11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
When God’s Spirit comes into our lives, we are made complete the way God intended us to be. We were dead to the Lord and now, by faith in the works of Jesus Christ, we are made alive. All our sins have been forgiven. We are complete in Him because He dwells in us and has that power to bring us spiritual life.
The Gnostic legalists said that Jewish laws could help the believers become more spiritual if they were circumcised and follow certain days and practices. They would be part of the Holy elite.
When our Lord was crucified, the sin that He assumed on our behalf was removed. The foreskin of the flesh is a symbol of the fallen nature, the flesh.
When we become a Christian the past works of the flesh are revealed for what it is, worthless in God's sight. In a symbolic manner, Christ is the one that circumcises us. He uses some contrasts with the priest in the past. The Jews had an external surgery. Believers have an internal surgery of their hearts.
Sin is no longer an issue in our relationships with God. It may affect our fellowship, but not our relationship. He has fully dealt with it. Our sins have been nailed to the cross so they no longer condemn us. We are freed from guilt and the power of evil for the sincere believer.
There are many cults and false teachings that teach that you have to pay for your sins or do penance. All our sins have been forgiven because our lives have been made holy before God in Christ Jesus.
The Bible also uses the figure of baptism to symbolize our new life with God. Baptism is that physical and visible form of identifying with Christ and His people.
If you have been saved, baptism is a matter of public testimony of your new faith in Christ. We walk with God. Jesus is with us wherever we go. We don't go to church to find Him. He is within us. He does not leave us comfortless.
Application: You have what you need in this personal and close relationship with the living Lord. This is the abiding with Christ that makes our life an adventure
I love You Lord! Walking with you in Your Word is truly an adventure that I am so thankful for. I believe that in Christ I have been made holy before God through faith. Praise to thee O Lord, the God of my salvation.
*****************************
If you wish to get the fuller version of this daily devotion, send a request via email to pastordale@outlook.com
