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.

Colossians 2:16-17

The enemies of God frequently attempt to deceive the believers to put them back under bondage to the law by perverting the Scriptures. See the article: Does Colossians 2:16–17 Abolish the Sabbath and Festivals? If the saints are going to recognize a day, those of the Jewish calendar would be preferable to Xmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.

Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Galatians 4:3-5 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Freedom from the bondage to the law is our liberty in Christ, a very misunderstood doctrine of Salvation. We, those in Christ, are free from the letter of the law so that we might walk in the spirit of the law. The spirit of the law is contained in two great precepts: love God with all your heart, and love others as yourself. If you judge all your thoughts and actions by these, you will have fulfilled the law. We do not need the letter of the law spelling out every infraction possible.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Spirit of the Lord is in us. We are at liberty. The OT saints did not have the Spirit indwelling them; they did not have eternal salvation, as Christ Jesus had not atoned for sin as yet.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

They were kept under the law to protect them, not as many mistakenly thought, to establish self-righteousness. It was not the works of the law God wanted; it was faith toward Him. God gave us the law and commanded to keep It. I believe and trust God; I will keep it.

Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. ³²Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

It was their faith in God manifested by the keeping of the law that preserved and protected them from the consequences of their sins until the atonement was made. The atonement having been made, we have the Spirit and eternal salvation. The law has no more power to condemn us. We are not under the law; we are dead to the law.

Romans 7:6 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.

I say all this to say that faith and works are incompatible. Adding works, making anything law mandatory, even keeping the Sabbath or baptism, and grace and faith are voided out. All that would matter is whether you keep the mandatory requirements. Hence, the correct interpretation of Colossians 2:16-17 is that keeping the Sabbath or anything else is not a requirement, and we are not to be judged on whether we keep them or not.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Paul states that the things he has mentioned are not judged today, but are a shadow or picture of things to come in the future. Most likely in the Millennial reign of Christ and/or beyond.

Hebrews 8:4-5 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: ⁵Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Romans 14:5-6 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. ⁶He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

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