The New Life.
We notice here
I. The state of the natural man "dead in sins." The death which holds the cold, lifeless limbs of flesh, is not more true and not half so awful, as this death that darkens the conscience, and perverts the reason, and corrupts the heart, and wraps up all the soul in the deep lethargy of sin from the call of the Saviour's love.
II. The state of the spiritual man quickened together with Christ. Experience of the dead soul we all certainly have had; happy they who have experience of the living soul likewise. The ceaseless activity of bodily life, which makes it happiness to live, and pleasure to move, and which for one part or other of the frame finds ceaseless occupation, represents the motions of the Spirit, which now stir with an inward life the once slumbering soul. The soul has been called out of its grave; it has arisen from the dead, and now stands a living thing before God, all ear and eye and heart, all love, obedience, and attention.
III. Note the procuring means of change: "having forgiven us all trespasses." All things were easy to God but this one. Was it needed for the purposes of His will to create new worlds? He did but speak, and it was done; He commanded, and they stood fast. Was it needed to deliver a chosen people from the hands of earthly enemies? He did but blow with His wind, and through the deep sea, as along a conqueror's pathway, moved on in safety the armies of the Beloved. But to save souls and to remove out of the way those sins, which stood between us and Him, and yet to keep His truth and vindicate His justice to be just, and yet the Justifier of man needed a sacrifice great and wonderful even before God, the sacrifice of His own dear Son. The gift of the Holy Ghost could not be bestowed, till in the blood of the dying Son of God, and for the merits of His infinite propitiation, God had "forgiven us our trespasses."
E. Garbett, The Soul's Life,p. 98.
References: Colossians 2:14. J. Irons, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. vi., p. 353.Colossians 2:14; Colossians 2:15. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. x., p. 1 2 Chronicles 2:15. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. v., No. 273; Expositor,1st series, vol. x., p. 403.Colossians 2:16. Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxix., p. 133.Colossians 2:16; Colossians 2:17. J. Burton, Christian Life and Truth,p. 275.Colossians 2:19. Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxix., p. 297.