Colossians: A Circumcision Not Made with Hands

Review

Do Not Be Deceived By The Traditions of Men

Our Christian Life is Not Based Upon Works

We Are Now Part of A New Creation

Putting on Christ

We Are Filled Up Where Lacking in Christ

We Are Complete In Christ, Colossians 2:10

Colossians 2:10

and you have been made complete in Him, who is the head of every rule and authority,

Principalities and Powers

Demons that now rule over the earth, Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12

Because we do not wrestle against blood and flesh, but against the rules, against the authorities, against the world rules of darkness of this age, against the spiritual malignant evil in the heavens

In His Death He Triumphed over them, Ephesians 1:21

Ephesians 1:21

far above all principality and authorities and powers and lords, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one about to come.

Through the Church God is Showing His Wisdom to the Principalities and Powers, Ephesians 3:10

Ephesians 3:10

in order that now it is made experientially known to the principalities and the authorities in the heavens, the manifold wisdom of God.

He was the One Who Created the Principalities and Powers, Colossians 1:16

Colossians 1:16 NKJV

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Satan Took a Third of Them With Him in His Fall, Revelation 12:4

Revelation 12:4 NKJV

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

Satan Usurped From Adam, Authority Over the Earth

He has the Authority to Give the Nations, Matthew 4:8-9

Matthew 4:8–9 NKJV

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

He is the Prince of the Authority of the Air, Ephesians 2:2

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

A Circumcision Not Made With Hands, Colossians 2:11

Colossians 2:11 (NKJV)

in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands by the removal of the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of the Christ

The Removal of the Body of the Sin of the Flesh

The Sin Nature

Describes the Human Nature that is Bent Towards Doing Wrong, Romans 7:13-20

Romans 7:13–20 (NKJV)

Therefore did the good come to be to me death? May it never come to be! But the sin [nature], in order that it should be manifested sin, though the good to me working out death, in order that the sin [nature] should become according to excess of sinfulness, through the commandment.

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For we intuitively know that the law is logical, but I, on my part, am fleshly, having been sold under the sin [nature].

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For that which I (old nature) work out, I (new nature) do not experientially know, for that which I (new nature) do not desirously will, this I (old nature) practice, but that which I (new nature) am indifferent to, this I (old nature) do.

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But since that which I (new nature) do not desirously will, this I (old nature) do, I (new nature) together say with the law that [the law is] proper.

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But now I (new nature), on my part, no longer work it out for myself, but the dwelling in me sin [nature].

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For I (new nature) intuitively know that dwelling in me, that is in my flesh, is no good. For the desirous will is present with me (new nature), but the working out of the proper, it is not found.

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For not that which I (new nature) desirously will, to do good, but that bad which I (new nature) do not desirously will, this I (old nature) practice.

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But since that which I (new nature) do not desirously will, this I (old nature) do, it is no longer I (new nature) working out it, but the sin [nature] residing in me.

The Nature We Received From Adam, Genesis 5:3

Genesis 5:3 NKJV

And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

This is the Impact of Rejecting God

It is a result of Adam’s trespass, Romans 5:17

Romans 5:17 NKJV

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Uses Law to Deceive Us, Romans 7:8

Romans 7:8 NKJV

But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

It is Through Law that It Became Known To Us, Romans 7:7

Romans 7:7 NKJV

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

Water Baptism Is Not For the Removal of the Filth of the Flesh, 1 Peter 3:21

1 Peter 3:21 NKJV

There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Our Circumcision - The Circumcision of The Christ

Immersion into The Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12

1 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Immersion into His Death and Resurrection, Romans 6:3-5

Romans 6:3–5

Or do you not know that as many as have been immersed into Christ Jesus, into His death have been immersed? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through the immersion into the death, in order that just as Christ was raised out from the dead through the proper opinion of the Father, thus also we in newness of life should walk. For if, assuming it is true, we have come to be planted together in the likeness of His death, indeed also we will be [planted together in the likeness of] the resurrection,

Just as Fleshly Circumcision, Once Done It Cannot Be Undone, So Is Our Circumcision in Christ

A Jew can act like a Gentile

A Christian can act like a child of Satan

In Christ Our Sin Nature Has Been Rendered Ineffective, Romans 6:6

Romans 6:6

experientially knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified in order that the body of the sin [nature] should be rendered ineffective, so that we are no longer slaves to the sin [nature].

