Romans 6:1-8; Jeremiah 4:3-4

Physical circumcision of the flesh always pictured spiritual circumcision of the heart, and in the New Testament, was replaced with physical, water baptism. Water baptism pictured the baptism of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to eliminate the works of the flesh and replace them with the fruit of the Spirit. Both circumcision and baptism were and are the tangible signs and seals of the righteousness that comes only from faith, both righteousness and faith being spiritual gifts of God to us, which is what makes those signs and seals so important.