Your question was:
>> How can I best articulate to someone how Gal. 4:8-11 and Col. 2:16-17 coordinates with Rom. 14:5-..?<<

Galatians 4:8-11 describes Christians who were being persuaded to keep elements of the Law of Moses (days, months, seasons, years) as necessary for salvation (cf. Gal. 5:4).  Hence, Paul was afraid he had labored in vain, for such attempts to be justified by the Law of Moses were a return to "bondage" (law cannot save, only condemn, Gal. 3:10-14).

Colossians 2:16-17 teaches that nobody has authority from God to "judge" that Gentiles were lost if they did not observe the law of Moses (cf. Acts 15:1).  The law of Moses has been abolished and it is not to be forced or compelled upon any person today (Gentiles or Jews) - Col. 2:14-15.

Romans 14:5:  This passage describes the exercise of one's liberty within the context of allowable things (cf. Rom. 14:1-4).  Romans 14 discusses lawful things which one may or may not have a conscientious scruple against (14:3, 6, 14, 18, 20).  So, whether one ate meat or abstained from meat, observed one day above another or not, both were approved by God in their conduct.  We are taught to not violate our conscience when we exercise a liberty granted to us by God (14:5, 14, 22-23).

Let me illustrate using Christmas.  There are some things about Christmas which are clearly condemned by the gospel of Christ, since they involved the religious traditions of men attempting to honor and worship Christ and His birth (Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Jno. 9; Rev. 22:18-19).  Such religious celebrations of the birth of Christ do not fit into Romans 14 - they are not authorized by the word of God.

There are other things about the Christmas holiday which are not associated with a religious observance of Christ's birth, but are expressions of secular celebration of the season (for example, candy canes and reindeer). Such matters do legitimately fall into Romans 14.  Some Christians have a conscience against anything associated with Christmas.  Others reject all religious activities but judge the other parts of the season to be allowable.  "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5).   The standard used in this verse is one's own conscience, not revealed truth.

That, as I understand it, is the difference between Rom. 14:5 and Gal. 4:8-11 / Col. 2:16-17).

To study more about Christmas visit my website at: http://www.bibleanswer.com/xmas.htm

Again, I'm sorry I overlooked your post.  Hope this is helpful.

Brotherly,
Joe

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Joe R Price
joe@bibleanswer.com

Bible Answers
http://www.bibleanswer.com

Mt. Baker church of Christ
http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker/
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