19.19

Nailed to the Cross (Box 19.1)

Colossians 2:14 uses a memorable image for how God forgave human trespasses (2:13) through Christ’s death. When a person was crucified, the Roman executioners attached to the cross a list of the condemned person’s crimes. Colossians says that the record of human failings—the list of all accusations that could be brought against human beings—was “nailed to the cross” of Christ. This is a colorful way of saying “Jesus died for our sins.” See also Colossians 1:14, 20, 22.