The conclusion that the law no longer binds us becomes difficult for some when they think about their favorite part of the law. Does the removal of the law affect matters as important as the Sabbath? Does it leave people free to eat foods once forbidden by the law? Colossians 2 helps us to understand the answer.
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him. 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. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:13-17)
Consider the context for this passage. Christians in the city of Colossae were under spiritual attack. False teachers tried to insert their own human philosophy and traditions (Colossians 2:8). Their teachings had a sort of “elemental” wisdom that included “asceticism”—strict rules for controlling the body—and famous rules from the Old Covenant (Colossians 2:8, 16-23).
Paul, however, insisted that “with Christ” they died to all such elementary regulations (Colossians 2:20
cf. 2:11-12; 3:1). Any and all debts based on rule-keeping had been cancelled! How did Christ take away such enormous, soul-destroying debt? “By canceling the record of debt… with its legal demands” and by “nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).
This explains why forgiveness in Christ is so complete. Christ did more than remove sin. He also removed sin’s root—the sense of indebtedness that always goes with legalism.