COMPLETE, COMPLETE, COMPLETE (6 OF 7)
by Jerry Branch
Scripture: COLOSSIANS 2:11-15
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Complete, Complete, Complete (6 of 7)
Jerry Branch
Colossians 2:11-15
September 26, 1999
These two verses, 11 and 12, show us two things. First, they go to remind us that back in Paul's day, there were those who said, "oh, no - to be saved, you have to believe and also you must be circumcised. Just believing isn't enough. That's only half, and by itself, you're not saved. You must do this too."
This was the heresy that was trying to find its way into the church then. It was just like over in Galatia, where Paul ran into the Judaizers, remember what Judaizers were? They were false teachers that said the Christian had to both believe in Christ and had to follow all teachings of the Law of Moses and the Teachings of the Jewish Fathers for salvation.
Well, over here at Colossians, Paul is finding a slightly different twist. Here he found another heresy being taught that basically came from a mixing of pagan philosophy and Jewish legalism, that the believer in order to be saved, must also be circumcised.
But Paul is correcting that false teaching. He tells them that the COMPLETE Salvation comes though the 'circumcism' of Christ. That's not a physical removing of some part of the body in a symbolic act, but is the complete spiritual cleansing done by Christ when we're saved. The New Testament showed that circumcism was a heart thing, like Stephen said in his condemnation of the Sanhedrin of being in Acts 7:51: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!" 2
For you and me, the circumcism is the putting off of the body of flesh, and all its sins. In other words as the NIV puts it, it is the putting off by Christ of our sin nature.
This wasn't something done mechanically by a knife held by a man. It was done by Lord, Jesus, Christ, when at our salvation, "that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (3) (Romans 6.6)
You and I are saved by nothing e ...
Jerry Branch
Colossians 2:11-15
September 26, 1999
These two verses, 11 and 12, show us two things. First, they go to remind us that back in Paul's day, there were those who said, "oh, no - to be saved, you have to believe and also you must be circumcised. Just believing isn't enough. That's only half, and by itself, you're not saved. You must do this too."
This was the heresy that was trying to find its way into the church then. It was just like over in Galatia, where Paul ran into the Judaizers, remember what Judaizers were? They were false teachers that said the Christian had to both believe in Christ and had to follow all teachings of the Law of Moses and the Teachings of the Jewish Fathers for salvation.
Well, over here at Colossians, Paul is finding a slightly different twist. Here he found another heresy being taught that basically came from a mixing of pagan philosophy and Jewish legalism, that the believer in order to be saved, must also be circumcised.
But Paul is correcting that false teaching. He tells them that the COMPLETE Salvation comes though the 'circumcism' of Christ. That's not a physical removing of some part of the body in a symbolic act, but is the complete spiritual cleansing done by Christ when we're saved. The New Testament showed that circumcism was a heart thing, like Stephen said in his condemnation of the Sanhedrin of being in Acts 7:51: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!" 2
For you and me, the circumcism is the putting off of the body of flesh, and all its sins. In other words as the NIV puts it, it is the putting off by Christ of our sin nature.
This wasn't something done mechanically by a knife held by a man. It was done by Lord, Jesus, Christ, when at our salvation, "that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (3) (Romans 6.6)
You and I are saved by nothing e ...
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