Colossians 2:11-15 – “In Whom also you are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands (that which is brought about by the Cross [Rom. 6:3-5]), in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ (refers to the old carnal nature that is defeated by the Believer placing his Faith totally in the Cross, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work):
“Buried with Him in Baptism (does not refer to Water Baptism, but rather to the Believer baptized into the death of Christ, which refers to the Crucifixion and Christ as our substitute [Rom. 6:3-4]), wherein also you are risen with Him through the Faith of the operation of God, Who has raised Him from the dead. (This does not refer to our future physical Resurrection, but to that spiritual Resurrection from a sinful state into Divine Life. We died with Him, we are buried with Him, and we rose with Him [Rom. 6:3-5], and herein lies the secret to all Spiritual Victory.)
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh (speaks of spiritual death [i.e., ‘separation from God’], which sin does!), has He quickened together with Him (refers to being made spiritually alive, which is done through being ‘Born-Again’), having forgiven you all trespasses (the Cross made it possible for all manner of sins to be forgiven and taken away);
“Blotting out the handwriting of Ordinances that was against us (pertains to the Law of Moses, which was God’s Standard of Righteousness that man could not reach), which was contrary to us (Law is against us, simply because we are unable to keep its precepts, no matter how hard we try), and took it out of the way (refers to the penalty of the Law being removed), nailing it to His Cross (the Law with its decrees was abolished in Christ’s Death, as if Crucified with Him);
“And having spoiled principalities and powers (Satan and all of his henchmen were defeated at the Cross by Christ atoning for all sin; sin was the legal right Satan had to hold man in captivity; with all sin atoned, he has no more legal right to hold anyone in bondage), He (Christ) made a show of them openly (what Jesus did at the Cross was in the face of the whole universe), triumphing over them in it. (The triumph is complete and it was all done for us, meaning we can walk in power and perpetual Victory due to the Cross.)”
Why Should I Place My Faith In Christ And Him Crucified?
In Colossians 2:11-15 Paul qualifies why our Faith should remain in the Cross. In the last three installments of this series we have laid the foundation for this statement.
The first five Benefits have already been discussed. They were:
1. Verse 11a - Faith in Christ’s Cross causes a person to be Born-Again.
2. Verse 11b - Faith in Christ’s Cross brings me freedom from the dominion of the sin nature.
3. Verse 12a - Faith in Christ’s Cross causes one to be co-buried with Christ - to be made one with Him.
4. Verse 12 - Faith in Christ’s Cross causes the Believer to be Co-Raised with Him and to live in Him.
5. Verse 13 - Faith in Christ’s Cross Co-quickens or energizes the Believer by the Spirit of God.
“. . . having forgiven you all trespasses . . .”
BENEFIT #6 – Faith in Christ and the Cross Provides Me with the Forgiveness of all Sin; Past, Present, and Future.
It is imperative that the Believer understand the profound truth of this Scripture. What Jesus did at Calvary was to pay for all the sins of all men for all time. His Work at Calvary paid the sin debt for every man, woman, boy, or girl that would ever live. His was a “once for all” Work. He need never do anything more to pay for the sinful thoughts or deeds of any person. Time and space does not allow me to present this truth in the fullness of Scriptural evidence, as I would like, but let me give evidence in a short measure.
A “Once For All” Sacrifice
First, we know that in John 1:29 Jesus was introduced by John the Baptist in this manner, “. . . Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.” Note that the reference to the Lamb points us to the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, where man’s sin debt was paid. Isaiah says in Isaiah 53:6 that “The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” So, on Calvary every sin of all men that would exist for all time was placed upon His Person. He became the “sin-bearer” for all men. The Author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:10 that, “. . . we are Sanctified through the Offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.” So we come to understand that every sin of every man that ever lived before Christ Jesus or after Christ Jesus and every failure that would ever be evidenced in any life at any time was paid for by Christ in full at Calvary. Christ’s Resurrection proved that God had accepted His Sacrifice as sufficient payment for all men’s sins. Sin was the entity that allowed death its legal grip on humanity. The fact that Jesus was able to rise from the dead after becoming the “sin-bearer” indicates that every sin was sufficiently paid for. Had that not been the case, death’s legal right to hold Christ in the grave would have held him there. But our Justification, God’s legal declaration of our innocence, was achieved by Christ and declared in the Scriptures by the Apostle Paul in Romans 4:25 when under the influence of the Holy Spirit he declares, “Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our Justification.” So the simple bottom line to all this is that no matter what sin we commit, be it in thought or deed, Jesus foresaw our failures and paid the price for all of them, excluding none. His Work at Calvary covers all my sin, past, present, and future.
The Responsibility Of Faith
The Good News of the Gospel is not applied to the life or heart of the individual until after it is appropriated by Faith. In other words, even though the sins of all men were paid for at Calvary only those who will believe wholeheartedly in that Atoning Work will gain the Benefits of it. We must believe that Jesus paid my sin debt on the Cross by the giving of His Life. We must believe that with all sin paid for, Jesus was free to rise from death, sin having been eliminated. Not only must I believe these truths in the beginning of my relationship with God, I must maintain that same Faith and view of the Cross daily to gain the entire Benefits of Christ’s Work on that Cross. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without Faith it is impossible to please Him. . . .” Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is no way to achieve to Righteousness outside of the process of Faith. I must believe continually regarding the Finished Work of the Cross to have the constant Benefits applied to my life. With Faith come the Benefits. Without Faith there are no benefits. I thank God daily for the love that Jesus revealed by dying on the Cross to bring me forgiveness of all sin, past, present, or future. No, I am not trying to find a way theologically to accept or hold tightly to sin. I have been Saved and am being changed by simple childlike Faith in my Creator’s Redemption Plan. I do not want any part of sin. I can rest assured today that all my sins are gone! That’s why my Faith is in the Cross.
“Gone at Last, Gone at Last”
“My sins they’re gone at last”
“I’ve had a long, streak of those bad, bad times”
“My sin is gone at last!”
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