“wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;”

Here is the central kernel of the blessing in Christ. The record of all our sin is wiped out because all our sin is nailed to the cross of Christ, and is paid for by Him. The permanent, written handwriting of accusation and blame is expunged and our sins are remembered no more.

It has all been taken out of the way and paid for on the cross. The picture is strong and specific. It is nailed to the cross never to get down and bother us again. The record of our sin is taken out of our way and it has really been dealt with and we will never be accused of any of it. This fact should bring us great joy and great relief. The law has no more hold on the Christian and there is no more condemnation for the believer.

The handwriting upheld by the ordinances of the Old Testament is now gone and we are not required to do any of it and are therefore free people. The grace we experience in Christ sets us free to live and there is no remembrance made of our sin any more. We are not subject to the shadows of the spiritual life in the kingdom, for the kingdom has now come and the old has passed away. 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1

All the blame has been put away with the nailing of the handwriting of the dead ordinances on the cross of Christ. God is now for us, not against us, as we are covered by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus and are now free people. The ceremonies have gone and with them the admission of guilt and blame. Christ has done way with the ceremonies, with no memory of the obligation to God we carry around in our souls because of our sin. It is all forgiven…

“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free….If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:32 and 36

It is the truth in Christ and the truth that is Christ, that sets us free and not the observing of dead ordinances that are against the grace of God.