Colossians 2:11 Amplified explained circumcision without hands this way. “…a (spiritual) circumcision (performed by) Christ by stripping off the body of flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts).” 

Romans 6:6 Amplified says, “We know that our old (un-renewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that (our) body (which is the instrument) of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no long be the slaves of sin.”

In Romans 6:1 Paul asked a question. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Verse 2 says, “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Dead things have no ability to respond to any stimuli.

Deuteronomy 10:16 says, “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart…” We circumcise our heart each time we use the scalpel of His word to defeat the enemy’s temptation to sin.

Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me…” Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” 

Raising Jesus from the dead required no hands. Ephesians 1:19-20 says that the same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead is at work in us. Think of Romans 6:4. It says, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Let’s review Colossians 2:6 and 1 John 2:6. In order to walk in Him, we have to consider what His death, burial, and resurrection means to us now. Colossians 2:11 was written about the circumcision of our heart ~ putting off the sins of the flesh.

Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Colossians 2:8 says, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

What is the basic principle for all believers? Verse 6 says, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” 1 John 2:6 says, “He who abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

I’m always amazed each time I read through the gospels. As Jesus selected each of His 12 disciples, He used two words ~ Follow Me. They each left what they were doing and followed Him.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Paul’s epistles are very instructive in how we are to walk in Him. Galatians 5:16 says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Paul’s life is such an example for me. I’ve been memorizing chapters in his books. They challenge me. I was working on Colossians 1:28. It says, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

From the time my dad started to drive, he had a Scripture car. Before he had his own, he used his dads. His motto was “As you go, preach.” Our behavior is a visual example to others.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wrote, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 

Outside and inside our homes is our mission field. Franklin said of his dad, “He is the same in the pulpit as he is at home.” Billy Graham was a man of heart integrity.

Strong’s says that the biblical Greek word mystery means truth revealed. God hid His plans from the rulers of this world. 1 Corinthians 2:8 says, “…had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Jesus’ disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables. Matthew 13:11 says, “…Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”

1 Peter 1:10 says that the prophets searched diligently. Verse 11 says, “Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” 

He revealed to them that it was to us not them. For example, Daniel 12:9 says, “…Go your way Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed tell the time of the end.” We live in His revealed truth.

Again we will use Paul as an example. He had a hard trial. He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh. The Lord did not answer that prayer. Instead He empowered Paul with these words. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…”

Paul got it. He wrote, “…Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” A humble heart is the inward acknowledgement of our dependence on the Lord.

Ephesians 3:16 Amplified says, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit (Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality).”

Ephesians 1:19-20 says that His mighty power in us is the resurrection power God used to raise Jesus from the dead. Hallelujah! 

Our hard trials are a present reminder of how dependent we are. No matter what we go through, our flesh suffers. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

Verses 17-18 says that our light afflictions are working for us, if we do not focus on what is temporary. Rather we are to focus on eternal things. Paul is an excellent example for us. He chose to rejoice in his sufferings.

His rejoicing was rooted in the truth of Christ’s suffering. As Christ suffered in His flesh, so we suffer in our physical bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:10 says, “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” How does that work? Depending on Him in every aspect of our lives.

There is only One we are to depend on. Let John 15:5 be emblazoned on our hearts. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Yet Paul boldly proclaimed, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

We often fall into the trap of self-dependence. It always ends in disaster. I started to memorize Colossians 1:24. Paul wrote, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you…” He wrote this to a church he did not start. He loved the folks there because of their faith, their love for others, their hope, and their fruit. 

He reminded them in verse 21 that they were once alienated and enemies in their minds. Yet Jesus gave His fleshly body as a sacrifice. He suffered in His flesh to bear the sins of the world. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…”