Was there something else I could have said?
Question:
I had a debate with someone about Colossians 2:11-12, specifically regarding how it was interpreted as referring to water baptism and that water baptism was a work of God. However, my opponent argued that "without hands" proved it was not water baptism since a man is involved in immersing you in water. To that point, I said that Colossians 2:11 was not about who was able to baptize, but what happens in baptism. Likewise, I told him that the contrast was about physical circumcision and water baptism. Physical circumcision involves a man removing the foreskin, and water baptism involves God removing the spiritual sin from our souls (being His work).
Do you have something in mind that I could have said or added in response to what he said?
Thank you.
Answer:
Even if you gave a perfect answer, it doesn't mean you will convince everyone. You will always have people who refuse to listen to the truth.
In Christ, we enter into a covenant, but not in the same way the Israelites entered theirs. The Old Law required physical circumcision of the males who were bound by that covenant (Genesis 17:13-14). Without physical circumcision, an Israelite could not be a part of the covenant of Moses. The Law of Christ requires a different type of circumcision —a spiritual one (Philippians 3:3). Similarly, like the Old Law, a Christian cannot be part of the covenant with Christ without spiritual circumcision.
The circumcision of the New Law is done without hands because what is removed is not physical flesh (Romans 6:3-7). It is a work not done by men but by God (Ephesians 2:11-13). The implication is that physical circumcision was no longer necessary (Galatians 5:1-4). This spiritual circumcision, done by God, takes place when we are buried with Christ in baptism. It is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that now holds meaning. Baptism represents Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It also represents the Christian’s death to sin, burial with Christ, and resurrection to a new life.
Paul reiterates that we were dead in sin -- Gentiles in the flesh -- but we were made alive with Christ, having been forgiven of all our sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). It isn’t the physical act, but the obedience demonstrated in the physical act of faith in the working of God (I Peter 3:21).