We Need to Learn How to Apply This Fact To Our Lives

Know, Romans 6:6

Romans 6:6

experientially knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified in order that the body of the sin [nature] should be rendered ineffective, so that we are no longer slaves to the sin [nature].

Reckon, Romans 6:11

Romans 6:11

Thus also, you should reckon yourselves to be dead. On the one hand to be [dead] to the sin [nature], on the other hand living ones to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yield, Romans 6:13

Romans 6:13

Neither present your members instruments of unrighteousness to the sin [nature], but present yourselves to God as out from the dead being living ones, and your members instruments of righteousness to God.

Buried and Raised with Him, Colossians 2:12

Colossians 2:12

having been buried with Him in the immersion, in whom also you have been raised through faith of the energizing of God, the one who raised Him out from among the dead.

Through Immersion Into His Death, Romans 6:3

Romans 6:3

Or do you not know that as many as have been immersed into Christ Jesus, into His death have been immersed?

Raised to Walk in Newness of Life, Romans 6:4

Romans 6:4

Therefore, we have been buried with Him through the immersion into the death, in order that just as Christ was raised out from the dead through the proper opinion of the Father, thus also we in newness of life should walk.

Through Faith

Faith is Taking God at His Word, Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1

And Faith is an substance of that which is hoped for, the conviction of accomplished deeds not seen

Through Faith we are Saved, Ephesians 2:8

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [faith] is the gift of God,

Faith is Not Works, Romans 9:32

Romans 9:32

and in order that He should make known the riches of His proper opinion upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand unto a proper opinion,

Law is Not Out From Faith, Galatians 3:12

Galatians 3:12 (NKJV)

But the law is not out from faith, but the one doing them will live by them

Dead in Trespasses and the Uncircumcision of our flesh, Colossians 2:13

Colossians 2:13

And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive with Him, graciously forgiving all of your trespasses,

Trespasses

Different from Sin, Ephesians 2:1

Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

And you being dead in the trespass and the sins

Adam’s Trespass Brought Spiritual Death, Romans 5:17

Romans 5:17

For since in the trespass of the one [man] the death reigned through the one [man], by how much more the ones receiving the abundance of the grace and the gift of righteousness in life will reign through the one Jesus Christ.

The Gracious Gift of God Counters This Death, Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

For the wages of the sin [nature] are death, but the gracious gift from God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Trespasses Happen Within the Mind

When We Determine to Do Something We Know Is Contrary to God’s Expectations

The Process of Sin

Desires, James 1:13-4

James 1:13–14 NKJV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Trespass, James 1:15

James 1:15

Then, when desire has conceived ...

Sin, James 1:15

James 1:15

… it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Not The Circumcision Given to Israel, but the Removal of the body of the sins of the flesh

This Happens By Taking Us Out of Adam and Placing Us Into Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12

1 Corinthians 12:12

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also the Christ.

The Old Man Was Crucified With Christ, Romans 6:6

Romans 6:6

experientially knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified in order that the body of the sin [nature] should be rendered ineffective, so that we are no longer slaves to the sin [nature].

We Are To Put Off The Conduct of the Old Man, Ephesians 4:22

Ephesians 4:22 NKJV

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

We Are Born Again in Our Spirit, Titus 3:5

Titus 3:5 NKJV

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

God’s Seed is Placed Into Us, 1 John 3:9

1 John 3:9 NKJV

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Our Spirit is Now Saved, 1 Corinthians 6:17

1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

But he who is joined to the Lord is one quality of spirit

This is the Circumcision He is Talking About

It is Through Immersion into the Death and Resurrection of Christ

Our Spirit is Now Separated from Our Corrupt Flesh

We Can Now Walk by the Spirit, Romans 8:4

Romans 8:4 (NKJV)

in order that the righteousness of the law should be fulfilled in us, the ones not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Walking by the Flesh brings death, Romans 8:13

Romans 8:13 NKJV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

The Seed in Us Cannot Be Corrupted by the Flesh, 1 Peter 1:23

1 Peter 1:23 (NKJV)

having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the living and abiding Word of God

We Are Complete In Christ

A Circumcision Not Made With Hands

Buried and Raised with Him

Dead in Trespasses and the Uncircumcision of our flesh

Made Alive in Christ