Handwriting Of Ordinances

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

soul man

Well-Known Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,570
1,738
113
66
Fletcher
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Colossians 2:14

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

If you still follow the " handwriting of ordinances" and fall over yourself to keep the law and be a good Moses gospel expositor, then you are missing the greatest life ever to be lived.
When Jesus Christ laid His dead head on His dead shoulders, you died (all in Adam dead, right then, right now). One of the harshest and most wonderful acts of God at the same time took place.
And Christians should not take it lightly, a very high price was payed for you to espouse your message of separation.

There is no separation for the born again believer. There is shortcomings, sins of the flesh, and what not, but you will be hard pressed to find separation of the believer and Christ in you. Only in mind can they seperate you by there gospel of correction.
You are complete in Him, I thank God for His word or we would all be lost according to the popular message of separation.
What was the "handwriting of ordinances" it is the restoration of Adam, it is trying to fix up the old nature, the Adamic nature keeping it in check.
Which was glorious for that day, it was all they had to have a relationship with God. But in our day it is no longer the gospel of Moses to restore Adam but it is the age of the cross.
Church needs to quit trying to revive Adam, we are no longer tied to Adam. What is needed most of all for the believer is a renewed mind.
We have a different message, we have a new gospel not a restored gospel, it is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as your only life, Gal. Chapter 1.

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the deadupload_2019-1-20_7-4-55.gif

2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

24 And they glorified God in me.
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,230
113
North America
Colossians 2:14

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

If you still follow the " handwriting of ordinances" and fall over yourself to keep the law and be a good Moses gospel expositor, then you are missing the greatest life ever to be lived.
When Jesus Christ laid His dead head on His dead shoulders, you died (all in Adam dead, right then, right now). One of the harshest and most wonderful acts of God at the same time took place.
And Christians should not take it lightly, a very high price was payed for you to espouse your message of separation.

There is no separation for the born again believer. There is shortcomings, sins of the flesh, and what not, but you will be hard pressed to find separation of the believer and Christ in you. Only in mind can they seperate you by there gospel of correction.
You are complete in Him, I thank God for His word or we would all be lost according to the popular message of separation.
What was the "handwriting of ordinances" it is the restoration of Adam, it is trying to fix up the old nature, the Adamic nature keeping it in check.
Which was glorious for that day, it was all they had to have a relationship with God. But in our day it is no longer the gospel of Moses to restore Adam but it is the age of the cross.
Church needs to quit trying to revive Adam, we are no longer tied to Adam. What is needed most of all for the believer is a renewed mind.
We have a different message, we have a new gospel not a restored gospel, it is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as your only life, Gal. Chapter 1.

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the deadView attachment 5234

2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

24 And they glorified God in me.
Interesting link to the truth of separation...
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2019
2,585
2,084
113
70
georgia
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The handwriting of ordinances has nothing to do with any attempted restoration of Adam.
I think I understand why you are posting what you are,but these verses are totally unrelated.
 

Helen

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
15,476
21,155
113
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
The handwriting of ordinances has nothing to do with any attempted restoration of Adam.
I think I understand why you are posting what you are,but these verses are totally unrelated.

Says you!!
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2019
2,585
2,084
113
70
georgia
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
ByGrace",

[Says you!!]
Hello BG,
Why this hostile reaction?

No, it is not says"me"...it is thus saith the Lord. God had Paul write this by His Spirit. Do you understand that?

Are you a relatively new Christian?

Do you have any idea what the verse is speaking about?

The bible is not a list of poems or loose verses that we are to "guess" what they mean. We are to study to show ourselves approved.

If you cannot supply an answer right from your keyboard you should apologize and try and learn.
The verse has nothing to do about Adam at all.

If you need help, ask. many here will help....The verse and section of scripture is speaking about the ceremonial law having been fulfilled In Christ. It has nothing to do with Adam.
 
Last edited:

Anthony D'Arienzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2019
2,585
2,084
113
70
georgia
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Says you!!
From precept austin;
Colossians 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: exaleipsas (AAPMSN) to kath hemon cheirographon tois dogmasin o en (3SIAI) hupenantionhemin, kai auto erken (3SRAI) ek tou mesou proselosas (AAPMSN) auto to stauro

Amplified: Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

Barclay: and wiped out the charge-list which set out all your self-admitted debts, a charge-list which was based on the ordinances of the law and was in direct opposition to you. He nailed it to his Cross and put it right out of sight. (Westminster Press)

Lightfoot: then and there canceling the bond which stood valid against us (for it bore our own signature), the bond which engaged us to fulfill all the law of ordinances, which was our stern pitiless tyrant. Yes, this very bond Christ has put out of sight forever, nailing it to his cross and rending it with his body and killing it in his death.

