The Lords Sabbaths and his Feasts, Holy Convocations/Leviticus 23:1; 1 Corinthians 5:8

[WalterandDebbie]

Ultimately, one more question is prevaling in their hearts, "Should I be ..... Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

What festivals did the early apostolic church observe?

What you are probably wondering is if the disciples observed the Feasts after Christ's death and resurrection. Let us take a look. What did the Church do immediately after Jesus' resurrection/ascension?

Acts 2:1 And when the DAY OF PENTECOST was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

No hint of a change here! The disciples are shown to have been keeping the Feast after the death, resurrection, and ascension of their Lord!

How about Paul -- didn't he do away with the law even if Christ did not? Yet we read Paul's own writing in Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Notice what Paul preached in the New Testament churches. "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" [Acts 28:23]. When Paul preached about Christ he did so directly out of Old Testament law.

Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" [1 Cor. 11:1]. Did Christ keep the Holydays? Yes, we have already seen it with our eyes and handled it in faith. So would Paul, being one who followed Christ, keep the Holydays? The answer is, of course, a resounding "Yes!" Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the DAY OF PENTECOST.

Acts 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Paul declares here, quite unequivocally, that he MUST BY ALL MEANS KEEP GOD'S FEAST! The word "Keep" is from the Greek word "poiesai" which means "to keep, to celebrate" (Analytical Greek Lexicon, by Harper, 332). Likewise, in the letter to Corinth, he exhorts these gentile brethren to "Keep the Feast" (I Cor 5:7).

It has been noted by many scholars down through the ages that Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written at the time period of the year of the Passover/Feast of Unleavens. It is evident by Paul's many allusions to the Festival. Note: Five times Paul writes of being "puffed up" (which is what leaven does--it puffs things up). You will find these in I Cor 4:6,18,19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4. He goes on to write:

1Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Note that Paul, in an address to gentile Christians, refers to keeping God's Feast days. In verse 6, there is a seeming contradiction that has caught the eyes of many scholars. Herein Paul tells them to purge out leaven, yet he also says that they are already unleavened. What is one to make of this?

"If we take 'as you are unleavened' in a metaphorical sense, it is scarcely consistent with the previous 'cast out the old leaven'; for the passage would then amount to saying, 'Be you free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (metaphorically)'; whereas, on the other hand, St.Paul says, 'Be free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (literally).' There seems to be no difficulty in supposing that the Gentile Christians joined with the Jewish Christians in celebrating the Paschal feast after the Jewish manner, at least to the extent of abstaining from leaven in the love feast. And we see St. Paul still observing the 'days of unleavened bread' at this period of his life, from Acts 20:6......" (Conybeare and Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, pp.389, 390)

Love, Walter And Debbie

 

[jasonc]

Ultimately, one more question is prevaling in their hearts, "Should I be ..... Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

What festivals did the early apostolic church observe?

What you are probably wondering is if the disciples observed the Feasts after Christ's death and resurrection. Let us take a look. What did the Church do immediately after Jesus' resurrection/ascension?

Acts 2:1 And when the DAY OF PENTECOST was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

No hint of a change here! The disciples are shown to have been keeping the Feast after the death, resurrection, and ascension of their Lord!

How about Paul -- didn't he do away with the law even if Christ did not? Yet we read Paul's own writing in Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Notice what Paul preached in the New Testament churches. "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" [Acts 28:23]. When Paul preached about Christ he did so directly out of Old Testament law.

Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" [1 Cor. 11:1]. Did Christ keep the Holydays? Yes, we have already seen it with our eyes and handled it in faith. So would Paul, being one who followed Christ, keep the Holydays? The answer is, of course, a resounding "Yes!" Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the DAY OF PENTECOST.

Acts 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Paul declares here, quite unequivocally, that he MUST BY ALL MEANS KEEP GOD'S FEAST! The word "Keep" is from the Greek word "poiesai" which means "to keep, to celebrate" (Analytical Greek Lexicon, by Harper, 332). Likewise, in the letter to Corinth, he exhorts these gentile brethren to "Keep the Feast" (I Cor 5:7).

It has been noted by many scholars down through the ages that Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written at the time period of the year of the Passover/Feast of Unleavens. It is evident by Paul's many allusions to the Festival. Note: Five times Paul writes of being "puffed up" (which is what leaven does--it puffs things up). You will find these in I Cor 4:6,18,19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4. He goes on to write:

1Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Note that Paul, in an address to gentile Christians, refers to keeping God's Feast days. In verse 6, there is a seeming contradiction that has caught the eyes of many scholars. Herein Paul tells them to purge out leaven, yet he also says that they are already unleavened. What is one to make of this?

