12 having been buried with him in baptism,t in which you were also raised with himu through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.v

13 When you were dead in your sinsw and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made youd alivex with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,y 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,z which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.a 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,b he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over themc by the cross.e

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge youd by what you eat or drink,e or with regard to a religious festival,f a New Moon celebrationg or a Sabbath day.h 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;i the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humilityj and the worship of angels disqualify you.k Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head,l from whom the whole body,m supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.n

20 Since you died with Christo to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,p why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:q