Why do so many Christians still cling to legalism and the commandments?
Many Christians cling to legalism and the commandments because much preaching and teaching remains in the area before the Cross. They do not recognize that the Cross completely finished the Law, since Christ nailed the handwriting of ordinances, including the Ten, to His Cross. Believers are no longer under their binding power, though they remain under their moral code.
Les explains that the Law had 613 commandments, and the Scripture speaks of blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, because human nature was always bumping them. Christ took it out of the way by nailing it to His Cross; the Cross was the end of the Law. Yet much preaching and teaching stays in that pre-Cross area, and that is why people can hang on to legalism and all the strings in the commandments. They fail to recognize that the Cross completely finished it. The Lord nailed those things, including the Ten, to the Cross. We are not under their binding power now, but we are under their moral code absolutely. Les points to Romans chapter 13 to show they still have a valid role in the Christian experience, but it is not a religious dogma.
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;