Colossians 2:14,15
by Dr. Grant C. Richison
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Colossians 2:14
"having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against
us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having
nailed it to the cross."
The seventh result of the work of Christ on the cross: "having wiped
out the handwriting of requirements that was against us." Jesus destroyed
the demands of the law against us.
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"having wiped out the handwriting of requirements"
When God forgave us (v.13) he canceled the judgment in God's written law
against us (Rom. 3:19).
"Wiped out" means to erase, obliterate. This is an intense word
in the original because it is a compound word. God wipes out a number of
things in the New Testament: Acts 3:19 [sins]; Rev. 3:5 [name in a book];
7:17 [tears]. Here God wipes out the list of charges against us. God
not only forgives our sin but he blots out the record of it. Not only is
the handwriting erased but the document itself is removed.
The word "handwriting" was used in writing outside the New Testament
for the posting of a public debt. It was especially used of a record of
financial accounts. Special emphasis was given to the handwritten nature
of the document. This is a note hand signed by a debtor acknowledging his
indebtedness. It is what we call an IOU. It was a record of debts we signed
with our own handwriting. Jesus canceled the record of these debts to God.
"Handwriting" is used almost exclusively for the autograph on
a promissory note. This word occurs frequently in Roman law. It is a signed
admission of liability. Our sins pile up as a vast list of debts to God
making it abundantly clear that we are liable before God.
"Requirements:" decree, ordinance, decision, command, a formalized
rule (or set of rules) prescribing what people must do. The law as a certificate
of requirements that puts us in debt to God. This is God's public opinion
against us; it is his list of charges against our sin. This is the Mosaic
law. God must stand resolved against us because he cannot contradict his
own essence and standards. Therefore, the law demands perfection.
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"that was against us"
"Against us:" opposite to, is used of that which is contrary to
persons. The commandments of the Old Testament and our moral nature testify
against us. Because God is perfect, every standard he holds is a testimony
against us.
We face the totally hopeless IOU of God's righteousness. We owe God sinlessness.
We could not possibly pay this debt. We do not have the personal resources.
We are up to our hocks in debt. We must welsh on the debt because we cannot
pay. Because of this, there was an IOU out against us. The beauty of Christianity
is Jesus canceled our debt for us. Jesus personally paid off our debts.
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"which was contrary to us"
"Contrary to:" set over against, meeting, set against, opposite,
of enemies in battle, opposed, opposite. Because we cannot live up to the
standard of the law it works against us and opposes us (Rom. 4:15; 5:20;
I Cor. 15:56; Gal 3:23). God always defines righteousness in terms of his
own perfection.
The law is like a taskmaster. It puts us in bondage but it does not give
us the power to live up to the standards of the law. The law threatens
us with penalty and pain.
PRINCIPLE: God canceled our IOU (the law) against us by the cross.
APPLICATION: The law demands perfection but we cannot live up to it. God
demands absolute righteousness because he is absolute righteousness. None
of us can pay that price. We cannot produce God's righteousness in our
lives (Rom. 3:10f).
The law proves we are sinful. Therefore, the law drives us to Christ as
our only hope (Gal. 3:13). The law says "You shall not." Something
says within us "I shall." The assertion that that I cannot makes
me want to do it. There is an inveterate rebellion in all our hearts.
If we see a sign that says "Do not spit on the sidewalk," immediately
our salivary glands begin to work. If the sign says "Do not touch
the wet paint," we want to touch the paint to see if it is truly wet.
The law provokes the very thing it forbids (Rom 8:3).
Jesus came to take away the charge of the law against us. He not only took
away the charge but he put a new heart within us. Grace is effective where
the law fails. Jesus completely, eternally and adequately settled the issue
of the law by the cross.
There is a self-confessed indictment against us which we sign in agreement.
We stand bankrupt before the law. God wiped out that list of charges against
us. Jesus met the perfect demands of God's holiness. God has banished
the record of our sins. This is positional, judicial, forensic vindication
before God. Have you personally accepted Christ work on the cross to give
you perfect forgiveness before God forever?
