Circumcision and Baptism Compared

outward--Jer.9:26; Gen.17:10-27; Lev.12:3; Jsh.5:1-8; cf. 1Sam.17:26; Lk.2:21; Phil.3:5
inward--Jer.9:26; Lev.26:41; Dt.10:16; Dt.30:10; Jer.4:4; Ezk.44:7,9; cf.Act.7:51; Rom.2:25-29

outward--Heb.10:22; Jn.1:26; Act.8:36; Act.10:47
inward--Heb.10:22; Gal.3:27; 1Cor.12:12-14

circumcision was bloody, like most OT rituals, pointing to the necessity of death and sacrifice; Ex.4:24-26, cf.Gen.17:14; Col.2:13

baptism--Rom.6:3-4; Col.2:12; cf.Lk.12:50

the cutting away implied needful removal of offense or cleansing, Gen.34:14-24; Ex.6:12,30; Jer.6:10; Is.52:1; cf.Lev.19:23-25

baptism--1Pet.3:21; Mk.1:4; Act.2:38; Act.22:16; Heb.10:22; cf.Heb.9:22

the location of the cut pointed to an ineradicable, intergenerational fault affecting the whole race (scope), and the world was divided between those who became circumcised and those who continued without; Hab.2:16; 1Sam.14:6; Ezk.32:17-32; Ezk.44:7,9; Jer.9:23-26; Ex.12:43-49

baptism--Mt.3:7-12; Lk.7:29-30; Mt.28:19-20; Mk.16:16; Eph.4:4-6

the fact that it was in such a vital place pointed further to a paradoxical situation in which to create more people naturally was simply to create more death, the instrument of life-giving was in reality propagating death, delaying it and even magnifying its hideous effects; the natural resolution would be to geld, to go sterile, and so terminate the sinful race—obviously unacceptable if the goal is to save the race; so the supernatural resolution is to remedy the defect. Jsh.24:2-3&etc., cf.Jsh.5:9 & Dt.30:19; 1Chr.16:12-14; Hos.9:10-17; Ps.87:4-6; Is.51:1-2, cf.Is.61:9, Is.65:23

baptism--new life in Christ's resurrection, Col.2:13; 1Pet.3:21; new life in Christ's body, 1Cor.12:12-13,27; cf.Gal.3:29, re. seed of Abraham; see also Jn.3:5 (associated with the new birth); Jn.4:7-15 & Rev.21:6 (water of life); Tit.3:4-6 (washing of regeneration)

the cut was a token removal, though painful, something that compelled deliberation before and after, both on the cost of the solution as well as the source of the solution. One had to look to the supernatural—to God—for his solution. 1Sam.18:27; Gal.5:12; cf.Ex.13:15; Lk.2:21-24

baptism--1Cor.10:1-2; 1Pet.3:20

Abraham, Gen.18:18-19; Moses, 1Cor.10:2; Christ, Gal.3:27

OT: Gen.48:15-16; Is.43:1-7, cf.Is:63:19; 2Chr.7:14; Nu.6:27; {Lk.1:59 & 2:21}, cf.Is.4:1; Is.65:15; Am.9:11-12

NT: Mt.28:19; Act.19:5; 2Tim.2:19; Rev.22:4

circumcision: Rom.4:11
baptism: 2Cor.1:21-22; Eph.1:13-14

sign: something that points to something else
seal: something that marks or reminds re. God’s claims of ownership and of his oath