"If we take 'as you are unleavened' in a metaphorical sense, it is scarcely consistent with the previous 'cast out the old leaven'; for the passage would then amount to saying, 'Be you free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (metaphorically)'; whereas, on the other hand, St.Paul says, 'Be free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (literally).' There seems to be no difficulty in supposing that the Gentile Christians joined with the Jewish Christians in celebrating the Paschal feast after the Jewish manner, at least to the extent of abstaining from leaven in the love feast. And we see St. Paul still observing the 'days of unleavened bread' at this period of his life, from Acts 20:6......" (Conybeare and Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, pp.389, 390)

so we if the temple is ever built punish our brethren for failing to do shabat? the early church would have surely done that as the temple was around then. what about gay activities? that has no remession of animal atonement. so what was changed under the cross to you?

 

[tim-from-pa]

Ultimately, one more question is prevaling in their hearts, "Should I be ..... Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

What festivals did the early apostolic church observe?

What you are probably wondering is if the disciples observed the Feasts after Christ's death and resurrection. Let us take a look. What did the Church do immediately after Jesus' resurrection/ascension?

Acts 2:1 And when the DAY OF PENTECOST was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

No hint of a change here! The disciples are shown to have been keeping the Feast after the death, resurrection, and ascension of their Lord!

How about Paul -- didn't he do away with the law even if Christ did not? Yet we read Paul's own writing in Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Notice what Paul preached in the New Testament churches. "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" [Acts 28:23]. When Paul preached about Christ he did so directly out of Old Testament law.

Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" [1 Cor. 11:1]. Did Christ keep the Holydays? Yes, we have already seen it with our eyes and handled it in faith. So would Paul, being one who followed Christ, keep the Holydays? The answer is, of course, a resounding "Yes!" Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the DAY OF PENTECOST.

Acts 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Paul declares here, quite unequivocally, that he MUST BY ALL MEANS KEEP GOD'S FEAST! The word "Keep" is from the Greek word "poiesai" which means "to keep, to celebrate" (Analytical Greek Lexicon, by Harper, 332). Likewise, in the letter to Corinth, he exhorts these gentile brethren to "Keep the Feast" (I Cor 5:7).

It has been noted by many scholars down through the ages that Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written at the time period of the year of the Passover/Feast of Unleavens. It is evident by Paul's many allusions to the Festival. Note: Five times Paul writes of being "puffed up" (which is what leaven does--it puffs things up). You will find these in I Cor 4:6,18,19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4. He goes on to write:

1Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Note that Paul, in an address to gentile Christians, refers to keeping God's Feast days. In verse 6, there is a seeming contradiction that has caught the eyes of many scholars. Herein Paul tells them to purge out leaven, yet he also says that they are already unleavened. What is one to make of this?

"If we take 'as you are unleavened' in a metaphorical sense, it is scarcely consistent with the previous 'cast out the old leaven'; for the passage would then amount to saying, 'Be you free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (metaphorically)'; whereas, on the other hand, St.Paul says, 'Be free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (literally).' There seems to be no difficulty in supposing that the Gentile Christians joined with the Jewish Christians in celebrating the Paschal feast after the Jewish manner, at least to the extent of abstaining from leaven in the love feast. And we see St. Paul still observing the 'days of unleavened bread' at this period of his life, from Acts 20:6......" (Conybeare and Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, pp.389, 390)

I changed my work schedule to have the Sabbath off, and they know they better give me the feasts off too. It's not too many days or burdensome with the amount of vacation time I have they know better than to mess with that. It's bad enough I dislike my job, but I'm not going to tick God off over a crummy job by making his days a common work day. I rest. Unleavened Bread we celebrate Christ's death and resurrection and abstain from any leavened things (ideally, I normally abstain from bread to begin with, but that's a dietary reason, not spiritual as I believe meats, butter, eggs, etc are intrinsically healthier than grains and too many fruits). The Spirit came on Pentecost, and in the autumn I build my Sukkot booth and live outside.

The feasts of YHWH are not burdensome, and give my heart joy.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

so we if the temple is ever built punish our brethren for failing to do shabat? the early church would have surely done that as the temple was around then. what about gay activities? that has no remession of animal atonement. so what was changed under the cross to you?

