What had the law become by the time of Christ?
By the time of Christ, the law had become a compilation of 613 rules and regulations, a degenerated system. It was contrary to human nature and stood against us, but Christ blotted out the handwriting of ordinances and nailed it to His cross.
Les explains that the law practiced at the time of Christ was not the original but had degenerated into a compilation of 613 rules and regulations. He points to Colossians 2:14, where Paul speaks of the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which Christ blotted out, took out of the way, and nailed to His cross. Les notes that the law was contrary to human nature, and that Paul saw the old economy had been totally done away with, so he would not rebuild what he had destroyed.