"16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."
Colossians 2:16-23
You will notice that v 16 begins with the word 'Therefore'. Whenever Paul says 'therefore' we must ask what it is there for? This apparently insignificant word (in Greek it is a small three letter word) is a pointer of great significance to what Paul is saying. 'Therefore' connects what follows very closely with what has gone before, as Paul draws out the implications of what he has just said, the implications of what Christ has done for us in His glorious redemption: 'Therefore', says Paul, 'in view of these tremendous facts, on the basis of what Christ has done for you in the Cross, on the basis of what Christ has done in you by faith, by incorporation into His death, knowing that you have been crucified with Christ and raised to new life in him, knowing that you have been forgiven, pardoned and given victory over the principalities and powers, 'do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink...' This is the significance of the 'Therefore'. Paul is building on the sure foundation of Christ's great redemption and he is saying 'Let the liberty and power of Christ equip and empower you so to live for him. Let the death and resurrection of Christ be your death to sin and your resurrection to new life'.