This spiritual circumcision is the remission of sins, that is, forgiveness and removal of sins. Here, forgiveness of sins is compared to the cutting off of the foreskin in circumcision. But unlike fleshly circumcision, this is done in the heart by the Spirit of God. The colon continues the sentence to the next verse, showing where (or when, i.e. at what point in the believer’s life) the Spirit of God performs this inward circumcision. “…by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism…” The Geneva Bible says in the next verse “In that yee are buried with him through baptisme…” and this is the meaning, that the Spirit of God performs this inward circumcision on believer’s inside water baptism. This inward circumcision is the removal of sins, which is placed in water baptism in Acts 22:16 “What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized and have your sins washed away calling on the name of the Lord” and also Acts 22:16 “Repent and be baptized all of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” It is thus well established in Scripture that remission of sins is received inside water baptism, but Colossians 2:11-12 shows us how so, for it shows that the Spirit of God does it. It is not, then, that water washes away sin, but that the Holy Spirit cuts off those sins while we are being baptized.

Commentary by jk
Posted on: 4/19/2008 00:18 am