The Sabbaths and The Lord Holy Convocations has been around:

Insidious New Heresy Takes Root

As many of you may know, John Keyser -- formerly associated with Triumph Prophetic Ministries -- has printed a 27 page paper on what he claims is "Sabbath new truth." He claims that the Sabbath fluctuates -- changes -- every month to a different day of the week. Thus he claims, or speculates, with a few other unknown and untrustworthy individuals, whom he quotes, that the Jews as well as the rest of the world lost track of the week around 400 A.D. -- AFTER the time of Christ!

The Sabbath started: Genesis 2:1-6, and The Feasts started: Leviticus 23:1-7.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

The Sabbaths and The Lord Holy Convocations has been around:

Insidious New Heresy Takes Root

As many of you may know, John Keyser -- formerly associated with Triumph Prophetic Ministries -- has printed a 27 page paper on what he claims is "Sabbath new truth." He claims that the Sabbath fluctuates -- changes -- every month to a different day of the week. Thus he claims, or speculates, with a few other unknown and untrustworthy individuals, whom he quotes, that the Jews as well as the rest of the world lost track of the week around 400 A.D. -- AFTER the time of Christ!

The Sabbath started: Genesis 2:1-6, and The Feasts started: Leviticus 23:1-7.

Is there any validity to this new thesis? Is it really "new truth," as he claims? Or is it sheer rubbish and hogwash?

Let's examine the most important aspects of this controversy, and see what the Scriptures themselves REALLY say on this subject! For as Jesus Christ said, "Thy Word is TRUTH" (John 17:17), and, "The Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).

Which Day IS the SABBATH?

According to John Keyser, all mankind, including the Jews, lost track of time in the fourth century after Christ, about the time of Emperor Constantine, and the persecution of the Jews by the Roman Empire. He claims even the Jews lost track of the weekly Sabbath, and at that time instituted a Sabbath which fell on every seventh h day, in a continuous weekly cycle, independent of any astronomical body.

Says Keyser, this was a departure from the original Sabbath. He claims that the Bible teaches the original Sabbath was governed by the MOON -- and the original week was dependent upon the phases of the MOON. Therefore, according to him, the new moons interrupted the weekly cycle every month, and "new moon" day was considered outside the weekly cycle and was not even counted! In 29 day months, he figures there was "one new moon day," but in 30 days months, he ascribes "two new moon days." Thus the remaining 28 days are divisible by 7 (4 x 7 = 28), and every seventh day, he says, is he Sabbath.

This reasoning, of course, makes the Sabbath to fall on a DIFFERENT DAY OF THE WEEK each successive month! Thus one month, the Sabbath would be on a Tuesday, for example, another month it would all on a Thursday, or a Friday, or a Sunday -- over the course of a year, it could fall on ANY day of the week!

Now, is this sound-minded scholarship, based on clear and plain evidence?
Or is this pure and unadulterated rubbish, straight from the mind of the devil?

To really address this issue, we must do one thing -- SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES OF TRUTH! For only in the Bible will we find the real TRUTH! For, as the apostle Paul wrote:

"Every Scripture is God-breathed -- given by His inspiration --
and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin,
for CORRECTION OF ERROR and discipline in obedience,
and for training in righteousness [that is, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action], so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Tim.3:16-17, Amplified Bible).

To investigate this matter properly, therefore, let's see what the Word of GOD has to say about the origins of the Sabbath and weekly cycle -- and not the nonsense paraded in the notions of bigoted and biased men, heretics, and supposed "scholars" who aren't worth a dime a dozen!

When we get down to the real "nitty gritty," it only matters what GOD says, in His Word, and not the ramblings of malcontent men and their myths and heretical opinions!

Back to the Beginning

In the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we read of the true origin of the WEEK! Notice! "And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. . . . And God
called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening, and there was morning, ONE DAY, etc. through The Seventh Day.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I'm familiar with John D. Keyser and his off-the-wall theories about the calendar. I believe if I remember right he has come to the conclusion that the month started with the sighting of the new moon (correct), but he does not agree with a weekly Sabbath, but that it moves around as was pointed out here.

There's a definite pattern in the calendar where as clues some feast days have dates and other don't. The ones that do not have dates are a microcosmic cycle of the sabbatical/jubilee years. What I am saying is that he does not believe there is a smaller 7-day cycle, but from what I read in his writings he believe in a larger one. ?? ??

