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Romans 2:25-29 – Baptism and Circumcision
When arguing against the necessity of baptism, people classify it as equal to circumcision and then cite:
Romans 2:25-29 NASB For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. (26) So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? (27) And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? (28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. (29) But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Just as the Gentiles could be “Jews” without circumcision in God’s sight, so anyone can be “spiritual Jews” in God’s sight without baptism.
Furthermore, Paul also said,
Romans 4:9-12 NASB Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (10) How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; (11) and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, (12) and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
Just as faith did not include circumcision for Abraham and he was justified, so also faith today justifies us before and without baptism.
And yet, despite those arguments, Paul himself did not deny the necessity of baptism even when speaking to those same Roman Christians.
Romans 6:1-7 NASB What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? (2) May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (3) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (7) for he who has died is freed from sin.
So is baptism in the same class as circumcision? The answer is both yes and no. An analogy is often similar in one or more ways without being similar in all. Peter by the power of the Holy Spirit said:
1 Peter 3:21 NASB Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you–not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience–through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Whether you believe that contextually baptism corresponds to the flood water or the ark, it is easily admitted that the overarching comparison is not all inclusive? After all did Noah get wet?
So something can be similar in some ways and still dissimilar in others. Let’s first look at the similarities and then the differences.
Is baptism and circumcision related? Yes there is a divinely inspired connection in that both symbolize a removal of the flesh:
Colossians 2:9-14 NASB For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, (10) and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; (11) and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; (12) having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (13) When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, (14) having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Please notice in this connection the necessity of each. Notice what happened to an Israelite who was not circumcised.
Exodus 4:24-26 NASB Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. (25) Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.” (26) So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”–because of the circumcision.
And remember that before the Israelites could enter the land of Promise, which is antitypical of heaven, what had to be done.
Joshua 5:1-9 NASB Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel. (2) At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” (3) So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. (4) This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. (5) For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. (6) For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. (7) Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way. (8) Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. (9) Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.
And yes there is a connection in the sense that baptism is no more effective for a Christian who leads a rebellious life against God than circumcision was for an Israelite who lived contrary to the covenant.
Are baptism and circumcision alike in every way?
No in that circumcision was never a command given to the Gentiles, but baptism is given for all (Matthew 28:19). No in that baptism is commanded to all, but only males were circumcised. No in that baptism is belief in action (Mark 16:16), but infants were circumcised at 8 days old.
It is as dangerous to minimize baptism as much as it was to minimize circumcision. But it is equally dangerous to over emphasize either.
The following is from Robert Turner:
“Every preacher, elder or personal worker who has tried to stir dead or dying coals into live hot saints has met the ‘I’ve Been Baptized” routine in one form or another. ‘Our family have been Church of Christ from way back!’ ‘All the big-name preachers stayed at our house!’ ‘I helped build the church (building) back in my home town!’ And so, on and on.
“Someone has said, ‘The Baptists preach the impossibility of apostasy; but we practice it.’ Well, it’s nothing for which either should be proud. Actually, the better one’s background and opportunity to learn and grow, the greater one’s responsibility. So, do not allow the humor of the following poem to hide its more serious aspects.
Ticket Fer Heaven! (Robert Turner)
Well, I wuz baptized on a cold winter day,
They busted the ice and they pushed it away;
And Old Brother Sloakum, the pioneer, the one whut’s famous fer being (weird)*,
Wuz thu one whut put me under then,
And I ain’t about to do hit again….
Praise the Lord!
I bin baptized!!
Oh, I ain’t to strong fer churchin’ ways,
With the hypocrites they’ve got these days;
I’ll take me a nip, and a snort er two,
And I may be awhoopin’ afore I’m through;
But I got me a record, and don’t you ferget,
Hit’s good hard proof thet I’ve been wet….
Praise the Lord!
I bin baptized!!
When I wuz a boy in Tennessee,
Some big-meetin’ preachers laid their hands on me;
I’ve set on the knees of Old Brother Tant,
And heard more preachin’ ‘n you can shake a stick at;
Hardeman, Nichols, and Old Joe Blue,
Has stayed at our house, and they’d tell you….
Praise the Lord!
He’s bin baptized!!
So don’t come snoopin’ around our place,
Disturbin’ my coon-hounds, and tellin’ Grace ‘
Bout mendin’ our ways, and livin’ by the rules;
And bringin’ our kids to thu Sunday Schools;
I got me a Bible, in the trunk somewheres,
And a genuwine record whut’s writ in there….
Praise the Lord!
I bin baptized!!
Original version said “queer” and considering how that word has changed meaning, I thought it best to change the word.
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