Colossians 2:13, commentary and pictures

Those who were spiritually dead in sins and the uncircumcision of the flesh are made alive together with Christ by God's own work in forgiving all their trespasses. In its setting of Colossians 2:12-17 this sets forth the true moral standard of the gospel that must not be perverted. To be dead in sins means ruin, and only in the deepest sense of that ruin is sincere love for Christ learned and proper gratitude cherished toward Him who gave His life, forgave all trespasses, and quickened sinners together with Him.

This quickening takes place in connection with baptism, where believers are buried with Christ and raised with Him in the likeness of His resurrection through faith in the operation and power of God who raised Christ from the dead. The new life follows openly renouncing sin and Satan and becoming dead to the world. At baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in the presence of the heavenly universe, the baptized pledge to be separate from the world and its theories, customs, and practices, to live the life of Christ and not to foster the natural temperament or cherish natural inclinations. They come forth from the watery grave under solemn covenant to devote life to God's service, while the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit pledge to be their sufficiency and efficiency as they continue to present themselves as an offering to God.

This fulfils the pledge made with God at baptism and brings union with Christ in which believers are complete in Him and circumcised from the sins of the flesh. The risen life means walking in Christ, rooted and built up and established in the faith with thanksgiving and joy for His rich grace, seeking those things which are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and appearing with Him in glory when Christ who is the life appears. The risen life calls for putting on the character of the elect of God in mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness as Christ forgave, charity, the peace of God, and thankfulness, which brings reformation and likeness to Christ and keeps Christ from having died in vain. It is a new life of obedience to the law of God, as if reason, knowledge, affection, speech, and property had been anew entrusted from Christ to be used and improved for Him, with life bound up with the life of Christ in cheerful cross-bearing and partaking of His sufferings. Knowing what crop is being sown matters because what is sown is reaped, so there is decided danger in harming the flock of God by precept or example, while safety is in living closely to Christ's example in humility and humbleness of mind.

Those made alive and forgiven become self-denying and self-sacrificing in true service, keeping individual holiness and consecration in view so that through sanctification of the truth they abound in works of benevolence to the uplifting of others, with the thankful heart continually overflowing in blessing to others like a well of living water springing up into everlasting life. The verse is a treasure house of encouragement and one of the rich, full, abundant, and assuring promises of God, to be received prayerfully and carefully for understanding. It shows what Christ is to believers and what they may be to Him as His helping hand. It warns against the folly of turning from Christ to humanity for help; when Jesus is appreciated the salvation of God is seen, but treating the Saviour indifferently and looking to man for guidance closes the door against the divine Helper and leaves without power.