Devotional: Colossians 2:11-15

Reflection

• (Col 2:11 ESV) 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,
• (Col 2:12 ESV) 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.
• (Col 2:13 ESV) 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,
• (Col 2:14 ESV) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
• (Col 2:15 ESV) He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Discussion

Baptism is an interesting picture of the life of a Christian.  While it is true that you can be redeemed by Christ and not be baptized (Luke 23:38-43) it is also true that baptism is ordered by Jesus of His people, the church.  We are told by the Lord to baptize believers.  

What this shows is two-part, maybe more: First, it shows obedience.  Christ directs us to be baptized, so we obey.  Second, it shows deliverance.  Baptism is the picture of our lives transformed by the work of Christ.  We are dead in our sin then He raises us to a new life.  No dead man can raise himself – it is by the grace of God that we are saved.

Connection

Does the method of baptism really matter?  Is it all the same of someone is sprinkled with water vs being immersed as the Biblical model shows us?

Is there a need for someone to be baptized multiple times?

What is your baptism story?

Expansion

The Ordinances

Jesus commands the church to baptize new believers and remember His sacrifice in communion.  Both of these are symbols of the work Christ has done and illustrate the gospel.  The Biblical mode of baptism is by immersion of a disciple of Christ illustrating the death of the old man and the new birth of the man reborn in Christ.  Communion is a symbol of the sacrifice of Christ for His people and as such should be taken only by His people with the utmost of reverence for their Lord.

Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, Acts 8:26-39, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 16:29-33, Acts 18:8, Romans 6:3-7, Colossians, 2:11-14, John 3:22-23, Matthew 3:13-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-30, Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23