Read Deuteronomy 10:12-22
God had a cow when His covenant people chose to worship a golden calf instead of Him. Moses pleaded with God on their behalf and God gave them a new beginning (Deuteronomy 9:7ff). They had all received the sign of the covenant before. Now that they were starting over again and recommitting to their Savior, would they be re‐circumcised? Ouch! That wouldn’t work. Even more terrifying is if they had to apply the knife to their genitals every time they failed! What would be left after a week of new beginnings? I don’t mean to be gross (I have a knack for that, though). But God repeatedly called Israel to remember the sign of the covenant. The phrase he used was, “circumcise your hearts” (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Cf. Romans 2:29).
Baptism fulfills circumcision. Baptism isn’t what we do. Baptism is done to us—we receive the sign of the covenant, “not with the hands of men, but by Christ” (Colossians 2:11‐12). Just as the sign of the old covenant provided a reference point for sinner‐saints who wanted to come back to God, so the apostles used baptism as the point of reference for new beginnings over and again. For example:
If or when you choose to go against God’s ways and the Holy Spirit calls you back, you do not need to be re‐baptized. There is “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Though your heart strayed, God’s work remains effective. Return to your baptism in your heart.
God had a cow when His covenant people chose to worship a golden calf instead of Him. Moses pleaded with God on their behalf and God gave them a new beginning (Deuteronomy 9:7ff). They had all received the sign of the covenant before. Now that they were starting over again and recommitting to their Savior, would they be re‐circumcised? Ouch! That wouldn’t work. Even more terrifying is if they had to apply the knife to their genitals every time they failed! What would be left after a week of new beginnings? I don’t mean to be gross (I have a knack for that, though). But God repeatedly called Israel to remember the sign of the covenant. The phrase he used was, “circumcise your hearts” (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Cf. Romans 2:29).
Baptism fulfills circumcision. Baptism isn’t what we do. Baptism is done to us—we receive the sign of the covenant, “not with the hands of men, but by Christ” (Colossians 2:11‐12). Just as the sign of the old covenant provided a reference point for sinner‐saints who wanted to come back to God, so the apostles used baptism as the point of reference for new beginnings over and again. For example:
- Romans 6:3‐4 We do not want to continue sinning because we were joined to Christ’s death in baptism and given His resurrection power to live a new life!
- Titus 3:5 We devote ourselves to good living, not foolish passions, for we were washed in our baptisms and given the Holy Spirit.
If or when you choose to go against God’s ways and the Holy Spirit calls you back, you do not need to be re‐baptized. There is “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Though your heart strayed, God’s work remains effective. Return to your baptism in your heart.