Subject: John Baptist's Jewish legal credentials? |
Bible Note: Reighnskye, "In this light, wouldn't circumcision be on an equivalent level as baptism? The early Jewish church seems to have thought so. How would circumcision and baptism really differ, if at all?" Good question. Baptism is the circumcison of Christ. Colossians 2:11-12 "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; 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." Galatians 5:1-6 "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love." Emmaus |