Q. I looked at Col 2.14 and it seems really confusing. Could you comment on it?

  A. Col 2.14 needs to be understood in it's context. Paul is talking about the sins of a believer...that the cross cancelled out our sins, past present and future. Now, "having cancelled out the certificate of debt (sin demands death- Gen 2.17) consisting of decress against us" is referring to the Torah, the condemnation aspect of it. The Torah has a dual nature to it. The first aspect of it is that we are guilty and deserve death and are under condemnation. Once we become a believer, that aspect no longer has power over us but the second aspect comes into play, in that it becomes a way to live, and that's why the first century believers were referred to as "The Way." It is instructional and educational, it reveals the Messiah, prophecy and so much more (Rom 8.1, Gal 3.24-25). Col 2.14 goes on to say "which was "hostile to us" meaning that the Torah is holy, righteous and good but we are corrupt and the Torah goes against our old nature, making God's commandments "hostile." And He has "taken it out of the way" refers to the condemnation/curse part of the Torah NOT the obedience, way to live aspect. The condemnation, the "it", has been taken out of the way by Yeshua's death. In Col 2.15 it says that God made a public display of this. To understand this better, we need to go to Rom 3.25 where Paul says the same thing but with more detail. It says that through the Cross, God made Yeshua a "hilasterion" in Greek. It is where we get the word "hilarious" from. The Hebrew equivelant is "kipporet" which is translated "mercy seat" in English. It refers to the cover of the Ark of the Covenant where the High Priest would sprinkle the blood on Yom Kippur. In other words, the Father looks at us through the kipporet./ hilasterion / mercy seat (Yeshua) and His grace hilariously bursts forth towards us and He is happy to do it because of what Yeshua did, and He see's no condemnation in us because we are 'in Christ." Rom 3.25 goes on to say that He "demonstrated His righteousness because of the forebearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed." The plan of salvation was decided upon before sin ever existed. All of this was decided on and planned for before the world was. A saviour was provided before the first sin was committed and so was the method to recover, which is by His grace, mercy and love, and not by works. What Yeshua was going to do and what the Father was going to do was all decided. Sin demanded death, but having confidence that Yeshua would finish his work, God "passed over" the death penalty for the sins previously committed up to that point. Satan, which means "accusor", had been accusing God of lying and having no integrity because the righteous were not "dying" but were preserved in Sheol in Abraham's Bosom awaiting the Cross. Yeshua's blood and resurrection is the "proof" that God was righteous all along in letting death "pass over" Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and any other person who had faith before the Cross. As a result, Yeshua's death "disarmed the rulers and authorities" which means that the putting away of His flesh by death was a death blow to Satan. Satan's accusations against God and any believer has been silenced for all time. The Lord see's Yeshua as the kipporet before Him, which He looks at/through on our behalf. So, if Yeshua is not condemned, neither are we. So, Colossians 2.14-15 is describing what happened in their salvation process and to help them understand just what happened at the Cross. Colossians 2.16-17 says that as as a result, therefore, let no man outside of the faith judge them in regard to observing the food laws, a biblical festival (Lev 23), new moon or a Sabbath because these are a "shadow" (or picture) of what is to come and will help them understand their salvation more and God's plan for the future in regards to prophecy (1 Thes 5.1-11).