Colossians 2:14 [AMP]
Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. 15[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. 16Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.
The verse 15 says that on the cross, Jesus disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us. So what was the armor the devil used against mankind. The answer is given in the preceding verse 14, the Ten Commandments were the armor that devil used against mankind. How can God's 10 commandments be the armor of the devil against the humanity?
The Ten Commandments were written on a tablet of stone by the hands of God and all the other 713 OT laws were originated from these Ten Commandments, and were not hand written. On the Cross, Jesus cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us. We can say, Jesus nailed the Ten Commandments once and for all. If Jesus nailed the Ten Commandments on the cross 2000 years ago, why are we fighting to get it back to schools.
Tom, are you saying that 10 commandments are not applicable to us? Yes, we are led by the spirit not by the commandments, Romans 8:14 says that "As many are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God", and we are the sons. The ten commandments is not for a born again believer, but it is for the unbliever's to understand their need for a savior. The Ten Commandments cannot make us holy, only Jesus can make us holy. The only reason the ten commandments must be placed in schools is to lead the students is to lead them to Christ. So removing Ten Commandments from schools does not affect the morale of the school children. To change the morale of the schools and college students, John 3:16 must be placed in schools and colleges. We must fight to get John 3:16 in all schools, colleges, and every organizations. Let our young generation focus on to Jesus, the life transformer.
Let me come back to the question, How can God's 10 commandments be the armor of the devil against the humanity?
Satan the accuser of the brethren, accuses us infront of God every time we violate the commandments. Satan's accusation against us is based on these Ten Commandments, and that is the trump card he uses against us. Scripture says that, nobody except Jesus could ever live in the earth without violating the commandments [Romans 3:20]. God is a just God and He judges righteously, He cannot let go the sin without judging, so man always come under the judgment of God. That means, as long as the law is applicable to humanity, we always have to live under the guilt and condemnation and seperated from God. Law was the armor that devil used against humanity.
There is nothing wrong with the law, it was holy and perfect, but we are fallen. The Law can only reveal our fallen nature, but could not help us to come out from our fallen nature. So the more you look into the law you are seeing your weakness, blemishes etc. The purpose of the Law was to create the need for redemption through the Savior. The Savior Jesus came to the earth and fulfilled the Law for us. If you are in Christ, according to God you also fulfilled the law and is righteous. Through the law, the devil used to condemn us and condemnation is the root cause of all our problems. When Jesus abolished the laws on the cross, condemnation was also rooted out.
Paul says in Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
When you read the above verse and try to interpret it without understanding the cross of Jesus, you will say "Tom, look at the condition for living with no condemnation, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." I am glad that I can help you to understand the condition. This condition of " who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" is not in the original greek manuscript, the translators added this condition because of their inability to understand this great truth. If you can always walk after the spirit [which is almost impossible], there is no big deal that nobody can condemn you. In reality, even if a believer walk after the flesh, God won't condemn him, but the world may punish him and condemn him. Why God does not condemn him ? Because Jesus bore those condemnation 2000 years ago for him.
My friend, you are free from condemnation because of the perfect work of Jesus on the Cross. Being in Christ Jesus is the only condition to be free from condemnation. If you can get this truth, this will liberate you from sin, fear, anxiety, depression etc. The truth is when you understand that you are free from condemnation, you will get the power to overcome all kinds of sin.