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Faith in the Working of God
Colossians 2: 12
To be saved from sin, one must be willing to put his or her faith in God's
redeeming love and power. We cannot save ourselves by any power of our own, nor
by the inventions of the minds of other men. Salvation is far too important of a
matter to be left up to the devices of human religious councils and conventions.
There have been various remedies for sin suggested by human beings. We love to
tinker with things to try and make them work better or run faster or expend less
energy. Or sometimes we invent rituals which actually increase our work, but
when we have accomplished the ritual, we can feel better about ourselves.
Men have long tinkered with God's remedy for sin. One group of false teachers of
the first century taught that circumcision was necessary to be justified
(Galatians 5:1-4). Another group seemed to say one could continue in sin "that
grace may abound." (Romans 6:1,2). Still another denied that Christ had "come in
the flesh" and died for our sins (1 John 4:3). In the centuries since, other
systems have been suggested by men. There is the penance system, the Calvinistic
system, the various cult systems and the reincarnation system. When these
systems are complied with, then you have people putting their faith in the
working of man, because these things are of man and not of God. Things such as
these are described in Scripture as "matters which have, to be sure, the
appearance of wisdom in self-made religion" but are only "the commandments and
teaching of men" and therefore are said to be "of no value" (Colossians
2:22,23).
Jesus once asked some of His opponents, "The baptism of John was from what
source, from heaven or from men?" (Matthew 21:25). You see, this is an important
question in religious matters,. Many seem to think today that such a question is
silly and it really does not matter. But it does matter. Jesus said so (Matthew
15:9) and so does the rest of the New Testament (i.e. Colossians 3:17; 1
Thessalonians 2:13; 2 John 9). So then, since John's baptism is gone we would
like to take Jesus' question and rephrase it according to our covenant which now
has been ratified by His blood: "The baptism in Jesus' name for the remission of
sins was from what source, from heaven or from men?" (Acts 2:38). If you find
yourself as uncomfortable answering this question as the opponents of Jesus were
in answering His, then maybe you, like they, need to take a closer look at your
belief system!
Now, let us consider the following text: "Having been buried with Him through
baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working
of God, who raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)
Having Been Buried With Him in Baptism
"Having been buried with Him in baptism..." (Colossians 2:12a). In the act of
baptism by faith, we are buried with Christ. The Bible does not say that baptism
is only a symbol of our burial and spiritual resurrection. It does not say that
a sinner is buried and raised with Christ by faith alone, saved, and then is
baptized to symbolize that spiritual burial. That doctrine, quite plainly, is
not from heaven but from men.
It is true that baptism is a symbol, but not of our own spiritual death, burial
and resurrection. Rather, baptism is a symbol, or likeness, of Christ's literal
death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5).
The reason that this is an important distinction is because some deny the
necessity of baptism by saying it is only a symbol that we have already
undergone a process by which we have already been saved. But it is not a symbol
of what we have done at all, but rather of what Christ has done for us. It is at
the precise moment that we are put under the water that by faith we are "buried
with Christ."
In Which You Were Also Raised Up With Him
"...in which you were also raised up with Him..." (Colossians 2:12b). Again, in
the act of baptism we are being raised up with Christ; we are not merely
symbolizing our being raised up with Him at an earlier time. No passage in the
New Testament says that baptism symbolizes this.
Later, Paul talks about the new life we are to live following our baptism. He
said, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." He adds, "Therefore,
consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." (Colossians 3:1,5).
The putting aside of the old life and the beginning of a new life is referred to
as "walking in newness of life" (Romans 6:4b).
Through Faith in the Working of God
"...through faith in the working of God..." (Colossians 2:12c). Another
objection to baptism being necessary is the idea that if one accepts that it is
necessary to be saved then he would be trusting in his or her own merit or work
or power. Since we must trust in God's power alone to be saved, then baptism
cannot be a requirement, because baptism is putting our faith in our own
efforts.
This passage clearly states otherwise; that in baptism we are placing our faith
not in ourselves but in "the working of God". In fact, this being the case, then
one who has not yet been baptized for the remission of sins has not yet put his
faith "in the working of God"! What's more is the fact that if I deny the
necessity of baptism then I am denying my need to put my faith "in the working
of God" . Again, the question: "Baptism for the remission of sins, is it from
heaven or from men?" Friends, it is from heaven!
One other point on this matter; if by chance someone goes through the motions of
baptism as he places his faith in himself or his own power, or in some church,
and is not putting his faith in God's working, then such activity is vain.
Certainly it is possible to do the right thing for the wrong motive. But if my
obedience is from the heart, then God will take away my sins; "But thanks be to
God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to
that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from
sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:17,18).
Who Raised Him From the Dead
"...who raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12d). God's power to raise up
is wonderfully evident at the resurrection of Christ from the grave. The grave
could not hold Him, for God's power is too strong. Likewise, sins cannot hold us
when we are raised up with Christ from baptism. They are left behind, their
chains broken. Whatever they have been, they are remembered no more. We who were
once "dead in (our) trespasses and sins" are "made alive together with Christ."
This is by grace through faith, according to God's mercy, and not as a result of
human works (Ephesians 2:1-10). But baptism for the remission of sins is not a
human work at all; rather, it is an act of "faith in the working of God."
By Jon W. Quinn
From Expository Files 4.9; September 1997
