Colossians 2:12
Verse
Context
Alive with Christ
11In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.12And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Buried with him in baptism - Alluding to the immersions practised in the case of adults, wherein the person appeared to be buried under the Water, as Christ was buried in the heart of the earth. His rising again the third any, and their emerging from the water, was an emblem of the resurrection of the body; and, in them, of a total change of life. The faith of the operation of God - They were quickened, changed, and saved, by means of faith in Christ Jesus; which faith was produced by the operation or energy of God. Believing is the act of the soul; but the grace or power to believe comes from God himself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Translate, "Having been buried with Him in your baptism." The past participle is here coincident in time with the preceding verb, "ye were (Greek) circumcised." Baptism is regarded as the burial of the old carnal life, to which the act of immersion symbolically corresponds; and in warm climates where immersion is safe, it is the mode most accordant with the significance of the ordinance; but the spirit of the ordinance is kept by affusion, where immersion would be inconvenient or dangerous; to insist on literal immersion in all cases would be mere legal ceremonialism (Rom 6:3-4). are risen--rather as Greek, "were raised with Him." through the faith, &c.--by means of your faith in the operation of God; so "faith of," for "faith in" (Eph 3:12; Phi 3:9). Faith in God's mighty operation in raising again Jesus, is saving faith (Rom 4:24; Rom 10:9); and it is wrought in the soul by His same "mighty working" whereby He "raised Jesus from the dead" (Eph 1:19-20). BENGEL seems to me (not as ALFORD understands him) to express the latter sense, namely, "Through the faith which is a work of the operation of God who," &c. Eph 1:19-20 accords with this; the same mighty power of God is exercised in raising one spiritually dead to the life of faith, as was "wrought in Christ when God raised Him literally from the dead." However, "faith of" usually is "faith in" (Rom 3:22); but there is no grammatical impropriety in understanding it "the faith which is the effect of the operation of God" (Eph 2:8; Th1 2:13). As His literal resurrection is the ground of the power put forth in our spiritual resurrection now, so it is a pledge of our literal resurrection hereafter (Rom 8:11).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Buried with him in baptism,.... The apostle goes on to observe how complete and perfect the saints are in Christ; that they are not only circumcised in him in a spiritual sense, and the body of the sins of their flesh is put off, and removed from them, in allusion to the cutting off and casting away of the foreskin in circumcision; but that they and all their sins were buried with Christ, of which their baptism in water was a lively representation: Christ having died for their sins, was laid in the grave, where he continued for a while, and then rose again; and as they were crucified with him, they were also buried with him, as their head and representative; and all their sins too, which he left behind him in the grave, signified by his grave clothes there; and baptism being performed by immersion, when the person baptized is covered with water, and as it were buried in it, is a very significant emblem of all this; it is a representation of the burial of Christ, and very fitly holds him forth to the view of faith in the state of the dead, in the grave, and points out the place where the Lord lay; and it is also a representation of our burial with him, as being dead to sin, to the law, and to the world, by him. This shows now, that baptism was performed by dipping, or covering the whole body in water, for no other form of administration of baptism, as sprinkling, or pouring water on the face, can represent a burial, or be called one; and this is what many learned interpreters own, and observe on this place: wherein also ye are risen with him; Christ is risen from the dead as the head and representative of his people, and they are risen with him; and their baptism is also an emblem of his and their resurrection, being administered by immersion, in which way only this can be signified; for as the going down into the water, and being under it, represents Christ's descending into the state of the dead, and his continuance in it, so the emersion, or coming up out of the water, represents his rising from the dead, and that of his people in him, in order to walk in newness of life; for the apostle's meaning is, that in baptism saints are risen with Christ, as well as in it buried with him: and this through the faith of the operation of God; that is, it is through faith that saints see themselves buried and risen with Christ, to which the ordinance of baptism is greatly assisting, where there is true faith; for otherwise, without faith, this ordinance will be of no use to any such end and purpose; and it is not any faith that will avail, but that which is of God's operation; faith is not naturally in men, all men have it not; and those that have it, have it not of themselves, it is the gift of God; it is what be works in them, and by his power performs: who hath raised him from the dead; this is a periphrasis of God the Father, to whom the resurrection of Christ from the dead is generally ascribed; though not to the exclusion of Christ, and of the Spirit, who were also concerned; and is here added, partly to show in what respect faith, which is God's work, has him for its object, as having raised Christ from the dead, who was delivered for offences, but is risen again through the power of God for justification, and whoever with his heart believes this shall be saved; and partly to show, that the same power is exerted in working true faith in the heart, as was put forth in raising Christ from the dead.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:12 you were buried with Christ when you were baptized: As in a roughly parallel passage (Rom 6:3-6), Paul assumes a strong identity between believers and Christ. In God’s sight, we really were with Christ when he was buried and raised, so we experience the benefits of what Christ did for us. Paul can link that identification with Christ to baptism because water baptism was so closely related to conversion in the early church.
