Grace and the law part 6

THE FEASTS OF THE LORD

Should we be keeping them today?

PAUL AND THE LAW

The apostle Paul refers to the law in two ways. Paul seems to be for the laws and against it at the same time. This is most confusing to some. In colossians 2:14, Athe handwriting of requirements@ is Awiped out,@ while in Romans 3:31, he explains that justification by faith in Jesus Christ does not overthrow the law but Aestablishes@ it. In Romans 7:6, he states that Anow we are discharged from the law,@ while a few verses later he writes that Athe law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good@ (Romans 7:12). In Romans 10:4, Paul writes that AChrist is the end of the law,@ while in 8:3-4, he explains that Christ came Ain the likeness of sinful flesh . . . in order that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled inus.@ Paul maintains in Romans 3:28 that Aa man is justified by faith apart form works of the law,@ yet in 1Corinthians 7:`9, eh states that Aneither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.@ In 2 Corinthians 3:7, Paul designates the law as Athe dispensation of death,@ while in Romans 3:2, he views it as part of the Aoracles of God@ entrusted to the Jews.

How can Paul view the law both as Aabolished@ and Aestablished,@ unnecessary and necessary? The answer is to be found in the context. When Paul speaks of the law in the context of salvation, he clearly states that law-keeping is useless. AIf justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose@ (Galatians 2:21). When he speaks of the law in the context of Christians moral conduct, he maintains the value and validity of God=s law. In fact, Christ came, Ain order that the just requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us@ through the working of His Holy Spirit. While Paul said that the law was Aabolished@ as a method of earning salvaiton, he upheld the law as a standard of moral conduct.

TO KEEP THE FEASTS?

7^TH DAY SABBATH

ASpeak to the children of Israel, saying: >Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. . . .

Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.=@ (Exodus 31:13-17).

Leviticus 23:38 Abeside the Sabbath of the Lord@

PASSOVER INSTITUTED

ASo this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout all our generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eatBthat only may be prepared by you.

So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.

For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land.

You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.@ (Exodus 12:14-20).

AAnd you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.

It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service@ (Exodus 12:24-25).

WHO MAY EAT THE PASSOVER

AAnd the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, >This is the ordinance of the Passover; No outsider shall eat it.=

>But every man=s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it.=

>A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it.=

>In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall yo break one of it=s bones.=

>All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.=

>And when a stranger sojourns with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD< let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.=@ Exodus 12:43-48.

THREE ANNUAL FEASTS

AThree times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year:

You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the onth of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);

and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering, which as at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.

Three times in theyear all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD@ (Exodus 23:14-17).

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

AThis shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who sojourns among you.

For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. . . .

This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year@ (Leviticus 16:29-34).

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES REGARDING THE FEASTS

Exodus 13:6-10

A STATUTE FOREVER - THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS

Exodus 27:21; Exodus 30:8;

Note: Maybe the Aordinances which were against us@ and Acontrary to us@ were those which involved killing animals

Note: ALet no one judge you concerning a festival or feasts or a sabbath, which are symbols of what is to come@

Maybe this means - Don=t let anyone tell you how you should keep them, not whether you should keep them.

Ephesians 2:15 Maybe the ordinances which take away the emnity are the ones that command separation between Israelites and Gentiles. Maybe they were against the Gentiles, not against the Jews.

Colossians 2:14 ALet no one judge you in meat or drink, or regarding a new moon or a sabbath day, which are symbols of what is to come, but the reality is Christ.@ Maybe this means - Don=t let anyone judge you regarding the way in which you keep the FEASTS, rather than regarding whether or not you keep the FEASTS.

The FEASTS are an acted prophecy, given to the world, through Israel. And they have not yet been fulfilled. Not completely. The Day of Atonement, the Final Ingathering Feast are still future. They are symbols of what is to come. Even the final Passover - when God will pass-over His righteous ones, and pour forth His final plague on the wicked - that too is in the future. And if the FEASTS are in the future, not yet fulfilled, then we should keep them.

Paul said, AChrist our Passover, .... Let us therefore keep the feast.@

Is this Passover, or is this communion????

Christ said, AI will not drink again of this fruit of the vine, until I drink it new with you in My Father=s kingdom.@

Christ would not celebrate the Passover again until He will celebrate it with us, in the kingdom. Would that mean that we should not either. We will celebrate the Passover, in the kingdom to come - yes, but should we celebrate it now???

