What was nailed to the cross in Col 2:14? I've often heard it taught, including this morning in SS, that it was the ordinances and statutes that Moses wrote. I don't agree.


Since these were also given by God (though written by Moses) and they contain the same principles as the 10 Commandments, I do not see why they would be abrogated by Christ's death. WDYT?

Asygo you are likely correct in your disagreement. The PP quotation concurs with Scripture. But you've not stated your understanding, only your disagreement.

How did you respond in the Sabbath School - what is your understanding?

Here's Col. 2:14



A correct understanding of this text would have to take into account the phrase "that was against us, which was contrary to us".

I didn't say anything. I came in just a few minutes before the end of class. Plus, it looked like they had gotten there because of questions posed during class, so I did not want to derail the whole thing. And something like this might be best handled in a more controlled environment.


I have to preface this by saying that I have not studied this in great depth. I'm hoping people will give me something to consider.

I don't see the statutes and ordinances themselves as being abrogated, since they are descriptions of God's character. Rather, it looks more to me like the condemnation brought by transgression of those ordinances is what was nailed. That was the handwriting that was against us. The law itself is not against us.

I think that's what Paul had in mind as well, and for the same reason. One thing to mention is that the transgression could come as the result of trying to keep the law in order to gain God's favor. I think Paul was addressing this as well.

I agree. That is transgression - pride of life, in particular - and condemns us.

Asygo, you've raised (at least) two important items for consideration.

1. The many and diverse 'statutes, commandments, judgments & laws' which God purposed as further and practical illustration of the Decalogue, therefore not passing away.

2. Certain ordinances which were against God's people and were meant to be removed at the/by the cross.

As a fresh student of the Bible some years back, many of the statutes and judgments made sense. They appeared to be for the benefit of God's children, not against them. (Though few seemed aware they existed).

Like the Ten, one would only truly follow these by faith. They are not salvation but a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. While I observe that many 'keep' the letter of the Ten, in spirit many of us are in rebellion. Perhaps for this reason the true import of the statutes & judgments are yet to be revealed.

In my present thinking, as before, these statutes are to protect us, and are not removed at the cross. Ceremonial laws such as animal sacrifices have fulfilled their purpose in pointing the Circumcised (ancient Israel) to the Seed (Christ) in their loins. The rituals could not keep them from sin and the honest (then & now) admit this. Faith is the key and Christ came to establish this faith in the hearts of contrite followers.

Of course those who follow Him by faith will be scorned and ridiculed, but God is seeking such "repairers of the breach" at this critical juncture in history. Soon Christ will come and the scorners will be toast notwithstanding their church office, etc.

I came across a small booklet by Ken LeBrun "The Elijah People and the Lost Law" which seemed to echo my (our) understanding that the statutes & judgments endure. It's a Bible/SOP compilation from Teach Services.

Your question is important esp. if we believe that time is almost up. But many today preach peace & safety when the world is about to be (further and finally) ripped apart by the winds of strife. Good topic. It deserves attention.

Hi asygo,

As I understand it Paul's use of the word "law" is talking about the Old Covenant God entered with Israel. Because Israel, for centuries, broke the terms of the covenant it stood as a witness against them, revealing their sin and rebellion. The OC was an agreement between themselves and God that they were willing to become a special people for the purpose of working with God to bring salvation, the gospel, to the world.

If you read Exodus 19-24 very carefully you will see that God saved Israel from Pharaoh and his army, from Egypt, through the red sea, from starvation with the manna, from thirst through the rock, from the snakes through trust in a symbol of Christ on the cross. God saved Israel because of His goodness, in keeping His promise to Abraham, and then entered covenant with them. Salvation was first and then the covenant. Israel mistook God's offer, to make them a special treasure, as a system of works in order to obtain salvation. They really believed that they earned God grace by keeping the terms of the covenant.

All of the Old Covenant was nailed to the cross including the 10 commandments and the ceremonies, not because there was a problem with the law, but because there was a problem with the hearts of the people. Now God has used Israel's blessed Messiah, whom they rejected and killed, to offer a NC to the whole world based on the fact that all of the principles embracing Israel's covenant will be written on the heart. Love will become the motive for obedience because the love of God has been made manifest in Jesus and now we can know Him and trust Him. What the law could not accomplish Jesus dying accomplished for all who will believe.

scott

>>All of the Old Covenant was nailed to the cross including the 10 commandments and the ceremonies, >>

I would like to know where you learned that. If the commandments were nailed to the cross, why does Jesus say that if you love Him, you will keep His Commandments? Why is that repeated many times in the NT as a means of salvation? Rev.12:17, Rev. 14:12, Rev.22:14 to name a few.

Harold.

He's not saying the commandments were nailed to the cross, but the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was the attempt of the people to make themselves righteous by means of obeying the law. The law was fine, but not the covenant. To replace the OC, God established the New:



In the New Covenant, rather than seeking to establish our own righteousness, we accept the righteousness of Christ. Instead of being written on tables of stone, it is written in the heart.

Btw, this isn't my interpretation, but I thought I understood Scott's idea well enough to comment.