Why was the Old Testament ritual no longer needed after Christ died?
The handwriting of ordinances was blotted out, taken out of the way, and nailed to His cross. Since Christ finished the work of redemption, the entire Old Testament ceremonial ritual—animal sacrifices, priesthood robes, washings, and services—was no longer needed.
Les explains that the handwriting of ordinances was against us and contrary to us, so Christ took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. He asks listeners to picture all the ritual Israel practiced in keeping the Law: animal sacrifices, the robes of the priesthood, washings, and everything connected with the ceremonial ritual. That entire system was nailed to His cross. When Christ died and finished the work of redemption, there was no longer any need for all of that Old Testament ritual. Les notes, however, that it is hard for mankind to lay aside things that appeal to the flesh. He recalls a lady with a beautiful testimony who was tied to high church ritual; she admitted it had nothing to do with her salvation but made her feel good and helped her worship. Les says he understands her feeling up to a point, but the book does not teach that.
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;
More Questions
What happened to Israel's Old Testament ceremonial rituals at the cross?
All of Israel's ceremonial ritual — the keeping of the Law, the animal sacrifices, the priestly robes, the washings — has been nailed to Christ's cross.