"And you being dead in the transgressions and in the uncircumcision of the flesh, He made you alive together with Christ, having forgiven us all the transgressions, having blotted out that which was against us, the handwriting which was adverse to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."1
The circumcision of the flesh was given as a sign of covenant to the Jew, so the Gentile had two strikes against him, "dead in the transgressions and in the uncircumcision of the flesh." In the new covenant Paul writes we are circumcised of the heart, and the sons of God are of the faith of Abraham, thus the promise of inheritance does not come by the Law, but that it rests on grace, not by works of the Law. The child of God knows his sins have been forgiven, we can say that Christ blotted out our sin on the cross, but what does this mean, "having blotted out that which was against us, the handwriting which was adverse to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross?"
"He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility."4
"Having blotted out that which was against us," he made peace. This word for blotted out is from ek, "wholly out from," and aleíphō, "smear." Peter said to the people, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." Now, does repentance blot out sin? Does repent and be baptized blot out sin? John prepared the way for Christ and "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"5 Justification is by blood, "we have now been justified by his blood... when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son,"4 By His blood we are brought near, "in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."3 Here the one brought near speaks of the Gentile, who was separated "in the uncircumcision of the flesh," but redemption is for the Jew also. The two become one in the Church but what does it mean, "torn down the dividing wall of hostility."
"For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."3
The circumcision of the flesh was given as a sign of covenant to the Jew, so the Gentile had two strikes against him, "dead in the transgressions and in the uncircumcision of the flesh." In the new covenant Paul writes we are circumcised of the heart, and the sons of God are of the faith of Abraham, thus the promise of inheritance does not come by the Law, but that it rests on grace, not by works of the Law. The child of God knows his sins have been forgiven, we can say that Christ blotted out our sin on the cross, but what does this mean, "having blotted out that which was against us, the handwriting which was adverse to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross?"
"He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility."4
"Having blotted out that which was against us," he made peace. This word for blotted out is from ek, "wholly out from," and aleíphō, "smear." Peter said to the people, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." Now, does repentance blot out sin? Does repent and be baptized blot out sin? John prepared the way for Christ and "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"5 Justification is by blood, "we have now been justified by his blood... when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son,"4 By His blood we are brought near, "in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."3 Here the one brought near speaks of the Gentile, who was separated "in the uncircumcision of the flesh," but redemption is for the Jew also. The two become one in the Church but what does it mean, "torn down the dividing wall of hostility."
"For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."3
We stand before God because "by a single offering he has perfected" and cleansed us of sin but more so, it is not a camouflage but a new creation in Christ Jesus, we are partakers of His divine nature through the gift of righteousness and the circumcision of Spirit, we have testimony of Spirit, "He made you alive together with Christ, having forgiven us all the transgressions." God sees the true inward nature, not sin in the flesh. "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time," says Jesus is our eternal High Priest, thus our sins were blotted out "for all time," we are born of the eternal Spirit, and we have received eternal Life, being made alive in Christ Jesus. We see testimony of Spirit and blood, and we see testimony of water, "those who are being sanctified." But we see another condition not traditionally taught in the Church.
"... having blotted out that which was against us, the handwriting which was adverse to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."1
How can our sin be blotted out if at the same time the Law holds it against us? Think of it as a marriage covenant. Judah broke covenant and committed adultery, the Law says He must die, but Christ came and died in his place, a propitiation, taking the place for his sin. But do we not see a legal dilemma? "the handwriting which was adverse to us," How can Judah receive Life if he is still under the legal requirement of the Law? Its an impossible dilemma that is solved by Christ, "he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."1 It is as Paul writes the new covenant is a dispensation of Grace.6 Christ was always God's plan for salvation, this is seen in the promise to Abraham, so how can the Law which came 400 years later change the promise?
"... having blotted out that which was against us, the handwriting which was adverse to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."1
How can our sin be blotted out if at the same time the Law holds it against us? Think of it as a marriage covenant. Judah broke covenant and committed adultery, the Law says He must die, but Christ came and died in his place, a propitiation, taking the place for his sin. But do we not see a legal dilemma? "the handwriting which was adverse to us," How can Judah receive Life if he is still under the legal requirement of the Law? Its an impossible dilemma that is solved by Christ, "he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."1 It is as Paul writes the new covenant is a dispensation of Grace.6 Christ was always God's plan for salvation, this is seen in the promise to Abraham, so how can the Law which came 400 years later change the promise?