Colossians 2:12
Alive with Christ
11In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.12And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Water Baptism - Part 1
By Derek Prince9.0K24:00Water BaptismMAT 6:33MAT 28:19MRK 16:16ACT 2:38ROM 6:3EPH 4:5COL 2:12In this sermon, Derek Prince emphasizes the importance of not just believing and confessing the Gospel, but also demonstrating it through our actions. He shares a principle he taught to African teachers, stating that people remember 80% of what they hear, see, and do. He then delves into the commission given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus instructs his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Prince concludes by stating that they will actually carry out the ordinance of water baptism, putting their preaching into practice.
Water Baptism - Part 2
By Derek Prince7.6K23:31Water BaptismMAT 6:33ACT 2:38ROM 1:4ROM 6:41CO 15:3COL 2:121PE 3:21In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of water baptism as a representation of the gospel message. He explains that the gospel is centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 15. Water baptism symbolizes our acceptance of these truths and our identification with Christ through faith. The preacher highlights that through baptism, we declare that we are dead to sin and have been raised to newness of life, just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He encourages believers to continually reckon themselves dead to sin and live in the reality of their new life in Christ.
Baptism
By Jacob Prasch4.6K29:14BaptismJER 31:31MAT 3:7MAT 28:19MRK 16:16ACT 2:38COL 2:12In this sermon, Jacob Prast discusses the topic of baptism, specifically focusing on water baptism. He references Colossians 2:12, which speaks about being buried with Jesus in baptism and being raised up with him through faith. Prast emphasizes the importance of personal acceptance of Jesus and rejects the idea of God having grandchildren. He also mentions Matthew 3:7, where John the Baptist confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. Prast explains that water baptism symbolizes a funeral and resurrection, referencing Romans 6:1-4. He emphasizes that Christians should have already experienced their own funeral through water baptism.
Baptism in Water
By Anton Bosch1.1K41:42BaptismMAT 6:33MRK 16:16ACT 2:38ROM 6:31CO 15:1GAL 3:27COL 2:12In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the topic of water baptism. He starts by acknowledging that the chosen Bible passage, 1 Corinthians 15, does not directly address water baptism. However, he uses this chapter on the resurrection to emphasize the importance of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the core elements of the gospel. The preacher explains that the mention of Christ's burial is significant because it verifies his actual death and refutes the belief that he was in a coma or swoon. He contrasts this Christ-centered gospel with the man-centered message that is often preached today.
Being Thankful
By Anton Bosch1.1K44:27ThankfulnessMAT 6:33COL 1:3COL 2:6COL 2:12In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being thankful to God for His blessings. He uses the example of a man who complained about not having shoes until he saw someone who didn't have feet, highlighting the need to have a grateful attitude. The speaker also reminds the audience of the darkness they were in before knowing Jesus and how He has delivered them from the power of darkness. The sermon concludes with the exhortation to continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant and thankful in their requests to God.
Corinthians - the Baptism With the Spirit
By J. Glyn Owen7651:00:33Spirit BaptismMAT 6:33ACT 2:38ROM 6:31CO 12:12GAL 3:28EPH 4:4COL 2:12In this sermon, the speaker uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate the principle of unity and interconnectedness within the church. He emphasizes that the church is made up of diverse members who function together and belong to one another. The speaker also highlights the importance of being spiritually minded in order to understand and utilize God's gifts to the church. He explains that Jesus, as Lord, has been given the Holy Spirit to gather and equip the church, ultimately bringing them to a triumphant and glorious end.
Colossians - Part 4
By Paris Reidhead13843:16Christian LifeMAT 6:33ROM 6:4ROM 6:6COL 2:12COL 2:20In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of seeking and understanding the implications of our relationship with God. He uses the example of people being assigned jobs in a new administration to illustrate that our role in the relationship with God is not just about collecting rewards, but about understanding our responsibilities and privileges. The speaker also highlights the need to set our affection on things above, rather than being consumed by worldly interests. He explains that our thoughts ultimately shape our emotions and actions, and encourages the audience to focus their attention on heavenly things.
