History tells us of soldiers who continued to stand guard after a war had been settled and treaties signed. Some ignored messages about treaties and others simply were never told. They were fighting for something already settled. Some of the Colossian believers were fighting a war already settled as well. False teachers were trying to convince them they needed more than faith in Jesus to have a true relationship with God. In choosing to follow certain legalistic practices, they were trying to fight a battle Jesus had already won.

ESV version Colossians 2:16-23