I have a question about Colossians 2:11. When Paul speaks about the body of sins of the flesh, does he speak about the same thing as the body of sin in Rom 6:6? Which is indwelling sin?

Mathieu

Good precise questions. Let’s consider each verse and draw some conclusions. 

Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Colossians 2:11 says, “In whom 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.”

In addressing justification, Romans 1-5 speaks largely of “sins” in the plural. But in addressing sanctification, Romans 6-8 speaks predominantly of “sin” in the singular. Paul describes sin when he said “sin that dwelleth in me” (Rom. 7:17, 20). We could shorten this expression to indwelling sin. Indwelling sin is not sins but that “something” in us that urges us to commit sins. We feel the pull. But indwelling sin cannot carry out sins without a body—eyes, ears, a tongue, hands, and feet. This is sometimes spoken of as the flesh. So the body is the turf for the activity of indwelling sin. Just as a football field is the turf for the activity of football, so the body is the turf or field where indwelling sin seeks to play out sins. 

The body and indwelling sin are not equivalent. One works in and through the other. Thus, Jesus “condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). Jesus condemned sin (that’s who) in the flesh (that’s where). 

The phrase in Colossians 2:11, “the body of the sins of the flesh” is more detailed than “the body of sin” in Romans 6:6, but they both address the same thing. Indwelling sin seeks to influence us to commit sins, and this takes place in the flesh/body part of our being. 

Thankfully we were crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:6) through faith in Jesus. At salvation our spirits were severed from indwelling sin as a controlling master, raised with Christ a new man, and joined to the indwelling Spirit as our new leader. Now when indwelling sin urges us to commits sins, we can say, “You’re not my master. I choose Jesus!” When you thus respond in faith, the Spirit imparts to you the indwelling life of Christ!

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