The Mystery of Faith
By G.W. North0CommunionBaptismMAT 28:19JHN 6:53ACT 2:38ROM 6:41CO 11:23GAL 3:27EPH 4:4COL 2:12HEB 10:221PE 3:21G.W. North explores 'The Mystery of Faith' by illustrating the profound connection between baptism and communion, emphasizing that water symbolizes the Holy Spirit while bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ. He explains that baptism signifies forgiveness, cleansing, and regeneration, while communion serves as a personal testimony of this transformation. North asserts that these two ordinances are inseparable, reflecting the essential elements of spirit, body, and blood necessary for life. Together, they encapsulate the mystery of faith, ordained by the Lord to convey a complete and coherent doctrine. The relationship between baptism and communion is essential, as each complements the other in the believer's spiritual journey.
Some Strictures on a Late Treatise, Called, a Fair and Rational Vindication of the Right of Infants to the Ordinance of Baptism.
By John Gill0BaptismCovenant TheologyGEN 17:7JER 31:33MAT 19:14MAT 28:19MRK 10:13ACT 2:39ROM 4:111CO 7:14GAL 3:27COL 2:12John Gill critiques David Bostwick's treatise on the right of infants to baptism, arguing that the scriptural basis he presents, particularly Acts 2:39, is misinterpreted and does not support infant baptism. Gill emphasizes that the promise in the text is directed towards those who repent and believe, not infants, and that the covenant of circumcision does not equate to the covenant of grace. He asserts that the practice of infant baptism lacks biblical command and historical precedent, and he challenges the notion that infants can partake in the covenant relationship without the capacity for faith and repentance. Gill concludes that the arguments for infant baptism are built on a false foundation and that true baptism is reserved for those who can profess their faith.
Baptism Is Right, Like Christ Taught It.
By Ausbund0MAT 3:13ACT 22:16ROM 6:3COL 2:121PE 3:21Jorg Wagner preaches about the importance of baptism as taught by Christ, emphasizing that when the order of baptism is not perverted, it symbolizes His bitter death. He explains that baptism represents the washing away of our sins and the reception of grace through this act.
That We Might Live Also With Him
By C.H. Spurgeon0BaptismNew Life in ChristMAT 10:32JHN 3:36ACT 8:37ROM 6:4ROM 8:112CO 5:17GAL 2:20EPH 2:5COL 2:121PE 3:21C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the significance of baptism as a public declaration of faith, recalling his own experience of being baptized as a testament to his commitment to Christ. He reflects on the importance of being faithful to the vow made during baptism, which symbolizes dying to the world and being raised to new life in Christ. Spurgeon encourages believers to remember their commitment and live in a manner that reflects their identity as servants of the living God, fully embracing the life that comes from being united with Christ.
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
By O.A. Burgess0MAT 28:19MRK 16:16JHN 1:29ACT 2:37ACT 16:30ACT 22:16ROM 6:3GAL 3:27COL 2:121PE 3:21O.A. Burgess preaches on the crucial question 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' from Acts 16:30, emphasizing the importance of understanding salvation in the light of the New Testament. The sermon delves into the necessity of salvation from sin, highlighting that Christ's central mission was to save people from the power and consequences of sin. The answer to this question lies in three key elements: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance toward God, and immersion into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Abraham's Seed
By T. Austin-Sparks0The Holy SpiritSpiritual LifeNUM 23:9ACT 2:24ACT 7:2ACT 7:51ROM 9:42CO 1:9GAL 3:7COL 2:12T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the transformative significance of Pentecost, marking the beginning of a new spiritual era governed by the Holy Spirit. He contrasts the spiritual life that God desires with established religious practices, urging believers to heed the voice of the Spirit rather than conforming to worldly religious norms. Sparks highlights Abraham's role as a model for spiritual lineage, asserting that true children of Abraham are those who are spiritually alive and governed by the Spirit, not merely by natural descent. He stresses that the promise of God is linked to a spiritual seed, exemplified by Isaac, and that believers are called to live in the power of resurrection, which is foundational to their identity in Christ. Ultimately, he calls for a community of believers who are distinctively spiritual, marked by a heart circumcised for God, and responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
United in Christ's Resurrection
By W.H. Griffith Thomas0JHN 14:19ROM 4:24ROM 6:4ROM 6:8EPH 1:18COL 2:121TH 4:14W.H. Griffith Thomas emphasizes the believers' spiritual resurrection with Christ, urging them to focus on heavenly things where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. This resurrection is not a mere possibility but a definite reality, establishing their spiritual identity and position in Christ. The resurrection serves as proof of their acceptance in Christ, a pattern for holy living, a source of power for Christian character and service, a promise of future physical resurrection, and a pledge of eternal life. Through their union with Christ, believers are seen by God as having shared in His resurrection and are called to live in light of this profound truth.
