The "shadow" is specifically referenced in the two verses I cite - both of which refer to the shadow in the present tense - meaning still in existence.
Col 2:17 states that the things in v.16 ARE a shadow of things to come.... V.16 states those things are food/drink, feast days, new moons, Sabbath days which are a shadow; not were a shadow. These celebrations are specified in the law which are commanded by God for his people to observe - including both the Jews and the gentile believing Colossians. So in v.16 Paul tells the Colossian believers to not let anyone outside the church judge them for not doing those practices; rather it is the exact opposite as he is tells them to not let anyone outside the church judge them because they are doing those practices. Since those practices contained in the law ARE a shadow, the Colossians were still doing them. While Jesus fulfilled the law, he specifically pointed out that He did not abolish it either. Thus the shadow of the law still remains as it does not provide justification but it always as our tutor, directs us to Jesus as it's ultimate fulfillment.
That is confirmed in the Galatians & Romans passages you cited at the law is our trainer, tutor, guardian as it never justifies us. Only faith in Jesus justifies. The Galatians verse states "we are no longer under a trainer;" but just because we are no longer under a trainer it does not mean that the trainer/law no longer exists. The Romans passage states that the "righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us" but it does not say that the law no longer exists. In fact the law is the standard of righteousness that God requires of us by which we are measured. Without the law, there would be no standard of righteousness/holiness would there? That is precisely why Rom 3:20 states "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. And Rom 3:31 "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
In proper context, the verses in Gal 4 do not refer to things in God's law. You cited vs.9-10 but overlooked v.8 which states " Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods." Thus in vs.9-10 Paul criticizes the Galatian believers for turning back again to the weak and beggarly elements (which by nature are not gods, v.8) by observing days, months, times and years. These are pagan days, months, times and years which the Galatian believers used to observe/practice when they were pagans. Thus Paul rebukes the Galatians for reverting back to their pagan practices. Paul is not rebuking them for following God's law.
"Are a shadow" because Paul was writing during a time when the temple still stood. In a way, they still are a shadow because the so-called "Jewish" holidays (appointed times of the LORD, not appointed by the Jews) are still observed today by Jews and also even by many Christians.
However, the shadow is still the shadow, and what you say and what I say regarding whether or not Paul was telling the Colossians not to let anyone judge them for
observing these laws vs. not to let anyone judge them for
not observing these laws, are based on our assumptions. You say Paul was rebuking the Galatians for going back to their pagan practices. I say they had probably been told they were to observe the appointed times of the LORD by the Jewish party - the same party which had insisted they be circumcised.
Neither you nor I have any proof, either way. So it's an assumption.
However, the are other statements by Paul, and other facts, which lean towards what I say, not what you say, such as the fact that Paul told both the Christians in Rome and the Christians in Galatia, that they are dead to the law (Romans 7:4; Galatians 2:19). There is also the fact that the law is the basis of the covenant which was broken by the continued breaking of the law and disobedience of the people, which is why an entirely New Covenant was promised (Jeremiah 31:31). Both covenants were ratified with blood, but only the blood of Christ is the blood of the
eternal covenant.
So the assumptions you and I make and how we interpret the very scriptures you quote, depends on our starting-premise. Mine is different to yours, and we can argue about it till the cows come home from pasture, but you will not have convinced me, and vice-versa.
What I've often wanted to ask HARK is, which laws does he observe, exactly? (Like give me a list of those he deems applicable, and why, forgetting about those he does not deem applicable). I just want to know "what laws" he observes. My guess is, they would be:-
1. Dietary laws.
2. Keeping the sabbath day (on Saturday, of course, which I agree, is the sabbath day).
3. Observing Passover, Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks, Shavu'ot (Pentecost), Rosh Hashanah (the day of trumpets), the Day of Atonenemt and the Fast of Tabernacles? If he observes some and leaves some of these out, then why?
How strictly does he observe all this? And are there other laws he observes, aside from the above?
Does Israel keep the laws regarding the sabbath years? If not, why not?
I have no problem at all with Jewish Christians ("Messianic" Jews) observing all the above 3 laws - it's part of their culture, but I do not see it as a
legal requirement that must be obeyed any longer - not for Jews, and certainly not for Gentiles. Why? Because it's only a shadow, a type, of Christ in us - and both He, the apostle Paul and the apostle John taught us that love for God and love of neighbor
fulfills all the requirements of the law.
So the way we interpret the scriptures you mention, depends on our assumption, which depends on our starting premise.
