Be Thankful: You Have Died and Been Buried in Christ Alone

Let us begin with this exhortation: be thankful that you have died and been buried in Christ alone. Consider what Paul writes in Colossians 2:11–12:

“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism…”

Notice those two significant words at the beginning of verse 11: in him. These words anchor us to the reality of our union with Christ. Paul’s purpose here is to stir up the Colossian believers to remember their identity in Christ: they have died to the penalty and power of sin.

The Spiritual Circumcision: A Work of God

Paul repeatedly mentions circumcision in verse 11, not as a physical act but as a metaphor for the spiritual transformation accomplished by God. He highlights three truths about this spiritual circumcision:

1. Not Performed by Man:
   This is a circumcision “made without hands,” emphasizing that it is God’s work, not man’s.
2. Figurative, Not Literal:
   Paul uses circumcision as a metaphor to describe the cutting off of sin’s dominion.
3. Performed by God Alone:
   This circumcision is the result of the powerful working of God through Christ’s death.

Through this metaphor, Paul emphasizes that believers are set apart by Christ’s reconciling death. As Colossians 1:22 reminds us,

“…He has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death.”

Believers are united to Christ by faith, having been “cut off” with Him because Christ was cut off in death for them. This spiritual circumcision is a twofold work:

The Twofold Work of Spiritual Circumcision

1. By the Son:
   Christ assumed human flesh, bore our sins, and became a sacrifice for us. By His death, the old man was crucified, and the body of sin was destroyed. In Him, we are freed from sin’s penalty and power.
2. By the Spirit:
   The Holy Spirit applies Christ’s blood and righteousness to our hearts, removing our iniquities and clothing us with righteousness. Through the Spirit’s work, sin no longer has dominion over us, and we are empowered to put off the old man and live in grace.

This work of Christ and the Spirit should lead us to daily thanksgiving as we rehearse these truths: we have died and been buried in Christ alone.

Baptism: A Visible Picture of Our Union with Christ

Paul continues in Colossians 2:12, describing how believers have been buried with Christ in baptism. Here, he refers to both spiritual baptism and water baptism:

• Spiritual Baptism:
  The Holy Spirit unites believers to Christ, burying them with Him into death and raising them to new life.
• Water Baptism:
  As an ordinance of Christ, baptism is a visible sign of our fellowship with Him in His death and resurrection. It symbolizes our union with Christ, showing that we have died and been raised with Him.

Paul reminds the Colossian believers to remember their baptism, a visible word of the gospel. Baptism reassures us of our identity in Christ: we are dead to sin and alive to God.

Encouragement for the Believer

Paul’s message to the Colossians is rich with encouragement:

• Freedom from Sin’s Penalty and Power:
  Though we still struggle with sin, Christ’s death has dealt with its penalty and power. As Romans 6:6 says,

  “For the one who has died has been set free from sin.”

• Daily Sanctification:
  Each day, we put off the old man and grow in our hatred for sin. We reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Be thankful that you have died and been buried in Christ alone. This glorious truth assures us of our salvation and calls us to live in gratitude and faithfulness. Remember your baptism, rehearse these truths daily, and abound in thanksgiving for the work of Christ and the Spirit in your life.

“Be Thankful For Who You Are In Christ Alone” sermon (Colossians 2:11-12)