Did communion replace the observance of Passover? Or should be celebrate communion on Passover???

Note: If we will keep the feast of Tabernacles in the new earth without animal sacrifice-then why not now???

PAUL and the Festival Days

Sabbath: Acts 18:4, 11 at Corinth Paul reasoned every Sabbath in the Synagogue and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. For a year and a half. He certainly have managed during all that time to tell them that it was no longer necessary to keep the Sabbath.

Acts 18:20-21 AAnd he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the jews.

When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 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 form Ephesus.@

NIV 1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-- as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

The context here is the Passover Festival.

NAB 1 Corinthians 16:8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost;

Pau writes around AD55 from Ep[hesus in Asia Minor, a city with whose synagogue he had an extended relationship (Acts 19:8). He tells the Corinthians that he intends to remain in Ephesus until Pentecost.

Why reference the time of your departure to a Jewish Festival, unless that Festival had meaning for the Corinthians (who were mostly Gentile).

Also the fact that Paul intends to stay on At Ephesus until Pentecost says that he plans to celebrate this festival with the church there.

NAB Acts 20:6 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.

Luke reports that Paul and his traveling companions "sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread". In other words Paul kept the Passover Festival with the church at Phillipi.

Acts 20:16 shows Paul "hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible on the day of Pentecost."

A. There would be a greater # of Jews and greater opportunities for witness - but then Paul was not appointed as a witness to Jews, but to Gentiles.

B. There would be a greater # of Messianic believers there on that day, in which case the Messianic believers still held the feast days to be important.

C. Paul Himself wanted to keep the Festival. To observe the command to come before the Lord in Jerusalem on that Day. But Paul knew that the Lord no longer dwelt in the Temple at Jersalem.

Addendum on Ceremonial Law

ROMANS 14:5-6 AOne person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.@

Paul seems to be giving each person the right to decide for him/her self how much of the ceremonial law he/she will keep. And the fact that he tells each person not to judge another says to me that the law is not binding.

ACTS 15:10 (Peter speaking to the Pharisees who believed, but demanded that believing Gentiles must conform to the law of Moses) ANow therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

The decision was made, that Gentile converts were not bound to keep the Mosaic law. Nothing is mentioned about Jewish converts, but it does seem significant that Peter says Aneither our father nor we were able to bear@ the Mosaic law.

HEBREWS 6:18 When Paul says Athere is an annulling of the former commandment@ this seem to be for Jews. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews.

HEBREWS 8:13 (Paul) AIn that He says, >a new covenant,= He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete, and growing old is ready to vanish away.@

ACTS 6:14 AFor we have heard him (Stephen) say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.@

ROMANS 2:24-29 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For

circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

GALATIANS 4:8-9 ABut now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.@

GALATIANS 5:1-6 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

1CORINTHIANS 7:18-19 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

ACTS 18:18-20 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 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.

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 21:23-27 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

ACTS 16:3 Him (Timothy) would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Acts 6:14 - 31AD (Stephen) Romans 2:24-29 - 57 or 58AD

Acts 15:10 - 50AD Romans 3:1- same

Acts 16:3 - 51 or 52AD Romans 14:5-6 - same

Acts 18:18-20 - 52 or 53AD

Acts 20:16 - 57 or 58AD 1Corinthians 7:18-19 - 57AD

Acts 21:23-27 - 57 or 58AD

Galatians 4:8-9 - 57 or 58AD Colossians 2:14-17 - 61AD

Galatians 5:4-6 - same Ephesians 2:25 - 63AD

Hebrews (entire book) - 65AD

DATES: from The Reese Chronological Bible

Martydom of Peter and Paul dated to June 29, 67 or 68* AD

The book to the Hebrews seems to be Paul=s last word to the Jewish people on the ceremonial system. In this book Paul says that the old system was made obsolete, was annulled, was passing away, was part of an Old Covenant which was replaced by the New Covenant. Considering that the book was written to Jews, not Gentiles it seems plain that Paul did not think it necessary even for Jews to keep the ceremonial feast days.

SHALL WE KEEP THE FESTIVALS?

Holidays:

New Year=s Day, Mother=s Day, Father=s Day,

Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veteran=s Day, Labor Day

Washington=s Birthday (President=s Day), Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Columbus Day

Christmas, Easter/Lent-Palm Sunday-Ash Wednesday, Thanksgiving

St. Valentine=s Day, St. Patrick=s Day

Birthdays

Times set apart to pay attention to values, to remember special individuals who symbolize these values. Special times to give recognition to family and friends. ---- And special times to remember our Savior.

