There are those in Christianity who in their minds hold they are justified in saying Christians, at least Gentile Christians, are not compelled by scripture to obey the laws of Moses having to do with things like circumcision, food, sabbath, and feast days.
Such Christians hold such a mindset based on a number of biblical principles.
One principle is the fact that in Acts 15, the apostles and elders issue a decree that at least Gentiles are not required to be physically circumcised to obtain salvation (Acts 15:1). Moreover, there is some indication that the decree says the scope of the decision was not just about physical circumcision, but about the law of Moses in general (Acts 15:5). Indeed this observation is consistent with Romans 3:28 where it says:
Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
The emphasis of Acts 15 is salvation; the emphasis is not living a saved life through good works though such living is important. The apostles do in their council meeting speak about the people being able to learn about the law of Moses through attendance at the regular synagogue meetings (Acts 15:21). Therefore, the apostles certainly do not intend for us to conclude that keeping the law of Moses to some measure for some purposes is not important.
The question before us is although keeping the law of circumcision is not necessary for salvation, is it necessary for obedience in the sense of Jesus words in John 14:15 which he says If you love me, keep my commandments.
The case of the circumcision issue concerning Timothy (Acts 16:1-5) and Titus (Galatians 2:1-5) provides some insight.
The fact that Paul did not compel Titus to be circumcised shows that at least some of the law of Moses is not even necessary for obedience. That is, there are parts of the law of Moses that do not apply to at least Gentiles for any purpose, judgement or otherwise.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 provides some insight into Paul’s approach to such matters:
(19) For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
(20) And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
(21) To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
(22) To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
(23) And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Now less there be a misunderstanding let me say that does not mean that none of the law applies for obedience. For example, in Ephesians 6:2 Paul clearly quotes from one of the Ten Commandments about honoring parents as given in Exodus 20:12. So that law clearly applies to all Christians even today as a matter of obedience in the sense of John 14:15.
Colossians 2:14-17 provides the basis for another principle. That principle is that not only is physical circumcision unnecessary for salvation and for obedience but so are the ordinances in the law of Moses concerning such things as food, sabbath, feasts, and new moons.
For Colossians 2:14-17 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;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
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:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
So it tells us such things are not so important as for us to give our attention to judging one another as to whether we keep them or not keep them to include the when, how, and where of them.
Colossians 2:14-17 says the handwriting of ordinances are nailed to the cross being against us and a shadow of things to come. (Hebrews 10 mentions one example of shadows; Paul mentions others.)
The word ordinances captures with civil, ceremonial, and ecclesiastical and ritualistic decrees. The phrase handwriting of ordinances has to do with that which is written, the totality of the ceremonial and similar aspects of it.
Against us has the sense of not giving us the freedom or flexibility to live our lives without the threat of punishment for working on the Sabbath. Shadow means pointing to New Covenant spiritual truths. Shadows are in contrast to substance or reality. Chrit is the substance of the Sabbath.
Some say Paul only refers to forgiveness of sin and wiping away the penalty aspects of the law. They say handwriting of ordinances tie back to Colossian 2:13.
But if that is what Paul only meant to reference, he could have simply said that. But instead he uses the word that means ceremonial decrees.
What is against us? What is taken away? What is nailed to the cross? The it in Colossians 2:14 refers to handwriting of ordinances, all of it not part of it.
The fact that he seemingly later refers to such things as shadows says to me he is referring to the ceremonial laws themselves. That is why the New Testament explicitly prescribes adherence to all of the Ten Commandments except the Sabbath for the Sabbath is largely ceremonial in nature.
In Colossians 2:14 the phrase handwriting of ordinances refers to all ordinances. That includes priesthood, sacrifices, and circumcision as well as others. It certainly includes the items Paul lists in Colossians 2:16. That includes both the weekly sabbaths and the sabbaths associated with the annual feasts; the word feasts in Colossians 2:16 cover their associated sabbaths.
Now certainly that applies as to salvation and may even apply as to obedience. Since we are told not to judge and the scope of that judgment is not given it follows that we should not judge even as to obedience in the sense of John 14:15. In other words, if some folks believe they do not have to keep such laws for even obedience that is between them and God; others, should not say they are wrong. If some folks believe they do have to keep such laws for obedience, that is between them and God; others, should not say they are wrong.
The word translated ordinances in Colossians 2:14 is the Greek word dogma, G1378. Elsewhere, it is translated decrees with respect to issuance by Caesar (Luke 2:1; Acts 17:7), the apostles and elders (Acts 16:4). In Ephesians 2:15, it is translated ordinances seemingly with respect to God.
In Colossians 2:20 the Greek word dogmatizo, G1379, is translated ordinances. That Greek word only appears once in scriptures; it seems to be only used in relation to unreasonable commandments or expectations of humans, not God and not apostles and elders, as indicated by Colossians 2:21-23. On the other hand, dogma, G1378, seemingly may be used for God, his messengers, and other humans in high authority.
Now let us consider an example application of Colossians 2:14-17. Let us use the weekly sabbath which is one of the items listed in Colossians 2:16.
Colossians 2:14-17 does not say the Sabbath is done away with. It says Jesus fulfilled the legalistic rules as given under Moses and the prophets of the Old Covenant. It means the laws concerning the Sabbath are no longer binding including the death penalty. It means the where and how of it is no longer prescribed by God. The why of it remains. It is controversial as to whether the when of it remains. Hence, we are warned not to judge one another on such things.
Therefore, in the final analysis I observe the following:
It is not sin to get physically circumcised and it is not sin to not get physically circumcised.
It is not sin to not eat food identified as unclean food in the law of Moses and it is not sin to eat such food.
It is not sin to keep the Sabbath on Saturday and it is not sin to not keep the Sabbath on Saturday.
It is not sin to keep the feasts and it is not sin to not keep the feasts.
Now that does not mean there are not other laws for which it is sin not to obey and for which repentance is in order.
Moreover, I observe that whether or not a person is physically circumcised, keeps Saturday Sabbath, celebrates feast days, or new moons need not affect whether that person has a stable successful family and stays out of trouble in society and contributes to the community and society in a healthy manner.
As 2 Corinthians 3:6 says: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
And as Romans 7:6 says: But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
