“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses, 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. Having disarmed principalities and powers,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
(Colossians 2:13–15, NKJV)
We’re looking at the importance of the teaching about the
cross from the instructions given in the New Testament epistles. So let’s
examine this passage.
1.
We as gentiles (the uncircumcised) have been, as
Paul says in another place, “without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, NKJV). Paul tells us in
our passage that even though we were dead and outside the covenants and without
hope, God has made us alive with Christ. Christians have gone through the
resurrection with Christ (Eph 2:6). Great Easter news!
2.
God has forgiven all our trespasses! If you are a Christian, let your heart
rest in this truth.
3.
And finally, here is where the cross is
specifically referenced in this passage. “The handwriting of requirements that
was against us” has been taken out of the way. What is that handwriting? I
believe he is referring to the law which is constantly accusing us of our sin.
That handwriting has been wiped out and taken out of the way. It has been nailed to the cross. Crucified!
And in doing this, God has disarmed principalities and powers and made a
spectacle of them in triumph. You know the passage that says that we wrestle
against principalities and powers. These powers have been disarmed!
All of this through the death, burial and resurrection of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment