WHY I KEEP THEM
The
answer
is quite simple. God commands that we keep them and commands us
to
reject non Christian days like Easter, Christmas Halloween. If
you are going to call yourself a Christian you'll have to start obeying
God and not expect God to accept human practices.
Observing Christmas, etc.
It is a well known fact that the origins of Christmas, Halloween, Saint's days and so are of a non Christian or pagan origin. It always surprises me that that in itself would not be enough to deter someone. If you then add the ample amount of scripture found in both the New and Old books of the Bible, this shold be a closed issue. It is clear to me that someone has done a very good job of clouding the clear language surrounding this issue.OT: "do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' "You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way"
NT: "But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods... how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years."
Aren’t The Old Testament Laws Of The Sabbaths Done Away With?
Didn’t Jesus come to abolish the
law? Well Christ said , "Do
not think that I came to destroy the Law … I say to you …one jot or one
tittle will by no means pass from the law …”(Mt 5:17-18) People believe that certain sections of
law were abolished; yet clearly we see God’s elect obeying Him until the
end as in this passage from the book of Revelation, "Here
is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments
of God ...and their works follow them." (Rev 14:12-13)
I think the simple reason people wrangle at these points of law obedience is because they do
not want to obey. This is why some are set apart as God's elect, found in Old and New Testament keeping God’s
laws and annual Sabbaths. while others follow Satan who, “…deceives
the whole world” (Rev 12:9.) So here’s a tip, a motto I live
by in regard to religion. And that is if it is a popular and widely
held belief, I check it out because it is most likely wrong.
New Testament Christians Kept God’s Sabbaths
Yes, that's right, they kept them after he died in the New Testament Church continued to keep them for hundreds of years. We know that Jesus also kept them, he kept God’s laws perfectly. No one argues that point. Several scriptures like Jn 2:23, Jn 7:37 and many others show Christ attending some of the seven annual festivals. Christ is called Lord of the Sabbath. The festivals He observed are integral to God’s Holy Days. They are Christ centered, have meaning and and reveal the future.
Christians are told: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”(1Jn 2:6) Do you walk as Christ does, or at least try?
The New
Testament Christians can be found celebrating His Holy Days in scriptures
like Acts 2:1, Acts 20:6,
Acts
27:9, Acts 18:21Acts
20:16 and I Corinthians 5:7-8. The Holy Days were already known and being kept. Letters written by Paul were to people who were
keeping them already. Here is something to think about, if some of the Pharisees who were
strong, very strong in law obedience who also believed in Christ (yes
there were some) constantly hounded Paul on circumcision for his converts,
do you think they would let disobedience to the Holy days slide?
The New Testament Christians were keeping them. It was not until
the council of Nicea and Constantine that groundwork was laid for the later
Councils of Antioch and Laodicea which prohibited Christians from celebrating
Passover with the Jews and forbade Christians from observing the biblical
Sabbath.
Why Are We Keeping Them Today?
Again it is obedience, but the seven annual Holy Days also point to what God is accomplishing
for mankind upon the earth and what will be accomplished. As an example, one of the annual holy days is the Passover. So think about the relationship between the original Passover
in Egypt, which was the protection by the blood of the physical lamb from
the plagues upon Egypt and Christ who is our Passover lamb whose blood
also offers protection. His blood protects us from sins that would
normally keep us out of the Kingdom if we continue to abide in Him and
from plagues that will soon occur. Certainly
a typology is clearly represented here. This same typology is seen
in the seven annual Holy days and weekly Sabbath. And here they are: (You can look up these
scriptures by simply clicking on them and then use your back arrow to return
to where you were.)
The weekly Sabbath
The Sabbath represents not only a weekly rest but also points to a final resting with God. It is a day that conveys a special relationship with God. In regard to the 10 Commandments is the one that acts as a bridge between the first three Commandments that relate to God and the remaining six that relate to man. It is a very spiritual law in that it is one of the very few laws that actually point toward obtaining eternal life. Notice the following Scripture:
"Blessed
is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who
keeps from defiling the Sabbath, ...to them I will give in My house And
within My walls a place ... I will give them an everlasting name That
shall not be cut off.....Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
... I will bring to My holy mountain" (Isa 56: 1-7)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread:
This festival
represents a process of eliminating sin, represented by the leaven from
our home (our inward man). It shows that we need to be obeying God. A Christian continually needs to
work in overcoming sin and observe this time as a remembrance. In its
original use it was the escape from the Egyptians [Dt
16:3] who were a 'type' of sin. The flatness of bread shows a
humbling of spirit [1Cor 5:7-8]. Christ died for us but that does not mean
we can continue to sin.
