Colossians 2 Encourages Keeping the Law Part 1
Many refer to Colossians Chapter 2 to say that the Feast days and Sabbath are no longer applicable for believers today.
Join us as we examine the verses often cited for their defense.
We can't tell you how many times we've spoken to someone about the feast days who are quick to refer to Colossians 2 in saying that we no longer have need of them. Then they quoted from the NIV which reads as...
Colossians 2:16 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.
Many today use the NIV as their choice of Bible translation. There is no perfect translation but the NIV truly does a horrible job translating these particular verses. Namely verse 17 where it says "were to come". The original Greek does not say "were to come" but rather
Colossians 2:16,"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 Messiah."
Strong's Concordance- melló: to be about to Original Word: μέλλω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: melló Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-lo)
Definition: to be about to Usage: I intend, am about to; I delay, linger.
HELPS Word-studies 3195 méllō – properly, at the very point of acting; ready, "about to happen." 3195 (méllō) is used "in general of what is sure to happen" (J. Thayer).
The ASV along with others actually does a good job in translating it...
things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Messiah.
This truly changes everything. Think about it. One translation says ....
NIV-"were to come"
ASV- "to come"
From past tense to future tense; big difference. Night and day type of difference. Many use this verse from the NIV...
"things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah"
...to say, "See? You don't have to let someone judge you because your not following the sabbath or the feast days now. Now its all about following Messiah."
But this verse is actually where Paul is encouraging the believers to not let people judge them because they are observing the right day as found in the instruction of Yahweh. To understand this we must not forget the instructions of Paul just eight verses before...
Colossians 2:8,"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Messiah."
Paul just said rather than on Messiah. Who or what is Messiah? He was and is the living WORD of Yahweh. All of it. This includes the law of Elohim; the Torah. The instructions that the Heavenly Father has given us. Is Yahweh's law (Torah)...
..."empty and deceptive philosophy"?
..."human tradition"?
..."spiritual forces of the world"?
...That Paul refers to in verse 8? Not even close. The context of Colossians 2 is very clear as to what Paul is opposing. He is not opposing the eternal WORD of Elohim. Along those same lines, compare what Paul says in verse 20...
Colossians 2:20," If you have died with Messiah to the the principles of the world [notice it doesn't say the principles of Elohim], why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings."
The Torah is not "human commands and teachings." The Torah is the instructions of Elohim the Father.
Many study Bibles give the context of which Paul was addressing here in Colossians. It was the Gnostics that came in and started polluting the doctrine of the Colossians. The Gnostics directed the Colossians away from what Paul originally taught and practiced.
Paul taught and practiced the law of Elohim; doing Bible things in Bible ways. They even began imposing severe self discipline, gnostic beliefs, and man made commands that had to do with bodily sensory pleasures. Neglecting the body and the like...
Colossians 2:20," If you have died with Messiah to the the principles of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings."
Yahweh's feast days were a big problem for the Gnostics because these days are all about eating and celebrating. That's why they were called feast. The Gnostics were into worshipping angels and pursuing secret knowledge.
They hated Yahweh's feast days because they thought anything of physical pleasure (including food) was evil. This is why it is easily concluded by most that it is the Gnostics that were telling the Colossians to not keep the feast days.
This is why Paul was saying that they should not let themselves be judged for keeping them. Again some study Bibles give side notes that expound on the Gnostics like that of the Zonderan Life Application Bible.
Colo 2:8 (KJV) ,"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah."
This ties back to...
Galatians 4:3, "3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:"
Obviously the traditions of men, rudiments, or elements of the world these two scriptures are referring to cannot be talking about the Law of Yahweh which came from above.
These things that will spoil or corrupt, and put a believer in bondage, are ways and thinkings of fleshly wicked men, who are influenced by vain worldly things.
It is this and not the Law of Yahweh that the remaining section of Colossians chapter 2 is all about. This theme remains constant throughout the letter of Colossians, but against all the consistent scripture evidence we've seen so far, men have tried to change it to Yahweh's commandments rather than the wicked pagan commandments, philosophies, and worldly traditions of men.
Yahweh by His Spirit, inspired men to write the Bible; and his word as a whole is consistent. This is why when it comes to interpreting Elohim's inspired scriptures, we should not take any one source of scripture alone, and interpret its meaning without also comparing and seeing if this interpretation or meaning is consistent in the light of all that Yahweh Elohim has to say on that subject throughout the scriptures as a whole.
Acts 20:27(BLB),"For I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you the whole counsel of Elohim."
If your interpretation of a passage starts to stray away from, or go against the consistent flow and message of Elohim's word as a whole, you need to rethink the accuracy of your interpretation; or else risk embracing a false interpretation that makes inconsistent the message of Yahweh's word as a whole.
Rather than coming up with your own man made meaning or interpretation of scripture, to remain consistent with Elohim's whole counsel, it is often best whenever possible to interpret what a scripture means or doesn't mean through other scripture.
Paul was really the whole time against these traditions of man made beliefs. Paul even states that these are the commandments and doctrines originating from men not Yahweh Elohim.
Paul let's us know this is not about Yahweh's law; but men's religious traditions. We must understand the law is not human commands and teachings. The law is Elohim's commands. It is His instructions to give us in teaching us how to live...
2 Timothy 3: 16,"Every Scripture (Including the Torah) is Elohim-breathed and profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 so that the man of Elohim may be complete, having been fully equipped toward every good work."