"by a single offering he has perfected for all time."3
The Law did not perfect man, but in the new we are being perfected in love. That which was "against us" this "handwriting which was adverse to us" was not only sin, not making the mark of God's righteous standards, but the standard itself, the Law, was against us. Thank God, Christ became the Standard for His people. The requirements set forth by the Mosaic Law, this is the handwriting also called the "written code," or "the letter of the law," or that "written on tablets of stone," which is different than God's righteousness requirements.3 The new covenant is according to grace so that the Standard would come to those who were under the Law and those not, the Standard gives a righteousness by faith not by works of the Law. Christ, "reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility."7 Both Jew and Gentile are one in the Church, but the hostility was removed, and what was removed?
"by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,"8
We see the barrier in several ways, the separation because of sin but also by covenant, the barrier between those consecrated, set a part, the circumcised of the flesh, and those outside the commonwealth of Israel. Now, the gentiles were called “the uncircumcision” defined by "what is called the circumcision, or that which is made in the flesh by hands of man." Its the same concept of the old temple, being a shadow of things to come, a temple of God on a cursed earth made by the hands of man, pointing to a new temple inside the corrupt body of man. In this body, His body, He "might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."16 The Church is the household of God, "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."20 The Church is His body, thus Jew and Gentile are made one, a new creation, the hostility and barrier removed.
"So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God."4
The old covenant was a dispensation of laws and judgement, a ministry of death and condemnation, Paul writes. Through the fear of punishment it meant to perfect man, but it did not because of the weakness of the flesh, it had no power as it was a temporary sacrifice and atonement for sin,. But it had a purpose it pointed to Christ, a shadow of things to come. The lesson we get from the Law teaches us that the "handwriting" is adverse to us being perfected in Christ. In the new covenant a "better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God." Because we receive the gift of righteousness by faith, and can approach God boldly because of Christ, "grace reigns through righteousness," not under the letter of the law. Christ came, in fullness of the Father, of grace and truth, because he loved us, by His blood we receive forgiveness of sin and He nailed to the cross that which was hostile, adverse to us. So we see the concept, Jesus came not to condemn but to save, condemning not man but sin in the flesh.
"Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."14
Paul uses the picture of marriage to explain the new covenant and also how we are released from the old covenant. God kept His promise but Judah broke covenant, explained by Paul and by Malachi the prophet, "Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god."15 Judah being married to the Wife, symbolic of the Law broke covenant, and like infidelity in a marriage, Judah was unfaithful in covenant, committing adultery. The Wife who is holy and just demanded justice, the penalty being death. Judah goes further and divorces the wife and marries the daughter of a foreign god.
"the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives. For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage."16
Paul explains the wife was just, but Judah broke covenant, and according to the Wife Judah should die, but Christ died in Judah's place. Now, Judah belongs to another, to Christ in covenant. Can Judah still be in covenant with the Wife? not according to the legal requirement of the Law, "the handwriting which was adverse to us." Jesus nailed it to the cross, thus we "have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another."
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery."7
We see this concept in the new covenant of the principle of Liberty. We can become encumbered to two different yokes. To obey sin in the flesh is to be a slave to sin. In Christ we no longer have the nature of sin but of righteousness, and through sanctification we are becoming slaves to righteousness. We will have dominion over sin under grace, not the letter of the law. In context the "yoke of slavery" Paul writes of is not referring to sin but to the Law. These of the "circumcision party" want to enslave people through the Law, "false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery."17 It is an amazing thing, but we are warned of these people who introduce doctrines, not of men but of demons Paul writes.17
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us"8
If such has not convinced you we are released from the Law, Paul writes there is also a curse of the Law. James speaks of this, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."9 Israel failed to keep it and so did all "as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
"11 All have missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God.12 How can one be redeemed from the curse of the Law and still be under the Law? It is not possible, redemption is not by the Law but by the blood of Christ, and this requires being released from the "handwriting which was adverse to us." The word of God did Not fail, and we see the mystery of the gospel is that it was always His plan in Christ, in the Seed to fulfill the promise.
"He takes away the first to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."14
He nailed the first to the cross to establish the second, which was really the original plan hidden in God in the beginning. An integral part of the Law was the service of the Temple, the temporary atonement, blood sacrifice for sin. The old covenant temple has been destroyed, as no longer a sacrifice for sin is needed. "If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." Inheritance comes not through the Law, but "He redeemed us so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." The promise of inheritance we receive in the Spirit.14
"Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, “And to seeds,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ."15
Paul writes men were under the principle of sin and death until Moses, who gave them the Law, which was a shadow of things to come, pointing to Christ who Moses wrote about. Christ was lifted up as the serpent in the wilderness, he is living bread and gives living water from heaven. The Law Paul writes kept men in captivity until Christ, in Christ we are a new creation, not like anything else before. Why would anyone want to go back to a system that doesn't perfect man and has a curse? It is of no value, like that of the flesh, "if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all." So what is of value?
