Inspired by the LGG study, “Christ is All I Need” / Week 3 Day 5
Road Map for Today’s Journey: Colossians 2:11-15 (SOAP: 11-12)
In him you also were circumcised ~ not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hand, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.
Colossians 2:11 NET
I imagine all, if not most of us, are familiar with circumcision as a medical procedure performed on baby boys just days after they are born. However, in Paul’s day, particularly in the Jewish community, circumcision was recognized (known to be) an identifying mark of God’s people. The circumcision that Paul writes about in today’s portion of his letter is not referring to the medical procedure but rather to the spiritual procedure of Christ cutting away our sinful nature. When we come to Jesus in faith for salvation, He spiritually cuts away our sinful nature; thus Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone; the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17)
Faith in Christ changes us from the inside out.
When we came to Christ, we were circumcised, not physically but spiritually, as Christ cut away our sinful nature. Bibleref.com explains it like this: “~what circumcision does, physically, faith in Christ does, spiritually. In other words, what matters this side of the cross (emphasis added) is knowing Christ, not physical circumcision.” As Paul will confirm later in our journey through Colossians, “ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” (Colossians 3:11)
Friends, as Gentiles, we had two strikes against us from the start. We were sinners having no rightful connection to God, and we were ‘uncircumcised’ (meaning we were not identified as belonging to God). Yet by His grace and mercy, God stepped in and rescued us ~ making a way where there was no way ~ bridging the chasm between God and us by the blood of His Son and giving us His identity by making us “new creations in Christ”. Now our sins no longer keep us from God; instead, through faith in Christ, we are offered a living, active relationship with God1 [Father, Son, Spirit]. We are, as Paul wrote, buried [dying to the old self] with Him in baptism and raised [given new life] with/in Him through our faith…” The old has gone, the new has come! Our sins have not only been forgiven, but He completely canceled the record of the charges against us by nailing it to the cross. “Disarming,” as Paul writes, “the spiritual rulers and authorities” through His glorious VICTORY on the cross! May we never forget or take for granted that it is a victory we share in through Faith in Jesus Christ!
Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12 NET
Response of Worship
Response of Prayer
Father, thank You for the victory that is ours through Faith, by grace. We are most blessed and forever grateful to be new creations in Christ Jesus…welcomed into a relationship with You…no longer separated from You by our sins! Glory Hal-le-lu-jah! Thank You, Jesus!
- Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you … (James 4:8) ↩︎
Me From the Inside Out 