I love the depth of scripture that comes out sometimes when you learn new things without really learning new things. When a verse suddenly seems new, even though you already knew what it meant.
And I love concordances and lexicons for doing that.
Colossians 2:14 is my new favorite verse (for this week).
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)
Christ as made me alive by doing two things: (1) forgiving my trespasses (v. 13), and … verse 14. Ohemgee.
Having wiped out …
Strong’s 1813, exaleipsas — “blotted out, wash over, wipe off, obliterate“
From HELPS Word Studies — Originally “to plaster, rub smooth, or whitewash.” Later it referred to “wiping out” in the sense of “to cancel” (rubbing out a writing or seal impression left on a wax tablet). Thus 1813 was used for canceling obligations or entitlements.”
See? I knew what Paul meant by “wiped out,” but that makes it mean so much more. But what did He obliterate?
… the handwriting …
Strong’s 5498, cheirographon — “a bond, document, legal note, certificate of debt”
From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon — “specifically, a note of hand, or writing in which one acknowledges that money has either been deposited with him or lent to him by another, to (sic) he returned at an appointed time”
I knew that, “the handwriting of requirements” was the Law, but just reading that Jesus obliterated/cancelled my obligation to a certificate of debt that I could not pay is … different. I knew that. I knew that the wages of sin is death. I knew that I’d obligated myself to fulfill the Law, and failed to do it. I knew I owed a debt I couldn’t pay, and that Jesus paid it.
But reading that Christ resurrected me by rubbing out my certificate of debt … Come on. Just me?
He made me alive by doing two things: (1) forgiving me, and (2) canceling my debt. I broke a contract, and not only did He forgive me — He just cancelled the whole thing. Who does that?
Nobody does that. If I break a contract or a promise, I’m punished for it. Interest payments. Prison. Any number of things. And then I still owe what I’d agreed to, however long it takes.
… of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way …
Strong’s 3319, mesos — “middle, in the middle, between, in the midst of”
He forgave me. He cancelled the contract, and then He removed it completely. Because it used to be between us. Just sitting there, in the way, preventing me from getting close because I couldn’t go through it. So He removed it. He didn’t even leave it there to remind me how pathetic I am. He didn’t cancel it, but then leave it just to keep me in check, aware of how much I’ve failed and how much He’s done.
And He moved it Himself: “… He has taken …” He didn’t send it away. He took it Himself.
… having nailed it to the cross.
The Word — including the Law — made flesh was nailed to a cross. Perfection became a curse — and Galatians 3 calls the Law a curse — and nailed it to a cross. Jesus was resurrected, the handwriting of requirements that was against us was not.