Lord’s Library editors offer this Colossians 2:13-14 meaning, with commentary and supporting Scriptures, for your edification.
To gain a Colossians 2:13-14 meaning, see the verses: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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;”
These verses affirm that salvation is by grace through faith in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Paul describes the state of every person before salvation as spiritually dead, incapable of achieving righteousness on their own. See Ephesians 2:1: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:” Before faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, men are under condemnation.
The phrase “hath he quickened together with him” refers to eternal life believers receive through Christ. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so too are those who trust in Him made spiritually alive. This is entirely a work of God. See Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
Salvation is not about human reform but about divine regeneration—being made alive by the Spirit through faith in Christ alone. Jesus Himself declared this in John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Colossians 2:13-14 Meaning
The forgiveness of sins is not partial, conditional, or based on worldly merits but is absolute, and granted to all who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Psalm 103:12 illustrates this nicely: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” See this stance confirmed in Acts 13:38-39: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
The law could not bring salvation—only faith in Christ’s Finished Work can.
The law reveals sin but cannot save. See Romans 3:20: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law functions as a record of debt against sinners, declaring them guilty before a holy God. Yet through Christ’s work on the cross, this is erased.
See next Galatians 3:13: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” As one can see, Jesus took the punishment that the law demanded, fulfilling it completely on behalf of those who believe in Him.
In the ancient world, when a debt was paid in full, it was often marked as “canceled” or nailed to a post as evidence that it was no longer owed. Similarly, Jesus took the full record of sin and its legal demands and nailed them to the cross with Himself to show that the penalty had been fully satisfied.
See also Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” His suffering, death, and resurrection (according to the Scriptures) secured salvation for mankind, removing the condemnation that once stood against believers.
This passage in Colossians is a key, definitive statement of the sufficiency of Christ’s Blood Atonement. The cross was the means by which sin was dealt with, and salvation was made available to all who believe the Good News. See 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.”
Because the debt of sin has been fully paid, believers are no longer under condemnation but stand justified before a Holy God. Therefore, justification can only be by faith alone. We leave you with Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
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