Of course this is the same man who condemned people as being of the devil for not following God's Sacred calculated calendar as the Churches of God, and the Jews still use (after Hillel), but then he started changing his mind. And each and every time he did so, it was some sort of "new revelation". I suppose this is the same for the Sabbath, so I predict in a few years he's going to claim that the Sabbatical years are based on astronomical alignments instead of 7-year counting.

The problem with these types of leaders, many from the church of God background, is that they don't know a synodic month from a draconic (nodical) month from a sidereal month etc, and otherwise are ignorant of astronomy 101. For example, they often confuse the molad with astronomical new moon conjunction.

I feel really sorry if an astronomer is in the midst of such a congregation who knows about time-keeping but a guy such as Keyser is going to tell him how to keep a calendar -- like the kindergarten kid telling the calc professor how to do an integral problem.

 

[Deborah13]

Hmm....Paul and the feasts. What does scripture say, what did Paul in his own words say?
Well, the Law says one must go to Jerusalem three times a year. Did Paul always do that commandment or did he desire to do that commandment? If so when and for what reasons?

Gal 2:1 Then, after fourteen years again I went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having taken with me also Titus;

So Paul didn't always keep the feasts in Jerusalem as the Law commands. Correct? It appears to me that it wasn't something that he felt he Had to do in order not to be in sin. Or am I missing something?

At other times, Paul spoke a desire to be in Jerusalem for a feast, that is clear from the scripture you have posted. Did he have some other reason for wanting to be there other than to be following the Law?

By the way I don't think the physical Sabbath observance spoken of in the 10 Commandments has ever change from the 7th day.

 

[jasonc]

The Sabbaths and The Lord Holy Convocations has been around:

Insidious New Heresy Takes Root

As many of you may know, John Keyser -- formerly associated with Triumph Prophetic Ministries -- has printed a 27 page paper on what he claims is "Sabbath new truth." He claims that the Sabbath fluctuates -- changes -- every month to a different day of the week. Thus he claims, or speculates, with a few other unknown and untrustworthy individuals, whom he quotes, that the Jews as well as the rest of the world lost track of the week around 400 A.D. -- AFTER the time of Christ!

The Sabbath started: Genesis 2:1-6, and The Feasts started: Leviticus 23:1-7.

uhm being a bit knowledgable on jewry. dad nor has any jew said that adam , noah or even Abraham were following the shabat.
if they were told to follow that then why would God tell them? if you notice moses was nearly slain by God for not circumcising his younger son. the isrealites wouldn't have asked what to do with someone who worked on the sabatth. its ok to worship on this manner but its not a mandatory salvinical command as unto repentance, and even like baptism.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

uhm being a bit knowledgable on jewry. dad nor has any jew said that adam , noah or even Abraham were following the shabat.
if they were told to follow that then why would God tell them? if you notice moses was nearly slain by God for not circumcising his younger son. the isrealites wouldn't have asked what to do with someone who worked on the sabatth. its ok to worship on this manner but its not a mandatory salvinical command as unto repentance, and even like baptism.

The Sabbaths and The Feasts are never done for any person to be without having the proper knowledge of their issues. For an example:

By reason of the scriptures, I would say that having the experience of The Sabbaths and Feasts/Holy Convocations, I can count from God's calendar. That the Lord Sabbaths and his Feasts do go together and rightly dividing to God better than I used to. II Tim. 2:15.

God's Holy Sabbath Revealed!

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exo.20:8). But what day is the TRUE SABBATH DAY? The Jews keep the Seventh Day. Catholics claim it is Sunday. Muslims observe Friday. Some claim it changes every month to a different day of the week. Jehovah Witnesses say all days ae the same.
Who is right? What is the TRUTH?

A New Look at the SABBATH

Is God's Sabbath Abolished
with the Old Covenant?
Or
an Eternal Command of God,
Still in Force Today?

Does it really make any difference which day we observe as the weekly day of worship?
Is it necessary to observe any day at all? Why do most professing Christians worship on Sunday,
and most Jews on Sabbath, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, most Moslems on Friday, and
some groups -- like the Jehovah’s Witnesses -- observe no particular day at all?

Where did Sunday worship and Sabbath worship begin, anyway? And does it make any
difference in God’s sight what day we keep, if any?
Strangely, almost all of the professing Christian world worship on Sunday and seem to
take it for granted. Most people never question what they do, or why -- their families always
worshipped on Sunday, and so they accept it without question.

