Sermons on Colossians 2:12

Colossians 2:12 Interpretation:

Reviving Spiritual Life: Beyond Rituals to True Worship (Spurgeon Sermon Series) offers a distinctive interpretation of Colossians 2:12 by emphasizing that baptism is not efficacious in itself but is only spiritually meaningful when the participant's spirit is engaged. Spurgeon uses the analogy of baptism as a symbol that only "quickens" (gives life) when the spirit of the person enters into the meaning of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. He explicitly rejects any notion that the water or the act itself conveys grace, instead arguing that the "spirit quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing." This interpretation is reinforced by a detailed contrast between outward, carnal observance and inward, spiritual participation, making the point that the true benefit of baptism is realized only when the believer, in spirit, communes with Christ in the act.

Transformative Power of Being 'In Christ' (Desiring God) provides a unique exegetical insight into Colossians 2:12 by closely analyzing the Greek structure and the phrase "through faith in the powerful working of God." The sermon argues that the passage teaches baptism is an emblem or drama of a deeper spiritual reality—namely, union with Christ in his death and resurrection, which is effected not by the water but "through faith." The preacher distinguishes between sacramental and symbolic views of baptism, concluding that faith, not the ritual act, is the means by which one is united with Christ. This is supported by a close reading of the Greek and a comparison with other Pauline texts, highlighting that the human experience of union with Christ is faith, which God sovereignly awakens.

Baptism: A Public Declaration of Faith in Christ (SouthPoint Church) interprets Colossians 2:12 as teaching that baptism is an outward symbol of an inward commitment, using the analogy of a wedding ceremony to illustrate that the public act of baptism is a declaration of a decision already made in the heart. The sermon uniquely frames baptism as a "mini symbol" of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and stresses that the power of God that raised Christ is the same power at work in the believer, but that this is accessed through faith, not the ritual itself.

Faith, Grace, and Our Transformation in Christ (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 2:12 as a vivid parable or emblem, where baptism is not merely a ritual but an enacted drama of death and resurrection with Christ. The sermon uniquely emphasizes that the phrase “having been buried with him in baptism” is a parallel to being delivered from the authority of darkness and transferred into Christ’s kingdom. The preacher highlights that the phrase “through faith in the powerful working of God” is crucial, arguing that faith is the connective tissue between God’s action and human participation. The analogy of baptism as a burial and resurrection is stressed, with the act of going under water symbolizing burial and coming out symbolizing resurrection, but the real spiritual effect is tied to faith, not the physical act. The sermon also notes that the phrase “who raised him from the dead” is not just about believing in the resurrection, but about trusting in the God who vindicated Jesus and, by extension, all the redemptive acts leading up to it.

Baptism and Salvation: Faith's Role Explored (Desiring God) offers a distinct interpretation by focusing on the phrase “through faith” in Colossians 2:12 as a safeguard against misunderstanding baptism as a physical cause of new birth. The sermon draws a sharp line between the physical act of baptism and the spiritual reality it represents, arguing that Paul is “jealous not to picture the physical act of baptism as the decisive cause of this new birth.” Instead, baptism is an “acted out picture” or “parable” of what happens spiritually, and the spiritual effect is “through faith.” This sermon’s unique contribution is its polemical use of the text to counter the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, emphasizing that the “through faith” clause is decisive in understanding the passage.

Faith and Regeneration: Understanding Their Divine Relationship (Desiring God) provides a novel analogy, comparing the phrase “through faith” in Colossians 2:12 to saying “I got out through a tunnel” after a cave-in, which does not specify who built the tunnel. The sermon argues that the verse does not address whether faith causes regeneration or vice versa, but simply states that resurrection with Christ in baptism happens “through faith.” This analogy is unique among the sermons, as it highlights the grammatical ambiguity of the phrase and refuses to read into the text a causal relationship between faith and regeneration.

Understanding the Significance of Baptism in Faith (Desiring God) uses the analogy of a wedding ring to interpret Colossians 2:12, suggesting that baptism is to faith what a wedding ring is to marriage: a symbol, not the cause, of union. The sermon also draws on the Greek word “baptizo,” noting that it means “to immerse,” and argues that the physical act of immersion best portrays the burial and resurrection imagery of the passage. The preacher recounts a personal anecdote from studying in Germany, where Colossians 2:12 was used to argue against infant baptism, emphasizing that the burial and resurrection symbolized in baptism are “through faith,” and thus only appropriate for those capable of faith.

Embracing Salvation: The Union of Faith and Grace (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 2:12 as illustrating the subjective experience of God’s objective work in salvation. The sermon highlights that baptism is a picture of death and resurrection with Christ, and that the subjective experience of this reality is “through faith.” The preacher uses the metaphor of “putting on” the new self as a paraphrase for faith, suggesting that faith is the act of embracing, receiving, and enjoying the objective reality of union with Christ enacted in baptism.

