Colossians 2:12

Colossians 2:12

Colossians 2:12 speaks of being “buried with him in baptism” and raised with Christ “through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Here baptism is depicted not merely as a rite but as participation in Christ’s death and resurrection. The imagery connects with Paul’s earlier emphasis on fullness in Christ; through faith in God’s mighty work—God who raised Jesus—believers are spiritually united with Christ in his death and resurrection. This ties personal salvation to the historical event of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The “operation of God” underscores that this transformation is God’s own act of grace, not human effort. In Colossae, readers faced pressures to pursue secret knowledge or legalistic observances; baptism here anchors the gospel in the core event of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

This verse highlights union with Christ as the means of spiritual life. Baptism becomes a public expression of an inner reality: death to the old self and new life in Christ. It affirms the objective acts of God in salvation—the decisive event of the gospel—rather than subjective feelings or religious performance. The phrase emphasizes faith as receptivity to God’s work rather than human merit. The resurrection motif assures believers of future resurrection and definitive victory over sin. Baptism, then, is both a symbol and a conduit of grace, knitting the believer into the corporate body of Christ and aligning them with Christ’s mission.

In daily life, baptism remains a powerful symbol of belonging to Jesus. If you haven’t publicly identified with Christ, consider baptism as a meaningful next step. For those who have, reflect on the ongoing reality of dying to self and living for Christ: what habits, attitudes, or affiliations must you let go of? When facing fear of death, aging, or failure, remember the resurrection power at work in you. Practically, you can invite God to renew faith in his “operation”—to trust more fully in his promises rather than in your own efforts. Let your daily routines—work, family, service—be expressions of living out the new life you received in Christ.

Cross-References: Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 8:11