THE K I N G ' S B U S I NE S S
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the cross. Satan is now a conquered foe. He has some power for a little space (in the wisdom of our Father), but he is doomed and already exposed' to open disgrace. THURSDAY, Nov. 30th. Col. 2:16, 17. Verses 16-19 contain practical con clusions from the truth contained in the verses, immediately preceding. Since the believer in Christ has received the true circumcision made without hands (v. 11) and since, moreover, God has nailed the Mosaic law to the cross (v. 14), “ therefore” the Christian ought not to allow anyone to judge him (or take him to task) for the non-observance of Jewish ceremonies and “ holy days.” The old Jewish ordinances regarding foods and drinks and regarding holy days have no force for the Christian (cf. Rom. 14:6). In tjiese holy days whose binding authorities was done away in Christ, the Jewish weekly “ Sabbath Day” is included. The attempt has been made to prove that “ a Sabbath Day” in v. 16 does not mean the weekly seventh day Sabbath, but this attempt has utterly failed. The enumeration of days in this verse is precisely the Old Testament enumeration of the yearly set feasts, “ a feast day” (Passover, Pentecost, Day of Atonement, etc., see Lev. 23:4 and following verses, R. V.), the monthly “ new moon,” and the weekly “ Sabbath Day” (Note carefully the R. V. and cf. 1 Chron. 23:31). There could not be a plainer declara tion that the Jewish seventh day Sab bath is not binding upon the Christian than that which v. 16 contains. But underlying the Jewish Sabbath there is a great principle, viz., the Sabbath meets a universal need of man, a day of rest and worship. It was “ made for man” (Mark 2:27), to meet this uni versal need, man’s need written in his physical and moral constitution, of one day in seven for rest and worship. The letter of the law is done away, the principle remains, and woe be to the map who does not set apart one day in seven. But what day of the seven shall it be? To one who is on resurrection ground, and who understands how he was buried with Christ and is now risen with Christ (v. 1? and ch. 3 :1), it cannot be any day but the resurrec tion day, the first day of the week, the day our Lord Himself peculiarly hon ored (cf. John 20:19-22; Acts 20:7; 1 16:2), The Lord’s Day ( Rev. 1:
God quickened “ together with Him (i. e., Christ)” (See notes on Eph. 3 :5). Together with this quickening He for gave “ us all our trespasses.” Further yet, He “ blotted out the bond written in ordinances” that was against us (i. e. the very law itself under whose curse we were— Gal. 3 :10).” This law He took “ out of the way” (literally, “ out of the midst,” i. e., from between Himself, the one who gave it, and us, the sinners who broke It). He “ nailed it to the cross.” “ The bond written in ordinances” (R. V.) is the Mosaic law, the entire law. This was “ against us” because we had broken it. The Greek word rendered “ against” is a very strong word. Jesús as our lawful rep resentative and in our place paid the penalty of this law which was “ against us)’ on the cross (cf. Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:6) and in this way He “ took it out of the way” and “ nailed it to the cross.” He settled its every claim upon us. (cf. Rom. 7: 1-4, 6 R. Y.) WEDNESDAY, Nov. 29th. Col. 2:15. God wrought something by the cross other than taking the law which was against us out of the way and nailing it to the cross. What this something further was v. 15 tells us: He “ spoiled” (i. e., stripped of their power, cf. Luke 11:22) or as the Revised Version ren ders it, “ put off from Himself the prin cipalities and the powers (rather, auth orities, what is meant are the evil potentates of darkness who were under the leadership of Satan— cf. Eph. 6:11, 12)” and “ made a show of them openly (or, boldly),” i. e. He exposed them to public shame and disgrace (cf. Matt. 1:19), “ triumphing over them (i. e., leading them as conquered enemies in a triumph) in it,” i. e., in the cross. At the cross of Christ God fought His decisive battle with and won His decisive victory oVer Satan and the powers of darkness. In the cross was Satan’s power broken and his casting out secured (cf. John 12:31, 32). At the cross was the moment of Satan’s seeming victory: the Son of God, the particular object of Satan’s hate was there rejected and crucified. It was apparently the hour of sin’s triumph and the “ power of darkness” (Luke 22:53); hut it was really the moment of, Satan’s overwhelming and eternal defeat. If one would see Satan’s shame and utter defeat he needs only look atCor.
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