What is the sign of the new covenant?
1. Covenant Signs in the Bible
Throughout the Bible, covenants are accompanied by signs. These signs function as visible confirmations of God’s promises and reminders of His relationship with His people.
Examples include:
Noah – the rainbow as a sign of God’s promise never to flood the earth again (Genesis 9:12–13).
Abraham – circumcision as the sign of God’s covenant with his descendants (Genesis 17:10–11).
Moses – the Sabbath as a sign between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13).
These signs were not arbitrary rituals. They embodied the covenant relationship, reminding the people of God’s faithfulness and their obligation to walk in obedience.
2. The Old Covenant Sign of Circumcision
In the Old Covenant, circumcision was the primary sign. Every male descendant of Abraham was circumcised on the eighth day (Genesis 17:12). It represented:
Membership in God’s covenant people.
Dedication to holiness and separation from the nations.
A physical reminder of God’s promise to bring blessing through Abraham’s line.
Yet circumcision was external. While it marked the body, it did not guarantee faith. Moses and the prophets called Israel to a “circumcision of the heart” (Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4). This showed that the outward sign pointed to an inner reality that only God could accomplish.
3. The New Covenant and Its Sign
The New Covenant, established by Christ, required a new sign. Unlike circumcision, which was limited to males and tied to physical descent, the new sign would be for all believers who enter by faith.
The Bible identifies baptism as this initiating sign. Jesus commanded His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Baptism signifies entry into the covenant community and marks the beginning of the believer’s visible life in Christ.
4. Baptism as Union with Christ
Baptism symbolizes union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Paul explains: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Key dimensions of baptism include:
Death to sin – the old life is put away.
New life in Christ – resurrection power at work in believers.
Spiritual circumcision – the heart cleansed by the Spirit (Colossians 2:11–12).
Through baptism, the believer publicly identifies with Christ and His people, confessing faith and repentance.
5. Baptism and the Replacement of Circumcision
Colossians 2:11–12 draws a direct connection between circumcision and baptism. Paul writes that believers have been circumcised “with a circumcision made without hands,” fulfilled in Christ, and expressed through baptism.
This replacement is significant:
From physical to spiritual – no longer tied to ethnicity but to faith.
From partial to complete – no longer a shadow but fulfilled in Christ.
From exclusion to inclusion – open to men and women, Jew and Gentile alike.
Baptism becomes the universal covenant sign, showing that the Gospel breaks down barriers and creates one new people in Christ (Galatians 3:27–28).
6. The Lord’s Supper as the Renewing Sign
While baptism is the initiating sign of the New Covenant, the Lord’s Supper functions as its renewing sign. Just as Passover renewed Israel’s covenant identity, so communion reaffirms the believer’s participation in Christ.
Jesus declared at the Last Supper: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). The bread and cup symbolize:
Ongoing fellowship with Christ.
Proclamation of His death until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Renewal of faith and unity among believers.
Thus, baptism marks entry into the covenant, while the Lord’s Supper sustains and renews covenant life.
7. The Community of the New Covenant
The Old Covenant included both faithful and unfaithful members, since circumcision was performed at birth. In contrast, the New Covenant is designed to consist of regenerate believers. Jeremiah 31:34 emphasizes that all members of this covenant will “know the Lord.”
This does not mean the church on earth is perfect, but the New Covenant community is defined by:
Faith in Christ – entrance comes through repentance and belief.
Indwelling of the Spirit – every member receives the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9).
Covenant unity – baptism and communion unite believers into one body.
The church is not a mixed nation of believers and unbelievers by birth, but a people born again into Christ’s kingdom.
8. The Gospel Significance of Baptism
Baptism is not merely a ritual but a proclamation of the Gospel. It declares:
Christ has died and risen.
The believer has been forgiven and made new.
Salvation is by grace, not works.
In this sense, baptism is both a sign of God’s promise and a confession of faith. It testifies that the believer’s life is hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3).
The Gospel calls all people to repent and be baptized, demonstrating outwardly the inward work of grace (Acts 2:38–39).
9. The End-Times Dimension of the Signs
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper both carry an eschatological hope. Baptism points forward to resurrection glory, when believers will share fully in Christ’s victory. The Lord’s Supper anticipates the marriage supper of the Lamb, where the covenant will be consummated in eternal fellowship (Revelation 19:9).
Thus, covenant signs not only anchor believers in the present but also direct them toward the future fulfillment of God’s promises.
10. The Unity of God’s Covenant of Grace
Though the form of the covenant signs has changed, their spiritual essence remains the same. Just as circumcision pointed to the need for inner renewal, baptism points to regeneration by the Spirit. Just as Passover celebrated redemption through the blood of the lamb, communion celebrates redemption through Christ, the true Lamb of God.
This unity shows that God’s covenant of grace runs throughout the entire Bible. The Gospel is not a new plan but the fulfillment of God’s promises, revealed in Christ and confirmed through the signs He has given His people.
Conclusion
The sign of the New Covenant is baptism, replacing circumcision as the initiating mark of God’s people. Baptism signifies union with Christ, spiritual circumcision, and new life in the Spirit. Alongside baptism, the Lord’s Supper renews covenant fellowship as believers remember Christ’s sacrifice and look forward to His return.
Together, these signs embody the Gospel, displaying God’s covenant faithfulness and drawing His people into deeper participation in His redemptive plan.
