What does it mean to be "dead in your sins" and in the "uncircumcision of your flesh" in Colossians 2?
Paul writes that being dead in your sins describes our pre-salvation existence, and the uncircumcision of your flesh refers to pagan Gentiles. When Christ died, believers died; when He arose, they arose to newness of life. God made them alive together with Him and forgave every trespass—past, present, and future.
Les teaches from Colossians 2 that “being dead in your sins” is our pre-salvation existence, while “the uncircumcision of your flesh” has in view pagan Gentiles. The good news is that God has quickened believers together with Christ: when Christ died, we died; when He arose, we arose to newness of life. He has made us alive together with Him and forgiven every trespass—past, present, and future. Les emphasizes this forgiveness is now and forever, not partial, because Christ tasted death for every man. Such assurance rests on God’s Word, which cannot lie and calls us to faith.
What does it mean that we were made alive together with Christ?
This speaks of union with Christ: though we were dead in sins before salvation, when Christ died we died, and when He arose we arose to newness of life. United with Him, we receive life and complete forgiveness—every trespass past, present, and future already forgiven.
Who are the 'uncircumcision of your flesh' in Colossians 2?
The 'uncircumcision of your flesh' in Colossians 2 refers to pagan Gentiles. Paul writes it describes their pre-salvation existence as those dead in sins. It marks their condition apart from Christ before He made them alive together with Him, having forgiven their trespasses.