Tag: cancelled debts
Alive in Christ!
Scripture reading for September 9: Colossians 2
“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, 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. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.” Colossians 2:11-15
Paul wanted to insure that the Colossian believers had a full understanding of the will of God working in their lives through repentance and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. He used the image of circumcision to describe God’s surgery done on each person who repents and believes. The old covering of flesh and sin is cut away without human hands by the Holy Spirit in the removal of the old nature from man’s heart. This is acted out by faith in water baptism when we symbolically are ‘buried’ in the water in identification with Christ’s death and burial. In baptism we are then raised up out of the water in identification with Christ’s resurrection to life. We are buried in sin’s deadness but raised in eternal life’s promise of a future glorified body.
Legally, the satanic rulers and authorities, had accusations of sin written up against us and these accusations stood before God. But God in His justice, took these accusations and nailed the record of our debt to the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died taking the punishment for our sins, thus disarming these rulers and authorities and making a show of them openly. We now have victory over our sins and their penalty of death through faith in Christ’s blood and sacrifice on the cross. In Christ’s resurrection we have the guarantee of eternal life and a glorious body like unto Christ’s body. (Philippians 3:20-21)
Does your world view include an invisible element of demonic forces against us? Does it include the invisible realm of Heaven and God’s throne where Jesus is seated awaiting His return? Have you taken advantage of the forgiveness of your debts nailed to Jesus’ cross?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for defeating the rulers and authorities of Satan’s false kingdom of accusers through the cross of Jesus Christ. I have and now identify with Jesus’ through water baptism and through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. I await Jesus’ soon return in power and glory! Amen!