The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians that God has wiped out the handwriting of requirements having nailed it to the cross.

Col 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He [God] has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

What does this mean?  Some people believe it means that God has wiped out the law.  Let’s take a closer look.

Note that “the handwriting of requirements” was nailed to the cross — not the law.  But what exactly is the handwriting of requirements?  Let’s read from verse 11 to get the context.

Col 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,

Circumcision made without hands is circumcision of the heart, which Paul wrote about in Romans 2:29. 

Rom 2:29  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Paul went on to explain what circumcision of the heart is.

Col 2:11 … by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

Circumcision of the heart is the process of repentance and leading a new life in Christ.  When we repent and are baptized, we “put off” sins and are “buried” in baptism (which is full immersion in water picturing death).  After being raised out of the water (picturing a new life), our sins are completely forgiven and we are made alive with Christ. 

Now we come to the verse in question.

Col 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting [cheirographon] of requirements [dogmasin] that was against us, which was contrary to us. …

This first part of verse 14 continues the sentence of verse 13, explaining how we have our sins forgiven.  The Greek word translated handwriting is cheirographon, which means anything written by hand, but can apply to a legal document, bond, or note of debt.  The Greek word translated requirements is dogmasin, which refers to decrees, laws, or ordinances.

The term “handwriting of requirements” is thus a note of debt regarding laws.  It is a note of the debt we have as a result of our sins (breaking God’s law). 

Colossians 2:14 says that God has wiped out the note of debt that was against us.  The note of debt was against us because it required our death, for as it says in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death”.  God has wiped out that note of death by having His Son Jesus Christ die for our sins.

Let’s continue in verse 14.

Col 2:14 … And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

The “handwriting of requirements” was nailed to the cross.  That is, the note of debt we have as a result of our sins was nailed to the cross.

The expression “having nailed it to the cross” is imagery that Paul’s audience would immediately have understood.  When the Romans crucified someone, they nailed an inscription above the person’s head on his cross which named the crime for which he was being punished, such as “Murderer” or “Insurrectionist”.

To say that the handwriting of requirements (that is our note of debt of our sins) was nailed to the cross is another way of saying that Jesus died for our sins.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the “handwriting of requirements” is the note of the debt of our sins.  God has wiped that debt away by nailing it to the cross of Jesus Christ, that is, by Jesus Christ dying for our sins.

Colossians 2:14 doesn’t do away with God’s law.  Rather, it explains the wonderful truth that Jesus Christ died for our sins.