Posted on 04/19/2013 9:44:14 PM PDT by DouglasKC
Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible?
Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible? When were the biblical feasts abandoned, and why? How can we be sure which sacred days Christians should observe?
Here are the answers!
Jesus Himself set an example for us (1 John 2:6) in observing the sacred festivals commanded in the Holy Scriptures (Matthew 26:17; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16, 31; John 7:8-10, 14, 37). His apostles and their converts, walking in His footsteps and following His example, continued observing the same festivals (Acts 2:1; 12:2-4; 16:13; 18:4, 19, 21; 20:6; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The Encyclopaedia Britannica (13th edition), under Festivals," states that it is "abundantly clear that Christ and His disciples observed the appointed Jewish feasts."
Faithful Christians continued, for several centuries after Christ's death, to follow His and the apostles' examples in keeping the festivals. But this all changed when a politicized and paganized form of Christianity developed within the Roman Empire.
Historian Stewart Easton explains how and when the change occurred—with the help of the Roman emperors. "Constantine [A.D. 306-337], though not baptized a Christian until he was on his deathbed, took an active interest in the [Christian] religion, presiding over the important Council of Nicea ... During the fourth century, under imperial protection ..., the Christian religion ... made rapid progress, even in the rural areas where the old gods had never altogether lost their appeal. When at the end of the century (A.D. 392) [Emperor] Theodosius I decreed that henceforth Christianity was to be the only religion in the [Roman] empire, the countryside perforce had to submit and adopt at least the forms of Christianity. But it would probably have been difficult for any observer to detect much difference ... It is clear that these folk knew little enough of the teachings or theology of Christianity, and the festivals and ceremonies of paganism for the most part were incorporated directly into the new official religion ( The Heritage of the Past: From the Earliest Times to 1500 , 1964, p. 402, emphasis added).
Charles Guignebert, who was a professor of the history of Christianity at the University of Paris, describes the continuation of the process: "Now at the beginning of the fifth century, the ignorant and the semi-Christians thronged into the Church in numbers ... They had forgotten none of their pagan customs ... The bishops of that period had to content themselves with redressing, as best they could, and in experimental fashion, the shocking malformations of the Christian faith which they perceived around them ... They had to be content with ... postponing until a later date the task of eradicating their superstitions, which they preserved intact ... This 'later date' never arrived, and the Church adapted to herself, as well as she could, them and their customs and beliefs. On their side, they were content to dress up their paganism in a Christian cloak" ( The Early History of Christianity , 1927, pp. 208-210, emphasis added). During this time—in the early centuries after the passing of the original apostles—observance of biblical practices, including the seventh-day Sabbath and God's festivals, practically disappeared from the new and growing religion. They were replaced with other practices and a new set of religious holidays.
Prophecy, however, reveals that God will require the whole world to observe these same biblical festivals in the future. For example, Zechariah prophesies that God will require people to attend the Feast of Tabernacles after Christ returns (Zechariah 14:16). Isaiah prophesies that people of all lands will regularly keep the weekly Sabbath during Christ's millennial reign (Isaiah 66:23 ). Isaiah and Micah prophesy of that time: "Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:2; compare Isaiah 2:3).
Some faithful Christians to this day observe the sacred festivals, the same festivals of God that Christ kept. God instituted these annual occasions to keep His people aware of Christ's mission as the Messiah. These sacred days really are Christian festivals in every respect, and Christians everywhere should observe them.
Well here's Hebrews 8:8:
Heb 8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH—
God doesn't say he's going to make a covenant with gentiles...but only with the house of Israel and house of Judah.
Stay with me though because you're right in a way:
Speaking to former gentiles Paul wrote:
Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
Eph 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Notice verse 12...gentiles are by nature not part of the commonwealth of Israel. To Israel applies EVERYTHING. Israel is where Christ is, where the covenant are.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The blood of Christ brings us INTO Israel and we then become part of the commonwealth....we CAN have Christ and can be part of the new covenant.
That's why the new covenant is only made with the houses of Israel and Judah and why gentiles can be included....it's because they become part of the house of Israel through belief in Christ.
Now all of this was just a really roundabout way to make the point that when scripture says:
Lev 23:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
When the Lord, in scripture, speaks to the children of Israel we would do well to keep in mind that it very well may apply to us.
Looks like I’m late to the party. Wowsa. Talk about an over-reaction. And the mis-interpretation of Scripture which they confused the bondage of sin with the observation of Gods Holy Days which is meant to refresh the soul. I’m really disappointed in FReepers here. Some here wish to negate the Jewishness of our Lord, but Scripture plainly shows He was observant of the Laws and showed us how to live our life. It’s a good thing burning people at the stake went out of style but I’m not sure some here wouldn’t mind . . . . nevermind. I’ll get back to my bowl of Yopios cereal. Keep up the good work DKC.
Having fulfilled the law and the prophets, Jesus gave us a new convenant with his perfect sacrifice. Now every day is a Holy Day. Every day is to be celebrated. We have been given His Kingdom and eternal life.
And when every day is special that means all days are special which means no days are special. Do you ever wonder why God wrote the Ten Commandments in stone? Or why Jesus said in Matthew 24:20 to “pray that your flight not be in winter or on the Sabbath” for an event many years after His death?
You missed my points - just saying that Christianity did not exist for us until Jesus arose - everything else is Old Covenant and the Old Covenant is not binding due to the new Covenant (God didn't come up with a new set of rules and then try to complicate things for us by keeping some of the old rules clauses in effect).
I have no problem with anyone celebrating any day as an observance of God's love and goodness - we should all be as David, when celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant, dancing for all we are worth, no matter what others may think, in praise of the Lord.
