Did you ever wonder why "forgiveness of sins" is not mentioned in the following passage? Reason? It makes no reference to getting saved. It deals with man "after" he's saved.
Colossians 2:11-14...In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him
Notice the circumcision made without hands...What Christ does.
Notice putting off the body of the sins of the flesh...What Christ does.
Notice how one is buried with Him in Baptism...What Christ does.
Notice how one is risen with Christ by the operation of God...What Christ does.
The language is clear that God has dominion over all sin. Circumcision is God's method of cutting away the old Adam that still exists in the child of God. Putting off the old man (like taking off a coat) is what a child of God is able to do under the influence and dominion of a Living Savior. To bury the old habits, the old ways, the old plans, and all the old things that interfere with a new life in Christ "happens" when the believer is overwhelmed with the Indwelling Spirit. Overwhelming from the Holy Ghost is a form of baptism that rids the believer from the Old Adam. Christ has dominion over the Adamic nature. The constant urge from the Spirit of God allows man to finally realize he is nothing. Nothingness shows man's need for the Sanctifying operation of God's Spirit that rids the believer from the war that tries to arise in his members. Struggle does not produce happiness. Conflict does allow God to have complete control over the part of you where the Old Adam still tries to rule.
Circumcision cuts out the inner conflict. Putting off the body of the sins of the flesh allows the urge from God to take over and perform an operation of deliverance from the old Adam. God in Christ has ways to rid man of self and selfishness long after the new birth has taken place. The language of the Bible is quite clear if you read it closely enough. Christ does the circumcising. Christ rids man from the conflict of the Old Adam. Only an operation from God can perform such act after the initial act of Salvation and forgiveness takes place. The acts of sin were gone in Salvation but the carnal still lingered. Christ gives this person a way out through "death" or "putting off" the Old Adam. No confession or no forgiveness from the state of self.
Sanctification is not what you do. Sanctification is the operation of the Spirit of God that "rids" man from the conflict brewed from the Old Adam. Sanctification is where man is "severed" or "cut away" from self not removed in Salvation. Justification rids man from the acts of sin. Sanctification rids man from the Old Adam. The urge to die to self comes to a saved man but the overwhelming experience of "death to self" comes when the flesh is circumcised with a circumcision "made without hands". This circumcision comes from Christ who restores and delivers man from the Adamic life. The language of the Bible is clear God has dominion over the acts of sin and the sinful nature.
Notice the circumcision made without hands...What Christ does.
Notice putting off the body of the sins of the flesh...What Christ does.
Notice how one is buried with Him in Baptism...What Christ does.
Notice how one is risen with Christ by the operation of God...What Christ does.
Colossians 2:11-14...In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him
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