You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.
Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.
He canceled the record that contained the charges against us.
He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. Â
Colossians 2:13-14 NLT
What record of charges is against me?
- A record of infinite debt that I have amassed as one who daily breaks the perfect law of God.
- An endless I.O.U. that I have no hope of being able to pay back — all I have to offer in payment is sinful self effort–which only increases the indebtedness.
- A bill of debt with my signature at the bottom -Â I cannot blame or accuse another–that means I have signed my own death warrant. (Romans 6:23)
How did what was nailed to the cross change things?
- Jesus was nailed to the cross and was crucified – His death paid the sin debt in full. (Colossians 2:13)
- Pilate insisted that Jesus’ true title be nailed to the cross. God’s way of teaching that while it appeared Jesus was being shamed; He was actually being exalted. He is “The King of the Jews”. (John 19:19, Isaiah 52:13, Isaiah 53:5)
- God the Father nailed to the cross our record of charges. That record was destroyed–erased–blotted out–obliterated. (Colossians 2:14)
My sin–O, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole.
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!
from “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford
Jesus’ last words were “It is finished.”
This phrase means, it stands finished and it always will be finished.
Like an artist completing a picture that He had begun in eternity past. 
When Jesus said “It is finished,” He meant the picture of redemption is now complete.
His sacrificial death was the final brush stroke needed to pay our debt–nothing more could be added to His finished masterpiece!