Colossians 2:12

having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

'HAVING BEEN' -In the previous verse (Colossians 2:11), he said. you were '. He now reminds them when this circumcision took place.

'BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM'. Romans 6:3. This also reveals something about who. can baptize.. can't baptize someone who refuses to die to sin.. burial infers. dead body.

'BAPTISM' -908. baptisma bap'-tis-mah; from 907; immersion, baptism (technically or figuratively): -baptism.

Points to Note:

1. Even if one doesn't know Greek and the definition of the Greek word rendered "baptism". The phrase "buried with" would help the reader understand that baptism is an immersion. The Bible wasn't written to confuse us, rather to enlighten us (Psalms 119:97).

2. The inference is that it is in baptism that this true circumcision takes place. The link between repentance and baptism is established elsewhere in the Scriptures (Acts 2:38). The old man dies in baptism: (a) Repentance is prior to baptism, and repentance is the determination to die to the life of sin (Romans 6:2). Repentance is the determination to put the "flesh" to death (Galatians 5:24). (b) Baptism enables the repentant sinner to be forgiven-i.e. it being the last condition which God has placed prior to salvation- Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16. and hence. new life can begin (Romans 6:4).

'WHEREIN' -i.e. in baptism. The person being immersed isn't kept underneath the water.

'YE' -All the members at Colossae had been baptized. As one writer pointed out, the phrase 'un-baptized Christian' was unknown to Jesus and the apostles (1 Corinthians 12:13). Rejecting baptism was. sign that one had rejected the gospel message (Acts 2:41).

'WERE ALSO RAISED WITH HIM' -

Points to Note:

1. Becoming. Christian is much more than just. resolve to quit the old life. It is also. resolve to live. new life in harmony with the will of God. It is the determination to use all our resources (once used in sin), to further God's cause (Romans 6:16).

2.. don't understand those who claim that baptism is unnecessary or that one is saved prior to being baptized. These passages and others (Romans 6:1), reveal that being baptized is to totally identify yourself with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. Why wouldn't someone who professes to love Jesus, want to be "with Him"? To share in His death and resurrection?

4. If you are "raised with Him", then it is inferred that you have "new life", i.e. you are forgiven. Therefore baptism is essential to salvation, for baptism stands between the repentant sinner and new life (Romans 6:4).

5. Barclay almost gets it right when he says, 'Baptism in the time of Paul was three things. It was adult baptism; it was instructed baptism; and, wherever possible (wrong-and every time it was practiced), it was baptism by total immersion..' (p. 140) See, the truth isn't that hard to understand.

'THROUGH FAITH' -

Points to Note:

1. Baptism isn't something contrary to "faith". Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), and the Word of God commands us to be baptized (Mark 16:16). Hence all religious groups which try to argue that baptism isn't part of "faith", are misinformed.

2. Baptism isn't effective, unless the person being baptized is convicted that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:9), and that Jesus commands him or her to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38).

3. Therefore: (a) You can't be baptized for someone other than yourself. The Mormon practice of being baptized for. dead relative is not only vain, it is. mockery of God's plan of salvation. (b) Infant baptism is also invalid. For. baby can't believe. In addition,. baby has no sins to be forgiven of.

4. The refusal to be baptized, is an act of unbelief. Those who claim that baptism isn't essential to salvation are not merely guilty of misinterpretation, they are guilty of being unbelievers.

'IN THE WORKING OF GOD, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD' -

'IN THE WORKING' -'your faith in God's working' (Vincent p. 489)

Points to Note:

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ convinces me that God can indeed forgive my sins. For if the power of God could liberate Jesus from the power of death, then certainly the same power can raise me from. condition of being dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). And taking the final step of being baptized is the proof that. really believe that God can forgive me of all my transgressions.

2. Baptism isn't. "work" of human merit, for man didn't invent it. Neither is baptism an attempt to earn salvation. Baptism is an act of faith that demonstrates one believes that God does all the work in baptism.

3. Faith and baptism are inherently linked together in Scripture (Mark 16:16; Luke 7:29).

4.. get very frustrated when religious people claim that baptism is. "work of human merit, an attempt to earn salvation". And then. look at what the denominational world has put in the place of baptism: (a) Mere mental assent-which never saved anyone (John 12:42; James 2:24). (b) The mourners bench-praying through. Praying didn't save Paul or Cornelius. And praying through is. whole lot more "work" than simply allowing oneself to be baptized. (c) Praying for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, even when actually possessed, didn't save the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:47). And if you want to talk about "work", just watch the "work" that people put into praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.