The encouragement in Colossians 2:16 is regarding their obedience to that which was established in the law. Verse 17 doesn't say that these are feast days are done away with in Yahshua...
17.."things which are a (prophetic) shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Messiah."
...It actually shows that they are a foreshadow of things to come regarding Yahshua. This means that they are to be followed as reminders of that which is still yet to happen. In Leviticus 23 we have Yahweh Himself proclaiming His seven feast in order...
1-3 Yahweh's weekly Sabbath Day a seventh day weekly celebrated both individually and corporately by resting unto Yahweh. This day is to have a holy convocation and is a reminder of how he originally created the Heavens and Earth and rested.
It is also a reminder of how presently He creates us anew to rest in Yahshua. And it's also a rehearsal of how in the future he'll create a new Heaven and Earth for His eternal Sabbath Day to come.
4-14 Yahweh's Feast of Unleavened Bread a seven day annual spring feast kept on the fifteenth day of the first month of Yahweh's calendar year. The first and last day of this feast are to be holy convocations, including the regular weekly sabbath day that occurs during the seven day feast is to be holy days of rest.
These seven days foreshadowed the future sacrificial work of Messiah on Calvary as the sacrificial lamb of Yahweh who takes away the sins and it's penalty of death over all who put their faith and hope in Him. It is a time that represents what we should be doing our whole life as far as shunning sin symbolized by leaven for a number of seven days which in Yahshua represents completion.
It's a time when we are to thank Yahweh Elohim for the blessing of His first fruit provision (Yahshua; represented in the lamb and the wheat crops). This first fruit acknowledgment we give to him alone, as belonging to HIm, allows a continued harvest that He graciously gives for His people to have life and that more abundantly.
15-22 Yahweh's The Feast of Weeks a annual summertime single holy day of rest feast whose count down to celebration is clearly linked to the first fruits that was first acknowledged in thanks to Yahweh after the weekly sabbath that occurred earlier during the Feast of unleavened bread.
At the holy convocation a New Wave offering of first fruits is to be presented during this Feast. This was also a reminder that foreshadowed the future giving of Yahweh's law not just written on stone tablets but also on our hearts via the Holy Spirit.
23-25 Yahweh's The Feast of Trumpets a annual fall time single holy day of rest feast that occurs during the new moon; on the first day of the seventh month of Yahweh's calendar. It is celebrated as a holy convocation by very symbolic trumpet blast.
26-32 Yahweh's The Day of Atonement a annual fall time single holy day of rest that is the strictest of all sabbath days. It is held also during the seventh month; ten days after Trumpets. We Yahweh's people are to have a holy convocation while fasting the whole day to humble our souls before Yahweh on this sabbath day.
33-44 Yahweh's The Feast of Tabernacles a annual seven day fall feast also celebrated in the seventh month five days after atonement which is the fifteenth day. On the first day we are to gather the produce of the land as well as goodly tree branches from nature and rejoice before Yahweh.
The first day is a holy day of rest in which we are to have a holy convocation. For the whole seven days we celebrate by dwelling in booths or temporary shelters as a memorial of how we as Yahweh's people have in the past, are presently, and will in the future, tabernacle with Yahweh our Elohim.
Each of the seven days we are to give our offering unto Yahweh. When the seven day feast of Tabernacles is over Yahweh purposely attached...
v.36 Yahweh's (shemini ‘ă-ṣe-reṯ )The eight sacred assembly a single annual feast day wherein we no longer dwell in temporary booths. Eight is Yahweh's number of new beginnings.
With the celebration of this day we have come full circle because it symbolizes our rehearsal of that as yet to be created New Heaven and New Earth that we'll live on with the eternal tabernacle of Yahweh forever and ever.
Think about it for a moment. On this side of Calvary, the spring feast of Unleavened bread (Pesach), the summer feast of weeks (Pentecost/Shavuot), were holy days that represented the past, but the reality was actually found in Messiah.
Meaning that those holy days were prophetically pointing to Yahshua all along. Now they point back to him as a memorial to all he did. So here in Colossians 2...
"16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. "
Paul mentions the festivals that the new moon celebrations and sabbath Day as prophetic pointers as well. Paul is referencing the fall holy days. These are the day of trumpets, the day of atonement, the feast of Tabernacles, The eigth sacred assembly.
The new moon celebration is the day of Trumpets. The only day given to us by Yahweh Elohim that falls on a new moon.
This represents preparation for the day of Yahshua's return. Paul also mentions the sabbath day. So what is the sabbath day a foreshadow of? including The Day of Atonement which happens to be the strictest sabbath day of the year.
This can also apply to Yahshua's 1000 year millennial reign on this planet pictured during the 7 day Feast of Tabernacles; including the eternal rest & new beginnings of the last eight sacred assembly. The day of trumpets, the day of atonement, the feast of Tabernacles, The eight sacred assembly, and the throughout the entire year celebrated weekly sabbath, are to be observed as reminders for us of what is to come.
They are not a shadow of things that "were to come" as so many want to say but rather they are a shadow of things that are coming. So we continue in pursueing the instructions from the Father knowing that they are pointing us to the coming return of Yahshua.
A DEEPER VIEW INTO PAUL'S MESSAGE TO THE COLOSSIANS:
Back in Genesis, when mankind in the Garden of Eden first swallowed Satan's philosophy of vain deceit in not trusting Elohim and seeking to wrongfully make the creation God rather than the Creator, the Earth which was originally given by Elohim as man's dominion, became cursed under Satan's ruling Law of sin and death...
