THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST

By Bob Myhan

nd ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power; In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:10-13).

aul is here reminding the physically uncircumcised Christians in Colosse that they had been circumcised with a "circumcision made without hands" when they were baptized, and that they were then buried, risen and quickened (or made alive) together with Christ, and forgiven all trespasses. Since there is "one baptism" (Eph. 4:5), not two or more, and water baptism is both commanded (Acts 10:48) and is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), this circumcision ("putting off the body of the sins of the flesh") must have taken place when they were baptized in water.

t the time Paul wrote this letter, the Jewish believers were seeking to make the church nothing more than another Jewish sect, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were attempting this by getting non-Jewish believers to submit to physical circumcision as a condition of salvation.

aul’s point is that the Gentiles had received the only circumcision that matters when they were baptized in water for the remission of sins. Paul pointed out, in his epistle to the Romans, that it was this spiritual circumcision that made one's heart right with God, rather than physical circumcision (Rom. 2:25-29).

t is when one is baptized that his sins are forgiven because baptism is the final condition of forgiveness for the alien sinner. It is also because baptism is the final condition of forgiveness that baptism is said to put one into Christ and into the one body. Thus, if one wishes to be buried, raised and quickened together with Christ, forgiven of all trespasses [having his sins "cut off"] he must be baptized in water for the remission of sins. &

ASPECTS OF DAVID’S FAITH

(2 Samuel 17:38-51)

avid, in his triumph over the giant, illustrates the power and victory of faith. Let us look at several aspects of David’s faith so we can benefit from the record of this incident.

The Decision of Faith

aul is an illustration of the man of the flesh, who counts upon good armor for protection, and seeks to encumber the man of faith with like protection (v. 38).

he man of faith tries on the armor, but finds that he cannot perform in it, and therefore puts it off (v. 39). The resources of man are not the resources of God; hence the man of faith must not depend on the former, but on the latter.

he man of faith puts off the weights that would hinder him (Heb. 12:1); he puts off the weapons of earth's warfare (2 Cor. 10:4).

The Weapons of Faith

 staff, a sling, and five smooth stones out of the brook Kidron, are all the weapons that faith takes (v. 40). The weapons of our faith are spiritual (Eph. 6:10-18).

The Courage of Faith

avid did not wait until the giant came to him; he advanced towards the enemy (v. 40). The Christian should not only defend the truth against attacks but should also take the offensive at times (Jude 3).

The Persecution of Faith

aith is sure to be taunted and sneered at for its "unreasonable” action. Even Christ, Himself, was despised (Isa. 53:3), reviled (1 Pet. 2:23), hated (John 15:18) and scoffed at (Matt. 27:43). So shall we be, for the servant is not above his Lord (John 13:16).

The Testimony of Faith

ot in his own name, nor in his own strength did David go out against Goliath but, as he declared, in the name and strength of the Lord (v. 45). In like manner, the believer testifies that the power of the Lord and the name of Jesus are the powerful forces by which spiritual results are actually achieved (Acts 3:12-13; 4:12; 1 Cor. 2:2-5).

The Confidence of Faith

avid had no doubt as to the issue of the battle. Mark his confidence. "The Lord will deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee" (v. 46).

aith's confidence is not born of self-assurance, but is begotten by the sure word of God (Rom. 1:16; James 1:21).

The Resource of Faith

aith recognizes that the battle is not its own but "The battle is the Lord's" (v.47). What foe can stand against Him? The resource of faith is the Almighty God. The power of faith lies in the Power of which faith lays hold (Rom. 8:28-39).

The Victory of Faith

hen the man of faith takes the stone of Christ's victory over evil, and puts it into the sling of Divine utterance, and slings it in the strength of the Holy Spirit, it will bring down any foe (vv. 49-51). The Christian should never anticipate defeat but ever count on the Lord for total victory (1 John 5:4; 4:4).

ou too, dear reader, can experience the victory of faith. But, like David, you must make the decision of faith, take up the weapons of faith, have the courage of faith, endure persecution of faith, give the testimony of faith, have the confidence of faith and employ the resource of faith! &

THE PASSOVER IN HEAVEN?

Reader Response

 reader responds to last week’s Faith Builder saying, concerning Matt. 26:29, “This verse simply states that Christ would not eat the passover meal with the disciples anymore since he was about to die. However, he would eat it with them in Heaven in a new way. The passover meal was to remember the escape from Egypt. The ‘new way’ we will eat it on ‘that day’ in ‘God's kingdom’ will probably not be to remember the escape from Egypt. It will be something else. Escape from death maybe? I don't know. But I don't think this is referring to a perpetual eating every Sunday with Christ.”

e continues, “Isn't the Father's kingdom in heaven? Are we in Heaven? ‘That day’ would have to be a time when the disciples were in Heaven to partake with Him. I place this on or after Judgement Day. It is also singular. It could mean once, or many times. We don't know.”

e concludes, “I believe that this new way of eating the passover is different from the Lord's supper that we are supposed to partake of on this earth to remember the Lord's death.”

ill we be eating of the Passover in Heaven? This reader’s erroneous conclusion will be dealt with in the next issue of The Faith Builder. &