What did Jesus do with the Law and legalism at the cross?
At the cross, Jesus blotted out the handwriting of ordinances against us, took the Law and all legalism with its demands and nailed them to His cross. The Law was crucified with Him, becoming a dead system, so believers are not to return to it.
In Colossians chapter 2, Paul writes of blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, taking it out of the way, and nailing it to His cross. Les explains that Jesus took the Law, all its demands, and all of legalism, jerked it away, and nailed it to His cross. As He 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 says this is like fooling with something dead—it is not pretty—and that is how we must feel about legalism. Paul hammers home, why go back to that weak and beggarly stuff done away with? Romans 7:4 adds that believers are become dead to the Law.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
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;