Colossians 2:13–15 ¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

“When you were dead.” God did not tell you that you had to first make yourself alive, then He would accept you. God did not tell you to try harder and be better and then He would consider claiming you as His own. God did not say you had to earn your forgiveness.

“When you were dead in your sins.” Those without faith are physically alive but spiritually dead. Standing before God without faith in Jesus, you will fall short. You will be destined for hell, eternal separation for God.

“The uncircumcision of your sinful nature.”  Those who were not circumcised were not part of God’s chosen people, not heirs of the promise.

“God made you alive with Christ.”  It was something Jesus did for you. The one who lived without sin, offered Himself as the sacrifice on the cross, was crucified, dead and buried is the same one who was raised back to life on the third day. God gives you that same new life because you trust in Him.

“Having canceled the written code.”  This was a reference to a document that someone signed when they borrowed money. Paul compares our sins against God’s Laws to a “debt” we owe Him, and it is one we cannot repay. The cancellation of this debt is a huge thing for us.

“He took it away, nailing it to the cross.”  The debt was paid, but not by us. Jesus did it on the cross.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  Is certainly a reference to spiritual forces, but can also remind us that worldly powers and authorities are often opposed to Christ and His church. These have been conquered by Jesus, but they still attempt to pull us away from our Savior.

“He forgave us all our sins.”  Jesus did it all. Jesus paid it all. We need to remember this Good News every day.