Crisis at the Cross
By David Wilkerson0The Power of the CrossVictory in ChristJHN 8:36ROM 6:62CO 5:17GAL 2:20EPH 2:8PHP 4:13COL 2:12HEB 11:11PE 2:241JN 5:4David Wilkerson emphasizes the necessity of embracing the cross to access Jesus' victory and power in our lives. He explains that salvation comes through faith in God's Word, and we must acknowledge our inability to overcome sin on our own. By being 'in Christ,' we partake in His crucifixion and resurrection, which grants us newness of life and freedom from sin. Wilkerson encourages believers to confront their strongholds at the cross, trusting in God's promise of deliverance. Ultimately, he highlights the importance of recognizing our need for grace and the transformative power of the cross in our lives.
The Conditions of the Gospel Reasonable
By G.W. Longan0MRK 16:16ACT 2:38ROM 1:161CO 1:23COL 2:12G.W. Longan preaches about the central importance of Jesus Christ and the Cross in the Divine history, emphasizing that every truth in the Bible is subordinate to the grand central idea of the Cross. He explains that the Gospel of Christ, encompassing 'Christ,' 'the Cross of Christ,' and 'Christ crucified,' is the power and wisdom of God, demonstrating God's infinite wisdom in the redemption of sinners. Longan delves into the necessity of repentance and faith in the Gospel, highlighting that God's salvation plan is built upon unchanging principles and the eternal laws of God's moral government.
Resurrection Power
By A.W. Tozer0Spiritual PowerResurrectionMAT 28:18JHN 11:25ACT 1:8ROM 6:41CO 15:55EPH 1:19PHP 3:10COL 2:122TI 1:10REV 1:18A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true spiritual power for Christians is found not in the birth of Christ or the relics of the Cross, but in the resurrection of Jesus, who declared, 'All power is given me in heaven and in earth.' The resurrection transformed the believers' direction from mourning and fear towards hope and victory, as they proclaimed, 'He is risen, indeed!' Tozer asserts that the significance of Easter extends beyond a single day, marking the beginning of an ongoing outreach of Christ's power that will continue until His return.
The Life-Side of the Cross
By Jessie Penn-Lewis0Spiritual WarfareBalance of Death and Life in ChristROM 6:10COL 2:12Jessie Penn-Lewis emphasizes the inseparable connection between the death and resurrection of Christ, urging believers to maintain a balance between the 'negative' aspect of dying to sin and the 'positive' aspect of living in the power of the resurrection. She explains that true Christian life is rooted in being 'in Christ Jesus', where believers experience the severance of their old nature and the impartation of new life through the Holy Spirit. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding the Word of God as a spiritual weapon that divides soul and spirit, enabling believers to live victoriously against spiritual adversaries. Penn-Lewis calls for Christians to recognize their position in Christ and to actively engage in spiritual warfare, relying on God's strength to overcome the forces of darkness. Ultimately, she encourages believers to be rooted in Christ, drawing from His life to fulfill their calling in service and battle against evil.
Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize
By John Piper0MAT 28:19ACT 9:18ROM 6:31CO 1:14COL 2:12John Piper delves into 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, exploring Paul's approach to baptism and the reasons behind his statement that Christ did not send him to baptize. Piper addresses four key questions: Did Paul oppose baptism or discourage converts from being baptized? Why did Paul not baptize all his new converts? What was the goal of Paul's mission? And what does this imply about our view of baptism?
He of Whom John Spake
By G.W. North0Jesus' MinistryBaptismMAT 3:11JHN 1:33ACT 1:5ACT 2:38ROM 6:41CO 12:13GAL 3:27EPH 4:5COL 2:12HEB 6:2G.W. North emphasizes the transition from John's baptism to the greater baptism that Jesus would fulfill through His death and resurrection. He explains that while John's ministry gradually ceased, Jesus retained and expanded upon it, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of baptism that transcends water. North highlights that the true essence of Jesus' ministry was not fully revealed until His own baptism into death, which was foreshadowed in John's baptism. He clarifies that water baptism was a necessary practice during Jesus' earthly ministry but should not be confused with the greater baptism that Jesus administers through the Holy Spirit. This distinction is crucial for understanding the fullness of Jesus' mission and the nature of true baptism.
