On the cross Christ seemed weak and beaten. In reality, He was defeating powerful enemies, “triumphing over them” (Colossians 2:15). Spiritual authorities such as the devil and his angels used legalistic rules to accuse and condemn us. But Christ disarmed them by removing their weapons which He nailed to the cross. This great truth leads to this conclusion:
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (Colossians 2:16)
“Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or… a Sabbath.”
When the law of Moses was in effect the people under it were judged about food, festivals and Sabbaths. The law made legal demands and gave the judgments against those who disobeyed. For example, one man who gathered wood on the Sabbath was judged and sentenced to death (Numbers 15:32-36). Now, there is a change from that type of system. Now, no one can judge Christians about such matters. The problems addressed by Colossians still exist today. There are still groups who invent their own “regulations… that have an appearance of wisdom” (Colossians 2:20-23). Some even want to make Christians follow the food rules of the law. They do not realize that we are no longer under the law. They ignore the fact that Christ made all foods “clean” for Christians (Mark 7:19; Romans 14:14; 1 Timothy 4:3-4). Likewise, there are some who insist that certain festivals and “holy days” be kept. Yet such days are no longer a matter of law, but of personal, private opinion (Romans 14:5-6).
There are groups who treat the seventh day of the week as especially sacred, a day to be set aside for worship and rest. They command Christians to keep the Sabbaths as taught by the law, and they judge harshly those who fail to obey them. Yet Scripture clearly tells us that no one can judge us now about the Sabbaths (Colossians 2:16). The Sabbaths were part of the law, and since we are no longer under the law it would be wrong to make us slaves again to it or to any part of it (Galatians 3:25; 5:1-4). As shall be seen, there is an even better way that has replaced the old way.