The Feast of Pentecost:
This
Festival represents the imbibing of the Holy Spirit and the law of God.
This can be seen in the connection between giving of
law, God's Spirit, and the event at Mount Sinai. Later there
will be a greater outpouring of God's spirit. These is one of the
spring festivals. This one is partiallyspace completed.
The Feastival of Trumpets:
This latter
fall holy day usually observed in September. Trumpets represent
the plagues of God seen in the book of Revelation. This
is the Almighty returning to make war upon the earth. His plagues,
just as in Egypt will not fall upon His elect, upon those whom
are the blood of Christ. (ibid Rev 7:3) It also
represents the first resurrection of all the dead saints of God. (1Cor
15:22-24, 1Cor 15:51-52)
The Feastival of Atonement:
After the war
there is the Day of Atonement [Lev
23:27-29],
a most Holy day, a somber day which represents the world
finally being made at-one with Christ at the helm of all things.
It also represents the removal of sins done in ignorance. There
is a slight difference between all sins covered by the Passover and
future sins done in ignorance. This festival is depicted by a
removal of Satan (Lev
16:8-10, Rev 20:1-3)
The Feastival of Tabernacles:
A time {Lev
23:34-36} in which much merriment is made quickly follows the Day of
Atonement. It has lavish drinking and eating and fun of a Godly nature
and enjoyment among the peoples of God. This is during the 1000-year
reign of Christ and prior to the second resurrection. (Rev
20:4-6)
The Last Great Day:
After this
comes the Last Great day, which represents the resurrection of the rest
of the dead as is shown in the book of Revelation. The final resurrection
of the rest of the dead truly is the last day of God's plan. The
earth at that time will be fully aware of God and the dead will be judged
by what they do at that time under God’s laws.
Certainly God’s
Holy days are a great roadmap to His plan for mankind that most people
are either ignorant of or simply trying to avoid. In all of these things we see Christ at the center
of the plan. Christ could not have abolished them as we are only
in the middle of this plan. God has much more to work out yet here
on earth and the Holydays are the guide.
Further Evidence
We have seen evidence from the New Testament that Christ and Christians kept the seven annual Festivals of God. We saw a brief outline of what each day means. But besides the direct commandments in the Old Testament to keep them, is there any thing there that shows we need to keep them today? Observe the following:
A future enforcing of the Feast of Tabernacles, "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." (Zech 14:16)
"Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons." (Eze 46:3)
"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." (Isa 66:23)
In Conclusion
There is perhaps one other question that needs to be resolved that revolves around the question of why we are to keep these annual sabbaths. One is because they are laws, and two is because God's elect are destined to become kings and priests. With that said note the following Scriptures:
"[GOD has] made us kings and priests to our God"(Rev 5:10)"the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." (Mal 2:7)
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God" (Hosea 4:6)
Glenn Williams – Editor, Northern Virginia Church of God
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References:
Jn
2:23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast,
many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
Jn
7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
Mt
7:14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads
to life, and there are few who find it.
Acts
2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place.
Acts
20:6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened
Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Acts
27:9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous
because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
Acts
18:21 but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this
coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing."
And he sailed from Ephesus.
Acts
20:16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would
not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem,
if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
1Cor
5:7-8 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump,
since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed
for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with
the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth.
Deut
16:3 "You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat
unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came
out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which
you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
1Cor
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with
the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth.
Rev
7:3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have
sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
1Cor
15:22-24 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made
alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward
those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers
the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all
authority and power.
1Cor
51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
Lev
23:27-29 "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day
of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict
your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. "And you shall
do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement
for you before the LORD your God. "For any person who is not afflicted
in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.
Lev
16:8-10 Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD
and the other lot for the scapegoat. "And Aaron shall bring the goat on
which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. "But the goat
on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before
the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat
into the wilderness.
Rev
20:1-3 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon,
that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand
years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set
a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand
years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little
while.
Lev
23:34-36 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of
this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to
the LORD. 'On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall
do no customary work on it. 'For seven days you shall offer an offering
made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation,
and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred
assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
Rev 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