The Three-Fold Law of the Cross
By T. Austin-Sparks0The CrossSurrender and SacrificeJHN 12:24ROM 6:3GAL 2:20COL 2:12T. Austin-Sparks expounds on 'The Three-Fold Law of the Cross,' illustrating that true life comes through death, liberty through surrender, and enlargement through loss. He emphasizes that Christ's life is not confined to His earthly ministry but continues to thrive post-resurrection, demonstrating that believers must also embrace the Cross to experience the fullness of His life. Sparks highlights the necessity of dying to self and worldly ambitions to allow Christ's resurrection power to manifest in our lives. He encourages surrendering our desires and understanding that true freedom and growth come from yielding to God's will, even when it requires significant sacrifice. Ultimately, he reassures that through loss, we gain a richer, more profound relationship with God and His eternal purposes.
The Anabaptists
By William Cathcart0MAT 28:19MRK 16:16ACT 2:38ACT 22:16ROM 6:4GAL 3:27EPH 4:5COL 2:12TIT 3:51PE 3:21William Cathcart preaches about the history and principles of the Anabaptists during the Reformation, highlighting their rejection of infant baptism and their emphasis on believers' baptism as the only Christian baptism. The Anabaptists sought to establish churches based on regenerate church membership and separation from the ungodly, believing in the necessity of personal faith before baptism. The sermon delves into the divisions among Anabaptists, including the fanatical, Baptist Anabaptists, and mystical Anabaptists, shedding light on their struggles, beliefs, and influence on the Reformation.
The Lord's Day and the New Creation
By Lewis Sperry Chafer0PSA 118:22JHN 20:19ACT 2:1ACT 15:13ROM 6:4ROM 14:52CO 5:17EPH 5:25COL 2:12Lewis Sperry Chafer emphasizes the celebration of the first day of the week by the church since Christ's resurrection, contrasting it with the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. He delves into the New Creation, highlighting believers' new relationships of grace and their individual divine transformations. Chafer explains the significance of the Lord's Day, prophesied under grace, and supported by various events like Christ's resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit. He clarifies that the observance of the Lord's Day is not imposed on the unsaved or the Church as a whole, but is a personal commitment to worship and serve God with liberty and grace.
Questions/answers on the Sacraments of the Church
By James Blaine Chapman0MRK 16:16JHN 6:53ROM 14:221CO 11:30COL 2:12James Blaine Chapman addresses various questions related to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the importance of understanding the meaning of the sacrament before partaking in it, the consequences of irreverence and carelessness in celebrating it, and debunking the Roman Catholic theory of transubstantiation. He clarifies that drawing spiritual life from Christ is essential, regardless of partaking in the sacrament, and highlights the significance of faith in Christ for salvation and eternal life.
