The Law

Having nailed it to the cross…Colossians 2:14

Our understanding of our freedom in Christ is the cross. We have been freed from The Law by the cross. He has made us 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 2:13b-14. The “hand writing of requirements” is The Law. 

We had grown accustomed to feeling guilty all the time. We were used to punishing ourselves for breaking The Law. We were beating ourselves up for any and all our sins. That was then; no more. For we were buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses. He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, Colossians 2:12-13.

We need to get past the past. Jesus is preparing us for the future. God corrects those He loves, For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son who He receives, Hebrews 12:6 from Proverbs 3:11-12. God’s purpose for discipline (chasten) is instruction or correction. The Law only had provisions for punishment. The Law was meant to lead us to Jesus; that is, to the cross of Christ. The Law continues to do that very thing: lead us to Jesus. God disciplines His children. If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate and not sons, Hebrews 12:8. 

Jesus’ seven letters of Revelation are excellent examples of God’s correction. Jesus has forgiven all our sins. But He is still concerned with our behavior. In fact, to the church in Ephesus, Jesus threatens to remove their lampstand from its place—unless they repent. Revelation 2:5. If our light—our testimony—is unworthy of God’s glory, Jesus will respond with His discipline.