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"And He has taken it out of the way"
Jesus fulfilled the law (Rom. 8:2). He took away its debt. Jesus discharged
us from the debt of the law (Gal. 3:13). He disannulled the obligation
of the law.
"Has taken" in the Greek tense indicates that God takes away the
indictment permanently. God will never judge us again. Jesus personally
carried the judgment by the law against us. Since Jesus permanently took
away our sins God will never judge us for our sin again. God will never
make an issue of our sins again. Instead, he only makes an issue out of
the Jesus' work upon the cross. Jesus lifted up our sin and carried it
away.
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"having nailed it to the cross"
God does way with the judgment of the law by the cross (Ga. 3:25; Heb. 7:12).
Legalism is, therefore, contrary to the Christian life because the believer
stands dead to the law in Christ. Jesus was publicly nailed to the cross
as a debt was nailed in a public place as a notice of liability.
God not only cancels the ordinances of the law but he also removes the
ordinance itself from leveling any further charges against us. The nailing
up of the removed thing was prior to the taking out of the way. The nailing
of the removed thing was the triumph to the cross. The death of Christ
on the cross not only rendered the law ineffective but it gave public demonstration
that the victory was complete. As the law hangs fast to the cross, it is
publicly apparent to all that the law has no more demands upon us. God
fixed the law to the cross with nails.
God wipes out the indictment against us on the cross. The indictment itself
was crucified. This is unadulterated grace. The list of charges against
us was based on the law. This list was wiped out by the law.
The very indictment against us was crucified. God wipes it out as if it
never existed. He executed it on the cross. When Christ was nailed to
the cross the law was nailed there as well.
PRINCIPLE: The cross is of the infinite value to the person who takes advantage
of its work.
APPLICATION: God will never judge our sin again. Jesus lifted up our sin
and carried it away. Sin was permanently and personally judged on the
cross by Jesus' death for our sin. We will never face our sin again under
the law of double jeopardy. The law of double jeopardy means that it is
wrong to pay for a crime twice. If Jesus paid for or sins it is wrong
that we would have to pay for them as well. God removes sin permanently.
The only issue left is what will we do with the work of Christ on the
cross. Have you received the work of Christ on the cross as sufficient
suffering for your sin?
Colossians 2:15
"Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them in it."
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"Having disarmed principalities and powers"
"Disarmed" = to strip off oneself, to put off. Metaphorically
it may refer to the stripping away of weapons and hence the removal of authority
and power. Jesus discarded demonic powers. He stripped them of their
power. He once and for all broke their power. Paul uses this same verb
in 2:11 where he challenges us to put off the body of flesh. Paul closely
connects "discarding the principalities" and "putting off
the flesh."
The New Testament uses "principalities" of supra-mundane beings
who exercise rule: angels (Eph. 3:10); evil angels (Rom. 8:38; here).
Jude 6 refers to the authoritative power of fallen angels. "Principalities"
is a term of dignity (dignitaries) whereas "powers" is a term
of executive authority.
"Powers" is authority to do anything. This word combines the
two ideas of right and might. The words "principalities and powers"
therefore refer to demons operating under Satan, fallen angels.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus stripped demons of their power by the cross; God expects
us to deal with Satanic attack by the cross.
APPLICATION: Jesus divested himself of evil powers at the cross. God expects
us to use spiritual weapons to defeat "principalities and powers"
in our lives (Eph. 6:12f).
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"He made a public spectacle of them"
Jesus exposed the principalities and powers in a way a victor displays his
captives or trophies in a triumphal procession. "Made a public spectacle
of" means to cause someone to suffer public disgrace or shame -- "to
disgrace in public, to put to shame." The book of Hebrews uses this
word of putting Jesus to public shame (6:6). We disgrace Jesus in public
when we do an end run around the cross.
