Paul makes similar statements in Colossians as he does in Galatians and Romans, except here he speaks of "human tradition", whereas the Law was instituted by God.
Further on he says this:
It appears to me that Paul is mixing traditions here. He is speaking of the Sabbath but also speaking of asceticism.
Colossians 2 speaks of how unsaved people have a conscious and a law of their own (See Colossians 2:14-16.). Paul speaks of the Law as an example, but he does not mean we are free from the Law but still bound by some other law. The fact of the matter is people come up with new laws of their own all the time. "Don't listen to secular music", "don't dance", "don't play cards", "don't vote for democrats," "don't vote for Republicans," and, as Paul said, "do not taste, do not touch." Interestingly, he lists such rules as coming from 'elemental spirits' and not from God.
But perhaps the best point to be made is found in Colossians 1 and your reference to the Law not being in reference to the Law of Moses:
As for Colossians:
Well, for one, the word "law" does not appear in Colossians. The closest thing is the reference to "ordinances" in Colossians 2:14. It says,
"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 2:14).
This is in reference to the ceremonial laws in the Old Testament Law of Moses like the Sabbaths and the dietary laws. Christ had nailed to the cross these ordinances. How so? Colossians 2:16-17 says,
"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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body
is of Christ."
Meaning the Law is like a shadow (that passes away) and the person who casts that shadow is Jesus Christ.
Two, as for Colossians 2:18-19: Paul is warning us about a certain Messianic Jewish cult (Who believe we must keep the Law of Moses for salvation, and who believe in angel worship). Paul is saying in Colossians 2:14 that Jesus blotted out the handwriting of ordinances and nailed them to the cross. Yet, these Jews (who believe in Jesus) believe in keeping the dietary law and the sabbaths and they believe in angel worship (oddly enough). This is not proof that the Law is not always referring to the Law. This is merely a new heresy whereby the Jews (Who believed in Jesus) had went back to the Old Law for salvation and they added a new false belief to their arsenal of self destruction by also worshiping angels, too.
You said:
The exhortation is to continue in faith. To remain stable and steadfast in faith, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel. We do not remain steadfast in our works but in our faith, and by doing so our hearts move toward perfect love which makes our actions those actions of perfect love (going beyond the law.)
Galatians, as you know, specifically says you are not perfected by the flesh. (Yes, I also mean entire sanctification.) It says "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3.) Paul clearly means trying to be moral by the flesh rather than the Spirit. ("Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?" - Galatians 3:2). Given how Paul treats these concepts in Colossians, it would be rational to believe that Paul means any kind of moral or spiritual work done 'in the flesh' is no good and does not justify, ultimately perfect, or gain anyone any element of salvation.
It's rational to make this statement because if God's Law is not good enough, why would any other law be good enough? Obviously laws like "don't dance" and "don't play cards" will be even less good enough. So which laws apply? The Ten Commandments? Including the one to keep the seventh day holy? Or will we pick and choose which of the Ten is to be kept 'spiritually' and which are to be kept literally?
Obedience does not get you obedience. Faith gets you obedience. Aristotle would disagree, of course, but I don't believe Paul or Peter or James would. I don't believe Luther would. And, I don't believe John Wesley would either. In fact, any good Arminian - Wesley or Arminius himself - emphasise faith over works, because they know that real faith produces real works.
I'm in agreement that obedience is important but I don't believe obedience necessary for salvation. Salvation = a free obedience from love. The process of salvation in itself frees the individual from obedience having to be a necessity or duty to obedience simply becoming a free expression of love to God and others. This is what Wesley meant about 'perfect love' and what 'entire sanctification' is all about, isn't it? A free, perfect love that obeys not out of necessity but in freedom. A heart fully oriented toward God, steadfast in faith, and believing God for all things, in all things, and for all things.
As for obedience:
Well, obedience is the result of the foundation of our faith (Which is God's grace, i.e. Jesus Christ). We are initially and ultimately saved by Jesus Christ when we seek His forgiveness, an we believe in His death and resurrection for salvation. Obedience then flows from God's grace (Jesus). For a believer's fruit (deeds) is proof that Jesus lives on inside of them; And without a person abiding in Jesus there is no eternal life for them (See 1 John 5:12).
Anyways, while we are initially and ultimately saved by God's grace, the Bible also teaches that we are saved by God directed works done through us, too.
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18).
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16).
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, "(1 Timothy 6:3-4).
"...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6).
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2).
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9).
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
“...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).
"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." (1 Corinthians 16:22).
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15).
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10).
"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38).
”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:24-26).
"...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62).
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21).
"But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:8-11).
”And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:12-15).
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:20).
“For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Romans 11:21-22).
"...but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:17).
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12).
“...And having become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22).
”Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:34-40).
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:41-46).
”His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21).
”And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30).
”Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation [i.e. as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.”] (Hebrews 3:12-15) (Note: The explanation on verse 15 in brackets is taken from the Living Bible Translation (TLB)).
”Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)” (Hebrews 3:10-11).
”Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (Hebrews 4:11).
“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:10).
“He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).
Side Note:
As for Romans 2 in regards to the Gentiles doing the thing contained in the Law without having the Law. This is talking about their keeping of the Moral Law (like do not murder, abuse children, steal, etc.) naturally as a part of their genetic wiring by God. Today, you can turn on the news and see how unbelievers report on the crimes of others (i.e. the breaking of the moral law). Granted, sin has tainted our world and men have become desensitized to certain sins (Whereby they do not see that they are wrong). But most of the unbelieving world agrees that murder, rape, theft, abuse of children, etc. is really wrong. Paul brings this point up because he says everyone will be judged by their works.