If anyone should ever question
them about it, they shrug and often exclaim, "What difference does it make, anyway?"
Some, in their attempt to justify observing Sunday, claim that the laws of God were all
done away -- nailed to the cross -- in particular, the weekly Sabbath day! To them, this is a
matter of fact, not worthy of dispute, and so the matter is settled for them.
But did Jesus Christ come to do away with His Father’s laws and commandments?

Was the Sabbath law one among many which were “nailed to the cross”?

What is the TRUTH? Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ said, "Yet a time is coming
and has now come when the TRUE WORSHIPERS will worship the Father in spirit and
TRUTH, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers
MUST worship in spirit and in TRUTH" (John 4:23-24).

 

[jasonc]

The Sabbaths and The Feasts are never done for any person to be without having the proper knowledge of their issues. For an example:

By reason of the scriptures, I would say that having the experience of The Sabbaths and Feasts/Holy Convocations, I can count from God's calendar. That the Lord Sabbaths and his Feasts do go together and rightly dividing to God better than I used to. II Tim. 2:15.

that is a dodge. the shabat wasn't done prior to mt.horeb. you are fine to believe that we can do that in a form of worship but it can never be a requirement for entering into heaven. if one is going to understand the feasts they have a lot to do with isreal only and some of them are memorials. ie peshac, sukhot. Abraham is the father of the Hebrew nation. while he is in part why the goy have acess to the cross but he didn't father the gentile nations in that manner. study the torah and you will see that what Abraham did was codified, but it wasn't mandated in a code until mt. horeb.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

that is a dodge. the shabat wasn't done prior to mt.horeb. you are fine to believe that we can do that in a form of worship but it can never be a requirement for entering into heaven. if one is going to understand the feasts they have a lot to do with isreal only and some of them are memorials. ie peshac, sukhot. Abraham is the father of the Hebrew nation. while he is in part why the goy have acess to the cross but he didn't father the gentile nations in that manner. study the torah and you will see that what Abraham did was codified, but it wasn't mandated in a code until mt. horeb.

The Sabbath to me pictures a real deep personal relationship inside of Christ as a custom. Luke 4:16, Acts 17:2, etc.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

I changed my work schedule to have the Sabbath off, and they know they better give me the feasts off too. It's not too many days or burdensome with the amount of vacation time I have they know better than to mess with that. It's bad enough I dislike my job, but I'm not going to tick God off over a crummy job by making his days a common work day. I rest. Unleavened Bread we celebrate Christ's death and resurrection and abstain from any leavened things (ideally, I normally abstain from bread to begin with, but that's a dietary reason, not spiritual as I believe meats, butter, eggs, etc are intrinsically healthier than grains and too many fruits). The Spirit came on Pentecost, and in the autumn I build my Sukkot booth and live outside.

The feasts of YHWH are not burdensome, and give my heart joy.

Good Reply from: tim-from-pa

 

[WalterandDebbie]

Ultimately, one more question is prevaling in their hearts, "Should I be ..... Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

What festivals did the early apostolic church observe?

What you are probably wondering is if the disciples observed the Feasts after Christ's death and resurrection. Let us take a look. What did the Church do immediately after Jesus' resurrection/ascension?

Acts 2:1 And when the DAY OF PENTECOST was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

No hint of a change here! The disciples are shown to have been keeping the Feast after the death, resurrection, and ascension of their Lord!

How about Paul -- didn't he do away with the law even if Christ did not? Yet we read Paul's own writing in Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Notice what Paul preached in the New Testament churches. "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" [Acts 28:23]. When Paul preached about Christ he did so directly out of Old Testament law.

Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" [1 Cor. 11:1]. Did Christ keep the Holydays? Yes, we have already seen it with our eyes and handled it in faith. So would Paul, being one who followed Christ, keep the Holydays? The answer is, of course, a resounding "Yes!" Let us see if we can validate this claim of Paul keeping the Feasts as a Christian.

Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the DAY OF PENTECOST.

Acts 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Paul declares here, quite unequivocally, that he MUST BY ALL MEANS KEEP GOD'S FEAST! The word "Keep" is from the Greek word "poiesai" which means "to keep, to celebrate" (Analytical Greek Lexicon, by Harper, 332). Likewise, in the letter to Corinth, he exhorts these gentile brethren to "Keep the Feast" (I Cor 5:7).

