Colossians 2:11–12 - 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, 12 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.

Circumcision

Abraham - sign of God’s covenant with him and his descendants

Romans 4:11–12 - And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

body of the sins of the flesh (body of the flesh)

Romans 6:6 - knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Baptism

Colossians 2:12 - 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.

Romans 6:3 - Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Working

ἐνέργεια (energia) - active power, energy.

Colossians 2:13 - And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him,

Dead in trespasses

Ephesians 2:1–3 - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Paul’s summary and application of these two points in Romans 6

Romans 6:3–11 - Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 2:13c - having forgiven you all trespasses

Psalm 32:1 - Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Acts 10:43 - To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Ephesians 1:7 - In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

John MacArthur lists 6 characteristics of God’s forgiveness:

1. God’s forgiveness is gracious, or unearned

Titus 3:4–7 - But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2. God’s forgiveness is complete

1 John 2:12 - I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

3. God’s forgiveness is eager

Psalm 86:5 - For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

4. God’s forgiveness is certain

Acts 26:17–18 - I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

5. God’s forgiveness is unequalled

Micah 7:18 - Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

6. God’s forgiveness is motivating

Ephesians 4:32 - And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 2:14 - 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.

Handwriting

χειρόγραφον (cheirographon) - literally means “something written by the hand” and referred to a certificate of indebtedness that someone would write when they took out a debt.

Requirements

δόγμα (dogma) - formal statement of rules and regulations that had to be observed.

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

Romans 8:37–39 - Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.