There is a school of thought that suggests circumcision was replaced by baptism in the New Testament but baptism is not a replacement so much as an advancement; an advancement in the grace of God so that Jews could be initiated into the Christian faith. You see, without the New Covenant sign of baptism there would have been no turning point for Old Covenant people and… ‘One might hesitatingly suggest that the fact that women could receive baptism as well and as easily as men has something to do with it – now there is a gospel liberty for women which the Old Covenant did not bestow.’