Where there are no divinely appointed holidays, human beings will appoint special days to commemorate B meaning to commit to memory, special events - heros, saints and yes-

to thank praise, or worship God. This is a characteristic of human beings B to use time as a memory device and as a teaching tool to strengthen values.

So let=s say that special times are a good thing.

But who decides which days to keep?

Imagine what it woud be like were each person free to choose for him/or herself which day or days would be set aside for worship and fellowship. You=d have Mondarians, Tuesdarians, Thursdarians, Sabbatarians, etc. etc. etc.

______________________________________________________________________

Our God created human beings in a dimension called Atime.@

God has used Atime@ to reveal Himself.

He has used time to facilitate the reconciliation between man and God.

He has used Atime@ to draw human beings into a relationship with Himself.

AHe invites us to make ourselves free and available for Him at certain times so that we can experience more freely and fully the awareness of His presence, His peace, and His grace.@ Pg. 19

A. AIn six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is. And on the seventh day He rested - therefore He blessed the 7^th day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11

He Ahallowed it.@ He made it holy. He created a Aholy day.@ He made a holiday. Do you think of the Sabbath as a holiday? It was the very first holiday.

God set apart a unit of time.

B. Leviticus 23 says, AThese are the Sabbaths of the Lord.@

Passover

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Pentecost

The Feast of Trumpets

The Day of Atonement

The Feast of Tabernacles

God used time to draw His people (Israel) into a close and continuing relationship with Himself, and with each other. He also used these special times to give a detailed prophecy of the Savior to come.

AThe Christian faith is rooted in the belief that God has acted in human history. The Biblical calendar recognizes this fact and seeks to relate all time to the redemptive purposes of God.@

God=s Festivals by Samuele Bacchiocchi pg.18

2. God has used time to reveal Himself.

A. I know the future - omniscient - what He has predicted (prophesied), through the symbolism of the festivals has come to pass, and it will come to pass.

B. I AM in control - omnipotent - He has delivered - just as He promised - at the predicted time. The deliverance was no accident. He will deliver - Aat the appointed time.@

C. I keep My promises - I sent a Savior.

The appointed feasts tell the story of our deliverance. The events foretold CAME to pass, in the death and resurrection of our Lord. God is revealed as deliverer, life-giver, provider, protector, sustainer, judge, and executioner. He is revealed as the victim and as the one who forgives.

D. QUESTION: Why would God=s use of Atime@ in the revelation of Himself suddenly stop with the death of Christ - when His death was NOT the end of the salvation story?

3. The Feasts are prophetic. They were given to tell a story - the story of our salvation.

These Feasts tell a story of deliverance, empowerment, judgment, cleansing, and best of all reunion.

A. THE PROPHECIES HAVE NOT YET BEEN FULFILLED!!

Passover - while it is true that Christ was the Passover lamb, and that Christ was Athe first fruit@ offered to God upon His resurrection - there is a fulfillment yet to come.

Christ said to His idsciples: AWith fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.For I shall not eat of it again UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED, in the kingdom of God.@ Luke 22:16

The children of Israel crossed over the Jorden River into Canaan.

We will cross over from this present world into Heaven - the paradise of God.

They were circumcised by Moses

We are Acircumcised by Christ.@

They celebrated the Passover

We will celebrate the Passover with Christ

Then ate of the firstfruits of Canaan

We will eat of the fruit of Heaven, and then of the new earth.

Then they celebrated Pentecost - the day upon which the Law was given from Mt Sinai.

We will be filled with the Spirit - this is the true fulfillment of Pentecost - the Law will be written in our hearts.

The symbolism of Revelation can only be understood using the Exodus key, with the feast days. The Lamb (the Passover Lamb) is praised. Instead of blood on the doorposts - they wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. There are plagues in the land. They sing the Song of Moses - and the Lamb. They are brought out of slavery so that they may worship their God.

Physical experiences are used by God to help us conceptualize and internalize spiritual realities.

The Israelite slew the sacrificial lamb. We drink the wine and eat the bread.

B. The Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles, we believe will be fulfilled at the very end of this age.

QUESTION: If these prophecies have not yet been fulfilled, why would Israel stop celebrating these feasts? Why stop prophecying when only part of the prophecy has been fulfilled.

If your boss promised something - and have only delivered on part of that promise - would you just forget the rest of the promise?