My Journey to Life, Step 18—God’s Law

3. Does Colossians 2:13, 14 mean that the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross and are thus no longer binding for us?

The verses say nothing about God’s moral law being nailed to the cross! What Christ did end at the cross was the condemnation of the law. He took the death that should have been ours because of our sin (Romans 6:23). The law condemns us, but when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we have a new heart and a new standing before God! JTL18 5.1

One aspect of God’s laws that culminated at the cross was the ceremonial law. All the sacrifices Israel made were to help them look in faith toward the Messiah to come, the Lamb of God, a sacrifice planned from the foundation of the world in the event of humanity’s sin. The ancient sacrifices pointed forward to the cross of Christ. The spiritual ritual that helps us look backward to the death and resurrection of Jesus is baptism (1 Peter 3:20, 21). JTL18 5.2

Nowhere does the Bible state that Christians saved by faith no longer need to keep the law. The Ten Commandments reflect God’s character of love. They were known as the Tree of Life to ancient Israel, a transcript of His will for all areas of life. Just as a colossal, well-rooted tree offers protection, so the Ten Commandments root the people of God in covenant relationship with its Author forever. JTL18 5.3