Gen 3:4 (KJV)"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For Elohim doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
2 Cor. 4 (NLT)"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Messiah, who is the exact likeness of Elohim."
What brought mankind under Satan's cursed rule of having a fallen sinful nature (Col 2:13-15) was their willfully choosing to follow his leading and accepting as their own, his doctrine or philosophy of not obediently trusting Elohim's provision as all they needed to be complete.
They followed and adopted Satan's way of heart, in trying in our own weak and beggarly strength and power to make the creation (themselves, someone else, or something else) rulers or gods over them, besides their rightful Elohim and Creator Yahweh....
Isaiah 14:12"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of Elohim: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
Back in the Garden of Eden, the day mankind was tempted or inspired by Satan, to fall into no longer believing or trusting in Elohim's provision to make them complete, they experienced spiritual death.
They died from an existence of only "good" close intimate spiritual relationship with Yahweh Elohim, with no struggle, enmity or strife, unto an existence where Satan's doctrine or Law of sin and death was written on their hearts.....
Gen.2:17,"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
You say what does this have to do with Colossians? Back to...
Colo 2: 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of our Mighty One (Godhead) bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Similar to Adam and Eve who could have avoided being corrupted by not following and taking Satan's lead, Paul is trying to keep the Colossians from making the same mistake with the gnostic teachers.
Paul's telling them that we need none other doctrines because we are complete in Yahshua who is the head of all. We are complete in Him. We don't need anything outside of Elohim that wicked fleshly men inspired of Satan might invent.
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah
In Yahshua, we are circumcised in the heart by His blood covering our sins thereby separating us from enslavement to our fleshly sin natures; so that we are resurrected from death unto new life...
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of Yahweh, who hath raised him from the dead.
We buried the old fleshly man nature that enslaved us unto the sinful Law and condemned image of Satan's nature; which is the enemy of Yahweh's good and Holy Law. Unlike what happened to Adam and Eve, in Yahshua we are now a new creation free to walk in the righteousness of Yahweh's still existing Holy Law.
It is the nature of Satan and his fallen angel companions that is contrary to Elohim's law and must be justly punished in the Lake of fire. Originally the Lake of Fire was never prepared or meant for mankind.
It was only meant and prepared for the Satan and a third of the angels that got thrown out of heaven for followed behind him. Time and time again, following after Satan's example or lead has proven to have powerful consequences that put the participants thereof in a wretched state of condemnation....
Luke 10:18,"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
Revelation 12:" 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
7And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
It wasn't until Adam and Eve in their disobedience at the fall willfully followed behind Satan and like the angels adopted Satan's nature of anti- Elohim's Law and rule of philosophy, written upon their hearts, that mankind made themselves worthy candidates to be kicked out of Elohim's original prepared place, the garden paradise of Eden.
They became condemned as companions with Satan and his angels worthy for the Elohim prepared place that originally was only meant for Satan and his angelic followers...
Matthew 25:41,"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:"
It was not His own holy and good Law that Yahshua abolished with his atoning work on Calvary; but Satan's Law or doctrine of enmity, strife and struggle, working within us; to making us guilty of being against the righteous Law character of Elohim.
It is this satanic inspired fleshly Law of inward sin nature, which corrupted us and brings us into rebellion against Elohim; and condemnation of death...
Eph. 2:15,"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Now after being freed in the gracious work of the Law of the Spirit and Life in Yahshua, unlike when we were enemy's of Elohim and his Law; under the control of the separate Law of our flesh...
Rom.8:7(NLV),"For the sinful nature(mind of the flesh) is always hostile to Elohim. It never did obey Elohim's laws, and it never will."
...we shouldn't be going back to any old traditions and philosophies of men. that would cause us to once again have enmity against Yahweh Elohim's Law. We in our new Holy Spirit written Upon heart, are now freed and given the power to submit to and fulfill Elohim's righteous Law; walking as Yahshua walked.
Keeping this in mind, there are a few considerations that should be noted or acknowledged concerning the letter to the Colossians; that show how unlikely it is for Paul to be referring to the Law of Yahweh as these old traditions and philosophies of men.
First we can safely assume from Colossians 1:21 that the church planted in Colossae was composed mainly of Gentiles that came out of the pagan worship of other gods that the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 10: 20,28, also described as demons...
“The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to Elohim, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons...if anyone says to you, ‘This was offered to idols,’ do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you...”.
When translated properly, Paul in Galatians 4:8,9 challenges the Galatians by saying the same thing...
"You who were enslaved to those who were not really gods... How can you turn back again to those weak and beggarly spirits (stoicheia), whose slaves you want to be once more?"
The RSV however renders stoixeia as "elemental spirits," i.e. spiritual powers or "cosmic spirits" (DNTT, 2, 828). This views 4747 /stoixeíon("elements") as ancient astral beings associated with the very beginning (make-up) of the earth.]
This ties to a reference about Satan and his demonic spirits in Eph. 6:12...
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers (kosmokratoras) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Strong's: 2888 kosmokrátōr (from 2889 /kósmos, "world" and 2902 /kratéō, "to rule") – properly, world-ruler, referring to Satan (demons) influencing the lives of worldly people (used only in Eph 6:12).
