Jewish circumcision was used as a tool, like branding cattle, to mark those owned by Judaism and to renounce Christ.

Colossians 2:11-15

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

In the following verses of this post, Paul is speaking about how circumcision is outdated and not necessary. He even calls it mutilation, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit…” Philippians 3:2 After the coming of Jesus Christ, circumcision became a major issue. Circumcision became a sign to the Jewish leaders that people were following their laws and rejecting Jesus Christ. Circumcision became a tool like branding cattle to show ownership. The original purpose of circumcision was a sign of the covenant made between Abraham and God years before, “…and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Genesis 17:11. The covenant was fulfilled at the coming of Jesus Christ, so circumcision no longer has any meaning, it is useless in every way.

“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…” Colossians 2:11

By the Holy Spirit, Paul explains that everyone who lives for Jesus Christ has been circumcised by the Spirit, cutting us off from the destructive carnal nature of human beings. This is the circumcision that is done without human hands, without the mutilation of the flesh, and that separated the Christians from the laws of Judaism. For those who came to Christ after being circumcised, Paul said, “Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing…” 1 Corinthians 7:18-19

“…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

Our born-again experience is all about being buried with our Lord Jesus Christ in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When we began living for Jesus Christ, our old lifestyle, old way of thinking, old way of behaving, etc. has been buried in a grave. Our sins have been forgiven because we believe our Lord Jesus gave His life on the Cross to reconcile us to God. We were resurrected to a new life, a new lifestyle, a new way of thinking, a new way of behaving. We have been raised with Christ through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses…” Colossians 2:13

Paul explains to the Colossians that the laws of the Old Testament did not bring them life in the Holy Spirit and under the law they were still uncircumcised in heart. Only Jesus Christ could open their heart, mind, and soul to the Spirit by the forgiveness of all of their trespasses committed under the law. For those of us who are born-again into the family of Christ, we know that being spiritually dead in our sin and the uncircumcision of our flesh is the life we lived before living for our Lord Jesus. Now, He has given us a new way of life, to be alive with Him by forgiving us of all our sin.

“…having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:14

For the Colossians, the handwriting of requirements that were against them were the laws of the Old Testament. Through Jesus Christ, and by living in the Holy Spirit, all of the written requirements have been wiped out. When Jesus Christ was nailed to the Cross, He nailed the laws to the cross as well, putting them to death so that we all can live in the Spirit by believing in God through Jesus Christ. Today, we do not have any religious requirements to live by, we simply believe, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15

Paul wanted to encourage and bolster the faith of the Colossians, in the truth of Jesus Christ. He let them know that Jesus had stripped away the power of the rulers and authorities of the Jewish culture. Jesus made a spectacle of them, revealing how unGodly they were compared to those living for God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit [Read Matthew 23]. Jesus Himself triumphed over the powers of Judaism. He drew multitudes upon multitudes away from the false teachings of the Jewish leaders into the family of God living in the Spirit. While the Jewish leaders conspired to have Christ crucified and humiliated on the Cross, Jesus rose up from the grave in victory over His enemies.

For us today, who are born-again without ever knowing the laws of Judaism, there are many principalities and powers to overcome in this world. Without mentioning the vices of the flesh, we live in an age where the powers and principalities are a common entity globally. In every city around the world, there is the principality that has power over physiology to give people what to feel, think, say, and do. This entity uses its influence against belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Only by the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God can we continue to claim our faith in Jesus Christ. Only believe. The atheistic entity uses its power over physiology to enliven the image of the beast to live and speak through people. They are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11