Colossians 2:9-15
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 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. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
In this passage Paul says that as believers, we "were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" (verse 11). This sounds a bit odd, to say that we were circumcised by "putting off the body of the flesh". But one can think of circumcision as a distinguishing mark for the Israelites, to show that they were unique and set apart from the surrounding culture. In a similar fashion, putting off our sinful nature sets us apart as different from the norms of the world. Ideally the world should see our purity as something that distinguishes us as Christians. It should be a badge of honor that we proudly wear.
Lord, help me to reflect Your purity to the world.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 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. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
In this passage Paul says that as believers, we "were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" (verse 11). This sounds a bit odd, to say that we were circumcised by "putting off the body of the flesh". But one can think of circumcision as a distinguishing mark for the Israelites, to show that they were unique and set apart from the surrounding culture. In a similar fashion, putting off our sinful nature sets us apart as different from the norms of the world. Ideally the world should see our purity as something that distinguishes us as Christians. It should be a badge of honor that we proudly wear.
Lord, help me to reflect Your purity to the world.