Baptism is the fulfillment of  Physical circumcision of the Old Testament. God demanded that all belong to Him from 8 days old.

St. Paul reminds that this has not changed

Paul in Gal 3:15 reminds Christians of God’s covenant with Abraham and the ‘promise’ spoken of in Gen 17:7 to 14). Paul clarifies that this covenant ‘Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto’.

Ga:3:15: Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Ga:3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Ga:3:17: And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. Ga:3:18: For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Ac:7:2: And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

Ac:7:8: And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Ex:2:24: And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Joh:7:22: Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

Heb:6:13- 18: For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

The covenant said

Gen 17:10-14 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among -you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

God in this covenant demanded that ‘he that is 8 days old shall be circumcised’, and that ‘the uncircumcised, that soul shall be cut off from His people; he hath broken the Lord’s covenant’. St. Paul says, this ‘everlasting covenant’ no one can add to or disanull. So, he who is not circumcised (in the New Testamant, baptism; the new circumcision is not part of God’s people.

Children come into the Covenant established by God through the family. The covenant with Abraham and Isaac seen in Gen 17:2-14; 17:19, 23-27 & 21:4 which also is an everlasting one remains everlasting and unbroken and the Bible says, this one no man or the Law can disannul or add thereto (Gal 3:15-18).

Under the Covenant of the Lord with Abraham to which Christians and their children are also members (Ac:2:39; Gal 3:27 to 29 & 3:15 to 18), a covenant established between God and Abraham and Abraham’s seed in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto Abraham and his seed after him (Gen 17: ). The token of the covenant between God and Abraham was the circumcision of all male from age of 8 days old.

17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Ge:17:9: And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Ge:17:19: And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Ge:17:2-14: And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Ge:17:23-27: And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

Ge:21:4: And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Circumcision was something that was done to the child. The child did not choose to be initiated into the Chosen People of Israel. Yet this was what God commanded Abraham to do, so that his children (and the children of his tribe) might become inheritors of the Covenant God made with Abraham. A child who was not circumcised it is said ‘And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant’ (Gen 17:14).

This covenant and promise is one to which Jews were heir to from 8 days old and Christians of the New Testament as well are heirs to as Acts 2:39 says.

Ac:2:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Infants were required to be circumcised at 8 days as per the covenant to fulfil Abraham’s part of the covenant to God as the seal of their covenant. If so then those who oppose infant baptism are gravely dishonouring Abraham’s part of the everlasting covenant. Though the Old Law is blotted out, the covenant between Abraham and God and the promise no man can disanull or add to. Physical circumcision in the flesh is replaced by baptism which is the circumcision ‘made without hands’ but by the Spirit on baptism.

M't:22:32: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

God on His part keeps His covenant to be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the living. God’s covenant with Abraham is not to be mistaken with God’s covenant with the House of Israel through Moses. These are two separate covenants. The one with the House of Israel, God withdrew because the Jews did not keep their part of the covenant. But the one with Abraham, Paul says no man or the Law can disannul or add thereto and that it is through baptism that Christians become part of this covenant and God’s people through Abraham.

Ga:3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Ga:3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.Ga:3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Ga:3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Christ Jesus said:

"Let the children be, do not keep them back from me; the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

Also, Luke 18:15 adds to this, saying how " And they brought unto him also infants."

Indeed, the Greek word for "children" here ("brepha") actually means "babies" -- little children who are quite unable to approach Christ on their own.

St. Paul in Romans 8:9 also repeats what is said in Gen 17:14 when he says:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

i.e. if any man is not baptized he is none of His. Any man who is not circumcised by the Spirit is none of Christ’s.

Jesus in John in 3:6 said ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’, while Paul in Rom 8:9 says that ‘those baptized are not in the flesh but in the Spirit’.

