Baptism Replaces Circumcision

11In Him you were also circumcised in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. 12And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!  (Colossians 2:11-14)

Thoughts:  John Calvin did an excellent job of founding and linking the sacrament of baptism on and with the Old Testament rite of circumcision.  They both are initiation rites into the people/family of God. Both represent cleansing.  Circumcision is a rolling away of the uncleanness (Joshua 5:8,9) while baptism is cleansing.  Both are covenant/promise making events.  Both are done in obedience to God and to elicit God's blessing and favor.
    In Colossians 2 links circumcision to baptism- "In Him you were also circumcised...in baptism."  Circumcision was not necessary in the New Testament because its meaning and its rite was replaced with baptism.  This also opened the initiation/cleansing/covenant rite to both men and women.  In the Old Testament obviously only males were circumcised.  In the Inter-testamental period, converts were circumcised if they were boys and baptized if they were girls. But in the New Testament the rite and the people were unified- in one Lord, one faith, one baptism. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling me, claiming me, making a covenant with me in baptism.