“Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days— these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!”
(Colossians 2.16-17)
Paul now tackles some of the false teaching in Colossae head on and says that, because of everything we read in 2.8-15, do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days…
I read recently that the life focused on Jesus has no place in it for legalism: the very thing the Colossians were being presented with.
They were being told and taught what they could and could not eat or drink.
They were being told and taught when they should celebrate certain festivals and occasions.
They were being prescribed rest at the behest of others.
None of those things are inherently sinful – as long as they are not being adhered to in order to ‘earn’ righteousness from God – and Scripture certainly does give counsel and guidelines in all those areas. Bigger picture, however, the point is clear:
“… these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!”
Days, foods, drinks, periods of rest, and celebrations as once followed and practiced religiously by God’s people are no longer binding. They were, we read, shadows of the things to come. Again, they were not bad and certainly filled a role in that place and at that time, but, now we have the reality to which they all pointed is Christ!
There is tremendous freedom found in Christianity. We are no longer bound by a myriad religious rules in order to prove our worth to God and receive forgiveness and restoration. Yes, sure, there are lines that we are called to live within, but the legalistic and litigious culture of life-before-the-cross is gone for the believer.
Enjoy the freedom that being saved by grace and through faith brings. Use it to glorify the God who saved you and to serve Him and His people!
James Travis 