It has been noted by many scholars down through the ages that Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written at the time period of the year of the Passover/Feast of Unleavens. It is evident by Paul's many allusions to the Festival. Note: Five times Paul writes of being "puffed up" (which is what leaven does--it puffs things up). You will find these in I Cor 4:6,18,19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4. He goes on to write:

1Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Note that Paul, in an address to gentile Christians, refers to keeping God's Feast days. In verse 6, there is a seeming contradiction that has caught the eyes of many scholars. Herein Paul tells them to purge out leaven, yet he also says that they are already unleavened. What is one to make of this?

"If we take 'as you are unleavened' in a metaphorical sense, it is scarcely consistent with the previous 'cast out the old leaven'; for the passage would then amount to saying, 'Be you free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (metaphorically)'; whereas, on the other hand, St.Paul says, 'Be free from leaven (metaphorically) as you are free from leaven (literally).' There seems to be no difficulty in supposing that the Gentile Christians joined with the Jewish Christians in celebrating the Paschal feast after the Jewish manner, at least to the extent of abstaining from leaven in the love feast. And we see St. Paul still observing the 'days of unleavened bread' at this period of his life, from Acts 20:6......" (Conybeare and Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, pp.389, 390)

Matthew 26:2 Pictures: As Jesus himself was telling his disciples, about The Feast of the Passover:Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover,

 

[Deborah13]

Matthew 26:2 Pictures: As Jesus himself was telling his disciples, about The Feast of the Passover:Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover,

Col 2:16 Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,
Col 2:17 which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body is of the Christ;

 

[Butch5]

Col 2:16 Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths,
Col 2:17 which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body is of the Christ;

I was going to point out this same passage. In this passage Paul uses the present tense regarding the feasts, he says they "are" a shadow of what is to come. He didn't say they "were" a shadow of things to come. From this it seems the only logical conclusion is that these holy convocations will be celebrated in the kingdom in some form. We know the Passover will be celebrated in the Kingdom from Jesus' own words,

15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luk 22:15-16 NKJ)

I don't think there is a command that requires Christians to keep them, however, I do wonder why we don't, at least to the point that it is possible. After all God did say, 'these are my feasts.'

 

[Deborah13]

I was going to point out this same passage. In this passage Paul uses the present tense regarding the feasts, he says they "are" a shadow of what is to come. He didn't say they "were" a shadow of things to come. From this it seems the only logical conclusion is that these holy convocations will be celebrated in the kingdom in some form. We know the Passover will be celebrated in the Kingdom from Jesus' own words,

15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luk 22:15-16 NKJ)

I don't think there is a command that requires Christians to keep them, however, I do wonder why we don't, at least to the point that it is possible. After all God did say, 'these are my feasts.'

I think about the same things and frankly sometimes have a desire to participate in the feasts because they have deep spiritual meaning about our Lord. They are a picture of Him and His work.
This is what I believe...
At the time that Paul spoke in the present tense Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed. The Jews continued to come to Jerusalem 3 times a year for the feasts and sacrifices done in the temple. Once the temple was destroyed the sacrifices stopped and the Mosaic economy was manifestly finished. They could no longer obey Moses' Law in these things. The old covenant had passed away. To this day they still follow Moses as their mediator, not the Messiah. Moses, shadow/type/physical. Messiah, reality/anti-type/spiritual.
Luke 22, is more difficult for me. I not sure how to explain what I think He is saying. The word 'eat' in v16 is primary in my understanding. I think He is talking about His own death. His death was the fulfillment of Passover and He said the kingdom had come while He was still alive. But that's just how I think now.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I was going to point out this same passage. In this passage Paul uses the present tense regarding the feasts, he says they "are" a shadow of what is to come. He didn't say they "were" a shadow of things to come. From this it seems the only logical conclusion is that these holy convocations will be celebrated in the kingdom in some form. We know the Passover will be celebrated in the Kingdom from Jesus' own words,

15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luk 22:15-16 NKJ)

I don't think there is a command that requires Christians to keep them, however, I do wonder why we don't, at least to the point that it is possible. After all God did say, 'these are my feasts.'

This is how I understand it: In about 135 AD, the early gentile church separated itself off from the observances to avoid being persecuted with the Jews. The rest is history. By the third and fourth centuries it was against church law to observe the Sabbath and the Feasts.

