Baptism, Circumcision, and Sacrifice

Whether or not I regret this depends entirely upon who reads it....

Sandi, I appreciate your connection between the Jewish and Christian conversion experiences. This is not a critique of your posting. It is my rambling thoughts that were stirred by your excellent post.

Certainly, John the Baptist and the early disciples were practicing rituals that they were familiar with. We are naive to believe that baptism and repentance were new concepts. Peter's listeners in Acts 2 were very familiar with the practice of baptism. In fact, chances are good that some had already been baptized that very day if they were planning to enter the Temple.

Peter’s edict was different, however, in at least one respect. He didn’t institute yet another ritual for man to add to the list of things that will appease God. Rather, he wanted people to respond to the REALITY of what was now occurring. The reality was this: God is indwelling His people.

So what!? Well, what happened when God indwelt the Tabernacle and the Temple? They became holy places—places that were perpetually pure and suitable for God’s presence. Therefore, when Peter preached repentance, baptism, and (in other scriptures) sacrifice, he was not instituting initiation rituals that let us “join the club.” Instead, he was teaching that because God now indwells His people, they must ensure the Temple is fit for His presence. How do we do that? An ongoing commitment to purity (mikveh or baptism); an ongoing commitment to repentance (circumcision of our heart); and an ongoing commitment to sacrifice (confessing His name).

In other words, the ritual is not the focus; the commitment to the reality is what counts. Stated differently, the requirements to become a Christ-follower are not more rituals (or even the original rituals). Rather, the requirements for conversion are belief in Jesus as Messiah and a commitment to pursue His righteousness.

The people in Acts 2 were not “cut to the heart” because they had KILLED their messiah. They were stricken with guilt for not BELIEVING Jesus was messiah and not OBEYING his teachings. “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Messiah)” (Acts 2:36). Peter’s encouragement was to repent of unbelief and disobedience. Therefore, the requirements for conversion are belief (Jesus is Messiah) and a commitment to obedience (Jesus is Lord).

Does this mean the rituals are useless and void? Absolutely not! But they must be viewed as an expression of the reality in our heart, not an end to themselves. Stated differently, baptism, mikveh, circumcision, tithing, fasting, communion and whatever other ritual you can think of, are not requirements to join the kingdom of heaven. However, for those in the kingdom, these rituals become an important testimony and witness to the required pledge we have made to God.

We bear false testimony to new believers when we insist they conform to a ritual when they have no sense of the reality that ritual represents.

Be blessed,
Bryan