Colossians 2:11-12 tell us three important truths about baptism. These three truths are discovered in the context of Paul seeking to build up the church through their understanding the benefits they have received in union with Christ (2:9-15). Whereas I think the believers union with Christ and the benefits they share in this union are of upmost importance in these verses, there is a connection that Paul makes with the covenant sign of baptism that is also for our benefit. As we look to three truths taught to us here about the sacrament of baptism we can see the important role this doctrine plays in the believers need to look back to his baptism as he guards himself with thanksgiving and faith in union with Christ against a continual host of error and false teaching that will invade this realm until Christ puts all his enemies under his feet. Therefore I will briefly mention three truths about baptism underscored in these two verses.
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, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:11-12
First, there is a connection between circumcision in the Old Testament and baptism in the New Testament. Paul uses two main phrases in verses 11 and 12, In him also you were also circumcised…having been buried with him in baptism, that give us a parallel thought between circumcision and baptism. The false teachers were calling the church to be circumcised but Paul is telling them they have been circumcised by him spiritually in participating in Christ’s death by faith, and the sign of having received this grace of faith is in their obedience to the command to be baptized. Therefore just as Abraham received God’s grace in the covenant by faith (Gen.15) and so received the sign of circumcision for himself and all his posterity (Gen.17), so those in the new covenant in Christ’s blood receive him by faith receive the sign of baptism. There is a distinct relation between the signs signifying the continuity of the covenant.
Second, baptism is a covenant sign. Paul is arguing they have a sign of their effectual union with Christ in God’s ordained sign of baptism. God entered into covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15 making promises to him and guaranteeing those promises by himself. In Genesis 17 God gave Abraham circumcision as the sign of this covenant by it sealing to him and his posterity all the promises made in the covenant. This sign reminded him and all who would come after him of God’s promises. The Colossian and other churches are being reminded that they have the certainty of God’s promises in the covenant of Christ’s blood as they look to their baptism. Baptism is not a sign of mans faith but of God’s faithfulness revealed in his spoken promise.
Third, the meaning of baptism is revealed in these verses. Paul is writing about the church’s union with Christ and the benefits to the church in that union. Therefore baptism is seen a sign that signifies God’s sovereign gracious reach to effectually bless his people in union with Christ. In the baptism of infants we do not see an innocent child who is worthy of God’s blessing. In adult baptism we do not see a faithful man who has chosen God. But in both we see guilty, helpless, dead sinners whom God is bending down to in his means of grace to show forth his promise to them who will walk in his grace by faith.
These verses in Colossians 2:11-15 are not primarily about baptism but they do teach some important truths that are worthy of our searching into. If reading this sparks your interest in reading more on this important doctrine I would suggest the following resources to assist you:
Belgic Confession - Article 34 (1561)
Heidelberg Catechism Q.69-73 (1563)
Westminster Confession of Faith - Chpt.28 (1647)
Christian Baptism, John Murray
Baptism, Three Views, edited by David Wright
Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism, edited by Gregg Strawbridge
Baptism, Francis Schaeffer
Institutes of the Christian Religion - Book 4 Chpt.15 & 16, John Calvin
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