Going back to the Old Testament, there is more proof that ‘demons’ are the same as idols. “They sacrificed to demons, not to Elohim ...” (Dt. 32:17, cp. Ps. 106:37).
; so again, in Colossians 2:8...
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah."
It's unlikely that Paul would be talking to the mainly Gentile church of Colossians who came out of a pagan world of false religions and traditions of false gods, about going back to the Law of Elohim which they never followed before receiving salvation in Messiah...
Rom.2:12,(NLT)"When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had Elohim's written law. And the Jews, who do have Elohim's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it."
Instead of Elohim's Law, Paul was referring to the Satanic inspired corrupt mind state of the inward fleshly nature or Law of sin and death inherited naturally by all men born as Adam's descendants. This same Law works within to cause us to worship the creation and to rebel against the Law of Yahweh our righteous Creator...
Again, Romans 8:7, says, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither indeed can be."
Colo 2: 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 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 tree (cross);"
You see, just having mankind who is controlled by the Law of their sinful natures recieving and looking at the written expression of Yahweh's good and Holy Laws, statutes, and commandments given for their good wasn't enough. By doing this Elohim only showed us what sin was; and how terrible it is in the light of Yahweh's revealed righteousness...
Rom. 7: 7,13(NLT)," 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Elohim forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses Elohim's good commands for its own evil purposes."
As Paul has indicated, even before we are saved in Yahshua, It is Elohim who begins to awakens our understanding by exposing us to the knowledge of His good and righteous Law and how terrible sin is, so that we can now believe and have the will to please Him by striving to keeping His Law and no longer sinning...
Philippians 2:13,"For it is Elohim which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
Though this is a gracious first step that Elohim bestows upon us, this step alone cannot save us from the inward control and corruption of the Law of our sin nature still ruling our hearts. It keeps us from doing and having the righteousness that we see in Elohim's written word.
As the previous scriptures show, without Elohim's indwelling Spirit of Yahshua, our sin nature just uses this good knowledge of what we are not supposed to do to entice us towards doing it all the more; furthering it's satanically inspired goal of condemning us.
Now that we know the truth, with each and every failure, our sin nature seeks to strengthen it's grip on us by demoralizing and weakening our Elohim given will with a growing futility as we are tortured by the knowledge that we keep falling short, enslaved by its lust to continued sin; unable to remain steadfast in doing the righteousness we see expressed in Elohim's Law....
Romans 7:15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.…"
As the apostle Paul just communicated and demonstrated in his life previous to having been delivered by the sanctifying work of Yahshua Messiah who came in the form of the indwelling power of Holy Spirit living; which set him free from his wretched condition of enslavement to sin...
Romans 7:24,"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
....having the knowledge of Elohim's written Law, was never enough to make us righteous because that in itself is not powerful enough to overturn the grip of control that the separate Law of Sin and Death (flesh) has over us...
Romans 8:3,"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
This is why after his death burial and resurrection Yahshua fulfilled the New Covenant prophesy by sending his Holy Spirit to live inside us.
He, thus, changed our old hearts, which from the garden of Eden were written upon and controlled by the satanic ordinances, or the Law of sin and death.
That old heart was changed to a new heart whose nature is directed towards Elohim's Law which is written upon it through living in intimate relationship with Yahshua Messiah as Savior and Lord.
Romans 8:2,"For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Jer. 31:31Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh:
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith Yahweh, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people"
Ezek. 11:18"When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19"And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God
Ezek. 36:25"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.26"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
If you read the prophesies of what Elohim says he will do in his New Covenant work of the Holy Spirit; it becomes consistently and abundantly clear that contrary to the false interpretations of anti-Law teachers, under the New Covenant of grace, Elohim is not abolishing or making void the doing and observing of His own Law, statutes and ordinances....
Ezek.11: 27"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.… "
People wanting to do away with the righteous keeping of Elohim's law, wrongfully view Elohim's law as bad for us; and Yahshua who is Elohim in the flesh had to come down and nail his own Elohim given law to his people to the tree. People who embrace this false interpretation are doing exactly what the apostle Paul said Elohim forbids us who have faith in Messiah Yahshua of doing!
Romans 3:31,"Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Thinking that faith in Yahshua some how makes void, or abolishes Elohim's Law is against the clear understanding that Paul himself shares about his hard to understand and often misunderstood to mean the opposite teachings.
Mainstream Christians twist Paul's teachings to paints a illogical picture of Elohim as divided against his own rules he Himself set for his Kingdom people....
Mt. 12: 25,"And Yahshua knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:"
So when we interpret Colossians 2:14, in the light of the whole counsel of Yahweh's word, we have to ask, Is Yahweh's Law really "the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,"? This is when for the sake of consistency, we must interpret or define scripture with scripture. Remember Deut. 10: 13,"To keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"
Rom. 7: 12,16,"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good."
From Old covenant to new, when accepted by Yahweh as his sanctified people, Elohim has always graciously given His good and holy Law for our good. Elohim's Law was never and is not now against us; they are for our good.
Once we've been forgiven and justified as Yahweh's people, Elohim's Law not only helps us know what sin is; and how to avoid being corrupted, by walking in righteousness, if reminds us that if we do sin, Yahweh has given us a way of repentance so we can be forgiven or cleansed by Him.
As Yahweh's people, we by faith are forgiven by Elohim of our sins,it is not His Law which comes from him that is taken out of the way or nailed to the tree; but mans own fleshly law of sin nature inherited from Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Rom. 5: 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Rom. 7:23,"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members; 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Join us as we examine the verses often cited for their defense.