Colossians 2:12 Theological Themes:

Reviving Spiritual Life: Beyond Rituals to True Worship (Spurgeon Sermon Series) introduces the theme that the efficacy of baptism (and all ordinances) is entirely dependent on the presence and activity of the Spirit in the believer, not on the external act. Spurgeon develops the idea that spiritual life is only imparted where there is faith and spiritual engagement, and that outward forms, including baptism, are "utterly unprofitable" without this. He also applies this principle to critique infant baptism, arguing that since infants cannot exercise faith or spiritual understanding, their baptism is only "the unprofitable baptism of the flesh."

Transformative Power of Being 'In Christ' (Desiring God) presents the theological theme that union with Christ in his death and resurrection, as depicted in Colossians 2:12, is a spiritual reality effected by faith, not by ritual. The sermon adds a nuanced distinction between justification and sanctification, arguing that the legal verdict of "no condemnation" is the ground for the transformative work of the Spirit, not the other way around. This is a fresh application of the text, connecting the logic of Colossians 2:12 to the broader Pauline doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.

Baptism: A Public Declaration of Faith in Christ (SouthPoint Church) brings out the theme that baptism is not a mystical or salvific ritual but a public, symbolic act that testifies to an internal transformation already accomplished by faith in the "mighty power of God." The sermon uniquely stresses the continuity between the believer's experience and Christ's resurrection power, making the point that the same power that raised Christ is at work in those who trust him.

Faith, Grace, and Our Transformation in Christ (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event to be believed, but a demonstration of the kind of God who vindicates and completes all the redemptive acts necessary for salvation. The sermon uniquely ties faith in the resurrection to faith in the entire redemptive work of God, suggesting that trusting in the God who raised Jesus is to trust in the God who forgives, cancels debt, and triumphs over evil powers.

Baptism and Salvation: Faith's Role Explored (Desiring God) presents the distinct theological theme that the “through faith” clause in Colossians 2:12 is a polemic against sacramentalism, particularly the idea that physical acts (like baptism) can impart saving grace. The sermon’s fresh angle is its use of the text to argue that all acts of obedience, including baptism, are results of faith and not instruments of salvation, thus preserving the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Faith and Regeneration: Understanding Their Divine Relationship (Desiring God) adds a new facet by arguing that Colossians 2:12 is silent on the order of faith and regeneration, and that this silence is itself instructive. The sermon then develops the theological theme that regeneration precedes faith, drawing on other biblical texts, and emphasizes the depth of human inability and the necessity of sovereign grace for new birth.

Understanding the Significance of Baptism in Faith (Desiring God) brings a new application by using Colossians 2:12 to argue for believer’s baptism and against infant baptism, based on the principle that baptism is a demonstration of burial and resurrection with Christ “through faith.” The sermon also highlights the communal and ecclesial dimension of baptism, connecting it to church membership and the visible body of Christ.

Embracing Salvation: The Union of Faith and Grace (Desiring God) introduces the nuanced theme that faith is the only human experience that “lets grace be grace.” The sermon argues that God’s objective work of uniting believers to Christ is subjectively experienced through faith, which is the means by which grace is received and enjoyed, thus preserving the gratuity of salvation.

Colossians 2:12 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing True Change: A New Life in Christ (Jason Baker) provides historical context about the Colossian church, noting its diverse composition of Jewish converts, former pagan worshipers, and people with no religious background. The sermon explains that the early church was grappling with the integration of Jewish traditions and new Christian freedoms, which is the backdrop for Paul's teaching in Colossians 2:12 and following. The preacher draws a parallel to the modern church's diversity of backgrounds and traditions, helping listeners understand the original audience's challenges.

Understanding the Significance of Baptism in Faith (Desiring God) provides historical and contextual insight by discussing the Greek word “baptizo,” explaining that it means “to immerse,” and noting that most scholars agree immersion was the practice of the early church. The sermon also references the historical development of sprinkling as a later adaptation, possibly due to practical difficulties in finding enough water. Additionally, the preacher recounts a historical anecdote from studying in Germany among Lutherans, highlighting the ongoing debate between traditions regarding the proper subjects and mode of baptism, and how Colossians 2:12 was used in those debates.

Colossians 2:12 Cross-References in the Bible:

Rooted in Christ: The Journey to Spiritual Maturity (Lakeshore Christian Church) references Romans 8:11 to reinforce the idea that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead gives life to believers, directly connecting this to the resurrection imagery of Colossians 2:12. The sermon uses this cross-reference to emphasize the power available to those who are "in Christ" and to underscore the reality of new life through union with Christ.

Baptism: A Public Declaration of Faith in Christ (SouthPoint Church) references Romans 6 to explain the symbolism of baptism as participation in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and also cites Matthew 28:19 to show that baptism is commanded by Jesus as part of discipleship. The sermon uses these passages to support the interpretation that baptism is a public declaration of faith and not a means of salvation.

