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It was with St. Paul a principle that the whole Christian life is a following of the blessed steps of one holy life, an imitation of Christ. We are in Him —

I.  CONCEIVED AND BORN (Galatians 4:19).

II.  CRUCIFIED (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:5).

III.  DEAD (Romans 6:3; Romans 7:4; cf. 1 Peter 4:1).

IV.  BURIED (Romans 6:4).

V.  RISEN (Romans 6:5; Colossians 3:1).

VI.  ASCENDED AND REIGNING (Ephesians 2:4-6).What is done or suffered by Him historically is done in us analogously and mystically now, and will be completed historically and actually hereafter. This is the underlying principle of the order of the Christian year.

(Bishop Alexander.)

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KJV: 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:

WEB: in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;