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."16
In the new covenant there exists the principle of Liberty. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."18 Within it we see the teachings of Christ, concerning judging others, and how mercy triumphs judgement. "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."19 Also within this Liberty works the principle of Love, which builds up others in love, "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."20 So does the Law count for anything?
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."8
Such is a good sign of those who are fallen from grace, being justified by works, they "lord" over others, always passing judgement, no justice, no mercy, neglecting the words of Christ, but these build upon old covenant Law, always limiting, manipulating, and tearing down the little child in faith. Jesus said of the Pharisee they sat in the seat of Moses, passing judgement and dispensing God's laws. Many today do the same, building upon the old for whatever reason, all this counts for nothing. What does counts? We see another comparable scripture, "For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation."Galatians 6:15 The Law counts for nothing, only a new creation, and "faith working through love."
"If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:"Colossians 2:20
Do regulations set men free? no, truth sets men free, "if you abide in the truth then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."John 8:32 Jesus is the truth, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."John 8:36 Do laws, rules, ordinances, handwriting which are adverse to us, are these of any value to us in ruling over sin in the flesh? So we ask as the early Church fathers, "why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?"Acts 15:10 Jesus spoke of this load, and like Israel today some in the Church pursue a law of righteousness based on works thus they have stumbled over the stumbling stone, and cause others to stumble.
"They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."Matthew 23:4
We see in the Pharisee how adhering to the "letter of the law" or legalism was a tool of manipulation and control of the people. You see them sending spies among the people, following Jesus around trying to "catch him" breaking their laws. All they could find was that He healed on the Sabbath, and that His disciples broke the "tradition of the elders" by not washing their hands before they ate. However, it was when he caused the blind to see and raised the dead, then they plotted to destroy Him, why? we see in this symbolism of the anointing of Christ in that he opens the eyes of the blind, to the truth, and raised people from the dead, gives them Life, this was proof He was the Christ. They did not want the people's eyes opened, we see this in the parable Jesus told of the wicked vine-dressers, which spoke of them how they wanted the kingdom to themselves, so they thought to take it by killing the Son. The good news is that Christ came to lift such a burden, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."16
"On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."9
We see this debate at the counsel of Jerusalem in the early Church, the debate was settled then and it is settled today. My goodness, why would you want to go back to the Law, it did not perfect man, and do you not know it has a curse? If you break one small part, you break it all, has there ever been one who did not break the Law? They even accused Christ of such, for these use line upon line, rule upon rule, this is how they control people, fear being a powerful weapon in their manipulation, but "you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"17
Glorious Day
The old covenant was a dispensation of laws and judgement, a ministry of death and condemnation, Paul writes. Through the fear of punishment it meant to perfect man, but it did not because of the weakness of the flesh, it had no power as it was a temporary sacrifice and atonement for sin,. But it had a purpose it pointed to Christ, a shadow of things to come. The lesson we get from the Law teaches us that the "handwriting" is adverse to us being perfected in Christ. In the new covenant a "better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God." Because we receive the gift of righteousness by faith, and can approach God boldly because of Christ, "grace reigns through righteousness," not under the letter of the law. Christ came, in fullness of the Father, of grace and truth, because he loved us, by His blood we receive forgiveness of sin and He nailed to the cross that which was hostile, adverse to us. So we see the concept, Jesus came not to condemn but to save, condemning not man but sin in the flesh.
"Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."14
Paul uses the picture of marriage to explain the new covenant and also how we are released from the old covenant. God kept His promise but Judah broke covenant, explained by Paul and by Malachi the prophet, "Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god."15 Judah being married to the Wife, symbolic of the Law broke covenant, and like infidelity in a marriage, Judah was unfaithful in covenant, committing adultery. The Wife who is holy and just demanded justice, the penalty being death. Judah goes further and divorces the wife and marries the daughter of a foreign god.
"the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives. For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage."16
Paul explains the wife was just, but Judah broke covenant, and according to the Wife Judah should die, but Christ died in Judah's place. Now, Judah belongs to another, to Christ in covenant. Can Judah still be in covenant with the Wife? not according to the legal requirement of the Law, "the handwriting which was adverse to us." Jesus nailed it to the cross, thus we "have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another."
