Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Last week we began to look at why it matters that we are in Christ.

To give a quick recap of verses 9-10

We all have ideas about God, some good and some not.

Sometimes it seems God is near, sometimes it seems that He is far off, like a distant star in the night sky.

It is in Christ that we encounter the true, authentic fulness of God, a fulness that is greater than any other conceptions of God.

It is the authentic fulness of God, Jesus himself, that fills us.

We are filled with the living water, we are filled with grace upon grace.

I don’t know about you but I am exceptionally thankful for that because I so desperately need God’s grace.

Today we are going to continue to continue in this discussion and looking at the question of

Why does it matter that we are in Christ?

What does it mean when we see these words in Christ and why do they matter?

How is it that we can be in something that we cannot see?

Read Col. 2:9-15

A circumcision made without hands.

V. 11

God gave the Jews, at least the males, a physical mark of their as to their inclusion into that specific group of people.

In Genesis Chapter 17, God commands Abram that “Every male among you shall be circumcised.”

This circumcision was not only a sign of belonging, but it was also a statement that from birth, that child would be dedicated to knowing and serving the Lord.

Anyone who wished to convert to Judaism had to undergo to procedure in order for their conversion to be true and complete.

This was one of the things that the Judaizers, the group of people saying that Jesus was not enough or not God, were saying that the Christians had to do in order to be saved.

For most Jews in the first century, circumcision had become the fundamental identity badge for membership in God’s people.

In times of persecution, Jews regarded it as a confession of faith as well as an act of obedience to God’s holy law.

It was a seal of Israels election and assured God’s blessing on the people who were designated to receive God’s promises.

Paul though had a rather radical perspective.

He used circumcision and uncircumcision to show a distinction between Jews and Gentiles.

Paul argues though that the mark of the flesh had become not much more that a tribal marker.

he argues that circumcision, the ground of Jewish confidence, is a meaningless sign unless it signifies a cleansed heart;

So the question comes to mind then -

Can you physically tell if someone is a Christian or not?

Scripture gives us some qualities or marks.

is one of those places.

Some of the things listed in verses 9-21 are

Genuine love.

A hatred of evil and genuine desire to hold to good things.

Brotherly affection for one another.

Showing one another honor.

Serving the Lord with intensity.

Rejoicing in hope and being patient in hard times.

Generosity.

The list continues, but I think we get the picture.

: 9-

How many people though do you know that show one or more of these traits and yet are you know they are not Christians.

I know as I am sure you do as well, some very nice well meaning people that if you spoke you may think they are a Christian but are not.

Bringing us back around to our text

Col. 2:11

If you remember a little earlier I made the point that Paul argued that the mark of circumcision is meaningless unless unless is signifies a cleansed heart.

The same applies for the marks of a Christian.

The cleansed heart though does not happen by any person’s doing.

In him also, that is in Christ, you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.

What then does Christian circumcision look like?

How do we get to the point of having a cleansed heart?

If we translate the verse a bit more literally it helps us begin to understand.

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

This is in essence, spiritual surgery.

in the removal of the body of the flesh.

Literally the stripping off of the flesh.

What does that mean though in terms of becoming a Christian?

Some translations, the NIV for example take it to mean the sinful nature.

“Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ.”

This is clearly a metaphor for a transition from the old life to the new.

It carries with it the idea of a change of heart.

It prevents us from seeing the phrase as meaning much of anything more than the metaphorical circumcision of the heart, which removes the desires of the flesh.

The change from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh as we see in Ezekiel.

This translation though unfortunately limits our thinking about the text.

In looking closely at the text we have a few different options for interpretation.

The first is the reference to Christian conversion - circumcision performed on us by Christ, who removes the power of our fleshly nature or desire.

This is difficult for me because I know that the flesh is still alive active in me.

The second, in light of the context of our passage, verse 12 introduce baptism into the picture.

Paul could possibly be referring to circumcision as the Christian equivalent to the OT/Jewish rite of circumcision.

This rite then for us in a sense the putting off of our bodies which are dominated by the flesh.

The third reference, which may seem a little obscure but stems from the previous, could be to Jesus own death.

The idea of circumcision being used as a metaphor for violent death and the body of flesh being Jesus.

The idea is that it is in and with Christ’s own death that believers are brought from death to life.

The idea is that it is in and with Christ’s own death that believers are brought from death to life.

First, the reference might be to Christian conversion, pictured as a “circumcision” performed on us by Christ, who removes not a piece of physical “flesh,” but the enveloping, enervating power of our “fleshly” nature or propensity.

Second, in light of v. 12, where baptism is explicitly brought into the picture, Paul could be referring to baptism as the Christian equivalent to Old Testament/Jewish circumcision, the rite through which, or in conjunction with which, our bodies dominated by the flesh are “put off.”

Third, the reference could be to Christ’s own death, “circumcision” being used as a metaphor for violent death, and “body of flesh” (as in 1:22) referring to Christ’s own physical body, “stripped off” when he died on the cross.

It is in and with Christ’s own death, then, that believers were themselves brought from death to life.

This interpretation that the “circumcision of Christ” is a vivid image for Christ’s death also best explains the unusual progression from circumcision to burial to resurrection in 2:11–12.

If the circumcision of Christ refers to Christ’s death, then the sequence summarizes the essential affirmations of Christianity: Christ died, was buried, and was raised (see 1 Cor.

15:1–4).

In this passage Paul interprets Christ’s death as a vicarious circumcision for us

Each of these three views have some positives and negatives.

Paul asserts that Christians have already experienced “the stripping off of the body of flesh” (my own literal translation) in their union with Christ.

No other practice or obedience to a rule is needed.

The point being no matter which interpretation is chose is that we are then in Christ through this act.

The point being not matter which interpretation is chose is that we are then in Christ through this act.

We are then in Christ through this act.

Paul asserts that Christians have already experienced “the stripping off of the body of flesh” (my own literal translation) in their union with Christ.

No other practice or obedience to a rule is needed.

Relation to baptism.

V. 12

Moving into verse 12, Paul is now relating the union with Christ discussed in verse 11 to baptism.

In Genesis Chapter 17, God commands Abram that “Every male among you shall be circumcised.”

Paul is relating the concept of circumcision now to baptism.

This circumcision was not only a sign of belonging, but it was also a statement that from birth, that child would be dedicated to knowing and serving the Lord.

The word for baptism here translates as -

Baptism

② water-rite for purpose of renewing or establishing a relationship w.

God, plunging experience, baptism burial with Christ in baptism Col 2:12.

βαπτισμῶν διδαχή Hb 6:2