In the book of Colossians, the apostle Paul made a glorious statement regarding the forgiveness of our sins. He said, “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” (Colossians 2:14).

     Paul is alluding to the accounting practices of his day.  The “handwriting of ordinances” is a reference to the law of God.  When mankind fails to keep the standard of God’s righteousness, he is issued a slip, an ordinance, whereby he is indebted to repay God for his sin.  The ordinance is a testimony against the man in a court of law. It states that he has failed to adhere to the prescribed standard.  The ordinance is literally against him.

     In the ancient east a custom existed in which a man would nail the ordinance to a post when he was forgiven. By nailing the ordinance to a post on the debtor’s property, the one who held the debt publicly and officially announced the cancellation of the balance. 

     Christ did not nail our sins to a post, but He did nail them to the cross thus blotting out, or officially cancelling our debt.  When accusations of our sin come before the Almighty Judge, He sees the ordinance paid in full on Calvary’s tree.  Christ has taken those things which were contrary to us out of the way.