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery."7
We see this concept in the new covenant of the principle of Liberty. We can become encumbered to two different yokes. To obey sin in the flesh is to be a slave to sin. In Christ we no longer have the nature of sin but of righteousness, and through sanctification we are becoming slaves to righteousness. We will have dominion over sin under grace, not the letter of the law. In context the "yoke of slavery" Paul writes of is not referring to sin but to the Law. These of the "circumcision party" want to enslave people through the Law, "false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery."17 It is an amazing thing, but we are warned of these people who introduce doctrines, not of men but of demons Paul writes.17
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us"8
If such has not convinced you we are released from the Law, Paul writes there is also a curse of the Law. James speaks of this, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."9 Israel failed to keep it and so did all "as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
"11 All have missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God.12 How can one be redeemed from the curse of the Law and still be under the Law? It is not possible, redemption is not by the Law but by the blood of Christ, and this requires being released from the "handwriting which was adverse to us." The word of God did Not fail, and we see the mystery of the gospel is that it was always His plan in Christ, in the Seed to fulfill the promise.
"He takes away the first to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."14
He nailed the first to the cross to establish the second, which was really the original plan hidden in God in the beginning. An integral part of the Law was the service of the Temple, the temporary atonement, blood sacrifice for sin. The old covenant temple has been destroyed, as no longer a sacrifice for sin is needed. "If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." Inheritance comes not through the Law, but "He redeemed us so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." The promise of inheritance we receive in the Spirit.14
"Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, “And to seeds,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ."15
Paul writes men were under the principle of sin and death until Moses, who gave them the Law, which was a shadow of things to come, pointing to Christ who Moses wrote about. Christ was lifted up as the serpent in the wilderness, he is living bread and gives living water from heaven. The Law Paul writes kept men in captivity until Christ, in Christ we are a new creation, not like anything else before. Why would anyone want to go back to a system that doesn't perfect man and has a curse? It is of no value, like that of the flesh, "if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all." So what is of value?
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."16
In the new covenant there exists the principle of Liberty. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."18 Within it we see the teachings of Christ, concerning judging others, and how mercy triumphs judgement. "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."19 Also within this Liberty works the principle of Love, which builds up others in love, "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother."20 So does the Law count for anything?
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."8
Such is a good sign of those who are fallen from grace, being justified by works, they "lord" over others, always passing judgement, no justice, no mercy, neglecting the words of Christ, but these build upon old covenant Law, always limiting, manipulating, and tearing down the little child in faith. Jesus said of the Pharisee they sat in the seat of Moses, passing judgement and dispensing God's laws. Many today do the same, building upon the old for whatever reason, all this counts for nothing. What does counts? We see another comparable scripture, "For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation."Galatians 6:15 The Law counts for nothing, only a new creation, and "faith working through love."
"If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:"Colossians 2:20
Do regulations set men free? no, truth sets men free, "if you abide in the truth then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."John 8:32 Jesus is the truth, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."John 8:36 Do laws, rules, ordinances, handwriting which are adverse to us, are these of any value to us in ruling over sin in the flesh? So we ask as the early Church fathers, "why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?"Acts 15:10 Jesus spoke of this load, and like Israel today some in the Church pursue a law of righteousness based on works thus they have stumbled over the stumbling stone, and cause others to stumble.
"They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."Matthew 23:4
We see in the Pharisee how adhering to the "letter of the law" or legalism was a tool of manipulation and control of the people. You see them sending spies among the people, following Jesus around trying to "catch him" breaking their laws. All they could find was that He healed on the Sabbath, and that His disciples broke the "tradition of the elders" by not washing their hands before they ate. However, it was when he caused the blind to see and raised the dead, then they plotted to destroy Him, why? we see in this symbolism of the anointing of Christ in that he opens the eyes of the blind, to the truth, and raised people from the dead, gives them Life, this was proof He was the Christ. They did not want the people's eyes opened, we see this in the parable Jesus told of the wicked vine-dressers, which spoke of them how they wanted the kingdom to themselves, so they thought to take it by killing the Son. The good news is that Christ came to lift such a burden, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."16
"On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."9
We see this debate at the counsel of Jerusalem in the early Church, the debate was settled then and it is settled today. My goodness, why would you want to go back to the Law, it did not perfect man, and do you not know it has a curse? If you break one small part, you break it all, has there ever been one who did not break the Law? They even accused Christ of such, for these use line upon line, rule upon rule, this is how they control people, fear being a powerful weapon in their manipulation, but "you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"17