We can't tell you how many times we've spoken to someone about the feast days who are quick to refer to Colossians 2 in saying that we no longer have need of them. Then they quoted from the NIV which reads as...
Colossians 2:16 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.
Many today use the NIV as their choice of Bible translation. There is no perfect translation but the NIV truly does a horrible job translating these particular verses. Namely verse 17 where it says "were to come". The original Greek does not say "were to come" but rather
Colossians 2:16,"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 Messiah."
Strong's Concordance- melló: to be about to Original Word: μέλλω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: melló Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-lo)
Definition: to be about to Usage: I intend, am about to; I delay, linger.
HELPS Word-studies 3195 méllō – properly, at the very point of acting; ready, "about to happen." 3195 (méllō) is used "in general of what is sure to happen" (J. Thayer).
The ASV along with others actually does a good job in translating it...
things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Messiah.
This truly changes everything. Think about it. One translation says ....
NIV-"were to come"
ASV- "to come"
From past tense to future tense; big difference. Night and day type of difference. Many use this verse from the NIV...
"things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah"
...to say, "See? You don't have to let someone judge you because your not following the sabbath or the feast days now. Now its all about following Messiah."
But this verse is actually where Paul is encouraging the believers to not let people judge them because they are observing the right day as found in the instruction of Yahweh. To understand this we must not forget the instructions of Paul just eight verses before...
Colossians 2:8,"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Messiah."
Paul just said rather than on Messiah. Who or what is Messiah? He was and is the living WORD of Yahweh. All of it. This includes the law of Elohim; the Torah. The instructions that the Heavenly Father has given us. Is Yahweh's law (Torah)...
..."empty and deceptive philosophy"?
..."human tradition"?
..."spiritual forces of the world"?
...That Paul refers to in verse 8? Not even close. The context of Colossians 2 is very clear as to what Paul is opposing. He is not opposing the eternal WORD of Elohim. Along those same lines, compare what Paul says in verse 20...
Colossians 2:20," If you have died with Messiah to the the principles of the world [notice it doesn't say the principles of Elohim], why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings."
The Torah is not "human commands and teachings." The Torah is the instructions of Elohim the Father.
Many study Bibles give the context of which Paul was addressing here in Colossians. It was the Gnostics that came in and started polluting the doctrine of the Colossians. The Gnostics directed the Colossians away from what Paul originally taught and practiced.
Paul taught and practiced the law of Elohim; doing Bible things in Bible ways. They even began imposing severe self discipline, gnostic beliefs, and man made commands that had to do with bodily sensory pleasures. Neglecting the body and the like...
Colossians 2:20," If you have died with Messiah to the the principles of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings."
Yahweh's feast days were a big problem for the Gnostics because these days are all about eating and celebrating. That's why they were called feast. The Gnostics were into worshipping angels and pursuing secret knowledge.
They hated Yahweh's feast days because they thought anything of physical pleasure (including food) was evil. This is why it is easily concluded by most that it is the Gnostics that were telling the Colossians to not keep the feast days.
This is why Paul was saying that they should not let themselves be judged for keeping them. Again some study Bibles give side notes that expound on the Gnostics like that of the Zonderan Life Application Bible.
Colo 2:8 (KJV) ,"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah."
This ties back to...
Galatians 4:3, "3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:"
Obviously the traditions of men, rudiments, or elements of the world these two scriptures are referring to cannot be talking about the Law of Yahweh which came from above.
These things that will spoil or corrupt, and put a believer in bondage, are ways and thinkings of fleshly wicked men, who are influenced by vain worldly things.
It is this and not the Law of Yahweh that the remaining section of Colossians chapter 2 is all about. This theme remains constant throughout the letter of Colossians, but against all the consistent scripture evidence we've seen so far, men have tried to change it to Yahweh's commandments rather than the wicked pagan commandments, philosophies, and worldly traditions of men.
Yahweh by His Spirit, inspired men to write the Bible; and his word as a whole is consistent. This is why when it comes to interpreting Elohim's inspired scriptures, we should not take any one source of scripture alone, and interpret its meaning without also comparing and seeing if this interpretation or meaning is consistent in the light of all that Yahweh Elohim has to say on that subject throughout the scriptures as a whole.
Acts 20:27(BLB),"For I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you the whole counsel of Elohim."
If your interpretation of a passage starts to stray away from, or go against the consistent flow and message of Elohim's word as a whole, you need to rethink the accuracy of your interpretation; or else risk embracing a false interpretation that makes inconsistent the message of Yahweh's word as a whole.
Rather than coming up with your own man made meaning or interpretation of scripture, to remain consistent with Elohim's whole counsel, it is often best whenever possible to interpret what a scripture means or doesn't mean through other scripture.
Paul was really the whole time against these traditions of man made beliefs. Paul even states that these are the commandments and doctrines originating from men not Yahweh Elohim.
Paul let's us know this is not about Yahweh's law; but men's religious traditions. We must understand the law is not human commands and teachings. The law is Elohim's commands. It is His instructions to give us in teaching us how to live...
2 Timothy 3: 16,"Every Scripture (Including the Torah) is Elohim-breathed and profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 so that the man of Elohim may be complete, having been fully equipped toward every good work."
