_THE CROSS THE DEATH OF LAW AND THE TRIUMPH OVER EVIL POWERS._
"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; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."--COL. ii. 14, 15
(Rev. Ver.).
The same double reference to the two characteristic errors of the
Colossians which we have already met so frequently, presents itself
here. This whole section vibrates continually between warnings against
the Judaising enforcement of the Mosaic law on Gentile Christians, and
against the Oriental figments about a crowd of angelic beings filling
the space betwixt man and God, betwixt pure spirit and gross matter. One
great fact is here opposed to these strangely associated errors. The
cross of Christ is the abrogation of the Law; the cross of Christ is the
victory over principalities and powers. If we hold fast by it, we are
under no subjection to the former, and have neither to fear nor
reverence the latter.