Joh:3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Dishonouring the covenant was severly dealt with by God in the Old Testament. In Ex 4:24, Moses is on the way back to Egypt and God seeks to kill Moses. Why? Moses neglected to circumcise his son. In the Book of Joshua chapter 5:2-9, we see that many of them died on the way and the reason given is that they were not circumcised and thus disobeyed God. And once they are circumcised, God says in 5:9 ‘This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you’.

Baptism is the New Circumcision

Circumcision, the sign of God's covenant between the people of Abraham and Himself, was required to be performed on every male child who was eight days old (Genesis 17:12). It was the ‘seal of the covenant’ God made with Abraham, a covenant which applies to us Christians also (Galatians 3:14,29). Infants were just as much a part of the covenant as adults (Genesis 17:7, Deuteronomy 29:10-12, cf. Matthew 19:14).

Likewise, baptism is the ‘seal of the New Covenant’ in Christ. It signifies cleansing from sin, just as circumcision did (Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, 9:25, Romans 2:28-9, Philippians 3:3). Infants are wholly saved by God's grace just as adults are, only apart from their rational and willful consent. Their parents act in their behalf. Just like Abraham believed and based on his belief, his dependants and family including infants were given the seal of the covenant and part of the church and holy nation.

We see in the Old Covenant that the people who are in God’s covenant, are put into the covenant of faith, for the most part, by the faith of their parents, as shown in the covenant that God established with Abraham, and by the parents sprinkling the blood on the doorposts for their firstborn. Is there any hint that in the New Covenant that children are not be included in the covenant, and thus we should deny baptism to them? The rationale given for this idea is that one must repent before they should be baptized (Mk. 16:16, Acts 2:38). How does the idea of circumcision in the Old Covenant relate to the New Covenant? Paul writes about this in Colossians 2:11-14, where he refers to circumcision when he writes of baptism:

Col 2:11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Also, Philippians:3:3: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Paul notes that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col. 2:11–12). In that passage, he refers to baptism as "the circumcision of Christ" and "the circumcision made without hands." Paul specifically declares that baptism replaces circumcision in the New Covenant. What does baptism do? Put off the body of flesh, forgives trespasses, and raises them up. We saw earlier that children were born in sin (even if it is only original sin, according to David and Paul). They thus need the cleansing of baptism. Thus, Paul, mentioning in passing, as a matter that everybody should know, that baptism, which forgives sins, (See also Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Rom. 6:3-4, etc.) replaces Circumcision. Romans 5:15 shows that the grace in the New Covenant is far greater than the old (where God commands Abraham that the children in the Old Covenant must be circumcised or else the children would be cut off from covenant with God). It follows naturally that children would enter the new covenant that Paul is writing of through baptism. He makes no disclaimer that circumcision in the Old Covenant was for babies, but baptism is only for those “of an age of reason” in the New Covenant.

Of course, usually only infants were circumcised under the Old Law; circumcision of adults was rare, since there were few converts to Judaism. If Paul in Col. 2:11–12 meant to exclude infants, he would not have chosen ‘circumcision’ as a parallel for baptism.

In Colossians, Paul equates circumcision with baptism. Circumcision was required to be done on the 8th day, and of course, without the infant's consent or belief. As we saw earlier in Genesis 17:14, and following, we saw that uncircumcised infants are outside of God's covenant. If circumcision gave spiritual benefits (Gen. 17:14, the part of being within the covenant), how much more would baptism? Since the OT covenant promise applied even to infants, the NT covenant would as well.If baptism is the "New Testament circumcision" there can definitely be no objection to "sealing" the infant of a consecrated Christian family in Christ's New Covenant. In fact, God called for it to be done at 8 days old, which now Paul says ‘no man or the Law can disannul or add to’.

The Lord had said ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil’ (Matt 5:17). New Testament Baptism is the fulfillment of Old Testament Circumcision. Hebrews says, ‘The Law was also a shadow of the good things to come’ (Heb:10:1). Old Testament Circumcision was the ‘shadow’ of the New Testament Baptism.

