A. V. V. 13 – 14 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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;"

1. We need to remember Jesus Christ shed His glorious blood to cleanse us from all of our sins. "having forgiven you all trespasses;" V. 13

2. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" ordinances means laws and I believe it includes and is pointed at the Ten Commandments because it is these ten laws that teaches holiness and shows us our shortcoming to bring us to Christ.

3. Nothing, absolute nothing has ever been part of salvation, no laws, no ordinances, or ETC. Salvation has always been and will always be in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

4. People have never understood nor can believe Jesus Christ is enough to save us in totality. They have always believed there must be a work of some sort or a following of some ordinances but the Lord point blank says ALL OF OUR TRESPASSES ARE FORGIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS AND THROUGH HIS BLOOD.

B. V. 16 "Let no man therefore judge you"

1. The Lord did not say not to judge others here He says that in other scripture, the Lord say not to let others judge you. In other words turn them a deaf ear, don’t allow them to condemn you for following the Lord and His word.

2. Works of some sort will always be involved in salvation as far as some are concerned. The flesh is weak, Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

3. While the flesh is weak when it comes to doing spiritual things, it is always strong on practicing religious rule because it inflates the human ego. It also makes man satisfied in self-righteousness.

4. Salvation is what it is, and that is in Christ Jesus period. Stand on that truth and do not allow man to judge you or condemn you for that.

C. "in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" some of these explanations are taken from John Gill.

1. "meat, or in drink," this deals with the observing the laws and rules about meats and drinks, in the law of Moses; such as related to the difference between clean and unclean creatures.

2. "in respect of an holyday" This deals with feast, such as the feast of the passover, the feast of tabernacles, and the feast of Pentecost; which were three grand festivals, at which all the Jewish males were obliged to appear before the Lord; but were never binding upon the Gentiles.

3. "of the new moon: which the Jews were obliged to observe, by attending religious worship, and offering sacrifices.

4. "or of the sabbath days:" The word Sabbath in the Old Testament is applied not only to the seventh day, but to all the days of holy rest that were observed by the Hebrews, and particularly to the beginning and close of their great festivals. the jubilee sabbath, which was one year in fifty; and the sabbath of the land, which was one year in seven; and the seventh day Sabbath.

5. The Christian Sabbath is Sunday and we worship the Lord on Sunday.

D. V. 17 "Which are a shadow of things to come;"

1. The word "shadow means "shade" literally or figuratively darkness of error.

2. This shows the imperfections of these things, they were rituals not for all and forever but rather for a time. These are Jewish customs and has nothing to do with Gentiles.

3. "but the body is of Christ." While these other things were shadows they were fulfilled in Christ. All that they hoped for in these things were found fulfilled in Him. He is all we need.