Moving through the New Testament passages on baptism, we next come to Colossians 2. Paul connects baptism with the concept of circumcision, when he says

“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:11–15)

It’s been suggested that Paul here opens the door to infant baptism, given that circumcision was done eight days after birth. That’s taking Paul’s words a little too literally. But if you’re going to use this passage for infant baptism, you’re going to need to make that infant immersion (which some groups practice); there’s no getting around the imagery of burial in this text.

The passage also emphasizes the need for faith in God’s power. Any view of baptism that places importance on the one doing the baptizing or puts some sort of trust in the power of the water misses the mark on this one. Baptism is about God at work. Not man at work. Not water at work. God’s power.

It’s God who takes a dead person and makes them alive. It’s God who takes an unacceptable person and makes them clean. It’s God who takes a sinner and declares him just, canceling the debt of sin by sending Jesus to die on a cross.

Baptism has power because God has power. Our faith in that power makes baptism more than a symbol.