February 28
________________________________________
SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION THROUGH CHRIST
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, – Colossians 2:9-11
________________________________________
In this passage, Paul follows up his concern about the Colossian believers in being surrounded by false teachings. He reminds them that they do not have to believe in other philosophies or any human traditions. Paul explains the Deity and Sovereignty of Christ. In verse 9 he explains to them that though Jesus became human, he is full Deity in a physical body. In verse 10, he reminds the Colossians that they are complete if they believe in Jesus because of His sovereignty. During those times, some of the heretics are propagating angels, rulers and authorities having authority. Paul tells them that it is only Jesus who is Sovereign and Almighty over all creation. In verse 11, Paul explains spiritual circumcision through Christ, which is not a mere physical removal of the body of flesh, but a removal of our old nature, our old self that is being removed from the believer because he is now a new creation in Christ, stripped off his old nature.
David Guzik comments as “The Colossian Christians had to deal with a whole variety of false teaching. Not only did they have wrong ideas about Jesus, but they also had wrong ideas about things like circumcision. Apparently, they were being taught that they had to be circumcised to be right with God. Paul makes it clear that they were circumcised, by putting off the sins of the flesh. Vaugh comments: “Our spiritual circumcision meant the putting off of the old man. “The Greek word for ‘putting off’, a double compound, denotes both stripping off and casting away. The imagery is that of discarding – or being divested of – a piece of filthy clothing.”
Guzik further comments that even the Old Testament acknowledges that there are two types of circumcision: one of the body and one of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4 and 9:25; Ezekiel 44:7 and 44:9). Sincere baptism shows that the real “circumcision of the heart” has taken place.
Paul finds it important to bring the Colossians to an understanding of the false teachings that they were bombarded with so that they continue to focus on the true teachings.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us Christians to have a thorough understanding of what spiritual circumcision is? What happens when we have no knowledge of it?