Message of the Latter Rain - Kelvin M. Duncan

Finally, Paul puts all of these events in the context of the "blotting out"
of "the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to
us" (v. 14). What was this "handwriting" that was against us? That
handwriting was our sin, with the resulting sentence of death--the curse of
the law or the condemnation that Adam brought upon the human race, which
we have also endorsed and embraced through or own personal sins. Our sin
was nailed to His cross. In Scripture we find several references to the
expression blotted out (see Neh. 4:5, Ps. 109:14, Isa. 44:22, Acts 3:19). In
most cases, it is sin which is "blotted out."
When was the "handwriting" blotted out? When the Colossians believed
the gospel? No, it was a corporate event which took place when Christ nailed
"it to His cross" (v. 14).
Thus, it is very clear that Paul is speaking of corporate realities and not
personal experiences. He is speaking of events which took place once for all
mankind. An examination of the original text strengthens this interpretation.
The verbs are in the aorist tense. They refer to events which took place at a
specific point in time in the past. The context of the passage reveals that
these events all took place at the cross.
Charizomai and Aphiemi
Now that we have reviewed the context, we need to see a wonderful
event connected with the events of this passage. In verse 13 we read:
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses
(Colossians 2:13).
Here, the Bible explicitly states that God has "forgiven ... all trespasses."
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