BavarianWheels wrote:Kurieuo wrote:Colossians 2:13-17 -
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
A portion of this was introduced by Mandi, however, how do you harmonise this passage with your beliefs that the OT Law is still binding BW?
Kurieuo.
The Colossians passage is talking about the "rap sheet" of the criminal being crucified. It was a standard practice in the day, and was even done with Christ. The statement written over his head was the "accusation"...not the law that "accused" him.
While I understand the parallel to a "rap sheet," our "rap sheet" is not being suggested here. What is being taken and nailed to the cross in the passage? "The written code, with its regulations" itself!
Now Paul (and Timothy) are writing to those at Colosse, to strengthen their beliefs and set them straight on arguments that might otherwise deceive them (Colossians 2:2-4). I think Paul is quite clear when he states, "
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8) Paul explicitly says we should not be dependant on human tradition, and that such people who are, are hollow. On the outside it might display someone "religious" and who is Godly, but Paul indicated completeness is found by depending on Christ only.
What traditions are being spoken of? The traditions that were a shadow of Christ to come, within whom they received their reality—
"These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:17) "These" refers to things such as, dietry regulations (i.e., kosher), celebrated holy days, and also explicitly stated are sabbath days (v.16)! All these things were a shadow of Christ who was to come. All these things found their fulfillment in Christ. Christ is Lord of Sabbath (Luke 6:5). So does not Christ, who is Lord of the Sabbath, every right to declare it nailed to the cross!? Everything and everyone made complete in Christ, a completeness which is symbolised within the Sabbath.
Kurieuo.