Transformative Power of Being 'In Christ' (Desiring God) references Romans 6:3-5 to discuss the language of being "baptized into Christ Jesus" and "buried with him in baptism," using this to argue that the union with Christ is spiritual and effected by faith. The sermon also references Galatians 2:20 to illustrate the believer's crucifixion and resurrection with Christ, and Ephesians 2 to show that faith itself is a gift from God. Romans 8:1-4 is used extensively to draw out the relationship between justification, sanctification, and the work of the Spirit, tying these themes back to Colossians 2:12.

Faith, Grace, and Our Transformation in Christ (Desiring God) references Ephesians 2:5-9 to reinforce the idea that being made alive with Christ and raised up with him is “by grace…through faith,” paralleling the language of Colossians 2:12. The sermon also references Colossians 3:1-3 to show the parallel between death and resurrection with Christ and being transferred into his kingdom, and alludes to the broader context of Colossians 2:13-15, which describes God making believers alive, forgiving sins, and triumphing over evil powers.

Baptism and Salvation: Faith's Role Explored (Desiring God) cross-references Galatians 2:16 and 5:3-4 to argue that justification is by faith alone and not by works, drawing a parallel between circumcision and baptism as potential “add-ons” to faith. The sermon also references 1 Peter 3:21, interpreting it in light of Colossians 2:12, and argues that Peter’s statement that “baptism…now saves you” is qualified by the explanation that it is not the physical act but the “appeal to God for a good conscience” (i.e., faith) that saves. Romans 6:3-4 is also referenced to support the burial and resurrection imagery of baptism.

Faith and Regeneration: Understanding Their Divine Relationship (Desiring God) provides an extensive list of cross-references to support the doctrine that regeneration precedes faith, including 1 John 5:1, John 1:12-13, Acts 13:48, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 1:29, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, John 3:7-8, John 6:44, 65, 2 Timothy 2:25, and 1 Corinthians 1:23-24. The sermon also references Romans 8:7 to emphasize human inability apart from sovereign grace.

Understanding the Significance of Baptism in Faith (Desiring God) references Romans 6:3-4 as the clearest teaching on union with Christ in death and resurrection, and uses Acts 8:38 and John 3:23 to support the practice of immersion. Matthew 28:19-20 is cited as the basis for the ongoing practice of baptism, and Colossians 2:12 is used to argue for believer’s baptism. The sermon also references the story of the Ethiopian eunuch as an example of baptism by immersion.

Embracing Salvation: The Union of Faith and Grace (Desiring God) cross-references Romans 4:13-16 to argue that faith is the means by which grace is received, Galatians 2:20 to illustrate the subjective experience of union with Christ, Colossians 2:12 to connect baptism with death and resurrection through faith, and Ephesians 4 to discuss the ethical implications of putting on the new self created in Christ.

Colossians 2:12 Christian References outside the Bible:

Rooted in Christ: The Journey to Spiritual Maturity (Lakeshore Christian Church) explicitly references Stephen Hawking, quoting his statement that "religion is a fairy tale for people afraid of the dark," and John Lennox, who responds, "atheism is a fairy tale for people afraid of the light." These references are used to contrast worldly philosophies with the Christian faith and to reinforce the unique power of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the foundation for faith, as highlighted in Colossians 2:12.

Baptism and Salvation: Faith's Role Explored (Desiring God) explicitly references the Roman Catholic Catechism (section 2, chapter 1, article 1, paragraph 1213) to explain the Catholic doctrine of baptismal regeneration. The sermon quotes the catechism’s statement that “baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word,” and contrasts this with the Protestant evangelical position that saving grace comes “decisively by faith alone.” The preacher uses this reference to frame the theological divide between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism on the issue of baptism and salvation.

Colossians 2:12 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Rooted in Christ: The Journey to Spiritual Maturity (Lakeshore Christian Church) uses the example of Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist, to illustrate the kind of "hollow and deceptive philosophy" Paul warns against in Colossians. Hawking's dismissal of religion as a "fairy tale" is contrasted with the Christian claim of resurrection power. The sermon also references John Lennox's witty retort to Hawking, using this exchange to encourage believers not to feel intellectually inferior for trusting in the resurrection, which is central to Colossians 2:12.

Baptism: A Public Declaration of Faith in Christ (SouthPoint Church) employs the analogy of a wedding ceremony to explain the meaning of baptism. The preacher describes how a marriage ceremony is a public declaration of a private commitment, and that the ceremony itself does not make one married—the decision does. This analogy is used to help listeners understand that baptism is a public symbol of an inward faith, paralleling the symbolism of being "buried with Christ" and "raised with him" in Colossians 2:12.