Colossians 2:8-12

⁸ “See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with 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, ¹² having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Verse 8: Paul urges the believers to be vigilant and not allow themselves to be captivated by empty and deceitful philosophies. These philosophies are based on human traditions and are therefore focused on works-based living. Instead of living according to the ways of the world, Paul encourages them to depend on Christ as life.

Verse 9: Paul reminds the believers that in Christ, the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. This emphasizes the divinity of Jesus and the completeness of His nature. As believers, we are united with Christ, and therefore, we have access to the fullness of God’s presence and power. We have the completeness of his salvation.

Verse 10: Paul reassures the believers that in Christ, they have been made complete. They lack nothing because they are united with the One who is the head over all powers and authorities. This means that believers have the authority and power of Christ dwelling within them, enabling them to live victoriously. Salvation is not trying to act like Jesus. Salvation is when the historical figure of Jesus comes to live inside of you. When we decide that Jesus is alive today and that the fullness of God’s deity is found in him, then Jesus and all of His fullness is poured into our spirit through the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:17). When this salvation happens, we go from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive. We become complete from this moment onward. We do not need more of God or more spiritually blessings (see Ephesians 1:3). Christ has made us complete. This is what it means to be circumcised spiritually. For thousands of years Jews used outward circumcision as a sign of righteousness. But this was merely a shadow. In the New Covenant, Jesus gives His children a spiritual circumcision and righteousness. God took out our dead hearts and gave us brand new hearts.

Verse 11: Paul uses the metaphor of circumcision to illustrate a spiritual reality. In Christ, believers have undergone a circumcision that is not physical but spiritual. This circumcision represents the removal of the old self, ruled by the flesh, and the putting on of the new self in Christ. It signifies a transformation at the core of our being.

Verse 12: Paul highlights the spiritual significance of baptism. Through faith in the working of God, believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Just as Christ was buried and raised from the dead, believers have been spiritually buried with him and raised to newness of life. Baptism symbolizes this identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. Believers are made new through our union with Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Jesus died and rose again, so do believers the moment they believe. Our old selves were crucified and buried with Christ, and we were raised brand new creations through Jesus’s resurrection. This is the second half of the gospel that Paul wants us to understand. Here Paul is not speaking about physical baptism. He is speaking of being spiritually baptized into Christ’s death and raised through His resurrection. Physical baptism is an outward symbol of our inner death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. Paul also states in Ephesians that believers have ascended with Christ and been seated with him (Ephesians 2:6). This means that believers are as close to God as they can possibly be.