Addressing Col.2:14 used by Evangelicals to teach the law; more so the Sabbath, is abolished and nailed to the cross.

Addressing Col.2:14 used by Evangelicals to teach the law; more so the Sabbath, is abolished and nailed to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

I shall explain that when converted by the circumcision of the heart by Christ, the old carnal way of thinking of the Jews is crucified to the cross, their old carnal way of thinking of the Ceremonies and symbols within the handwriting of ordinances themselves as being salvivic and to be still in effect (The truth is the symbols, ceremonies and the feast days were replaced by the incarnation, and the doing and dying of Christ, so to hold these to be still in effect is wrong), their old carnal way of thinking of adding traditions and commandments of men to the ordinances. It was the wrong view of the hand writting of ordinances in their mind that would be put away and nailed to the cross, and this being so when they accept the truth and receive conversion.

Col 2:14 has been used by evangelicals to teach the moral law (10 commandments) has been abolished. The claim is made that within the handwriting of ordinances there were moral laws (and that part is true) and that those moral laws were “against us“ and because they were "against" us when Christ came and died it was took out of the way and nailed to the cross.

It is foolish in the first place to interpret the verse to mean God give a law to the people that was not to their benefit or was for their detriment.

Peter said concerning Paul’s writings in 2 Peter 3:16, and I quote:

2Peter 3:16

"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

To further prove the moral law was against us and as such was nailed to the cross one detractor even connected Deut 31:26 to claim the moral law is aagainst us, I quote:

Deuteronomy 31:26

"Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee."

The phrase "a witness against thee" in the verse falsely is used to mean the law was against us.

Of course all this is a lot of foolish unstable reasoning. When one reads the context of Deut 31:26, it is seen that the law was a witness against them to point out any apostacy from the truth and to remind them of the retribution they would face if they apostacized. Thus when trouble befell them, they would remember God had said retribution would fall on them for their evil and truly consider the cause of the retribution and repent. Thus the law of ordinances placed in the side of the ark was to their benefit, so Deut 31:26 has no context of the law being against them, but was a benefit to them.

Let us now consider Colossians 2:11-13 for the context of verse 14

Col.2:11-14

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:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

We see here that whenever the person spoken of is converted or is circumcised in the heart, or quickened or made alive from being dead in sins, is the time when the handwriting of ordinances is blotted out, taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. We are not being told that it (the nailing of handwriting of ordinances to the cross etc.) took place at the point in the time when Christ physically died. Reference in to the cross in verse 14 is speaking of the truths of the cross which is the gospel that causes a person to be converted or quickened, or made alive or circumcized in the heart.

We must bare in mind how the bible expresses the use of the cross; that it is expressed as the means by which the sinner is transformed.

Consider the knowledge that is put to us in the use of the imagery of the cross in Gal.2:20 and in Rom.6:6-7. Paul said in Gal 2:20 we are crucified with Christ. The picture image figuratively is that of the old man or the old way of thinking being crucified with the truths of Christ or of it (The old man) being destroyed by the truths of Christ from the cross. And in Rom 6:6,7 [ Rom.6:6-7 - "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. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.] when Paul says our old man is crucified with him, there is also the knowledge of the old man or the old way of thinking being crucified and nailed to the cross by the truths of Christ given from the cross. The physical death of Christ of itself does not crucify the old man, but the truths of the Divine Nature issuing from the death of Christ does- the truths of the cross does the crucifying of the old man or the old way of thinking.

Bare in mind the old man refers to the old way of thinking as Proverbs 23:7 tells us, as a man thinking in his heart so is he. Also bare in mind that the old way of thinking is not crucified by the death of Christ on the cross of itself, for we are told in Eph.6:10-17 & Cor.10:4-5 that it is the gospel that cast down old ways of thinking and brings into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

For further reference on the knowledge from the cross being God's means by which He causes the putting away of the old man or the old way of thinking, read Isaiah 52:13-15 and 54:1-14 which ends by saying "by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify (make righteous) many."

Note the similarity of the thought in Rom 8:7, he that is dead (crucified) is justified- ( gk-diakoo) from sin.

The old carnal way of thinking of the Jews was crucified by the cross. Their old carnal way of thinking of the Ceremonies and symbols within the handwriting of ordinances themselves as being salvivic. Their old carnal way of thinking of adding traditions and commandments of men to the ordinances.

This is what Paul meant when he speaks of the hand writting of ordinances being put out of the way, blotted out and nailed to the cross.

This is why Paul addresses those aspect of the ordinances that was nailed to the cross in the verses after verse 14. I quote:

Colossians 2:16-23 

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [Note: the ten commandments is not a shadow (symbolic) of things to come which body (or centre of emphasis that is actual) is of the truths of Christ, however the seven feasts of Israel were shadows (symbolic) of things to come, for example the Passover (done annually on the 14th of Nisan) which was fulfiiled by the death of Christ (on the 14th of Nisan 31ACB) or the feast of wave offering (done anually on the 16th of Nisan) which was fulfilled in time by His resurrection (on the 16th of Nisan 31ACB) or the holy day of pentecost (done anually 50 days after the wave offering) which was fulfilled by the grand harvest of souls on the day of Pentecost 50 days after Christ's resurrection.]

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

So the issue of the ordinances being nailed to the cross is figurative of the certain aspects of the law being nailed to the cross when the old wrong way of thinking is destroyed by the truths of the gospel coming from Christ's death on the cross. The wrong view of the handwriting of ordinances is blotted out with the truths of Christ from the cross (in that way nailed to the cross).

The issue of the handwriting of ordinances being against us deals with the handwriting of ordinances being viewed in the wrong way by the carnal Jewish mind bringing damnation to themselves. The problem that was against their salvation, never was the ordinances of themselves, but the way the unconverted Jewish mind viewed them. That false view of the unconverted Jewish mind is done away with through the knowledge of the cross. 

Proof that it is the unconverted view of the ordinances that was against us is seen the verses after Colossians 2:14. I quote:

Colossians 2:18

“ Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind".

The unconverted Jews had added to the ordinances as Jesus said, they taught for doctrines the commandments of men - Matt.15:9. Col.2:20-23 shows forth the view of the Jews to the ordinances, even more. I quote:

Col.2:20-23

"20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

The unconverted Jewish mind had not only added tradition to the ordinances, but had used doing of the laws within the ordinances to bring salvation to themselves, hence Paul said in Rom.3:20 "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight". This addressed the carnal Jewish mindset towards the handwriting of ordinances. God desired that they sought righteousness the only true way, which is by the faith of God through Jesus Christ to change their hearts in holiness and love . Hence Jesus told them in Matthew 23:25-26, and I quote: "25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."

And in Rom 9:30-32; and Rom 10:1-3 the carnal Jewish mind is also addressed, I quote:

Rom.9:30-32

"30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;"

Rom.10:1-3

"1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

The inside of their cup or their heart was not filled with the righteousness of God (God himself- the Divine Nature – Love) through the faith of Christ (the revealed truths of Christ) that reveal the righteousness of God as it is written in Rom 1:16-17 and I quote: “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God is revealed out faith into faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

Thus we see the statement of Colossians 2:14 as to the handwriting of ordinances being against us and being put away and blotted out and nailed to the cross is addressing a common problem of the Jews in Paul's time and was not to direct man to give up the moral law (especially the Sabbath) because it is against us. After all Christ did say the "The Sabbath was made for man" so it definitely can not be against us.

May God richly bless and keep you all in sincerity and truth by the revelation given by the Holy Spirit on your mind.