Circumcision and baptism

Colossians 2:11-12 speaks of a parallel between circumcision and baptism: “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, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

While circumcision brought male children into a covenant relationship with God (Genesis 17:9-14; Leviticus 12:3), Calvinists consider circumcision to have been only an external sign that pointed people to God’s promises. While holy baptism gives new life (Titus 3:5) and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), Calvinists consider baptism to be only an external sign that points people to God’s promises.

We can be thankful that God does not merely give external signs that point to his promises. We are thankful that in holy baptism and the Lord’s Supper God bestows real spiritual blessings to people.