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Colossians 2:11-12
In Colossians 2:10 the Apostle Paul teaches that we are in Him (Jesus), who is the head of all principality and power. As we are “in” Him, (Colossians 2:11, NKJV) we are also cleansed by Him. This is not by a physical act toward Him as was customary in the OT, but through our faith in Him “by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11b). Going under the water in baptism represents being buried with Him, and coming up out of the water represents being raised from the dead and entering into new life in Him. Hallelujah! Paul teaches in Romans 6:10–11, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is an example of circumcising our hearts as we put off the ways of our old nature and put on the new nature of Christ Jesus through salvation.
This is an example of being buried with Christ Jesus through baptism into death and rising out of the water into a new life – In Christ.
John the Baptist came “preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). He declared in Mark 1:7–8, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” The Apostle Peter declares in his first sermon as stated in Acts 2:38–39, “repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” It is the working of God through our faith in Him that saves us; it is our obedience to Him through baptism in declaring that we are leaving our old life behind and putting on a new life – In Christ.
Dear Lord,
I pray today, LORD, that everyone everywhere would grasp the true meaning of baptism. That we were buried with Christ in baptism which represents burying our old sinful nature and the life that we led in it, and being raised out of the water, cleansed from sin and beginning a new life of obedience to You LORD through our salvation that You provided for us in the sinless sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior Jesus; as He rose to a new life, we also are raised from death to life – In Christ. Not that baptism is something that we do for ourselves, but that it is a declaration of our salvation and obedience to You which is only possible through our faith in Christ by Your grace to us because of Your great love for us. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.