THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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also are “ made full” or “ filled full” ; all the fulness there is in Christ is for each one of us who is in Christ, and in Him, in living union yuth Him, what there is in Him flowing into us, we are filled full (cf. Eph. 3:19, R. V.). He in Whom we are made full “ is the head of all principality (better, government) and power (rather, authority).” All the other potentates and authorities of the unseen world are but members of the body of which He is the head. We should therefore seek our “ fulness” from Hflm, the' head, and not from subordinate members. These words of Paul were doubtless directed against the angel worship that was then being taught by some in Colossae (cf. v. 18, 19). MONDAY, Nov. 27th. Col. 2:11, 12. Here Paul goes on to strike a blow at the Judaizers and all mere ceremon- ialists. In Christ, Paul tells them, in their union with Him by a living faith, “ ye were also circumcised with a cir cumcision not made with hands.” They had not the outward sign of circumcis ion in the flesh which men’s hands made, but they had the inward fact in their inner life made by God Himself, made without hands. In their union with Christ, “ the body of the flesh” (i. e., their physical bodies the source of temptation and sin, cf. Rom. 8:13) had been “ put off,” they had been set free from its power (cf. Rom. 8:2). The word translated “ putting off” is a very strong word, denoting an utter putting off and aside (it is the same word as is used in v. 15, see R. V.) In union with Christ the dominion of the body with its lusts and appetites lead ing us to sin is utterly put away (cf. Rom. 8 :9). This is what is symbol ized by circumcision, the cutting off and casting away of a portion of flesh so frequently connected with sin in its vilest form, standing for the renuncia tion of the dominion of the flesh. In Christ we have the reality which in Judaism the rite of Circumcision sym bolized. There were teachers in Colos sae who were laying all the emphasis on the outward rite, “ the circumcision made with hands.” Paul’s reply was, “ we have the 'reality while you have only the form” (cf. Rom. 2:28, 29, Phil. 3:3, R. V .). Our circumcision is “ in the circumcision of Christ,” i. e., in the circumcision which He effects.
They were circumcised “ in the circum cision of Christ” because they had been “ buried with Him” in their baptism, and “ also raised with Him.” Principal Moule, the eminent exegete and theol ogian of the Church of England (now Bishop of Durham) says on this pass age: “ The immersion of the baptized (thé primeval and ideal form of rite, but not invariable as a literal action; see Teaching of the Apostles (Cent 1; Ch., V. 11); is undoubtedly here in view.” This seems true, but the all- important question is not, has one been “ buried with Christ” as far as the out ward sign goes, but has he, as to the inward fact been buried with Christ. And the question also is not, has one been “ also raised with Christ” as far as the outward sign goes, but has he as to the inward fact actually been raised With Christ (cf. 3:1; Rom. 2:28, 29). Doubtless many have been immersed in water while a certain formula was repeated over them who have not been “ buried with Him” nor “ raised with Him” ; and on the other hand, doubt less many who have not been immersed in Water have been “ buried with Him” and “ raised with Him.” Water baptism is important but the all-important thing in baptism is “ putting on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). The real burial and resurrection with Christ is through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (cf. 1 Pet. 1:21). It is by faith we are really united with Christ in His burial and resurrection, and that faith rests upon God as the One who raised Him from the dead and is also able to raise us in our spiritual exper ience now and physically at the resur rection (cf. Eph. 2:5, 6; Rom. 10:9). TUESDAY, Nov. 28th. Col. 2:13, 14. In vs. 13-15 we have a further and fuller description of what God has done for us in and with Christ. We were “ dead through (rather, by reason of) our trespasses and the uncircumcision (i. e., the uncircumcised state, unclean state) of our flesh.” This was not only the state of the Gentiles in Colossae before their regeneration, it is also the state of all unregenerate men. The unregenerate man is “ dead” : he is devoid of moral and spiritual life, with no possibility of life by. the growth or cultivation of anything within, needing absolutely the impartation of life from without (cf. Eph. 2:1-5; 5:14; John 5:24; 1 John 3:14; John 5:12; 6:53). The Colossians (and we) being dead,
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