The encouragement in Colossians 2:16 is regarding their obedience to that which was established in the law. Verse 17 doesn't say that these are feast days are done away with in Yahshua...
17.."things which are a (prophetic) shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Messiah."
...It actually shows that they are a foreshadow of things to come regarding Yahshua. This means that they are to be followed as reminders of that which is still yet to happen. In Leviticus 23 we have Yahweh Himself proclaiming His seven feast in order...
1-3 Yahweh's weekly Sabbath Day a seventh day weekly celebrated both individually and corporately by resting unto Yahweh. This day is to have a holy convocation and is a reminder of how he originally created the Heavens and Earth and rested.
It is also a reminder of how presently He creates us anew to rest in Yahshua. And it's also a rehearsal of how in the future he'll create a new Heaven and Earth for His eternal Sabbath Day to come.
4-14 Yahweh's Feast of Unleavened Bread a seven day annual spring feast kept on the fifteenth day of the first month of Yahweh's calendar year. The first and last day of this feast are to be holy convocations, including the regular weekly sabbath day that occurs during the seven day feast is to be holy days of rest.
These seven days foreshadowed the future sacrificial work of Messiah on Calvary as the sacrificial lamb of Yahweh who takes away the sins and it's penalty of death over all who put their faith and hope in Him. It is a time that represents what we should be doing our whole life as far as shunning sin symbolized by leaven for a number of seven days which in Yahshua represents completion.
It's a time when we are to thank Yahweh Elohim for the blessing of His first fruit provision (Yahshua; represented in the lamb and the wheat crops). This first fruit acknowledgment we give to him alone, as belonging to HIm, allows a continued harvest that He graciously gives for His people to have life and that more abundantly.
15-22 Yahweh's The Feast of Weeks a annual summertime single holy day of rest feast whose count down to celebration is clearly linked to the first fruits that was first acknowledged in thanks to Yahweh after the weekly sabbath that occurred earlier during the Feast of unleavened bread.
At the holy convocation a New Wave offering of first fruits is to be presented during this Feast. This was also a reminder that foreshadowed the future giving of Yahweh's law not just written on stone tablets but also on our hearts via the Holy Spirit.
23-25 Yahweh's The Feast of Trumpets a annual fall time single holy day of rest feast that occurs during the new moon; on the first day of the seventh month of Yahweh's calendar. It is celebrated as a holy convocation by very symbolic trumpet blast.
26-32 Yahweh's The Day of Atonement a annual fall time single holy day of rest that is the strictest of all sabbath days. It is held also during the seventh month; ten days after Trumpets. We Yahweh's people are to have a holy convocation while fasting the whole day to humble our souls before Yahweh on this sabbath day.
33-44 Yahweh's The Feast of Tabernacles a annual seven day fall feast also celebrated in the seventh month five days after atonement which is the fifteenth day. On the first day we are to gather the produce of the land as well as goodly tree branches from nature and rejoice before Yahweh.
The first day is a holy day of rest in which we are to have a holy convocation. For the whole seven days we celebrate by dwelling in booths or temporary shelters as a memorial of how we as Yahweh's people have in the past, are presently, and will in the future, tabernacle with Yahweh our Elohim.
Each of the seven days we are to give our offering unto Yahweh. When the seven day feast of Tabernacles is over Yahweh purposely attached...
v.36 Yahweh's (shemini ‘ă-ṣe-reṯ )The eight sacred assembly a single annual feast day wherein we no longer dwell in temporary booths. Eight is Yahweh's number of new beginnings.
With the celebration of this day we have come full circle because it symbolizes our rehearsal of that as yet to be created New Heaven and New Earth that we'll live on with the eternal tabernacle of Yahweh forever and ever.
Think about it for a moment. On this side of Calvary, the spring feast of Unleavened bread (Pesach), the summer feast of weeks (Pentecost/Shavuot), were holy days that represented the past, but the reality was actually found in Messiah.
Meaning that those holy days were prophetically pointing to Yahshua all along. Now they point back to him as a memorial to all he did. So here in Colossians 2...
"16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. "
Paul mentions the festivals that the new moon celebrations and sabbath Day as prophetic pointers as well. Paul is referencing the fall holy days. These are the day of trumpets, the day of atonement, the feast of Tabernacles, The eigth sacred assembly.
The new moon celebration is the day of Trumpets. The only day given to us by Yahweh Elohim that falls on a new moon.
This represents preparation for the day of Yahshua's return. Paul also mentions the sabbath day. So what is the sabbath day a foreshadow of? including The Day of Atonement which happens to be the strictest sabbath day of the year.
This can also apply to Yahshua's 1000 year millennial reign on this planet pictured during the 7 day Feast of Tabernacles; including the eternal rest & new beginnings of the last eight sacred assembly. The day of trumpets, the day of atonement, the feast of Tabernacles, The eight sacred assembly, and the throughout the entire year celebrated weekly sabbath, are to be observed as reminders for us of what is to come.
They are not a shadow of things that "were to come" as so many want to say but rather they are a shadow of things that are coming. So we continue in pursueing the instructions from the Father knowing that they are pointing us to the coming return of Yahshua.
A DEEPER VIEW INTO PAUL'S MESSAGE TO THE COLOSSIANS:
Back in Genesis, when mankind in the Garden of Eden first swallowed Satan's philosophy of vain deceit in not trusting Elohim and seeking to wrongfully make the creation God rather than the Creator, the Earth which was originally given by Elohim as man's dominion, became cursed under Satan's ruling Law of sin and death...