Matthew 1:19 uses this word of Joseph's unwillingness to put Mary on public
display because she was pregnant before marriage. Cyprian law used this
word for an adulteress who had to cut her hair and subjected to contempt
by the community. It connotes the idea of mock, expose.
"Spectacle" is an idiom = literally "in boldness;" in
an evident or publicly known manner -- "publicly, in an evident manner,
well known." Jesus publicly disgraced evil powers by bearing away
sin. Sin was their claim on man.
Jesus openly branded them as his victims and spoil. He displayed the losers
for what they were -- failures in the economy of God.
PRINCIPLE: Our Lord personally defeated demons publicly on the cross.
APPLICATION: Many Christians worry unnecessarily about demons. They believe
that demons have some mysterious power that they can use to shipwreck the
Christian life. They think that they are at the mercy and whim of demonic
powers. This passage says that Jesus openly branded demons as victims of
the cross. In principle, the cross has already defeated them, "For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works
of the devil" (I John 3:8).
Jesus not only defeated the demonic world in principle but he also gave
us the wherewithal to fight against them. We have spiritual armor (Eph.
6:12f).
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"triumphing over them in it."
The words "triumphing over" mean to lead prisoners of war in
a victory procession. The picture is of a military procession leading captives
of war. It means to demonstrate one's successful conquest of the opposition.
A general could lead his captives through the streets of Rome. Behind him
the wretched kings, princes and people of the defeated nation would follow.
They were openly branded as his victims and spoil. This one of the highest
honors a Roman general could achieve. This was a common cultural phenomenon
in the Roman period of history. Certain prerequisites were required for
this honor.
o This general must have been the chief general in the field
of battle.
o The campaign must have been completely successful.
o A large number of enemy soldiers must have fallen in battle.
o He must gain an expansion of territory for the Roman Empire.
Jesus met all these conditions:
o He was the commander-in-chief in the field of battle -- the
cross.
o Jesus completely paid for our sins on the cross.
o Satan and his emissaries fell in defeat.
o He secured salvation and eternal future for those who believe on him.
Jesus led the fallen angels in his victory procession. He leads the way
with his victorious cross, "but thanks be to God who always causes
us to triumph in union with Christ," 2 Cor 2.14. Jesus vanquished
fallen angels and lead them in triumph in Colossians 2:15 (display of the
defeated); in II Cor. 2:14 those led are not captives exposed to humiliation
but displayed as the glory of Him who leads. On occasion the general's
sons, with various officers, rode behind his chariot. In this case the
main thought would be display.
Jesus disarmed the demonic principalities and powers by fulfilling the demands
of the law. He delivered the believer from the powers that drive legalism.
Colossians Gnostics believed in cosmic powers with its classes and grades
of angels and demons. Matter was an evil kingdom. Paul argues that the
cosmic Christ has defeated the enemy. Jesus stripped them of their weapons
and made a display of his defeated enemy. Jesus made it evident to the
angelic forces that he thwarted the spiritual forces against him.
Jesus gained an immortal victory through his death. The last word "it"
refers to the cross. The fight was fierce; the combatant died; but in dying
he triumphed (I Cor. 15:57). His enemy did not count on his resurrection.
Jesus routed the enemy by the resurrection (Rom. 8:37; Heb. 2:14,15; I
Jn. 3:8). The Devil overshot his mark again. The fallen angels thought
for sure that Jesus was dead and gone.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus won for us an inestimable and final spiritual victory on
the cross over Satan's forces.
APPLICATION: As the curse of the law was against us, so the power the devil
is against us. Jesus disarmed the devil and all his powers by the cross.
This was the first gospel preached in the Bible, Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity
Between you [Satan] and the woman [Eve],
And between your [Satan] seed and her [Eve] Seed;
He [Jesus] shall bruise your [Satan] head,
And you [Satan] shall bruise His [Jesus] heel."
Jesus dealt the devil a mortal blow whereas Satan only dealt Jesus a non-mortal
blow ("heel"). We do not have to defeat an already defeated enemy.
Copyright © 1995, Dr. Grant Richison. All rights reserved.
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