Circumcised by Christ

"In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:11-12

- For the Israelites, circumcision was a sign that the person stood in covenant relationship with God. For Christians, Christ's death and resurrection is the true circumcision and water baptism is the parallel sign of the covenant relationship. By the death of Christ, He gave us forgiveness of sin, reconciliation to God and by His resurrection, He gave us eternal life and victory over sin and spiritual death.
- In Christ, we receive spiritual circumcision, instead of physical circumcision. We become a new creation and walk in newness of life; our flesh/sinful nature is put off and we put on Christ, instead. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:14) Baptism (demonstrating our union with our Savior's death and resurrection) represents the death and burial of our old sinful lives and the resurrection to new life in Christ. "We were therefore buried with Him (Christ) through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life...Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (Romans 6:4, 11-12)
 "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:27)
"The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." (Deuteronomy 30:6)
"A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God." (Romans 2:28-29)
"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)