Yes — Colossians 2:14 means the handwriting of ordinances that stood against us was blotted out and taken out of the way by being nailed to Christ's cross.
Paul says the record was 'against us' and 'contrary to us,' and that God blotted it out, took it out of the way, and nailed it to the cross. Les Feldick identifies this as the Law in its full scope — the whole system of ordinances, sacrifices, and ceremonies under which Israel lived. Because that system was removed at the cross, Les teaches that believers in the age of grace are no longer under it.
Colossians 2:14 — This is the verse in question; it directly describes the blotting out of the handwritten ordinances at the cross.
Paul writes, “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” (Colossians 2:14). The phrase “handwriting of ordinances” refers to a written record that stood against the reader; Paul says God removed it at the cross. In the following verses Paul applies this removal to practical things: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17). The context therefore connects the blotted-out ordinances with dietary rules, holy days, new moons, and sabbath days — practices that were shadows pointing to Christ.
Les Feldick makes clear that the “handwriting of ordinances” is not just the Ten Commandments; it is the whole big picture of the Law — the worship, sacrifices, priestly operations, tabernacle and temple services, and every feast day in Israel’s religious calendar (Clip 0). He says it was “against us” because of mankind’s inability to keep it and because of the Law’s stringentness and severity (Clip 2). At the cross, Les says, Christ satisfied the Law, took it out of the way, and abolished the whole system. He quotes Colossians 2:16 — “let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or the sabbath days” — and says this all flashes back to Judaism, and that it has all been nailed to the cross (Clip 1). Since the work of redemption was finished, the Law was done away with (Clip 4). Les applies this to worship: believers in the age of grace have no right to bring Israel’s religious practices into the church. Robes, miters, feast days, and holy days have no place in true Christianity, because the Law was all settled at the cross (Clips 0, 3). He summarizes that we are no longer under Israel’s legalistic priesthood and sacrifice system; we are under grace (Clip 5).
The apostle Paul describes a written list of ordinances that was active against believers and contrary to them. Les identifies this as the Law in its totality — not only the Ten Commandments but everything connected with worship, sacrifices, the priesthood, the tabernacle and temple, and the feast days. The Law's stringentness and severity made it impossible for mankind to keep, so it stood against us.
Les says yes. When Christ finished the work of redemption through His death, burial, and resurrection, the whole system of Law was done away with and abolished. The Law was given to Israel to prepare for Messiah, but after the cross everything moved into a new age of grace. Les says the Law was all settled at the cross, and believers are no longer under Israel's legalistic priesthood and sacrifice system.
Paul writes, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days” (Colossians 2:16). Les says these all flash back to Judaism and the Law, and they are behind us because they were nailed to the cross. He adds that the age of grace has no room for robes, miters, feast days, and holy days as a system of worship.
No Religious Ceremonies in the Age of Grace
Les says the religious practices of Israel — robes, miters, feast days, holy days — are not something true Christianity is to bring into worship during the age of grace.
Ordinances Nailed to the Cross
Les quotes Colossians 2:14 and says the Law was taken out of the way, nailed to the cross, and is all behind believers — including dietary and day-of-worship rules.
The Law as the Handwriting
Les explains that the handwriting of ordinances is the Law in all its ramifications — the strict requirements and severity that stood against mankind.
Separating From the Old Testament Economy
Les teaches that since everything was accomplished at the cross, people must separate from the Old Testament economy and have nothing to do with Law.
System of Law Abolished
Les teaches that when Christ finished the work of redemption, the whole system of Law was done away with and abolished.
Under Grace, Not the Legalistic System
Les says Paul is referring to Israel's legalistic priesthood and sacrifices, and believers are not under that system; they are under grace.
The Disciples' Prayer Explained: Matthew 6 Verse by Verse
And over the next several weeks this is what we're going to be hammering away, that we're not under the Law as Christ ministered to Israel. We're under Grace, and it's all the difference in the world. Colossians chapter 2, verse 13, where Paul writes to the Believer. Now remember Paul always writes to the Believer, he never writes to the unsaved world. He always writes to the Believer.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
It cuts off that which is superfluous in the flesh. So what is superfluous in the Spirit? The old Adam. And so at salvation, our old Adam is cut off, and it becomes a heart circumcision. And it�s that of the heart in the Spirit, and not in the letter, keeping the Law, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Now let�s move in quickly in these closing minutes to chapter 3.
Colossians 2:14: 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;
This is the verse in question; it describes the removal of the record of ordinances at the cross.
Colossians 2:16: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
This immediately follows the cross statement and shows that dietary and calendar ordinances were no longer grounds for judgment.
Colossians 2:17: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Paul calls these ordinances a shadow, while the reality is in Christ — connecting the removed ordinances to the cross.
Colossians 2:13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
This preceding verse establishes the basis: God has forgiven all trespasses, leading to the blotting out in verse 14.
The verse says it was a written record that was against us and contrary to us. Les identifies it as the Law — the whole system of ordinances and ceremonies Israel was under. He says God blotted it out and removed it by nailing it to the cross.
Les says yes — the Law's requirements were settled at the cross and believers are no longer under that legalistic system. We are under grace, not under the Law.
Paul says let no one judge you in meat, drink, holy days, new moons, or sabbath days (Colossians 2:16). Les says these are part of Judaism and the Law that was nailed to the cross, and there is no room for them as a worship system in the age of grace.
Watch the Teaching: The Service of God Explained: What Israel's Worship Meant — Romans 9:4