'In Whom (
Christ Jesus)
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, (
His baptism)
wherein also ye are risen with Him (
His resurrection)
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;...'
(Col 2:11-13a)
Hello
@FreeInChrist,
Thank you for responding.
No ceremony: I believe it takes place the moment that faith enters in, through the hearing of the gospel message; and we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. At that moment we are sealed by God -The Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
We are identified with Christ in
His death,
His burial,
His quickening,
His resurrection. God now reckons us to be alive unto Him. We now walk in newness of life before the Father (Rom. 6:4). We have died, and our life is now hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
By the same reckoning of faith, we reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God (Rom. 6:11). We simply believe God and it is counted (i.e.,reckoned) unto us for righteousness (Rom. 4:5)
* It is indeed private, as you say, between ourselves and God.
Please forgive the disjointed manner in which I replied.
In Christ Jesus
Chris