The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 120

completeness of the spiritual cba.nge and its effects upon both body and soul. 1. The body of flesh is more than the mere body, which is not" put off," for it is not evil, but becomes "the temple of the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. iii. 16; vi. 19). It is the body in ile fleshliness, regarded as the seat of the lusts which war against the soul and bring forth fruit unto death. The expression is similar to "the old man which is corrupt" (Eph. iv. 22), "the body of sin" (Rom. vi. 6), and" sinful flesh," or, literally," the flesh of sin" (Rom. viii. 3). The spiritual circumcision implies, not the mere putting off of one form of sin, but the putting off the whole of the power of the flesh. 2. The pulling off of the body of flesh implies deliverance from the domini® of sin-dying to sin ae a controlling and regulating power, so that the body, hitherto "the instru~ ment of unrighteousness," becomes "an instrument of righteousness unto God" (Rom. vi. 13). III. ITS AuTHon. "In the circumcision of Christ;" that is, the circumcision wrought by Christ through his Spirit. Its Author is not Moses or Abraham, bnt Christ himself, by virtue of our union with him. The formation of Christ in the soul as the Author of a new spiritual life is " the circumcision of Christ;" it is the new birth, which, under the power of the Holy Spirit, casts off the power of corruption. It is wrought by the Lord the Spirit (2 Cor. iii. 18), and is the result of Christ dwelling in us by faith (Gal. ii. 20; Eph. ii. 5--8). '!'his is the true circumcision, "whose praise is not of man, but of God."-T. C. Ver. 12.-The import of Christian baptism. Circumcision has passed away, some- thing has come in its place in Christian times. The two ordinances ofcircumcision and baptism have e. correlative significance. "Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of Go,!, who raised him from the dead." I. THE IMPORT AND DESIGN OF BAPTISM. It solemnly attests that fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection on which all personal interest in the blessings of his salvation depends. " Baptism is the grave of the old man and the birth of the new." The whole process of spiritual renovation-the death of the corruption of nature and the rise to newness of life-is practically represented and scaled in baptism. We are identified with Christ : 1. In his death. "Buried with him in baptism" unto death. Our baptism unites us to him, so that we died with him. We are" planted in the likeness of death;" but here the apostle asserts a participation in bis death. 2. In his burial. After "he died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. xv. 3), "he descended into the lower parts of the earth" (Eph. iv. 9). So "we are buried with him," shut off f-tom the kingdom of Satan, as the dead in their graves are shut off from the living wor1".; and thus we have with him severed our connection with the old world of sin. 3. In his resurrecti®. For "we rose with him," that we might henceforth "walk in new1iess of life." We must share in his death, that we may share in bis life. Justification is in order to sanctification. Union with Christ in the one carries with it participation in the other. II. THE •INSTRUMENT THDOUGH WHICH WE ENJOY THE BLESSINGS SIGNIFIED IN BAPTISM. "'l'hrough faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." 'rhis shows how the outward is based on the inward, and bow it derives from it what- ever vitality it possesses. Faith appropriates the act of God's mighty power in Christ when be raised him from the dead, as an act that imparts its virtue to e.11 who in faith realize it. 'l'he physical power in raising Christ is the guarantee and assurance of the spiritual power which is exerted in us in regeneration. Faith is necessary to the effect of baptism as it is to salvation. "If thou bclievest in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou sbalt be saved" (Hom. x. 9). It is by faith we obtain the benefits of the spiritual resurrection and come to et know the power of his resurrection." The gmco is received through faith. In New 'l'estament times faith preceded baptism-a proof that baptism is not regeneration. The earliest cases were naturally those of adult baptism, in which there was e. profession of faith in Christ. III. 'rHE PLEDGE OF THE SPIRITUAL RESURI\ECTION. "The working of God, who raised him from the dead." '!'his power to us is made possible and actual by his resurrection; for" in that he liveth, he liveth unto God," Ilis resurrection involves both our bodily and ow· spiritual rcsurreciion,~T. C, C0J.0SSIANS. I  lH 'l'IIE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE COLOSSL\NS, [cH, II, 1-23,