JULY 10, 2026 – THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST

READ: Col. 2:10–15: “… you were buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him … made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses … having wiped out the handwriting … nailing it to the cross … having disarmed principalities and powers …”

The “principalities and powers” in verse 15 were spirits that played an important role in the prevailing false doctrine. Under this heathen framework, evil spirits wanted to bind you to earthly things. Those spirits and those earthly matters had to be overcome by self-inflicted suffering and the imposition of restrictions: fasting and other rituals. There were also good spirits, angels, whom one had to worship. These were all worldly ideas and practices. Man cannot deliver himself from evil, and there is only One whom you may worship, namely God in Christ.

Paul equips the congregation against false worship and self-redemption. There certainly are evil spirits: Satan and his followers. But Christ stands completely above them. From Him you must expect everything (vv. 10,15). He conquered Satan at the cross and in His resurrection cast him out of heaven as accuser (Rev. 12:9,10; Luke 10:18), and will one day remove him from the world forever.

At the cross He wiped out the handwriting, the document of accusations against believers, by paying all their guilt of sin (v. 14). At the same time, eternal life was granted to them out of death in trespasses (v. 13).

Thus, Satan stands empty-handed: he is disarmed in his opposition against Christ and His followers. He and his followers are openly put to shame by Christ. He must still be reckoned with, for he still goes about like a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8,9), but he has already lost. Therefore, fear of spirits does not befit us. Instead, we engage in a struggle against superstition through the strength of Christ, of which the outcome, the final victory, is certain.

Paul further teaches that physical circumcision, as also required in the false doctrine, is unnecessary now that believers have already been spiritually “circumcised” through Christ’s suffering on the cross and resurrection from the dead (vv. 11–13). Your sinful nature has been “cut away” (which baptism shows as being buried with Christ). And with Him you have been raised to a new life.

Do you never need to fear Satan anymore?
Singing: Hymn 41:3 (1984) / 53:3 (2014)