Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. |
Subject: Partly under the Law? |
Bible Note: Dear Brother Mark, The reason you aren't getting a clear response is because the question is by no means a simple one. Believers have varying opinions from one end of the spectrum to the other. Ask an Antinomian, a Theonomist, a Dispensationalist, or Judaizer how they look at this, and you will get more than four different answers! :-) Although the New Testament seems clear on the issue of the sacrificial aspects of the Law, it does not speak with similar clarity in respect to all other aspects of the Law. So, let me explain how I see it -- as long as it is clear that I may not represent anyone else's opinion. We can approach the Mosaic Law in three different ways:: 1. We reject it entirely 2. We imitate it facilely 3. We apply it in a modified fashion Rejection of the Law makes me uncomfortable. Christ frequently reinforced aspects of the Law, even clarifying what was intended. If, on the other hand, I were to imitate it facilely, would that mean that I'd have to sacrifice a lamb each year, offer thank offerings, grain offerings, etc. etc.? That sure doesn't sound right either. Consequently, I'm left with option 3 above. That leaves me with the difficult question: How do I choose what to retain and what to dispense with? We're fortunate in that Christ and the apostles gave us some explicit commands, often reiterating parts of the Mosaic Law. So, clearly, I can choose to retain those Laws. Furthermore, I can pretty easily dispense with the portion of the Law that dealt with the mechanisms that allowed me to obtain forgiveness from God. The Scripture is clear that those things were "a shadow" and have become fulfilled in Christ. God even ripped the veil in the Temple as a clear message about how I approach Him, thus all that stuff about being clean, unclean, etc. doesn't apply. (God provided the means and the Temple has become me!) Okay, now we can dispense with anything that had to do with the ancient theocracy of Israel. (Even the Jews figured this one out.) You see, there are lots of things to consider since the Mosaic Law was given: the original intent of the various laws; the aspects of God's character which they reflect; the changes that have taken place since the giving of the law that might affect the application (e.g. redemptive/historical changes, cultural changes, personal differences between modern Christians and ancient Jews, political changes, etc.); OT and NT commentaries and insights into various stipulations; etc. etc. Now, although we wrestle with this on a personal level, we can use terms to help us discuss it all. For example, when we talk about the moral law, we mean the laws that reflect God's eternal character; when we talk about the civil law, we mean the laws that apply to the Israel's unique theocracy and more primitive religious state; etc. The challenge is working out for ourselves, based on the Word of God, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, where the "fuzzier" laws fit and, therefore, how we ought to live. I know this explanation will not be entirely satisfying to you. However, we can only really say with certainty what the Scripture says. We can further infer based on Scriptural principles some of what we seek. More than that is risky at best. God is gracious, however, and will guide us as we seek to bring Him glory through our submission to His will and study of His Word. In Him, Doc PS Once again, I'm writing rather quickly and "off the cuff." There's a lot more that could be written along the lines of the two covenants, etc. I hope, however, this has, at least, given you food for thought. |