Don't quote me on it. Just keep it in the back of your mind as you stumble into what really happened.

I'm with you. I honestly can't think of any reason why we needed a new way to commemorate our Lord to whom the Sabbaths and Feasts point to. Although, there does seem to be a pretty good Biblical argument, the fullness of which is now lost to history, explaining and defending worship according to the greater light (the sun/Son), as opposed to worship based on the lesser light (the moon/law).

 

[Butch5]

I think about the same things and frankly sometimes have a desire to participate in the feasts because they have deep spiritual meaning about our Lord. They are a picture of Him and His work.
This is what I believe...
At the time that Paul spoke in the present tense Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed. The Jews continued to come to Jerusalem 3 times a year for the feasts and sacrifices done in the temple. Once the temple was destroyed the sacrifices stopped and the Mosaic economy was manifestly finished. They could no longer obey Moses' Law in these things. The old covenant had passed away. To this day they still follow Moses as their mediator, not the Messiah. Moses, shadow/type/physical. Messiah, reality/anti-type/spiritual.
Luke 22, is more difficult for me. I not sure how to explain what I think He is saying. The word 'eat' in v16 is primary in my understanding. I think He is talking about His own death. His death was the fulfillment of Passover and He said the kingdom had come while He was still alive. But that's just how I think now.

Hi Deborah13,

My post wasn't primarily to you, it was just that you posted the same passage I was going to post. I agree that the feasts can't be celebrated in their fullness. However, I do believe that Paul was referring to the coming kingdom, he said they are a shadow of things to come. To me that says that those feasts in that day are still a shadow of things to come. Christ was crucified on the Passover, He was raised on the feast of First Fruits, and the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. I believe the fall feasts also will involve Christ. I believe He was born on Rosh Hashana, will return on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and that Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, may very well be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. So, I do believe that the feasts will be celebrated in the kingdom when Christ returns. One thing I think is important in Paul's statement is that he said they are a shadow. He said this after the reusrrction.

Regarding Luke 22, I believe that it is just as Jesus said, He will eat the Passover in the kingdom. If these feasts are memorials to what Christ has done or will do, which I believe they are it only seems right that we would celebrate them in the kingdom to honor the King.

Isaiah too speaks of new moon and Sabbaths in the kngdom.

22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.
24 "And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
(Isa 66:22-24 NKJ)

 

[Butch5]

This is how I understand it: In about 135 AD, the early gentile church separated itself off from the observances to avoid being persecuted with the Jews. The rest is history. By the third and fourth centuries it was against church law to observe the Sabbath and the Feasts.

Don't quote me on it. Just keep it in the back of your mind as you stumble into what really happened.

I'm with you. I honestly can't think of any reason why we needed a new way to commemorate our Lord to whom the Sabbaths and Feasts point to. Although, there does seem to be a pretty good Biblical argument, the fullness of which is now lost to history, explaining and defending worship according to the greater light (the sun/Son), as opposed to worship based on the lesser light (the moon/law).

Hi Jethro,

As I said, I don't see any command to observe the feasts in the Scriptures and they can't celebrated in their fullness as there is no temple. However, what really seals the deal for me is God's statement, 'these are my feasts'.

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. (Lev 23:2 NKJ)

Many believe these are Jewish feasts but the Lord said they are His. He told the Jews, His people, to keep them. I don't see why the Christians, His people, wouldn't also keep them.

Regarding the timing and when the Christians stopped observing them, I have looked into that.

 

[Deborah13]

Hi Deborah13,

My post wasn't primarily to you, it was just that you posted the same passage I was going to post. I agree that the feasts can't be celebrated in their fullness. However, I do believe that Paul was referring to the coming kingdom, he said they are a shadow of things to come. To me that says that those feasts in that day are still a shadow of things to come. Christ was crucified on the Passover, He was raised on the feast of First Fruits, and the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. I believe the fall feasts also will involve Christ. I believe He was born on Rosh Hashana, will return on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and that Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, may very well be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. So, I do believe that the feasts will be celebrated in the kingdom when Christ returns. One thing I think is important in Paul's statement is that he said they are a shadow. He said this after the reusrrction.

I agree with much of this statement. I too believe that is when He will return. Two of the major feasts have been fulfilled, Passover and Pentecost.
I agree with Jethro. For example...At least some of them celebrate the Passover on the Jewish Passover. I have read Polycarp was one of these.