He Nailed It

Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Nails have a way of settling the issue. (Whatever the issue may be.)

When it comes to construction, nails hold everything together, and they are the deciding factor in what something will look like. An architect can dream, a builder can organize, carpenters can read blueprints, but apart from nails, ain’t much happening. Just sayin’.

And Paul is just saying as well, that the postulating can stop now. For thousands of years the discussion had been ripe. How can a man be saved? Which law is the most important? Must all the laws be kept? Is there any way for someone who is not aware of the law to have a chance at eternal life? Is there eternal life?

Jesus cuts off the debate, if you’re paying attention. If you’re not paying attention, you need to. Jesus did all that by nails.

A lot of people can say a lot of things when it comes to religious topics. They have fancy degrees and expertise in debate. They have written books, and they have directed marvelous philosophical discourses in their time.

But none were nailed to a cross.

Jesus, in effect, says, “Peace, be still!” (And He says it without a word.) Only His hands and feet were nailed. Only He took that position. And only He can save you. He nailed it. All the debate and philosophical argument is finished.

-  Pastor Bill