Colossians 2:13-14

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

-Colossians 2:13-14

To his readers, Paul reminds them of how God made them alive together with Jesus.  To be made alive means that they were previously dead, which is why Paul says, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh".  What's interesting is that what Paul says seems to mean that God making them alive with Christ is very much connected to forgiving all their trespasses.  Perhaps to be made alive with Christ means (or means in part) having your trespasses forgiven.  I guess this goes along with what Paul says in Ephesians 2:1 (NLT), "Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins".  Your deadness is because of or due to your sins.  Therefore, to be forgiven of those sins would make you alive, would it not?  Paul tells us more by explaining how this happened.  The forgiveness of trespasses happens "by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands".  This means that the deadness caused by sin is because of a legal debt.  As sinners, a payment is required because of our sin.  However, the debt is removed by the cross, "This he set aside, nailing it to the cross".  This is a great way to end this section that Paul is talking about.  We are to walk in him and not be taken captive by "philosophy and empty deceit".  These things are not of Christ, but Paul goes on to tell his readers about how they are very much connected to Christ.  We have been filled in him.  In him we were circumcised, being buried with him and being raised with him.  How did this all happen or start?  The forgiveness of all our trespasses by the cancellation of our sin debt, nailing it to the cross.