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‘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. ‘
Colossians 2:13-14
In Colossians 2:13-14, Paul reminds the Gentile believers that they were once dead in their sins and uncircumcision of the flesh, but have now been made alive through Christ Jesus. This is the concept of identification that is woven throughout Scripture. As Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, believers have died to their old selves (our Adamic nature), been buried with Christ, and are now raised to new life through faith in Him (Read Romans 6:1-10, for a clear explanation of our identification with Christ).
In verse 13, Paul also reminds us that all of our sins have been forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross. He paid the debt for every sin, no matter how great or small, committed by every person who has ever lived. However, many fail to appropriate this forgiveness by faith. Even the most notorious sinners in history could have been forgiven, but they never believed it.
Verse 14 goes on to describe the Law as “the handwriting of ordinances” that was against us and contrary to us. The Law had no power to save keep it, and could only point the finger of condemnation. But through His work on the cross, Jesus did away with the Law by nailing it to the cross. The Law was perfect and the very mind of God, but it was not a means of salvation or sanctification.
As believers, we are now under grace, not the Law. This can be a difficult concept for some to grasp, as many believe that keeping the Commandments or doing their best is enough to earn God’s acceptance. But the truth is that salvation and eternal life are obtained only through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection (the gospel).
Remember, as Paul says in Colossians 2:13, we have been made alive and brought out of our spiritual deadness through Christ (the death, burial, and resurrection). So let us rest in the amazing grace of God and live in the freedom that Christ alone has done all that God the Father required for our salvation.
Amen.
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