While doing so, we should not lose sight of the fact that God gave us the New Covenant for a reason and we need to be aware of the separation between them and not get them mixed up. Muddling them gets us chastised for "falling from Grace" because we diminish the sacrifice and elevate ourselves much as the Pharisees did.
Because of hardness of the heart due to the lack of love of the truth. Come on, Gal 5:1 is liberty from obedience to the Word of God as defined by the Word of God? Who was Paul speaking to in Galatians? Former gentiles who knew not God, but now that they know Him and are known by Him, they were turning back to their pagan practices, their pagan calendars and feast days and detestable eating habits because they had been told a lie by the false brethren who had infiltrated the congregation.
Gal 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
So what lead to this?
Gal 2:3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
The salvation by works Pharisees of the circumcision party, the false brethren of Acts 15:1 claimed that one is not saved unless one is circumcised and once one is circumcised, then one can not loose ones reward of eternal life. WRONG!!! Circumcision has never gotten anyone eternal life, ever, it is merely an outward sign of what has already taken place in the heart.
Yes, they will have to confess who is the Master over them as God has always given us a choice and that choice began way back in the garden in the beginning. Obey Him or obey the false one. The bride of Messiah is the ones who submit to His authority over their lives before His return. The rest, those who love the falsehood, the lies of men, well they are left weeping and gnashing their teeth.
He is the potter, we are the clay and His Word was given to transform us into the likeness of His Son who is the likeness of Him.
Nowhere does the Word of God call them Jewish anything. He calls them His feasts, His appointed times and His Sabbaths. Now there is reference to Judea as in the land of Judea and the people who reside in that land in the NT, but for the sake of defining them, we must go to when the commands were given, and for that one must study that which is left of Matthew not right of Malachi.
1Co 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
We were bought by the blood of Messiah to serve the Father as the Son served the Father.
Heb 10:28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Heb 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
1Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
2Th 2:11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Psa 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth ... 151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth ... 160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
And His word put on flesh, and it the way, the truth and the life. The way , the truth and the life are 'ONE' as He and the Father are 'ONE'.
Psa 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.
Ps 110:4 The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
Where does the word "only" appear in Hebrews 8:8? The new covenant is "for the Jews first then the Greek". The new covenant isn't just allowing gentiles into the old covenant. Nor does Ephesians even hint at that. It is an entirely NEW covenant, apart from the old covenant. Israel was always larger than and distinct from the Mosaic old covenant. "For they are not all Israel who are of Israel". Being a child of Israel of the old covenant does not grant entrance into the new covenant. The new covenant is for those who accept the Gospel, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first then the Greek". The new covenant is apart from and distinct from the obsolete old covenant. "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." It is "a better country." Which is why Paul specifically said Christians need no longer celebrate the festivals:
"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.These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." (Col 2:16-17)
So what was Paul referring to here? The established laws and feast days or new ones that inevitably creep into society (Like Easter and Christmas)? At this time there were new feast days and sabbaths proposed in honor of kings and celebrations which were unBiblical. Matthew 5:18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.. At this time heaven and earth has not passed away. Besides, Jesus is our Example and following what He did cannot be held against us.
Of course not. They're Biblical, therefore Jewish. Chrstianity is not a Biblical religion.
I notice all you chrstians, no matter how much you hate and despise each other, all assume the truth of chrstianity from the get-go for no reason whatsoever. You never ask yourselves if chrstianity is true; you only ask yourselves "which version of chrstianity is true and authentic?"
I'd ask you to prove the truth of chrstianity but you would respond only by asserting chrstian claims (as if they were self-vindicating). It's the one thing you all have in common, no matter how much you disagree on everything else.
You must read your bibles backwards.
Have the Biblical Holy Days accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior?
If not, then no.
Do you have a scripture that will back up that statement?
I'll ask you the same question. Do you have a biblical passage that says that?
Just out of curiosity..........why would Paul being telling these folks Previous pagans) these things?
They were being ostracized by their pagan neighbors for doing exactly what you folks think Paul was telling them not to do. Think! They never did these things before so why would Paul even mention them? What this verse really teaches is....."Don't let these pagan gnostics JUDGE youfor HOW you are keeping YAHWEH'S holy days". In other words.....it's an affirmation that these folks were actually observing Yahweh's ordained dietary restrictions and his ordained Sabbaths. They had been taught these things by Epaphras [1:7][4:12][Philemon 23].
By cautioning the Colossian Christian converts to not let others judge them how they observed these things is proof they were indeed observing them! Paul wasn't questioning them in whether or not they should be kept. The obvious implication is.....they were keeping them.....and....Paul did not tell them to desist!
Are you aware there was more than one "Old" Covenant? Which one do you think was changed [Hebrews 7:11-12; 10:4]. Are you certain it was the Covenant that dealt with the Feast Days and Sabbaths? If you want to pursue that line of thinking you could be in for a surprise.
Really? My bible shows the old covenant first being struck with Abraham in Gen 12 and especially Gen. 15. Please direct me to the passages where God's "holy days" were created before that.
He's talking about the "Law of Moses".....not the "Law of Yahweh":
[Deuteronomy 1:5] On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,
Notice how this "Law" is being given to the Israelites 40 years after (verse 3) the Law of Yahweh was given [Exodus 20:1-21; 23:14-17]?
[Deuteronomy 29:1]These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, "beside the covenant" which he made with them in Horeb (Sinai).
Are you sure you have the right Covenant?
Because their were Judiaziers (ravenous wolves) following him around telling the new Christians they had to follow the OT law. He warns about them several places in the NT. Boy, kinda like the point some are trying to impose on this thread. Why would he say these things were just a "shadow of the things to come" but that the substance "belongs to Christ" if he was defending them? That makes no sense and would completely contradict Romans 14.
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