WHAT DID CHRIST TAKE OUT OF THE WAY?
By D. H. Oberholtzer
“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.” Col. 2:14. Let the text have its practical application to present every-day life. Note that the context deals with the method of getting free from our sins, and not with laws or dispensations. See verses 11–13. Verse 14 continues the same subject. Verse 13 reads: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened [made alive] together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way.” Three translations at my hand read: “Took it out from the midst” (middle), or more properly from between us. The verses following describe the danger of allowing anything, even a man to get between us and God (read verses 16, 18, 19, and latter part of verse 22); and why should we, since Christ nailed that which was between us and Him (God) to the cross. Now Jesus nailed all to His cross that was nailed to it, and that was simply what His body bore; and in 1 Peter 2:24 the Holy Spirit says, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” So that thing that was nailed to the cross was our sins. And we know that our sins have been “contrary” to us, and that they have stood between us and God. Isa. 59:2. The Syriac Version reads: “And by His mandate He blotted out the handwriting of our debts, which [handwriting] existed against us.”5Yes, in the ledger books of God each sin that we have committed has been faithfully chronicled “against us,” and that same hand that wrote on Belshazzar’s palace wall “is writing now,” and dare you face the record, or will you confess your sins, and believe that God is faithful and just to forgive your sins, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness? Here the true doctrine of “righteousness by faith” is exemplified. We are now in the time of blotting out of sins, and, dear reader, do you know that the mandate of God has been given, that your debt (Matt. 18:27) has been forgiven, that it may be blotted out (Acts 3:19), and that a living connection has been established between you and the Head (of the body). Since “the times of refreshing” have come, this is a matter of importance, and should be understood by all. But some may ask, Why does He in verse 16 say, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,” etc.? In verse 15 it is stated that He “spoiled principalities and powers,” and triumphed over them. This refers to the combinations of men and demons; they can not now force themselves between the soul and God, so, if anything gets in there, it must be by the consent of the individual soul. Therefore, “let no man make a conscience for you” (German translation), judge you or judge (decide) for you in your eating or drinking or in any of the forms of your worship, etc. Since everything has been removed between you and God, go directly to Him yourself, for He is “just as willing to teach you, as he is to teach some man to teach you.” It has been Satan’s studied purpose to get something between the soul and God, and now when he sees that the sins have been removed, he tries to push some man in there who will represent himself, and this was most successfully done in the development of the Papacy. Thus, instead of this scripture teaching that a certain part of God’s Word was written against us, and had to be blotted out, we see that it teaches no such thing, and that it leaves uncontradicted the truth that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.” 2 Tim. 3:16. No, dear reader, God is not so inconsistent as to cause something to be written for those who live in the end of the world (1 Cor. 10:11), and then cause that same thing to be blotted out. But, praise the Lord, our sins were all nailed to His cross, and by the blood there obtained He will blot them out “even as a thick cloud,” and in the judgment nothing will be found written against us; for it has all been blotted out, and, when they are sought for, they can not be found. Reader, shall we not come boldly to the throne of grace, and have boldness in the day of judgment? Amen.