"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Today's lesson assures the saved that because they have, through faith, been immersed into the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they are free from all the restrictions of the Law.
The faith of a Christian is to him/her the same specific identifier as was circumcision to the Jews. Paul, speaking of all believers to the children of God at Colosse, said, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
We should make note that Paul said to the saved, He has forgiven you "all tresspasses".
There are many who today contend that the phrase "buried with Him in baptism" as it is applied in today's quote implies that the saved are buried with Christ by water baptism, that assertion is horribly wrong and misleading to the casual bible student.
It is important to note that immediately after Paul stated the phrase "buried with Him in baptism", he said, "wherein also ye are risen with him THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD. It is clearly NOT water baptism that remits the sins of the lost, but rather are buried with Him by FAITH in the plan of God to redeem sin through the life and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We should remember what this same Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9; "For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Water baptism is a physical work and therefore cannot be the means by which we are saved.~
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