I Was Asked;
Were The Colossians being judged for keeping the Sabbath, or were they being judged for not keeping the Sabbath? Who was judging them, and did they want the Colossians to follow Torah?

Colossians 2:16 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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, . . .

At the beginning of the Church, it was made up of Jews who still lived as if Jesus had not yet been Crucified as the final atonement for sin and believed that holiness still came about by following the Law that God gave to Moses. They believed that the Gentile converts had to be baptized or washed in water to convert to Judaism as they believed that they were the true reformed Judaism and if a Gentile was to be a part they had to do as the Law demanded for converts, (Exodus 12:48; 20:10; 22:21)
John the Baptist demanded that Apostate Israel undergo a ritual bath a Baptism in water to show just how far they as a nation had turned their back on God. Peter did the same later confusing redeeming scattered Israel to Christ which was the goal before the calling of Paul (by Jesus Himself  and believing water baptism into the local Church after the calling of Paul was a requisite to Eternal Salvation.
We hear of the so-called “Church Fathers” and much is said about them.
Jesus is the Church Father and if there be anyone else credited with being one I can think of none other than the Apostle Paul. Called By the Lord Jesus Himself to bring in the Church age.
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”
Galatians 1:1 "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the deadWink . . ."
Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: . . .


Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood
him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
 
12 For before that certain came from James, he did
eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
 
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their
dissimulation.
 
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before
them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of
Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the
Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
 
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of
the Gentiles,
 
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith
of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of
the law shall no flesh be justified.

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Yet many continued to harass Gentile converts that were saved by faith in Christ alone, trying to shame them into changing over to a Salvation by works religion.
Paul here is telling the Colossian Church that it does not make any sense to begin in faith in Christ accepting the free Gift and then trying to earn it by works.
When you receive a free gift that is exactly what it is. You cannot give a gift and then tell them what to do with it. Or does an honest man give a gift and then take it back because they did not use it the way the giver intended?
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:. . .
[Notice (HAVE redemption), NOT WILL HAVE.]
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
[Using man's reasoning like "You must be good enough" or "Are you doing enough?", "This is a contract between you and God. You do your part, He does His part." and on and on it goes.]
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
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 Christ.
[Again as I pointed out above, using the reasoning of man.]
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
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 Christ:
[No human hands involved. Baptized in the Spirit not in water. Bringing you into the Family of God by the operation of God alone. Not the laying on of human hands to give you the gift of the Holy Ghost but God personally gives you the gift by His operation and not man.]
12 Buried with him in baptism,[submerged in the Spirit of God, NOT water] wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
[I am not saying do not be baptized in water. You can do this in joining with a local Church if they require it but do not to be born again. God will "born you again" Himself through His operation, Baptizing you in the Holy Ghost. THEN you may be baptized in water to physically show what God has already done to you. This is called "Believers Baptism". It is the Baptism of the saved, NOT baptism to be saved.]
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 cross;. . .

So Paul explains that because Jesus has given you this gift that is already yours do not allow them to rob you of your joy in the Lord with their carnal reasoning.

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the usingWink after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Paul goes on teaching in the rest of his letter how to live out a productive Christian life in pleasing God and honoring the Salvation so freely given to us.

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