Colossians 2:13

And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you,. say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;

'BEING DEAD THROUGH YOUR TRESPASSES' -Their former condition before they were baptized (Acts 22:16). (Ephesians 2:1)

'YOUR TRESPASSES' -Carefully note that only your own sins separate you from God (Isaiah 2:1). One isn't born in sin, sin isn't something that is inherited (Ezekiel 2:20). God forbid such. terrible doctrine.. was just thinking, if children are born in sin, lost and hell bound, then the choice to have such children would have to be. sin also. The choice to bring another soul into the world, the chances being that it is predestined for hell (and hence deprived from any hope of salvation), would be the most unloving action that one could perform.

Point to Note:

In passing we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that among the terms that God uses for sin, He calls "sin". trespass. This infers that "sin" is something that human beings do not have. right to engage in. Something that the Bible calls. "sin" can never be labeled as "a right".

'AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH' -(Ephesians 2:11). The phrase here probably means physically uncircumcised, i.e. 'Yes, the apostle insists, this is what has happened to you. You were spiritually and morally dead in your earlier pagan days.' (Bruce p. 108) 'The apostle adopts the expression, but refers it to the pre-Christian life of his readers..when their Gentile uncircumcision was. true type of their moral condition (Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:11)

Carefully note that being uncircumcised didn't mean that. person was dead in sin (Romans 2:13-15; 24-27). But the Colossians had lived like your typical uncircumcised man, i.e. your typical pagan. 'they were both heathen and godless' (O'Brien p. 123)

'YOU' -Even you godless heathens!

Point to Note:

In this section of Scripture we must remember that the main thrust is that Christ is all one needs for salvation. If Christ can take godless uncircumcised men, and cause them to be forgiven -apart from any need to be physically circumcised, then surely, Christ is all we need!

***NOW NOTE: INVOLVED IN CHRIST BEING ALL YOU NEED--PAUL HAS TALKED ABOUT FAITH AND BAPTISM. THEREFORE, BAPTISM CAN NEVER BE VIEWED AS AN "ADDITION" TO FAITH OR THE SALVATION THAT CHRIST HAS PROVIDED. IT ISN'T AN ADDITION, IT IS AN INHERENT PART OF GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION.

Paul is reminding these Christians of their past and their conversion. They had become Christians without any need of circumcision, without the Law of Moses, without worshipping or appeasing angels and without any ascetic requirements! So why turn to such things now? He is telling them, 'Remember what really saved you in the first place. None of these other things had anything to do with your salvation.'

But again note. None of the Colossians had become Christians without being baptized! Paul never argues that 'Christ is all you need, therefore, you don't have to be baptized.'

'DID HE' -God the Father (Colossians 2:12).

'MAKE ALIVE' -In the context this "make alive" demands. release from all their former trespasses, i.e. "making alive" equals the forgiveness of sins. For their own trespasses had resulted in their own spiritual death.

'TOGETHER WITH HIM' -In the context this expression is linked with baptism (Colossians 2:12 'buried with him...ye were also raised with him..')

'HAVING FORGIVEN US ALL OUR TRESPASSES' -

Points to Note:

1. The forgiveness offered by Christ, the forgiveness available when we are united with Him in baptism, is. total forgiveness "all our trespasses".. total and complete removal of sin, without any need for physical circumcision.

2. In the text, forgiveness of sin doesn't happen unless one is first "make alive together with Him". i.e baptism stands between one and the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Therefore, baptism is the line between being lost or saved (Mark 16:16).

3. The apostles didn't place "new life" prior to baptism (Romans 6:1).

4. Since the blood of Christ and the grace of God is actually what makes forgiveness. reality, faith and baptism must put one into contact with the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5).

'US' -In saying "us" instead of "you", Paul includes all believers of Jewish ancestry. Jews needed this salvation just as much as Gentiles.

'Partially parallel to Ephesians 2:15. Apparently Paul now passes to the historic fact which supplied the ground for the forgiveness.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 527)