Paul was not wrong in
Colossians 2:16. It is those who interpret Paul as saying God's 10 commandments are abolished in
Colossians 2:14-17 however are indeed wrong putting Paul in contradiction to himself when he stated all through the new testament scriptures that Gods' law is established through faith that works by love in those who have been born again to walk in God's Spirit (see
Romans 3:31;
Romans 8:1-4;
Romans 13:8-10;
1 Corinthians 7:19;
Galatians 5:16 etc).
A careful reading of
Colossians 2:14 shows that it is not God's 10 commandment that are the point of discussion here but the certificate of debt from sin (the wages of sin is death -
Romans 6:23). Jesus paid the dept that was against us. He died for out sins so that we do not have to receive the penalty for sin that was against us. This is the context to
Colossians 2:16 not Jesus abolishing Gods' law.
Colossians 2:16-17 [16]Let no man therefore judge you in meat,6 or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:[17], Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
The above scriptures are in reference to the "
shadow sabbaths" in the annual Feast days that are fulfilled and continued in the body of Christ in the new covenant. In the old covenant there were many "shadow sabbaths" in the feast days and it is these that
Colossians 2:16 are in reference to not God's 4th commandment of the 10 commandments that give us a knowledge of what sin is when broken in the new covenant *
Romans 3:20;
Romans 7:7;
1 John 3:4.
These annual shadow sabbaths connected to the Feast days included; (1) Feast of Unleavened Bread (first and last day) *
Leviticus 23:6-8 (2) Feast of Trumpets *
Leviticus 23:24-25 (3) Day of Atonement *
Leviticus 23:27-32 (4) Feast of Booths *
Leviticus 23:34-36 (5) Feast of First Fruits *
Leviticus 23:39 (6) Feast days of Holy convocation of
no work (sabbaton
Colossians 2:16 *
Leviticus 23:7-8; 21;24; 27; 35-36. Unlike God's 4th commandment that is linked only to the "seventh day" of the week. These ceremonial sabbaths are linked directly to the Feast days and can fall on any day of the week depending on the yearly cycle.
It is impossible that
Colossians 2:16 is in reference to God's 4th commandment as God's 4th commandment is a part of the "finished work of creation" *
Genesis 2:1-3. It point backwards to the finished work of creation (
Genesis 2:1-3;
Exodus 20:8-11) not forwards to things to come (
Colossians 2:17). There was no sin and no law and no plan of salvation for unfallen man when the Sabbath was made for mankind *
Mark 2:27;
Genesis 2:1-3.
Now notice something very important. God's 4th commandment does not point forward to things to come *
Colossians 2:17 it points backward (Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy -
Exodus 20:8). Gods 4th commandment points backwards because it is a memorial of the finished work of creation and the celebration of God as the creator of heaven and earth...
Lets look at the commandment that points backward
not forwards...
Exodus 20:8-11 [8], REMEMBER the SABBATH DAY, to KEEP IT HOLY. <Why?> {Because it is a
memorial looking back to the finished work of creation that JESUS made it a Holy day of rest for mankind and commands us to keep it as a Holy day} [9], Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: [10], But the SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH of the LORD thy God {This is a direct reference from God's Word defining what the Sabbath is; The SABBATH = the SEVENTH DAY OF THE WEEK}: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: <
WHY> [11], For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the SEVENTH DAY: wherefore the LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH, and HALLOWED IT. {Reference is backward not forward to
Genesis 2:1-3}
Therefore,
it is impossible for God's 4th commandment seventh day Sabbath to be a "shadow law" as all the "shadow laws" are laws to do with God's plan of salvation from sin after the fall of mankind from the Mosaic book of the law. God's Sabbath was created when there was no sin, no fall, no law and no plan of salvation because mankind was in perfect harmony with God. – So there is nothing there in reference to Gods’ 4th commandment not being a requirement for Christian living in the new testament.
.............
SUMMARY: We should believe the teachings of Jesus in Mathew 5:17-20 and Paul when he says in
Hebrews 4:9 THEREFORE IT REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO KEEP THE SABBATH. Jesus did not come to abolish the law and the prophets he came to magnify them and make them honorable according to the prophecy of Isaiah (
Isaiah 42:21;
Matthew 5:17-28). According to Jesus unless we are born again into God’s new covenant promise to love we cannot enter into God’s kingdom because according to John those who are born again to walk in God’s Spirit do not practice sin (knowingly breaking God’s commandments) *
Galatians 5:16;
1 John 3:6-9. Those who practice sin according to John do not know God according to
1 John 2:3-4;
1 John 3:6 who agrees with Jesus in
Matthew 7:21-23 and we know that James tells us that if we knowingly break anyone of God’s 10 commandments in
James 2:10-11 we stand guilty before God of sin. According to Paul in
Hebrews 10:26-31 those who reject God’s Word in order to continue in known unrepentant sin are in danger of the judgement.
………………
Some questions now for you so that we can continue the discussion.
1. Where in the bible does it say that God’s 4th commandment is now abolished and we are now commanded to keep Sunday as a holy day of rest?
2. Are we in a saved state before God if we reject Gods’ Word once we have been given a knowledge of the truth in order to continue in known unrepentant sin?
Hope this is helpful
