What is clear is,Paul never used the word Sabbath in Romans 14.It is also clear that a Sabbath could not be in reference here as it is not a day esteemed by man but one esteemed by God.The fact that Paul refers to the law and prophets to support his position(Romans 15:1-4) is proof of this as these scriptures do not refer to the Sabbath in this way nor gives any leeway for someone to choose their own Sabbath.
The statement about not judging about Sabbath days is explained in the study below:
THE REAL SHADOW
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat,or in drink,or in respect of an holy day,or of the new moon,or of the Sabbath days:which are a
shadow of things to come;but the body is of Christ."[
Colossians 2:16,17]
This scripture is the one most easily used to say, the Sabbath is no longer to be observed as this was only a shadow of things to come.
An examination of the context however will reveal clearly that the Sabbath mentioned in the passage could not be a reference to the weekly Sabbath.
The scriptures do show Paul affirming the ten commandments and the law in general as being used by the Christian to identify sin and for us to know what is love.[
Romans 13:8-9;7:7;I Timothy 1:8-11]
How could he,in
Colossians 2:16,17,be proscribing Sabbath observance.This would be contradictory not only to his own writings but also to the whole counsel of scripture.[
Matthew 5:17-20;19:16-19;I
John 3:4;
James 2:9-12;
Romans 2:11-13]
Paul in
Colossians 2,is explaining the value of Christ to those who have believed in him. He says:
"And ye are complete in him....In whom also ye are circumcised....,in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.[
Colossians 2:10,11]
He elaborates:
"And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,hath he quickened together with Him,having forgiven you all trespasses;
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."[
Colossians 2:13,14]
From the above we see that Jesus by His death on the cross has caused our sins to be forgiven.This happened because His death caused the handwriting of ordinances which were against us to be blotted out.But what are these handwriting of ordinances?
The passage implies,sins were committed, which put into effect ordinances, which were against us because of these sins.
Some claim they were the ten commandments ie. get rid of the law and apparently you will get rid of sin.If this was so then there would be no need for Christ to die.Others say they were the written records of our sins.The text and scriptures do not support either claim.
handwriting - cheirographos(Grk),something hand written ie.,a manuscript,spec.a legal document or bond ie.a covenant or binding agreement.
ordinances - dogma(Grk),a law.
Without various human philosophies which try to interpret this phrase,the meaning is clear.The handwriting of ordinances which were against us refers to a legal document or a law by which persons are bound and which had to do with our sins.
Were the ten commandments against us because they show us our sins? No.[
Romans 7:7-13;I
John 5:3]
"For
sin,taking occasion by the commandment,
deceived me,and by it slew me.Wherefore the
law is holy,and
the commandment holy just and good."[
Romans 7:11,12]
The problem is sin and the fact that sin brings a curse and death which was prescribed by the law.These are the handwriting of ordinances which were against us.The most far reaching of these ordinances was found in
Deuteronomy 27:26:
"Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of the law to do them.And all the people shall say amen."[See also,
Deuteronomy 27:1-26;
Ezekiel 18:4,20]
Paul in commenting on this said:
"
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,being made a curse for us:for it is written,Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."[
Galatians 3:13;see,vs.10-12]
Surely a curse is against us and would require either the life of the sinner or of some suitable substitute.Christ is now that substitute according to the apostle Paul.[
Colossians 2:13,14;
Galatians 3:13.] Prior to Christ,how was this done?
The focus of Paul in
Colossians 2:10-15 is to show that the work of Christ is sufficient to make us righteous in God's sight.The curse is removed and those practices which mitigated against the curse are now no longer necessary because of Christ's death also.Hence Paul says:
"Let no man therefore judge you in
meat and
drink....."[
Colossians 2:16,17]
The offerings and sacrifices made in the old covenant to mitigate against the curse are replaced by the one and perfect sacrifice of Christ.
"For
the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things,can never with those
sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect....For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins."[
Hebrews 10:1-4]
"Which was
a figure for the time then present, in which were
offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;Which
stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [
Hebrews 9:9-12]
It is the sacrifices and feasts in which they took place year by year that are the shadows of
Colossians 2:16,17.[See,
Leviticus 23]
"These are the feasts of the Lord,which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations,to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord,a burnt offering,and
a meat offering,a
sacrifice,and
drink offerings,everything upon His day."[
Leviticus 23:37;
Hebrews 9:6-10]
These yearly feasts had Sabbaths attached to them(holy convocations) and it is these which are being referred to in
Colossians 2:16,17, not the Sabbath of the ten commandments. Special sacrifices and activities also took place on the new moon which was important in determining the times for the feasts.[
Numbers 10:10;28:11]
Paul is simply trying to show that the Lord Jesus has replaced those sacrifices and hence we longer have to perform them nor keep the feasts and days in which these were scheduled to occur.
Note that the weekly Sabbath was made long before Israel and before sin came into the world,whereas the feasts and associated Sabbaths were introduced because of sin and the need to atone for the same.[
Jeremiah 7:21-23;
Galatians 3:19:
Genesis 2:1,2;
Mark 2:27.]
