Christ and Baptism in Colossians

The fact that baptism is essential to becoming a Christian and being saved is
written on page after page in the New Testament despite being rejected by most
who call themselves Christians. I have never understood how something so clearly
taught can so readily be rejected by so many other than through the power that
tradition and religious heritage exerts on people. Error believed has the same faith
affect upon a man or woman as truth believed and can thus provide peace and
comfort until the time truth exerts itself with such force that it cannot be denied.
Saul, before he became Paul the apostle, believed error and acted in all good
conscience (Acts 23:1) while persecuting Christ (Acts 26:14). He believed error and
was at perfect peace with himself while sinning continually – that is until the force of
truth was exerted with power on the road to Damascus.

Sincerity will never change error into truth nor will it ever lead to a pardon for
disobedience. The fact that Eve was deceived by Satan in the garden did not free
her of her sin. “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite
deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Tim. 2:14 NAS) We need to read the Bible,
even more we need to study it, “a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
handling accurately the word of God.” (2 Tim. 2:15 NAS) We need to read the book
of Colossians and see what it teaches about Christ and baptism. What Paul teaches
there he teaches elsewhere as well.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory,” (Col. 1:27 NAS) is a central theme of the first two
chapters of the book of Colossians. Christ is all that is needed in a person’s life for
in him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3 NAS) In
him we are “made complete.” (Col. 2:10 NAS) We are not therefore to be taken
“captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of
men.” (Col. 2:8 NAS) We are not to submit ourselves to decrees “in accordance
with the commandments and teaching of men.” (Col. 2:22 NAS)

With Christ we have all we need and should thus stay far away from all impositions
upon our faith not found in the word of Christ which is just another way of saying
stay away from the commandments of men. “Any one who goes too far (‘Lit., goes
on ahead’ – side margin note in the NAS reference edition – DS) and does not abide
in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.” (2 John 9 NAS)

In chapter 2 Paul lists some examples of things we should not concern ourselves
with just because of men – food, drink, respect to festivals, new moons, and
Sabbath days. (Col. 2:16) He does likewise in verses 21 and 23. In 1 Tim. 4:3 he
speaks of “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods” going so
far as to refer to such teachings as “doctrines of demons.” (NAS) Does this remind
you of any famous religious bodies today? I remember when going to a state
university back in the 60’s when Friday’s (I believe it was a Friday – it has been a
long time ago) were special days in the cafeteria because of what one religious
body could and could not eat on that day. Their numbers were such that they had
that influence on the menu.

The bottom line is Christ is all a Christian needs. Christ is found in his word and not
in things that cannot be found in his word. If one cannot find a book, chapter, and
verse for his teaching and practice in the New Testament then his doctrine ought to
be ignored. This eliminates all creed books, church councils making decisions, etc.
Christ is the head of the church, “He is also head of the body, the church.” (Col.
1:18 NAS) “He is the head over all rule and authority.” (Col. 2:10 NAS) He says
himself directly, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt.
28:18 NAS) Paul teaches in the book of Colossians that all we need is Christ, him
and him alone, him and nothing else. Christ is found in his word and not outside it
in someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or imaginations, or as Paul says in the NAS “in
self-made religion.” (Col. 2:23)

If Christ in me is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27 NAS) how does Paul tell us that this
is brought about? One must remember Paul is writing to people who have already
heard, believed, and obeyed the gospel and thus are already Christians. He says
they had already been “delivered…from the domain of darkness, and transferred…
to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of
sins.” (Col. 1:13-14 NAS) How had that happened?

