Ellen G. White on Colossians 2:14: The Ceremonial Law Explained

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;

In the writings of Ellen G. White, the "handwriting of ordinances" mentioned in Colossians 2:14 refers specifically and exclusively to the ceremonial law of the Old Testament, which consisted of sacrificial offerings, rites, and typical services that pointed forward to the death of ChristPP 364.3+2. While the moral law of Ten Commandments is an unchangeable transcript of God's character that stands forever, the ceremonial law was a temporary system of shadows that reached its fulfillment and end at the cross when the true Lamb of God was sacrificedST July 29, 1886, par. 4+2.

The Distinction Between Two Laws

God provided a twofold system of law for His people: the moral law and the ceremonial law6BC 1094.8.

• The Moral Law: Contained in the Ten Commandments and written by the finger of God on tables of stone, this law defines sin as its transgression and is as immutable as the throne of Jehovah8MR 100.3+3.

• The Ceremonial Law: Often called the "law of Moses" or the "handwriting of ordinances," it was written by Moses in a book and dealt with the sacrificial system and temple servicesPP 364.3+2.

The Meaning of "Nailing it to the Cross"

The ceremonial law was a system of types and symbols that prefigured the mission and sacrifice of the Redeemer to comeST July 29, 1886, par. 4+2.

• When Jesus died on Calvary, the inner veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom, signifying that the entire system of sacrificial offerings had ended forever Matthew 27:512SP 123.2.

• The "enmity" or "handwriting of ordinances" was abolished in His flesh because the shadow had reached its substance and type had met antitype in the perfect offering of Christ Ephesians 2:157ABC 471.3+2.

• Because Christ fulfilled every requirement of the ceremonial law through His death, these rites and ceremonies are no longer of any force for the Christian believerST July 29, 1886, par. 4+2.

What Was Not Abolished

It is a dangerous perversion of Scripture to claim that the moral law, the Ten Commandments, was done away with or nailed to the crossPP 364.3+2.

• The moral law is holy, just, and good, and Christ came to vindicate and exalt it, not to destroy it Romans 7:1211MR 345.3+2.

• The "yoke" which Peter described as unbearable in Acts 15:10 was not the Ten Commandments, but the burdensome requirements of the ceremonial law which had been made void by the crucifixionTT 102.1+2.

• While the ceremonial system was a "ministration of death" in that it had no power to save of itself, it reflected the glory of the coming Saviour who would eventually bear the curse of the moral law on our behalf15LtMs, Ms 58, 1900, par. 30.

Conclusion

The handwriting of ordinances was the typical remedial system instituted after man's transgression to aid in his salvation by pointing to the future work of Jesus Christ6BC 1094.8+2. Once Christ appeared and shed His blood for the remission of sins, this "law of commandments contained in ordinances" was blotted out and taken out of the way, having served its divine purpose Colossians 2:145BC 1109.1+2.

The handwriting of ordinances in Colossians 2:14 refers to the ceremonial law of sacrificial offerings and typical services that pointed to Christ Colossians 2:14PP 364.2. This ritual law, which was written in a book by the hand of Moses, is distinct from the moral law of Ten Commandments written on stone by God HimselfPP 364.2+1. The sacrificial system was to be performed only until the death of Christ, at which point the shadow reached the substance and these ordinances were nailed to the cross5LtMs, Ms 43, 1887, par. 2+1. It is a perversion of the scriptures to use texts regarding the ceremonial law to claim the moral law has been abolishedST July 29, 1886, par. 4. The "yoke" mentioned by the apostles was not the Decalogue, but this law of ceremonies which was made null and void by the crucifixionTT 102.1+1.

...emonial system was made up of symbols pointing to Christ, to His sacrifice and His priesthood. This ritual law, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be performed by the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings were to cease. It is this law that Christ “took ... out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” Colossians 2:14. But concerning the law of Ten Commandments the psalmist declares, “F...— PP 364.2 (1890)

...s sought to blind the minds of men by placing the moral law, engraven on stone, in the place of the ritual, the ceremonial law of ordinances that was to be abolished, nailed to the cross, because type had met antitype, the shadow had reached the substance. The moral law was contained i...— 5LtMs, Ms 43, 1887, par. 2

...w of God is abolished. Men who claim to be teachers of the people blind the eyes of the ignorant by blending the moral law with the ceremonial, and using the texts which speak of the ceremonial law to prove that the moral law has been abolished. This is a perversion of the Scriptures. There are two distinct laws brought to view. One is the law of types and shadows, which reached to the time of Christ, and ceased when type met antitype in his death. The other is ...— ST July 29, 1886, par. 4 (1874)

...upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” This yoke was not the Ten Commandments. Peter here referred to the law of ceremonies, which was made void by the crucifixion of Christ— TT 102.1 (1984)

... further directions in regard to the forms of worship to be carried on in the sanctuary. It is this law of ceremonies, which was to find its fulfillment in the death of Christ, when type should meet antitype, that is so frequently in our day confounded with the moral law of ten commandments, which was engraven by the finger of God upon stone, and which is as enduring a...— ST July 15, 1880, Art. A, par. 1 (1874)

...s not the law of the Ten Commandments, as those who oppose the binding claim of the law assert; but Peter referred to the law of ceremonies, which was made null and void by the crucifixion of Christ. This address of Peter brought the assembly to a point where they coul...— SR 307.2 (1947)

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