Note 13 at Col. 2:13: The death spoken of here is spiritual death resulting from sin. Men without Christ may be physically alive yet they walk around in the state of spiritual death (see note 3 at Eph. 2:1, p. 1101). Scripture describes this condition as being alienated from the life of God, controlled by the old nature, having no hope, being by nature the children of wrath, controlled by the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1-6,12; 4:18; Gal. 5:19-21).

Being quickened or made alive with Christ reverses the effects of spiritual death. All that had once alienated us from God is gone and we are now seated with Christ Jesus in the very presence of God (Col. 3:1).

Note 14 at Col. 2:13: Notice that the wonderful benefits of our salvation which Paul is describing in these verses (vv. 11-13) all happened through Christ, and took place as Christ Jesus experienced them for us. His experience became our experience. The theological term for this is "the vicarious sufferings of Christ." The word "vicarious" means "endured or done by one person substituting for another" (New A.H. Dict.).

We don't personally overcome sin. Jesus has already overcome sin for us and we just let Him live through us (see note 14 at Gal. 2:20, p. 1063) and manifest that victory. Jesus has already conquered death and we have His resurrection power living in us (see note 16 at Eph. 1:19, p. 1100).

Note 15 at Col. 2:13: The "all" that Paul is making reference to not only includes all the sins in our past, but present and even future sins have already been forgiven those who are in Christ Jesus (see note 11 at Rom. 4:8, p. 762).