The answer is found in Col. 2:11-13, “And in him you were also circumcised with a
circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were
also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the
dead. And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, he made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our
transgressions.” (NAS)

The passage begins with the phrase “in him.” In him, in Christ, is life, a new
creation. While Paul is speaking of a spiritual circumcision here in Colossians back
in Galatians he speaks of a physical one when he says that the physical one does
not matter one way or another but he says there is something that does matter – a
new creation. “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creation.” (Gal. 6:15 NAS) The side margin note in the New American Standard
Version (reference edition) says “Or, creature.” That is what matters. “Therefore if
any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new
things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NAS)

Only in Christ does this spiritual circumcision take place in which “the removal of
the body of the flesh” occurs. One is baptized into Christ. We are, Paul’s exact
words, “baptized into Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:3) See also Gal. 3:27. It is “in him”
where we “were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands.” (Col.
2:11 NAS)
Paul in talking about this circumcision in Col. 2 connects it directly with “having
been buried with him in baptism.” (Col. 2:12 NAS) The body of flesh, or as Paul calls
it in Romans the “old self” (Rom. 6:6 NAS), is put to death in baptism for we are
baptized “into death” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) but the good news is “you were also raised up
with him through faith in the working of God,” (Col. 2:12 NAS) “he made you alive
together with him.” (Col. 2:13 NAS) But, this one who is made alive is a new man.
He is not the man that went down into the water and died. This one that comes up
from the water “made… alive together with him” (Col. 2:13 NAS) was raised to
“walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) for he is a new creation in Christ (2 Cor.
5:17 NAS).

He forgave the Colossians all their transgressions. When? When upon their faith
they repented and were “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins.” (Acts 2:38 NAS) This is what was required on the Day of Pentecost when
the first gospel sermon was preached by Peter and Paul teaches the same thing to
the Colossians. Does one want to say Peter and Paul were at odds?

There are a few other passages in Colossians teaching the same truth. Paul in Col.
2:20 speaking to the Colossians says, “if you have died with Christ.” (NAS) He is not
expressing doubt but emphasizing a point. He is saying, in so many words, if you
are a Christian “why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to
decrees?” (Col. 2:20 NAS) Question - how does one die with Christ? He says, “if
you have died with Christ.” The answer is found in inspired words, “Or do you not
know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized
into his death?” (Rom. 6:3 NAS) Thus Paul teaches baptism in a verse many
overlook without a thought. We died with Christ in baptism.

Another verse along the same line is found in Col. 3:1, “If then you have been raised
up with Christ, keep seeking the things above.” (NAS) You cannot be raised up with
Christ unless you have first been buried with him can you? “We have been buried
with Him through baptism into death.” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) Paul goes on in that same
verse, “as Christ was raised from the dead…so we too might walk in newness of
life.” (NAS) When do we do that? When we arise from the waters of baptism. Many
think they have been raised up with Christ who have never been buried with him.
The Bible does not teach that can happen.

Paul says to the Colossians in Col. 3:3, “you have died.” (NAS) We know how and
when they died from what we have already read and studied but the question for
men today is have we died and risen again as they did?

I close this with one more passage, Col. 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another, since
you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is
being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the one who create
him.” (NAS) When does one lay aside the old self? Paul speaks of having “died to
sin” in Rom. 6:2. When one dies to sin the old self has been laid aside. We die to
sin, and thus to the old self, in baptism. “We have been buried with him through
baptism into death.” (Rom. 6:4 NAS) Death to what? To ask is to answer – death to
sin. When we were baptized (if we were) “our old self was crucified with him, that
our body of sin might be done away with.” (Rom. 6:6 NAS) “He who died is freed
from sin.” (Rom. 6:7 NAS)

The book of Colossians teaches clearly that salvation is found in Christ and that
Christ is all any man or woman needs for salvation. However, there are many today
who are in error concerning how one enters into salvation in Christ Jesus.
Remember it is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27 NAS) Why not clothe
yourself with Christ which Paul says in Gal. 3:27 is done by being baptized into
Christ? “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with
Christ.” (Gal. 3:27 NAS) If you are clothed with Christ then certainly, if you live
faithfully, you have “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Remember it was Jesus himself who said, “He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NAS). It is man who has said, “He who has
believed and has not been baptized shall be saved.” One gets to choose - Jesus or
man. The book of Colossians teaches you ought to choose Jesus over man.