Colossians‬ ‭2:13

“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

Before we believed in Jesus, we were exactly like a dead person before God. Just as a dead person cannot hear, cannot see, and cannot respond, in the same way we could not hear God’s voice, we could not see His truth, and we could not respond to His calling. We lived our lives far away from God, so much so that we became alienated from Him. We led our lives according to our own understanding, our own plans, and our own desires, without realizing that God exists—that He is living, that He is watching us from His throne, that He hears every thought of our heart and mind, even though we never cared about Him.

He was calling us again and again, yet there was no response from us. And all this while, He was still ruling and sustaining His entire creation.

Even when we were aware that there is a God, we did not truly know anything about Him. We did not know who He is, how He works, or what He desires. We were so distant from God, our lives were so unclear, and God was never related to our daily lives.

This helps us understand what the Scripture means when it says, “And you, being dead.” but how did we become dead? Scripture gives us the answer by saying, “in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh.” Our sins set us apart from God. And when we are separated from the source of life, we begin to wither, and eventually we die. This is why the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin cuts us off from God’s presence (Isaiah 59:2), and apart from Him there is no life. Jesus said, “…He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). This is not a prideful statement, it is truth. Life cannot exist apart from its source and God is the source of everything we need to live.

That is why, in the beginning, the earth was described as “without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). But when God spoke and brought forth light, then came water, order, and life. Step by step, God began to form and perfect all kinds of living things, and finally He created us. Life flourished because God was present and active.

But when our father Adam fell into sin, sin separated us from God (Romans 5:12). And when we were separated from the source of life then death awakened—not only did our physical life become temporal, but we also lost eternal life. For Scripture declares, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Then Scripture says about “the uncircumcision of your flesh,” he is saying that we were not part of God’s covenant people. In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign that identified the children of Abraham as God’s people. It marked them as those who belonged to God through the covenant He made with Abraham (Genesis 17). Those who were uncircumcised were considered outside the covenant, strangers to the promises of God, and not counted among His people. This is why Scripture says:

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11–12).

Paul is explaining that before Christ, we were outside of God’s covenant that
we did not belong to God’s covenant people.

Yet now, God has made us alive together with Him. God made us alive through our LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus did not only pay for all our sins when He nailed them to the cross and buried them in His death, but we were also united with Him in His resurrection. When He rose from the dead, we rose with Him into new life. This is what Paul means when he speaks about the power of Christ’s resurrection. Death and sin no longer have power over us, because when Jesus rose again, He conquered them once and for all. As Scripture says,

“Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9).

And because we are in Him, death and sin no longer rule over us either.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you…” (Romans 6:14).

Jesus conquered sin and death for us, and He gives us victory through Himself.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

This victory is not only for eternal life in the future, but also for abundant life now. Jesus said,

“…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

That life is revealed as Christ produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23).

And this new life leads all the way into eternity. As it is written,

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

You are no longer who you used to be. You are no longer dead. When Jesus rose from the dead, He made you alive with Him. His resurrection became your resurrection. As it is written,

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

The life that conquered the grave now lives in you. Sin and death no longer define you, because Jesus Christ has given you new life. You now live, not by your old self, but by the power of His risen life.

Now, walk according to the newness of life Christ has given you, for He has forgiven all your trespasses. The iniquities that once separated you from Him have been completely forgiven. The cross stands as the evidence that nothing remains between you and God.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

What is so overwhelmingly good is that before you and I ever believe and receive Him, Jesus already chose the cross for us. He did not wait for us to become worthy. He forgave us by giving His life for us, and the scriptures tells us that this sacrifice was not a burden to Him, but a joy. Our redemption brought joy to His heart.

“…Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).

So do not let the words of Satan deceive you. Do not believe the lie that you are not loved, that you have no chance to come close to God, or that you can never be forgiven.

The cross is the proof that you are forgiven.

The cross is the proof that you are loved.

The cross is the proof that God desired reconciliation with you.

So do not hesitate to believe. Do not hesitate to receive Jesus. He is good. And in Him, you are complete.