What is the significance of the sacraments in the book of Joshua? Dr. John Currid examines circumcision and Passover in the book of Joshua, highlighting the significance of the sacraments for believers today.
I’ve been recently looking at the book of Joshua, in which the Israelites have crossed into the Promised Land. They’ve crossed the Jordan River. They’re at the site of Gilgal, and they’re preparing themselves to attack the city of Jericho. But something interesting happens before they attack the city. That is, prior to their attack, Israel is to conduct two rituals as signs of the covenant relationship between themselves and the Lord.
The first is that they are going to celebrate Passover. They celebrated Passover when they left Egypt. They celebrated Passover again when they came to Mount Sinai, but they haven’t celebrated Passover since then. The second ritual that they’re going to perform is circumcision. Circumcision was performed in Egypt in Exodus 12, but it was never performed in the wilderness wanderings. Circumcision and Passover are signs that Israel is in covenant relationship with God.And that first generation that came out, who celebrated Passover both in Egypt and at Mount Sinai and who were circumcised in Egypt, that whole generation is now gone. So there’s a second generation, who were born up in the wilderness, who have not celebrated Passover or circumcision. And here they come into the land of promise. Now, the first thing that they do is they celebrate Passover and circumcision.
Old Testament Sacraments
Circumcision and Passover are signs that Israel is in covenant relationship with God, that they belong to God, and that the people are set apart from all the other peoples of the world. In addition, these rites indicate that Israel will receive the many blessings of being the covenant people of God. They’re about to secure the Promised Land. They’re going to be in relationship with God. They’re going to have the tabernacle and the temple in the land of promise. These dual sacraments—dual oaths that they take with Passover and circumcision—for a long time in the history of the church, theologians have taught that there is a sacramental relationship between the two testaments, between the Old Testament and the New Testament. R.B. Kuiper said the following—famous Reformed systematic theologian—said this: “In the old dispensation God instituted two sacraments, circumcision and Passover. In the new dispensation, the Lord Jesus Christ substituted baptism for circumcision and Holy Communion for the Passover.”
This theological teaching reflects a common viewpoint throughout church history, and it’s found even in the confessions of the church. And I’d like to read from one of the confessions, and that’s the Scots Confession, written primarily by John Knox. And it says the following: “As the fathers under the law, besides the reality of the sacrifices had two chief sacraments, that is, circumcision and the Passover, and those who rejected those were not reckoned among God’s people; so do we acknowledge and confess that now in the time of the gospel we have two chief sacraments, which alone were instituted by the Lord Jesus and commanded to be used by all who will be counted members of his body, that is, baptism and the Supper or Table of the Lord Jesus.”
Covenant Benefits for Today
These two sacraments in the Old Testament, circumcision and Passover, reflect the reality that Israel is God’s people. They are visible reminders that Israel has been set apart from all the other peoples of the earth, and they alone are the elect, chosen people of God. When people are baptized into the church and regularly participate in communion, they are proclaiming in a visible manner that they are part of God’s covenant community.These rituals point to the concrete truth that Israel is in covenant with God. Furthermore, these two sacraments—Old Testament sacraments—indicate that membership includes many blessings which incorporate benefits that the Apostle Paul talks about in Romans 3. They have the adoption, they have the glory, they have the covenants, they have the worship, and they have the promises. Also, it is through them that the messianic expectation is fulfilled.
Now, understand, these same truths apply to God’s people throughout the centuries. When people are baptized into the church and regularly participate in communion, they are proclaiming in a visible manner that they are part of God’s covenant community, that is, the visible church. Benefits accompany membership in the covenant community, such as hearing the Word of God preached, fellowship, worship. And the many blessings that first came to Israel now come to the church.