Heb:10:1: For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Paul in Col 2:10-14 plainly observes that Physical circumcision is ‘blotted out’ or ‘taken out of the way’ with the introduction of Baptism, the Spiritual circumcision.

Col:2:10-14 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col:2:11: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Baptism by the Holy Spirit, in the New testament is the fulfilment of the Old testament circumcision. The covenant with Abraham with the promise to his seed through Isaac is an everlasting covenant (Ex 17:2-14 & 19) which neither the Law nor man can disannul or add thereto (Gal 3:15 & 17). When in the Old Testament, it was through Physical circumcision the Jews kept their part of the covenant between Abraham and God and became God’s people, in the New Testament St Paul says that it is through baptism that we become Abraham’s children (Gal 3:27).

Ga:3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Ga:3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.Ga:3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Ga:3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Like physical circumcision in the Old Testament was the seal of righteousness in the Old Testamant, the birth by the Holy Spirit on Baptism is the seal of righteous in the New Testament.

Ro:4:11: And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith

Eph:1:13, 14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Eph:4:30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

2Co:1:21: Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 2Co:1:22: Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Infants to fulfil Abraham’s part of the covenant need to receive the true circumcision of the Spirit to belong to Christ and become a child of Abraham and heir to the promise.

As the scriptures say, ‘we as Isaac was are the children of the promise’. Abraham believed and received the circumcision while Isaac received the promise even before he was born (Gen 17:19; Rom 9:7; 9:11). Isaac received the heirship on the faith of his father Abraham and was circumcised as a newborn.

To the Patriarchs of our faith, the promise was by inheritance.

Ga:4:28: Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Ge:17:19: And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Ro:9:4: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Ro:9:5: Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.Ro:9:6: Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Ro:9:7: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Ro:9:8: That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.Ro:9:9: For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. Ro:9:10: And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;Ro:9:11: (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Heb:11:17: By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Heb:11:18: Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:Heb:11:19: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Ge:17:19: And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Ge:17:21: But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Ge:21:7: And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck?  for I have born him a son in his old age. Ge:21:8: And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Ge:21:9: And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Ge:21:10: Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.Ge:21:11: And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.Ge:21:12: And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Ac:7:5: And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

Heb:11:9: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

Ac:2:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Then faith is then something of a family inheritance as the Lord’s words point to.

Ac:2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ac:2:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Ac:11:14: Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

Isa:44:3: For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Isa:44:4: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

Isa:59:21: As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Isa:61:9: And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

Isa:65:23: They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

Joe:2:16: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Abraham believed first and was afterwards circumcised. But the Bible says, ‘we as Isaac was are the children of the promise’. Abraham believed and received the circumcision while Isaac received the promise even before he was born (Gen 17:19; Rom 9:7; 9:11). Isaac received the heirship on the faith of his father Abraham and was circumcised as a newborn.

The method of entry into the old covenant was circumcision (Genesis l7). The "whole household" was circumcised (Genesis 17:27) because the Old Covenant included infants (Genesis 21:4). In the new covenant, baptism replaces circumcision (Colossians 2:11-12). Galatians 3:27 says, "We were baptized into Christ" (Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13). The New Covenant is greater than the Old Covenant. Since the Old Covenant included infants and God called for it to be from 8 days old, the Jews would assume that the New Covenant would also. The Bible doesn’t specifically mention infant baptism because it was understood and assumed to include them. If the New Covenant had broken from the tradition of including infants, it would have to have been explained to the Jews. God came to save us as a family. "I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named" Ephesians 3:14, cf. Ephesians 2:19.

Since the New Covenant is greater than the old, and since the Old Covenant included infants, then the grace Jesus won for us in the New Covenant must be available to infants as well as adults. Just as we saw how whole households were circumcised, we read in the New Testament how the "whole household" of the jailer - "He and all his family," were baptized in Acts 16:31-33. And Stephanas’s "Household" was baptized in 1 Corinthians 1:16... and Lydia’s "household" was baptized in Acts 16:15. These verses clearly imply that all the infants in these families were also baptized.