Net: He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. (NET Bible)

NIV: 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. (NIV - IBS)

NRS: erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.

Phillips: Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over his own head on the cross. (Phillips: Touchstone)

Weymouth: The bond, with its requirements, which was in force against us and was hostile to us, He cancelled, and cleared it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross.

Wuest: having obliterated the hand-written document consisting of ordinances, the one [which was] against us, which was directly opposed to us, and He removed it out of the midst with the result that it is no longer there, having nailed it to the Cross;

Young's Literal: having blotted out the handwriting in the ordinances that is against us, that was contrary to us, and he hath taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2019
2,585
2,084
113
70
georgia
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
ibid:
Spurgeon commenting on Col 2:14 writes that…

All the Mosaic ceremonials, from which you were shut out as Gentiles, are abolished. Christ has driven a nail through them and fastened them up to his cross.” As, sometimes, a banker stamps through a cheque when it is paid, so has Christ but through the very heart of all Jewish ordinances by what he has done for his people.

Wendell Kent writes that "The verse of Scripture quoted above is one of those verses which does not yield its value by a surface investigation, but upon greater effort it reveals a wealth of meaning. One writer has called this verse “perhaps the most obscure verse in the New Testament.” (Beet) Another says, “In This difficult verse the meaning of almost every word is disputed.” (A S Peake - Expositor's Greek Testament) With this to caution us against a hasty conclusion as to its meaning, let us seek to discover the truth which the apostle Paul was endeavoring to present in this verse (Colossians 2:15 The Spoiling of Principalities and Powers: A Critical Monograph )

1813) (exaleipho from ek = out, intensive [adds sense of "completely" - see also Vincent's note below] + aleipho = wipe, cover over, besmear) means literally to completely wipe off. Literally exaleipho means to remove by wiping off, as when a blackboard is erased. The word was applied to the process of obliterating writing on any material. Some of the uses in Scripture retain this literal meaning but most uses speak of a figurative blotting out or wiping off. The idea in all the uses is to cause something to cease by obliterating or eliminating any evidence. Twice in the Revelation God promises He will wipe away every tear. A number of uses in both OT (Septuagint) and the NT use this verb to describe the blotting out or wiping away of sins. Exaleiphowas used by Thucydides of whitewashing a wall.

Eadie writes that exaleipho is

signifies to smear or plaster over and then it is used to denote the act by which a law or deed of obligation is cancelled… the word… means here to expunge. That to which the process of obliteration is applied is appropriately termed a handwriting (cheirographon), a note of hand, a written bond (which)… signifies a claim of unpaid debt (and)… is also one of punishment for it was "against us." (Colossians 2:14, 15 In Depth Commentary)

Exaleipho - Used 5x in the NT - Acts 3:19; Col 2:14; Rev 3:5; 7:17; 21:4

Vincent adds that "The preposition (ek) also carries the sense of removal; hence to smear out; to wipe away.

Synonyms would include blotted out, wiped away, obliterated, effaced completely, expunged.

The aorist tense pictures a past completed action - the blotting out has been accomplished by Christ on the Cross. Paul's use in this context pictures God blotting out and totally erasing our certificate of debt (our sin debt).

To understand the word exaleipho is to understand the amazing mercy and lovingkindness of God. The substance on which ancient documents were written was either papyrus, a kind of paper made of the pith of the bulrush, or vellum, a substance made of the skins of animals. Both were fairly expensive and certainly could not be wasted. Ancient ink had no acid in it; it lay on the surface of the paper and did not, as modern ink usually does, bite into it. Sometimes a scribe, to save paper, used papyrus or vellum that had already been written upon. When he did that, he took a sponge and wiped off the writing. Because it was only on the surface of the paper, the ink could be wiped out as if it had never been! God, in his amazing mercy, banished the record of our sins so completely that it was as if it had never been; not a trace remained. Hallelujah!

So when God cancelled out our debt it was accomplished completely and we need to receive and understand this profound truth so that the enemy does not "hound" us with "old sins" that God has completely blotted out! Are you having trouble accepting the forgiveness of God over some sin you have committed? Paul says that it is wiped completely off the slate so forget what lies behind and press on to what lies ahead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: charity

Anthony D'Arienzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2019
2,585
2,084
113
70
georgia
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Why suppose the decree was given, and against us?
Because Jesus died to remove the penalties on behalf of His Sheep. It says it was nailed to the cross, it was part of our redemption. The law showed where we defective in worship as we were unclean.
 
