And you, being dead in your trespasses and the circumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting (certificate of debt with its) requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And having taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:13-15.
Wiped out, exaleipho, Strong’s # 1813. From ek, “out,” and aleipho, “to anoint”; to wipe out, wipe off, wash. Use metaphorically, the word means a removal or obliteration, whether of sins (Acts 3:19), of writing (Col. 2:14), of a name (Rev. 3:5), or of tears (Rev.21:4).
Jesus Christ’s triumph over sin and evil powers was accomplished in “it”—that is in the Cross. This text, joined to and studied beside others (Eph. 2:13-16; Gal. 3:13,14; 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Rom. 5:6-15; and Rev. 12:10,11), firmly establishes Jesus suffering, shed blood, sacrificial death, and resurrection triumph as the only adequate and available grounds for ransom from sin, reconciliation to God, redemption from slavery, and restoration. The Cross is the sole hope and means for full reinstatement to relationship with God and ruler ship under Him –to “reign in life” (Rom. 5:17).
Two points need to be expressed to avoid presumption or imbalance.
- God’s sovereign authority and almighty power is the source from which mankind derives any ability to share in the exercise of God’s kingdom power.
- But even more important, seeing sinful, fallen man had lost all claim to his early privilege of ruler ship under God, let us remember the grounds upon which all kingdom privilege or power may be restored and by which such spiritual ministry with authority may be exercised.
Filed under: Christianity, Comment, Commentary, Theology, Word Study, word study Greek
