Scripture to Read: Colossians 2:17
Since there is no space for legalism in any Christian’s life, God led Paul to continue by writing this in Colossians 2:17, “things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” In the Old Testament, God had laid out certain foods that were to be eaten and certain foods that were not to be eaten by the Jewish people. But when Christ completely fulfilled all of the Law of God through His life, most of those requirements were done away with by God. So, in regard to such things as days and foods that had been observed under the Mosaic Law, they were no longer binding under the New Covenant that was made through Christ our Lord. This “mere shadow” literally passed away when Christ came. So, for all Christians, all foods are pure. God tells us this as we read in 1 Timothy 4:3–5, “men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” It’s not that those previous laws were bad, because they were given by God. God used those laws as a shadow of the coming of Christ. Once Christ (the substance) had come, the shadow was lifted and the True Light was fully revealed (John 8:12, John 9:5, and John 12:46).
Challenge & Application
Why is it important to understand that Christ fulfilled all of the Law of God and therefore the requirements were done away with by God?
Why had God given the previous Laws in the Old Testament, and what happened to the shadow when Christ came?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!