  • Like
Reactions: soul man
D

Dave L

Guest
The way I understand is the OT Jews were wicked except for the few born-again. And God used the law under threat of death to control them until he no longer needed them. He appealed to their greed offering rewards for obedience, and threatened death or loss of land and wealth for disobedience. These thought they were good because they didn't steal or murder even though they wanted to. The law forced them to act like they loved God and people even though they did not.

But in the NT, God removed the unbelievers and the law from Israel. Leaving only the believers as Israel. Into whom God grafted believing gentiles. We use the law for instruction and as a quick check on our thoughts. But we have the Holy Spirit in us now and he motivates us in love. Which naturally obeys the moral law.
 

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
The handwriting of ordinances has nothing to do with any attempted restoration of Adam.
That is correct. "The handwriting of ordinances that was against us" can also be expressed as "the charges which had been brought against us through the violation of God's commandments (decrees or ordinances)".
The actual words in the Greek text are:
χειρόγραφον (cheirographon) δόγμασιν (dogmasin)
which literally mean the handwritten certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us.

Just as charges are brought against criminals in a court of law, there are charges brought against every sinner in God's court of Law. And they justly condemn us. All these charges against the human race were nailed to the Cross and expunged (wiped out) by the sacrifice of Christ and His shed blood.

But the atoning work of Christ avails only to those who obey the Gospel.
This has nothing to do with Adam, other than the fact the sin and death came into the world through Adam. But Adam's sin was not imputed to anyone, and neither is anyone else held responsible for our sins.
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,230
113
North America
That is correct. "The handwriting of ordinances that was against us" can also be expressed as "the charges which had been brought against us through the violation of God's commandments (decrees or ordinances)".
The actual words in the Greek text are:
χειρόγραφον (cheirographon) δόγμασιν (dogmasin)
which literally mean the handwritten certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us.

Just as charges are brought against criminals in a court of law, there are charges brought against every sinner in God's court of Law. And they justly condemn us. All these charges against the human race were nailed to the Cross and expunged (wiped out) by the sacrifice of Christ and His shed blood.

But the atoning work of Christ avails only to those who obey the Gospel.
This has nothing to do with Adam, other than the fact the sin and death came into the world through Adam. But Adam's sin was not imputed to anyone, and neither is anyone else held responsible for our sins.
"It is finished" and the court gavel's cancelling of the charges are made good to those in the dock, but not to those who have yet to be evangelized.
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,230
113
North America
The way I understand is the OT Jews were wicked except for the few born-again. And God used the law under threat of death to control them until he no longer needed them. He appealed to their greed offering rewards for obedience, and threatened death or loss of land and wealth for disobedience. These thought they were good because they didn't steal or murder even though they wanted to. The law forced them to act like they loved God and people even though they did not.

But in the NT, God removed the unbelievers and the law from Israel. Leaving only the believers as Israel. Into whom God grafted believing gentiles. We use the law for instruction and as a quick check on our thoughts. But we have the Holy Spirit in us now and he motivates us in love. Which naturally obeys the moral law.
Well, I wouldn't agree that the church is Israel. I think we have had this discussion before.
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2019
2,585
2,084
113
70
georgia
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
That is correct. "The handwriting of ordinances that was against us" can also be expressed as "the charges which had been brought against us through the violation of God's commandments (decrees or ordinances)".
The actual words in the Greek text are:
χειρόγραφον (cheirographon) δόγμασιν (dogmasin)
which literally mean the handwritten certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us.

Just as charges are brought against criminals in a court of law, there are charges brought against every sinner in God's court of Law. And they justly condemn us. All these charges against the human race were nailed to the Cross and expunged (wiped out) by the sacrifice of Christ and His shed blood.

But the atoning work of Christ avails only to those who obey the Gospel.
This has nothing to do with Adam, other than the fact the sin and death came into the world through Adam. But Adam's sin was not imputed to anyone, and neither is anyone else held responsible for our sins.
Yes Enoch, I believe the ten commandments are still in effect for all mankind.
All Mosaic laws are an expansion of the decalogue as can be shown in the book of Deuteronomy.
Ceremonial and ritual cleansing has been accomplished on our behalf by Jesus in His life and death.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Danube