Gen 3:4 (KJV)"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For Elohim doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."
2 Cor. 4 (NLT)"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Messiah, who is the exact likeness of Elohim."
What brought mankind under Satan's cursed rule of having a fallen sinful nature (Col 2:13-15) was their willfully choosing to follow his leading and accepting as their own, his doctrine or philosophy of not obediently trusting Elohim's provision as all they needed to be complete.
They followed and adopted Satan's way of heart, in trying in our own weak and beggarly strength and power to make the creation (themselves, someone else, or something else) rulers or gods over them, besides their rightful Elohim and Creator Yahweh....
Isaiah 14:12"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of Elohim: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
Back in the Garden of Eden, the day mankind was tempted or inspired by Satan, to fall into no longer believing or trusting in Elohim's provision to make them complete, they experienced spiritual death.
They died from an existence of only "good" close intimate spiritual relationship with Yahweh Elohim, with no struggle, enmity or strife, unto an existence where Satan's doctrine or Law of sin and death was written on their hearts.....
Gen.2:17,"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
You say what does this have to do with Colossians? Back to...
Colo 2: 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of our Mighty One (Godhead) bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Similar to Adam and Eve who could have avoided being corrupted by not following and taking Satan's lead, Paul is trying to keep the Colossians from making the same mistake with the gnostic teachers.
Paul's telling them that we need none other doctrines because we are complete in Yahshua who is the head of all. We are complete in Him. We don't need anything outside of Elohim that wicked fleshly men inspired of Satan might invent.
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah
In Yahshua, we are circumcised in the heart by His blood covering our sins thereby separating us from enslavement to our fleshly sin natures; so that we are resurrected from death unto new life...
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of Yahweh, who hath raised him from the dead.
We buried the old fleshly man nature that enslaved us unto the sinful Law and condemned image of Satan's nature; which is the enemy of Yahweh's good and Holy Law. Unlike what happened to Adam and Eve, in Yahshua we are now a new creation free to walk in the righteousness of Yahweh's still existing Holy Law.
It is the nature of Satan and his fallen angel companions that is contrary to Elohim's law and must be justly punished in the Lake of fire. Originally the Lake of Fire was never prepared or meant for mankind.
It was only meant and prepared for the Satan and a third of the angels that got thrown out of heaven for followed behind him. Time and time again, following after Satan's example or lead has proven to have powerful consequences that put the participants thereof in a wretched state of condemnation....
Luke 10:18,"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
Revelation 12:" 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
7And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
It wasn't until Adam and Eve in their disobedience at the fall willfully followed behind Satan and like the angels adopted Satan's nature of anti- Elohim's Law and rule of philosophy, written upon their hearts, that mankind made themselves worthy candidates to be kicked out of Elohim's original prepared place, the garden paradise of Eden.
They became condemned as companions with Satan and his angels worthy for the Elohim prepared place that originally was only meant for Satan and his angelic followers...
Matthew 25:41,"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:"
It was not His own holy and good Law that Yahshua abolished with his atoning work on Calvary; but Satan's Law or doctrine of enmity, strife and struggle, working within us; to making us guilty of being against the righteous Law character of Elohim.
It is this satanic inspired fleshly Law of inward sin nature, which corrupted us and brings us into rebellion against Elohim; and condemnation of death...
Eph. 2:15,"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Now after being freed in the gracious work of the Law of the Spirit and Life in Yahshua, unlike when we were enemy's of Elohim and his Law; under the control of the separate Law of our flesh...
Rom.8:7(NLV),"For the sinful nature(mind of the flesh) is always hostile to Elohim. It never did obey Elohim's laws, and it never will."
...we shouldn't be going back to any old traditions and philosophies of men. that would cause us to once again have enmity against Yahweh Elohim's Law. We in our new Holy Spirit written Upon heart, are now freed and given the power to submit to and fulfill Elohim's righteous Law; walking as Yahshua walked.
Keeping this in mind, there are a few considerations that should be noted or acknowledged concerning the letter to the Colossians; that show how unlikely it is for Paul to be referring to the Law of Yahweh as these old traditions and philosophies of men.
First we can safely assume from Colossians 1:21 that the church planted in Colossae was composed mainly of Gentiles that came out of the pagan worship of other gods that the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 10: 20,28, also described as demons...
“The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to Elohim, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons...if anyone says to you, ‘This was offered to idols,’ do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you...”.
When translated properly, Paul in Galatians 4:8,9 challenges the Galatians by saying the same thing...
"You who were enslaved to those who were not really gods... How can you turn back again to those weak and beggarly spirits (stoicheia), whose slaves you want to be once more?"
The RSV however renders stoixeia as "elemental spirits," i.e. spiritual powers or "cosmic spirits" (DNTT, 2, 828). This views 4747 /stoixeíon("elements") as ancient astral beings associated with the very beginning (make-up) of the earth.]
This ties to a reference about Satan and his demonic spirits in Eph. 6:12...
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers (kosmokratoras) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Strong's: 2888 kosmokrátōr (from 2889 /kósmos, "world" and 2902 /kratéō, "to rule") – properly, world-ruler, referring to Satan (demons) influencing the lives of worldly people (used only in Eph 6:12).
Going back to the Old Testament, there is more proof that ‘demons’ are the same as idols. “They sacrificed to demons, not to Elohim ...” (Dt. 32:17, cp. Ps. 106:37).