The Jews argument in Acts for circumcision of children of Gentile believers

In Acts 15:1 we see ‘certain men’ teaching ‘the brethren’ that except they be circumcised of the old circumcision they cannot be saved.  ‘The brethren’ denoting baptized Christians’, i.e. the Jew Christians taught regardless of their being baptized they should be circumcised as well. Later in Acts 21:21 the matter comes for discussion before the ‘elders at Jerusalem’ they talk of the ‘circumcision of children’.

Ac:15:1: And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Ac:21:21: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

Ac:15:5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Ac:15:6: And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Ac:15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.Ac:15:8: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; Ac:15:9: And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Ac:15:10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Ac:15:11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Ac:15:12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Ac:15:13: And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Ac:15:14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. Ac:15:15: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, Ac:15:16: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: Ac:15:17: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Ac:15:18: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Ac:15:19: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: (Jews to continue??)Ac:15:20: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. Ac:15:21: For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Ac:15:22: Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: Ac:15:23: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Ac:15:24: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: Ac:15:25: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Ac:15:26: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ac:15:27: We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. Ac:15:28: For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Ac:15:29: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. Ac:15:30: So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

To address this the apostles and elders are said to ‘have written letters’ to those groups (Acts 15:23 & 21:25) and send these letters through Paul, Branabas and others with them (acts 15:22 & 25)

Ac:21:25: As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Ac:15:23: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

And later in Acts we see Paul delivering the decrees from the apostles and elders, going through Galatia, Philippi, etc.

Ac:16:1: Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Ac:16:3: Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. Ac:16:4: And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. Ac:16:6: Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, Ac:16:7: After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. Ac:16:8: And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. Ac:16:12: And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And in his letters to Galatians and the Philippians, we see him discussing this same issue by pointing out that in the New Testament, ‘baptism the new circumcision by the Holy Spirit has replaced the old physical circumcision made by hands’. He stresses that the Old circumcision was of no avail because they have been circumcised of the new spiritual circumcision which is Baptism.

Ga:3:15: Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Ga:3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Ga:3:17: And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. Ga:3:18: For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Ga:3:19: Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Ga:3:20: Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Ga:3:21: Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Ga:3:22: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Ga:3:23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Ga:3:24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Ga:3:25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Ga:3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Ga:3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Ga:3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Ga:3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ga:5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Ga:5:3: For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Ga:5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Ga:5:5: For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Ga:5:6: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ga:5:7: Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Ga:5:8: This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

Ga:5:9: A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Ga:5:10: I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. Ga:5:11: And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. Ga:5:12: I would they were even cut off which trouble you. Ga:5:13: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Ga:5:14: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Ga:5:15: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Ga:5:16: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Ga:5:17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Ga:5:18: But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Ga:5:19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Ga:5:20: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Ga:5:21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ga:5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Ga:5:23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Ga:5:24: And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Ga:5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Ga:6:12: As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Ga:6:13: For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. Ga:6:14: But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Ga:6:15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Also, Ph'p:3:3: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Ph'p:3:4: Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Ph'p:3:5: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Col:2:11: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Col:2:12: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Col:2:13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Col:2:14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Col:2:15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col:2:16: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Col:2:17: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col:2:18: Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Col:2:19: And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Col:2:20: Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, Col:2:21: (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Col:2:22: Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Col:2:23: Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Col:3:1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col:3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col:3:3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col:3:4: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col:3:5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Col:3:6: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: Col:3:7: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Here St Paul talks of how being the old circumcision is of no avail when the person is baptized and is ‘in Christ’ ‘a new creature’. And in Gal 5: 19 to 21 and Colossians 2:16 to 3:5 expresses what is written in the decree from the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

Christ Reigns!!