical one.
  • Romans 2: Highlights the importance of inward change, not just outward signs.
• Baptism and Old Testament Washings
  • Baptism is more like the Old Testament ritual washings, which symbolized being clean from sin.
• Different Purposes of Circumcision and Baptism
  • Circumcision marked people as part of God’s community.
  • Baptism represents being washed clean from sin and a new life in Christ.
• Key Takeaways
  • Baptism is an outward sign showing an inward change, like the washing away of sins.
  • It’s not a replacement for circumcision but has its own special meaning in the New Testament.

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Transcript

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

circumcision, baptism, sins, washing, colossians, acts chapter, paul, sprinkling, conversion, baptist, language, heart, flesh, outward sign, work, purity, place, colossians chapter, wash, christ

SPEAKERS

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, Wim Kerkhoff

Wim Kerkhoff  00:07

Is baptism in the New Covenant, the new circumcision?

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick  00:11

That’s an easy answer. The answer is, No, it’s not. I think there are a couple places in Scripture that indicate that the anti-type to Old Testament, circumcision is the circumcision of the heart. What’s very interesting as well, there’s only one place in the Bible where circumcision and baptism are found together, and that’s in Colossians 2. And in Colossians 2, we’re not talking about physical circumcision or the circumcision of the flesh, but Paul is talking about the circumcision made without hands. It’s of a heavenly quality. It’s of the heart. And so there, as Dr Renihan says, there’s an asymmetrical connection between circumcision and baptism. But the type / anti-type relationship is not circumcision and baptism, it’s circumcision setting apart the flesh. And then in the New Testament to setting part of the heart. It’s that inward setting apart that God brings about. And you see that very clearly in Romans 2 and Colossians 2. Now, as far as the Old Testament type to baptism, I think that was the purity system and the ritual washings. There’s a lot of language, especially in Hebrews, but even the language used in 1 Corinthians 6, to describe all the sins that were committed. A lot of those sins that are mentioned have referenced back into Leviticus. And even the washing of those sins has some reference as well. I think you are washed we see in 1 Corinthians 6. And another thing to point out as well as when, when John the Baptist comes on the scene and starts dunking people, nobody asks him what he’s doing, because they’ve seen it before. They understand. They’ve seen the ritual, they’ve seen the purity system, they’ve they know what’s going on. And so I do think the washings of the Old Testament point ahead to baptism and circumcision points head to the circumcision of the heart. So it’s an asymmetrical connection. But no, baptism is not the New Testament circumcision.

Wim Kerkhoff  02:09

Yeah, I’ve heard the paedo Baptist using that Colossians 2 text as a proof for that sprinkling is in the place of the circumcision, but not as an outward thing, like it’s, I think it’s the opposite. You can make a better case for credo (believer’s) baptism from that from that text,

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick  02:25

Absolutely. I’ll just read it in Colossians 2:11, in Him, you are also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands. So that’s that heavenly circumcision, that inward work by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. So Christ being cut off for us is the implication there, Buried with Him in baptism. So there is baptism connected, but it’s connected the circumcision made without hands, not the circumcision of the flesh, yeah.

Wim Kerkhoff  02:56

And yet, maybe it is a point of good one to point out there are multiple baptisms as well, right? You got the water, but it’s the symbol of that we’ve been immersed into Christ and His suffering, and he was immersed into suffering.

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick  03:09

And there is another place, I think it’s in Acts 22, there are a lot of passages in the Bible that can make us a little squeamish when it comes to baptism. It does sound very Roman Catholic, but I think the language does highlight the importance of baptism and signifying the outward sign of the inward work. But Paul does say in Acts chapter 22 as he’s describing his conversion, we do see in Acts 22:16 and why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. So that’s in the context as Paul’s addressing the Jewish mob as he’s being taken away. So that needs to be taken into account, as this is the, I think this is the second time he recounts his conversion narrative. And so that is included for a specific reason, because the Jews would have understood what washing, what washing signifies be baptized and wash away your sins, because that’s what baptism signifies, washing away of sins.

Wim Kerkhoff  04:11

Yep, yeah, much better picture than sprinkling, because sprinkling doesn’t clean much away.

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