This is the Gospel | Claire Van Der Walt

This powerful exploration of Colossians 2:11-15 takes us deep into the heart of the gospel, revealing truths that combat the lies we so easily believe. We discover that Paul was writing to a church struggling with false teachings—some wanting to add requirements like circumcision to salvation, others wanting to reduce Jesus to just another idol among many. Sound familiar? We face similar pressures today, either adding our own works to what Christ has done or diminishing His unique sovereignty. The passage beautifully unpacks how Jesus accomplished a spiritual circumcision for us—cutting away not physical flesh, but our sinful nature that was deeply rooted and attached to our hearts from birth. Through baptism imagery, we see both deaths and resurrections: our old self buried with Christ and raised to new life now, and our future resurrection to eternal life with God. Most striking is the picture of our record of debt—every sin, every failure, every moment of shame—being nailed to the cross not as a separate document, but through Jesus Himself being nailed there. He didn't just pay our debt; He became our debt. He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities by removing death's sting, transforming what looked like defeat into ultimate triumph. The challenge for us is simple yet profound: before rushing to figure out what we should do, we need to pause and remember what Christ has already done. He's always ahead of us, already moving in every situation we'll face.