Old Testament Law Abolished

Colossians 2:6-19

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 2:14 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; 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
[KJV]

Paul warned the Colossians to not be deceived by people trying to turn them away from Christ. He told them about the "circumcision of Christ", which is a spiritual circumcision, not done with hands. See Genesis 17:10ff to find out more about circumcision.

In Colossians 2:13, Paul wrote that Christ brings people back to life out of the death that sin brings, forgiving all sins. Christ took the law out of the way and nailed it to his cross. Jesus defeated Satan and his minions at the cross.

The Colossians were told to not let anybody judge them in what they eat, or what they drink, or in respect to holy days, feasts, or the sabbath days. All of these things can be found in Old Testament Law. All of these things are "a shadow of things to come". The body is Jesus Christ. Many people are still clinging to the shadow, instead of moving into the body of Christ. Some of those people will also try to condemn you, telling you things like "You have to keep the Sabbath". Don't let them judge you in these things.

Some people pretend to be humble by saying various things. This false humility is designed to trick you into thinking that those people are spiritual people. Don't be fooled! If you want to realise real humility, think about God who created the whole universe. Think about Jesus Christ, who came to earth and lived a sinless life, loving and helping people. Think about Him dying voluntarily on the cross to remove the stain of sin from you. Think about Him, who never sinned, dying for your sins. Now think about yourself, all the sins you've committed, and compare yourself to Jesus. That should bring some real humility to you.

Paul warned the Colossians not to be tricked into worshipping angels. See Revelation 22:8-9 for a scripture which forbids worshipping angels. He told them that the reason that these false teachers were teaching false doctrine is because they aren't connected to Christ (Col 2:19). You'll find it's the same thing today, with false teachers having some very strange ideas about Jesus Christ.