Subject: John Baptist's Jewish legal credentials? |
Bible Note: Reighnskye I think the two are very different. Circumcision is physical act which by it’s very nature required utmost obedience and was lasting reminder of a believers ownership. A person circumcised would forever be known as a Child of Israel. There was no repentance for it, it was final. Baptism while physical was more ritual with spiritual emphasis, the ritual purification signifying a spiritual cleansing. Also it left no lasting physical change. We hope there was a change in the believers life when they came to Christ and through the work of the Holy Spirit there was nothing physically altered by baptism, thus no lasting reminder. That said circumcision was usually done of very young boys that had no awareness of the significance of that act. Therefore without proper training the whole effect could be lost. However Baptism, unless we are talking of infant baptism, is done after the believer make a commitment for themselves. Thus should carry more spiritual impact. EdB |