Colossians 2:13-15, ESV. 'And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame, triumphing over them in Him.'
The KJV and NKJV translate 'record of debt' as 'handwriting of ordinances.' The NASB and CSB give 'Certificate of debt' rather than 'Record of debt.' The NKJV has 'Certificate of debt' in the margin. A literal translation might be, 'the handwriting of decrees' (Gk. dogmasin). An interpretative translation might be, 'charge sheet.' Whatever it was, it 'stood against us with its legal demands.' The Greek is not easy, but what was our 'record of debt' and how has it been cancelled?
The cancelling of this record, or certificate of debt was the means of the forgiveness of all our sins. As Gentiles, we were dead in trespasses and sins, outside of the Mosaic Covenant, though still under condemnation for them (Romans 2:12; 3:9) and 'strangers from the covenants of promise [the covenants with Noah, Abraham and David], having no hope and without God in the world' (Eph. 2:12).
The Greek word cheirographon('handwriting') had a technical meaning in the ancient world of 'certificate of indebtedness.' It showed that the recipient was due to pay a bill. But it was also the custom in the Roman world, when a criminal was crucified to nail the 'charge sheet' detailing the miscreant's crime to the cross above his head (c.f. Matthew 27:37). So what are these verses saying? That God has nailed our record of debt, our charge sheet, to the cross - but not our cross! It was nailed (not physically, but in the mind of God) to the Lord Jesus' cross. Our cheirographon, our record of debt - our sins - are 'set aside,' nailed to the cross of Christ, with, if I dare say so, a note signed by the Father saying "Paid in Full." Jesus paid it all!
As a result, satan is cast down, along with 'the rulers and authorities,' whom I think we are to see as his minions (c.f. Eph. 6:12). Satan is the 'accuser of the brethren, who accused them day and night before God' (Rev. 12:9-10; c.f. also Job 1:9-11; Zech. 3:1). Now he has nothing to accuse us of, because all that record of debt has been taken out of the way. Divine justice is satisfied. Our sins have been punished, but 'The LORD has laid on Him the iniquities of us all,' so that God can be, 'Just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.'
'The reign of sin and death is o'er,
And all my live from sin set free.
Satan has lost his mortal power;
'Tis swallowed up in victory!
Saved from the legal curse I am,
My Saviour hangs on yonder tree:
See there the meek, expiring Lamb!
'Tis finished! He expires for me!' [Charles Wesley]
The KJV and NKJV translate 'record of debt' as 'handwriting of ordinances.' The NASB and CSB give 'Certificate of debt' rather than 'Record of debt.' The NKJV has 'Certificate of debt' in the margin. A literal translation might be, 'the handwriting of decrees' (Gk. dogmasin). An interpretative translation might be, 'charge sheet.' Whatever it was, it 'stood against us with its legal demands.' The Greek is not easy, but what was our 'record of debt' and how has it been cancelled?
The cancelling of this record, or certificate of debt was the means of the forgiveness of all our sins. As Gentiles, we were dead in trespasses and sins, outside of the Mosaic Covenant, though still under condemnation for them (Romans 2:12; 3:9) and 'strangers from the covenants of promise [the covenants with Noah, Abraham and David], having no hope and without God in the world' (Eph. 2:12).
The Greek word cheirographon('handwriting') had a technical meaning in the ancient world of 'certificate of indebtedness.' It showed that the recipient was due to pay a bill. But it was also the custom in the Roman world, when a criminal was crucified to nail the 'charge sheet' detailing the miscreant's crime to the cross above his head (c.f. Matthew 27:37). So what are these verses saying? That God has nailed our record of debt, our charge sheet, to the cross - but not our cross! It was nailed (not physically, but in the mind of God) to the Lord Jesus' cross. Our cheirographon, our record of debt - our sins - are 'set aside,' nailed to the cross of Christ, with, if I dare say so, a note signed by the Father saying "Paid in Full." Jesus paid it all!
As a result, satan is cast down, along with 'the rulers and authorities,' whom I think we are to see as his minions (c.f. Eph. 6:12). Satan is the 'accuser of the brethren, who accused them day and night before God' (Rev. 12:9-10; c.f. also Job 1:9-11; Zech. 3:1). Now he has nothing to accuse us of, because all that record of debt has been taken out of the way. Divine justice is satisfied. Our sins have been punished, but 'The LORD has laid on Him the iniquities of us all,' so that God can be, 'Just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.'
'The reign of sin and death is o'er,
And all my live from sin set free.
Satan has lost his mortal power;
'Tis swallowed up in victory!
Saved from the legal curse I am,
My Saviour hangs on yonder tree:
See there the meek, expiring Lamb!
'Tis finished! He expires for me!' [Charles Wesley]