Why does Paul warn against going back to the Law?
Paul warns against returning to the Law because its handwriting of ordinances was against us, was taken out of the way, and was nailed to Christ’s cross. The Law was crucified with Him and is now a dead system. Returning to it means embracing weak and beggarly legalism, and believers are made dead to the Law.
Les teaches that Colossians 2 shows the Law’s handwriting of ordinances was against us and contrary to us, and God took it out of the way and nailed it to His cross. As Christ hung there, crucified for the sins of the world, the Law was crucified with Him. It is now a dead system, yet the human race constantly pulls it back out of the grave. Les compares going back to legalism to fooling with something long dead—it is not pretty. Paul is hammering home the question: why go back to that weak and beggarly stuff that has been done away with, when it has been crucified and is dead? Romans 7:4 adds that believers also have become dead to the Law.