In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Look Ma, no hands! And then Mom starts the car for the trip to the emergency room. God gave us hands to hold things and build things. They are good. Paul wrote to the Colossians that Jesus Christ is preeminent in chapter 1 and went on to describe just how Jesus does it. He used the central event of the life of a Jewish male, circumcision, whether at eight days old or when they convert to the Jewish faith. In this case, Jesus does it with no hands, “putting off the body of the flesh”. Likewise baptism, done through faith. We are buried and raised with him.
Rather than rejoice in the new life we have in Christ, described in these verses, Christians in opposing camps dispute whether we play a part in our salvation by “putting off our flesh”. No one has ever circumcised himself. It is the circumcision of Christ. He puts off the flesh and baptizes us. We also argue about God raising Jesus, asking aloud if Jesus is less than God. God the Father and God the Son are filling their roles. We need the Triune God. If we baptize ourselves, who will raise us? Despite our desire to do things with our own hands, Jesus has a better plan.
Dear Lord, thank you for the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. May we glory in the salvation and the new life that only comes from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church