Baptized
Pondering Colossians 2
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. —Colossians 2:12-15
I expect that everyone who made the decision to be baptized can remember it with great joy. Paul certainly recounted his hearing the Gospel and being baptized more than once. He relates that Ananias said to him, “Now why do you delay? Rise up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). Here and in Romans 6, Paul uses the terminology “buried with Christ”—a fitting expression since he has just written how crucial it is to be deeply rooted in Christ. He expresses several things about baptism in this brief passage.
It is a burial. Though I do not judge others, I am convinced that this teaches that baptism is an immersion “with Christ.”
It is being raised to new life! Notice this is also “with him.” The new life we all long for is deeply rooted in faith and a decision to follow Jesus.
It is an expression of trust. No one can earn anything in baptism. Everything gained is a gift that should lead to gratitude and thanksgiving. Baptism expresses trust in the power of God to do what He promises.
It is life from death. In our sins, we were dead. We lived according to our sinful nature, which was not yet “cut away” (more on that in a minute).
It is forgiveness. We are made alive with Christ, and “all our sins” are now forgiven and placed behind us. We are free because there are no charges that can be pinned on us.
The power and meaning of the cross is demonstrated in baptism. We were dead, we are now raised in life.
Whatever powers and authorities exist, they are put to shame by the fact that Jesus is victorious!
There is so much here to think about. The NLT glazes over the subject of circumcision. This is something every Jewish family would have known about and considered a holy act of covenant keeping. Notice how the Revised Standard Version translates verse 13:
“And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…”
In the Hebrew Bible, circumcision was a covenant action taken mostly when infants were eight days old (or later if they became converts—proselytes). To be uncircumcised placed one outside of the covenant with God. By using this term, Paul lets both the Gentile and Jewish readers of his letter know that even this did not prevent God from making us alive in Christ when we turn to him in faith.
Paul is not shy when it comes to talking about baptism and the spiritual effects it sets into motion for believers in Christ. This is also a reminder not to drift away nor to be talked out of a life of faith by enemies of Christ. Jesus is victorious; stick with HIM!
Thanks for the restacks @R Meadow and @Robin Gough!