In Colossians 2:12, what is meant by unification with Christ?
Let’s read Colossians 2:9-13, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In 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: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”
What an incredible unity we have with our Savior. In Him (Christ) all the fulness of the Godhead dwells. This means that in Christ the Father and the Holy Spirit lives. AND, in Him, we are made full. Indeed, a complete Christ makes His people complete! Because we are in Him, we do not need to look elsewhere to supply our spiritual needs. Christ in all believers and all believers in Christ. Blessed unity with the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Let’s look particularly at Colossians 2:12, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” It is profitable to compare this verse with Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” The Apostle Paul hows us how complete and perfect the saints are in Christ. Not only are we circumcised in him in a spiritual sense (verse 11), the body of the sins of our flesh is put off and removed from us. Plus, all our sins were buried with Christ, of which baptism in water is a representation…Christ having died for our sins, was laid in the grave where he continued for three days, and then rose again; and as we were crucified with him, we were also buried with him.
We are raised from the grave as Christ was raised from the grave. Indeed, we are “risen with Him.” We are told in Romans 6:11, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be DEAD indeed unto sin, but ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
To carry this unity with Christ even further, let’s read Ephesians 2:4-7, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath QUICKENED US TOGETHER with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and MADE US SIT TOGETHER in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” When Christ was quickened, we were quickened with Him. When Christ was raised from the dead, we were raised with Him. When Christ was seated in the heavenlies, we were seated with Him. All these events are in the past and all are true of every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ. We are ONE with our savior. Blessed and precious truth! (354.4)