Jesus Did It

Colossians 2.11ff teaches us that Jewish customs from the old system are no longer valid. Our relationship with Jesus was initiated in a totally different way. No flint knives were necessary — he made us his special people by freeing us from the power of our sinful selves. Rather than going through a painful procedure, we go through the painless act of immersion. Immersion buries us with Jesus and allows us to access the same resurrection he did. Our faith in God’s power makes that possible. 

Notice the emphasis in Col 2.11-15 on the passive nature of our forgiveness! Judaism was all about doing stuff for the purpose of being forgiven of bad actions. The whole purpose of the old law was to show us that we’re incapable of working off our existential debt. We are completely powerless by ourselves. 

Verse 11 — not done by human hands, you were made free, this is circumcision Christ does

Verse 12 — you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, you were raised up, God raised Christ

Verse 13 — you were spiritually dead, you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God gave you new life together with Christ, he forgave all of our sins

Verse 14 — we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt, God forgave that debt, God nailed that debt to the cross

Verse 15 — God defeated the ancient ruling powers of earth through the cross, they are now defeated and powerless prisoners 

God was and is responsible for our status. We can’t dig ourselves out of any sin-debt, but he can and does forgive. God’s grace through Jesus’s sacrifice is how we’re immortal!