How the World Got Wrong on Baptism
By John R. Rice0MAT 26:26JHN 3:5ACT 8:38ACT 9:18ACT 16:33ROM 6:4EPH 5:26COL 2:121TI 3:2TIT 1:6TIT 3:5REV 17:5John R. Rice delivers a sermon focusing on Revelation 17:5, interpreting the evil woman as a representation of Roman Catholicism, highlighting the false doctrines, heresies, and religious abominations that have come into Christianity through this institution. Rice discusses how Roman Catholics officially changed practices like baptism to sprinkling, claiming the authority of the church over the Word of God. He provides historical evidence of the shift from baptism by immersion to sprinkling within Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, and other denominations, emphasizing the departure from the Bible's teachings. Rice urges listeners to study the Bible diligently, encouraging a return to the scriptural practice of baptism by immersion.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Buried with him in baptism - Alluding to the immersions practised in the case of adults, wherein the person appeared to be buried under the Water, as Christ was buried in the heart of the earth. His rising again the third any, and their emerging from the water, was an emblem of the resurrection of the body; and, in them, of a total change of life. The faith of the operation of God - They were quickened, changed, and saved, by means of faith in Christ Jesus; which faith was produced by the operation or energy of God. Believing is the act of the soul; but the grace or power to believe comes from God himself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Translate, "Having been buried with Him in your baptism." The past participle is here coincident in time with the preceding verb, "ye were (Greek) circumcised." Baptism is regarded as the burial of the old carnal life, to which the act of immersion symbolically corresponds; and in warm climates where immersion is safe, it is the mode most accordant with the significance of the ordinance; but the spirit of the ordinance is kept by affusion, where immersion would be inconvenient or dangerous; to insist on literal immersion in all cases would be mere legal ceremonialism (Rom 6:3-4). are risen--rather as Greek, "were raised with Him." through the faith, &c.--by means of your faith in the operation of God; so "faith of," for "faith in" (Eph 3:12; Phi 3:9). Faith in God's mighty operation in raising again Jesus, is saving faith (Rom 4:24; Rom 10:9); and it is wrought in the soul by His same "mighty working" whereby He "raised Jesus from the dead" (Eph 1:19-20). BENGEL seems to me (not as ALFORD understands him) to express the latter sense, namely, "Through the faith which is a work of the operation of God who," &c. Eph 1:19-20 accords with this; the same mighty power of God is exercised in raising one spiritually dead to the life of faith, as was "wrought in Christ when God raised Him literally from the dead." However, "faith of" usually is "faith in" (Rom 3:22); but there is no grammatical impropriety in understanding it "the faith which is the effect of the operation of God" (Eph 2:8; Th1 2:13). As His literal resurrection is the ground of the power put forth in our spiritual resurrection now, so it is a pledge of our literal resurrection hereafter (Rom 8:11).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Buried with him in baptism,.... The apostle goes on to observe how complete and perfect the saints are in Christ; that they are not only circumcised in him in a spiritual sense, and the body of the sins of their flesh is put off, and removed from them, in allusion to the cutting off and casting away of the foreskin in circumcision; but that they and all their sins were buried with Christ, of which their baptism in water was a lively representation: Christ having died for their sins, was laid in the grave, where he continued for a while, and then rose again; and as they were crucified with him, they were also buried with him, as their head and representative; and all their sins too, which he left behind him in the grave, signified by his grave clothes there; and baptism being performed by immersion, when the person baptized is covered with water, and as it were buried in it, is a very significant emblem of all this; it is a representation of the burial of Christ, and very fitly holds him forth to the view of faith in the state of the dead, in the grave, and points out the place where the Lord lay; and it is also a representation of our burial with him, as being dead to sin, to the law, and to the world, by him. This shows now, that baptism was performed by dipping, or covering the whole body in water, for no other form of administration of baptism, as sprinkling, or pouring water on the face, can represent a burial, or be called one; and this is what many learned interpreters own, and observe on this place: wherein also ye are risen with him; Christ is risen from the dead as the head and representative of his people, and they are risen with him; and their baptism is also an emblem of his and their resurrection, being administered by immersion, in which way only this can be signified; for as the going down into the water, and being under it, represents Christ's descending into the state of the dead, and his continuance in it, so the emersion, or coming up out of the water, represents his rising from the dead, and that of his people in him, in order to walk in newness of life; for the apostle's meaning is, that in baptism saints are risen with Christ, as well as in it buried with him: and this through the faith of the operation of God; that is, it is through faith that saints see themselves buried and risen with Christ, to which the ordinance of baptism is greatly assisting, where there is true faith; for otherwise, without faith, this ordinance will be of no use to any such end and purpose; and it is not any faith that will avail, but that which is of God's operation; faith is not naturally in men, all men have it not; and those that have it, have it not of themselves, it is the gift of God; it is what be works in them, and by his power performs: who hath raised him from the dead; this is a periphrasis of God the Father, to whom the resurrection of Christ from the dead is generally ascribed; though not to the exclusion of Christ, and of the Spirit, who were also concerned; and is here added, partly to show in what respect faith, which is God's work, has him for its object, as having raised Christ from the dead, who was delivered for offences, but is risen again through the power of God for justification, and whoever with his heart believes this shall be saved; and partly to show, that the same power is exerted in working true faith in the heart, as was put forth in raising Christ from the dead.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:12 you were buried with Christ when you were baptized: As in a roughly parallel passage (Rom 6:3-6), Paul assumes a strong identity between believers and Christ. In God’s sight, we really were with Christ when he was buried and raised, so we experience the benefits of what Christ did for us. Paul can link that identification with Christ to baptism because water baptism was so closely related to conversion in the early church.