So I know what many might be thinking as they read through my blog posts. Maybe something like, "Does this girl even read her Bible? It says right here that..." Well, you'll have to take a number and wait your turn! Just kidding... but please do email me any questions, comments or objections you may have. I'd love to hear to from you! But it is these types of objections that come up repeatedly that I'd like to begin to address today.
So have you ever been reading through Colossians and figured out that we are forgiven because he took away the law and nailed it to the cross (verse 14)? And then was that conclusion immediately confirmed in verse 16 because Paul says to let no one judge you for not keeping all that Old Testament stuff—dietary law, feast days, and Sabbaths? Well, I'm here to ask you to take another look at this passage. Maybe we've been reading Paul all wrong, and this is just one of many examples.
Colossians 2:13b-14 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Sounds like I'm defeating my own argument already doesn't it? Let's take a closer look.
Firstly, if 1 John 3:4 says that "sin is transgression of the law", then we've got a big theological problem. If the law is nailed to the cross and done away with, then we no longer have a standard that we fall short of, and there is now no definition of sin. I guess that would mean we don't need to tell anyone about Jesus, because they no longer need a Savior at all, there is no higher standard to fall short of. This would be pitting the Bible against itself and it just doesn't work!
So have you ever been reading through Colossians and figured out that we are forgiven because he took away the law and nailed it to the cross (verse 14)? And then was that conclusion immediately confirmed in verse 16 because Paul says to let no one judge you for not keeping all that Old Testament stuff—dietary law, feast days, and Sabbaths? Well, I'm here to ask you to take another look at this passage. Maybe we've been reading Paul all wrong, and this is just one of many examples.
Colossians 2:13b-14 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Sounds like I'm defeating my own argument already doesn't it? Let's take a closer look.
Firstly, if 1 John 3:4 says that "sin is transgression of the law", then we've got a big theological problem. If the law is nailed to the cross and done away with, then we no longer have a standard that we fall short of, and there is now no definition of sin. I guess that would mean we don't need to tell anyone about Jesus, because they no longer need a Savior at all, there is no higher standard to fall short of. This would be pitting the Bible against itself and it just doesn't work!
So because many Christians recognize that logical error, they instead go with a new interpretation. They argue that the moral laws of the Ten Commandments are not nailed to the cross, but only the "ceremonial law" which they define as the "Jewish" stuff that Christians don't do anymore–the 7th day Sabbath, the feast days, the dietary laws, and the like.
But where in scripture can you find a clear definition of what is "ceremonial" and what is "moral"? People say that clearly the 10 Commandments are the "moral" law that is still relevant. Why then is the 7th day Sabbath—and for many Christians, a Sabbath in any form—considered an exclusion?
The interpretation of the entire law being nailed to the cross creates theological problems, and so does the interpretation of the so called, "ceremonial laws" being nailed.
So what on earth is Paul saying? The key is in the Greek. What my NIV translates as "the written code" and "regulations" in the Greek are "cheirgraphon" and "dogma". Cheirgraphon (Stongs G5498) is defined as "a handwriting" or "a note of hand writing in which one acknowledges that money has either been deposited with him or lent to him by another, to be returned at the appointed time." Dogma (Strongs G1378) is defined as a "doctrine, decree, ordinance". To be candid, Strongs also gave dogma a second definition "the law of Moses" in only 2 verses–Colossians 2:14 and in Ephesians 2:15– I disagree with that definition. The other three times it is used in scripture dogma is referring to a ruling or decision made by men (see Luke 2:1, Acts 16:4, Acts 17:7) This is what dictionary.com has to say about the word "dogma":
But where in scripture can you find a clear definition of what is "ceremonial" and what is "moral"? People say that clearly the 10 Commandments are the "moral" law that is still relevant. Why then is the 7th day Sabbath—and for many Christians, a Sabbath in any form—considered an exclusion?
The interpretation of the entire law being nailed to the cross creates theological problems, and so does the interpretation of the so called, "ceremonial laws" being nailed.
So what on earth is Paul saying? The key is in the Greek. What my NIV translates as "the written code" and "regulations" in the Greek are "cheirgraphon" and "dogma". Cheirgraphon (Stongs G5498) is defined as "a handwriting" or "a note of hand writing in which one acknowledges that money has either been deposited with him or lent to him by another, to be returned at the appointed time." Dogma (Strongs G1378) is defined as a "doctrine, decree, ordinance". To be candid, Strongs also gave dogma a second definition "the law of Moses" in only 2 verses–Colossians 2:14 and in Ephesians 2:15– I disagree with that definition. The other three times it is used in scripture dogma is referring to a ruling or decision made by men (see Luke 2:1, Acts 16:4, Acts 17:7) This is what dictionary.com has to say about the word "dogma":
Word story
At the turn of the 17th century, dogma entered English from the Latin term meaning "philosophical tenet." The Greek word from which it is borrowed means “that which one thinks is true,” and comes ultimately from the Greek dokein which means "to seem good" or "think."
The origin of the word dogma acts as a reminder to English speakers that now-established principals and doctrines were once simply thoughts and opinions of ordinary people that gained popularity and eventually found their way into the universal consciousness of society.
Does the word dogma sound like a word that Paul or any other God fearing servant of the Lord would use to describe the words that God spoke from Mount Sinai? You can take a look back at Paul and the Law while you ponder this question.
Well what else could the written code and the regulations be? Well, in the crucifixion, what else besides our Messiah was nailed to the cross?
John 19:19-22 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write “The King of the Jews”, but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’
Well what else could the written code and the regulations be? Well, in the crucifixion, what else besides our Messiah was nailed to the cross?
John 19:19-22 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write “The King of the Jews”, but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’
So what does that have to do with anything?
Matthew 27:37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Sound familiar? Let's look again at Colossians 2:14:
Colossians 2:13b-14 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
The written code, or handwriting is the charge against us saying what we are guilty of. It is our IOU to God. It is the debt we cannot pay, and the penalty is death. So Christ took our charge, the plaque that should have hung above our head to tell the world what we are guilty of, and nailed it above HIS head and died under our charge! Isn't that incredible?! What love!
But we still have more of Colossians 2 to discuss. Take a little time to reflect, because this to me was a beautiful picture that I needed to ponder. Then join me for Part 2.
Matthew 27:37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Sound familiar? Let's look again at Colossians 2:14:
Colossians 2:13b-14 He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
The written code, or handwriting is the charge against us saying what we are guilty of. It is our IOU to God. It is the debt we cannot pay, and the penalty is death. So Christ took our charge, the plaque that should have hung above our head to tell the world what we are guilty of, and nailed it above HIS head and died under our charge! Isn't that incredible?! What love!
But we still have more of Colossians 2 to discuss. Take a little time to reflect, because this to me was a beautiful picture that I needed to ponder. Then join me for Part 2.