Query.

By:
IOTA. — WHAT IS THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST? AND WHAT CONNECTION HAS IT, IF ANY, WITH BAPTISM? (Col. 2:1111In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11)). It is shown in this connection how all that Old Testament rites signified and foreshadowed are secured to the believer in Christ. Hence possessing the substance in Him, we may well forego the shadows (Col. 2:1717Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:17)). Circumcision was the distinguishing mark of God’s ancient people, so much so that they are referred to as the circumcision, and the Gentiles as the uncircumcision (Gal. 2:7-127But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. (Galatians 2:7‑12)). The typical significance of the rite was the putting off of the body of the flesh; and this is true of the believer not by the performance of the carnal act, but because of his connection with Christ. The circumcision of Christ referred to here is His death, when He closed His connection with the flesh, in virtue of which we do also (2 Cor. 5:1616Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (2 Corinthians 5:16)). “In whom [Christ] also ye were,” says the apostle, “circumcised with circumcision not done by hand [in contrast with the fleshly rite], in the putting off of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ.” Hence, “we are the circumcision” (Phil. 3:33For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)) now, that being accomplished in us spiritually of which the carnal observance was but a type.
Baptism is, as it were, a step further than circumcision, being emblematical of burial with Christ, as the latter is of death with Him. But as we get the former in Him, so we do the latter. We are “buried together with him in baptism,” for we are linked with Christ in His death, burial and quickening, as the verses go on to show. And this is so in order that we, as believers in Christ, may occupy an entirely new place here on earth — a position wherein the life of Christ may display itself in us, rising above all that is fleshly and natural.