; so again, in Colossians 2:8...
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah."
It's unlikely that Paul would be talking to the mainly Gentile church of Colossians who came out of a pagan world of false religions and traditions of false gods, about going back to the Law of Elohim which they never followed before receiving salvation in Messiah...
Rom.2:12,(NLT)"When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had Elohim's written law. And the Jews, who do have Elohim's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it."
Instead of Elohim's Law, Paul was referring to the Satanic inspired corrupt mind state of the inward fleshly nature or Law of sin and death inherited naturally by all men born as Adam's descendants. This same Law works within to cause us to worship the creation and to rebel against the Law of Yahweh our righteous Creator...
Again, Romans 8:7, says, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither indeed can be."
Colo 2: 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 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 tree (cross);"
You see, just having mankind who is controlled by the Law of their sinful natures recieving and looking at the written expression of Yahweh's good and Holy Laws, statutes, and commandments given for their good wasn't enough. By doing this Elohim only showed us what sin was; and how terrible it is in the light of Yahweh's revealed righteousness...
Rom. 7: 7,13(NLT)," 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Elohim forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses Elohim's good commands for its own evil purposes."
As Paul has indicated, even before we are saved in Yahshua, It is Elohim who begins to awakens our understanding by exposing us to the knowledge of His good and righteous Law and how terrible sin is, so that we can now believe and have the will to please Him by striving to keeping His Law and no longer sinning...
Philippians 2:13,"For it is Elohim which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
Though this is a gracious first step that Elohim bestows upon us, this step alone cannot save us from the inward control and corruption of the Law of our sin nature still ruling our hearts. It keeps us from doing and having the righteousness that we see in Elohim's written word.
As the previous scriptures show, without Elohim's indwelling Spirit of Yahshua, our sin nature just uses this good knowledge of what we are not supposed to do to entice us towards doing it all the more; furthering it's satanically inspired goal of condemning us.
Now that we know the truth, with each and every failure, our sin nature seeks to strengthen it's grip on us by demoralizing and weakening our Elohim given will with a growing futility as we are tortured by the knowledge that we keep falling short, enslaved by its lust to continued sin; unable to remain steadfast in doing the righteousness we see expressed in Elohim's Law....
Romans 7:15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.…"
As the apostle Paul just communicated and demonstrated in his life previous to having been delivered by the sanctifying work of Yahshua Messiah who came in the form of the indwelling power of Holy Spirit living; which set him free from his wretched condition of enslavement to sin...
Romans 7:24,"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
....having the knowledge of Elohim's written Law, was never enough to make us righteous because that in itself is not powerful enough to overturn the grip of control that the separate Law of Sin and Death (flesh) has over us...
Romans 8:3,"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
This is why after his death burial and resurrection Yahshua fulfilled the New Covenant prophesy by sending his Holy Spirit to live inside us.
He, thus, changed our old hearts, which from the garden of Eden were written upon and controlled by the satanic ordinances, or the Law of sin and death.
That old heart was changed to a new heart whose nature is directed towards Elohim's Law which is written upon it through living in intimate relationship with Yahshua Messiah as Savior and Lord.
Romans 8:2,"For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Jer. 31:31Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh:
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith Yahweh, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people"
Ezek. 11:18"When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19"And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God
Ezek. 36:25"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.26"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
If you read the prophesies of what Elohim says he will do in his New Covenant work of the Holy Spirit; it becomes consistently and abundantly clear that contrary to the false interpretations of anti-Law teachers, under the New Covenant of grace, Elohim is not abolishing or making void the doing and observing of His own Law, statutes and ordinances....
Ezek.11: 27"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.… "
People wanting to do away with the righteous keeping of Elohim's law, wrongfully view Elohim's law as bad for us; and Yahshua who is Elohim in the flesh had to come down and nail his own Elohim given law to his people to the tree. People who embrace this false interpretation are doing exactly what the apostle Paul said Elohim forbids us who have faith in Messiah Yahshua of doing!
Romans 3:31,"Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law."
Thinking that faith in Yahshua some how makes void, or abolishes Elohim's Law is against the clear understanding that Paul himself shares about his hard to understand and often misunderstood to mean the opposite teachings.
Mainstream Christians twist Paul's teachings to paints a illogical picture of Elohim as divided against his own rules he Himself set for his Kingdom people....
Mt. 12: 25,"And Yahshua knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:"
So when we interpret Colossians 2:14, in the light of the whole counsel of Yahweh's word, we have to ask, Is Yahweh's Law really "the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,"? This is when for the sake of consistency, we must interpret or define scripture with scripture. Remember Deut. 10: 13,"To keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"
Rom. 7: 12,16,"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good."
From Old covenant to new, when accepted by Yahweh as his sanctified people, Elohim has always graciously given His good and holy Law for our good. Elohim's Law was never and is not now against us; they are for our good.
Once we've been forgiven and justified as Yahweh's people, Elohim's Law not only helps us know what sin is; and how to avoid being corrupted, by walking in righteousness, if reminds us that if we do sin, Yahweh has given us a way of repentance so we can be forgiven or cleansed by Him.
As Yahweh's people, we by faith are forgiven by Elohim of our sins,it is not His Law which comes from him that is taken out of the way or nailed to the tree; but mans own fleshly law of sin nature inherited from Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Rom. 5: 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Rom. 7:23,"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members; 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death."