SHOULD THE FEAST DAYS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BE OBSERVED TODAY?
Fellow bloggers, this posting will be on a religious subject as you can see by the title. I have done this study several times coming up with the same conclusion I have always had. I do not believe that today's Christians are taught to observe the Feast Days. I believe they were given to the Israelites and ended with them. The sacrificial laws were done away with when Christ died on the cross. I cannot find any scriptures in the new testament that teaches us to observe these days. The scriptures that mention these feast days, are only being used as a time frame between Paul and the seven churches. It doesn't say we are to keep them or that Paul actually kept them. If we were to keep them now, I believe God would have put instructions for us to do so in the scriptures. It just mentions that Paul was going some place at the time of the feasts or would be back after a certain day. Something else was brought to my attention. Some people believe that the Seventh Day Sabbath and the Ten commandments were nailed to the cross. Where are the scriptures for this? I have never read them. The laws contained in ordinances were done away with which is what the Feast Days are considered. The Ten Commandments were not laws contained in ordinances. The Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God on Tables of Stone. The Laws contained in Ordinances were written in a book by Moses. They are two different laws. The weekly Sabbath is a Ten Commandment, not a law contained in ordinances. They were commands "thou shalt" and "thou shalt not" from the very beginning of creation. The other laws were added because of transgressions of the Ten Commandments. (Gal. 3:19).
I have written an article about this "A Study on the Feast Days of the Old Testament. Should they be Observed Today?" I was going to post the whole study on here, but I felt it would get to long. I am only going to post parts of it. If you would like a copy of my study, email me with an address and I will send you one. oklibrarianc@yahoo.com. I am not sure this link will work for you. You may have to go to your email account and send it.
I belong to the Church of God (7th Day) with Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. This organization teaches we should not keep them today. Christians are not obligated to observe the feast days, the annual Hebrew holy days of Leviticus 23. The annual holy days were part of the Levitical law of the old convenant and were intimately liked to its system of animal sacrifices. The annual holy days were neither Creation ordinances nor included among the Ten Commandments, but they belong to a portion of law that may be called ceremonial. So if the Levitical Priesthood ended so did the laws given at that time. The annual holy days were commanded to the nation of Israel when they departed from Egypt and were to be observed where the Lord placed His name. The Israelites were to observed them until the end of the Israelites that came out of Egypt. Only two of those people were able to even cross over to the promised land.
There were seven high days, called holy days in the Old Testament. The groups that teach the observance of these feast days today, list them as holy days. These holy days are Passover, Feast of Unleaven Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. But the Bible says that Israel was commanded to keep just three annual "feasts", each kept for a designated period of time and two other special days, each with significance. Notice it says Israel was commanded to keep.
In Hosea 2:11, "God will end Israel's feast days, new moons, sabbaths (not seventh day sabbath) and all solemn feasts." In chapter 5:5-7, it says God was angry at the Israelites for going after pagan gods and traditions. Isaiah 1:13 & 14, God rejected Israel's observance of new moons, and appointed feasts. Amos 5:21 says God despises feast days. What about these scriptures? I have been told these scriptures do not pertain to the feast days. What do they pertain to then?
Many people are confused because they are not able to determine what was nailed to the cross and what was not. The Ten Commandments were not laws contained in ordinances. That is where people get confused. What is a law contained in ordiances? The word "contained" means, "to have within itself," "included in," and "comprised of." The law contained in ordinances would simply mean a law that has within itself "rules or "regulations" to exercise that law. These laws have rules of instructions how to keep, or exercise the law. In some languages the word ordinances is translated "rituals", and in some languages "ceremonies". In both languages there are no other words that can be used to mean the same thing as rituals or ceremonies.
Paul tells us that the law contained in ordinances was nailed to the cross. Jesus took it out of the way. It was not part of the "LAW", but the law contained in ordinances. I didn't find any scritpure that separates anything from the law contained in ordinances or that tells us to keep this part of the law but not to keep the other part. The ones who try to hold part of the feasts also try to connect the weekly Sabbath with the feasts, as I have said earlier. They are trying to twist the scriptures to fit man's theory, but in scripture it is not found.
Are we to observe the day of Pentecost (or feast of first fruits or feast of weeks)? This was for the "Israelites" to observe when they reached the Promise Land. Leviticus 23:10 tells the "Israelites" to observe the "feast of harvest". They couldn't have such a feast until they had reaped their "first harvest". Acts 20:16, Paul was determined to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It doesn't say Paul was there to "observe" the day or telling people to observe the day. In 1 Corinthians 16:18 does it say Paul was there to observe the day of Pentecost? It just says he would tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. The scripture shows Paul, the Corinthians and the Ephesians knew when Pentecost was. It doesn't say in scripture that it was being observed by Paul and the others. It was being used to show the church a time frame.
The "Day of Atonement was a Holy Convocations, Luke 23:26, 27, 32. The "type" of the Day of Atonement and the things done that day were typical of the atonement Christ made for us by His death on the cross and His ascending into Heaven. This is explained in the book of Hebrews, chapter 9 and 10. In chapter 10 you will find it further explained that the ceremonies and sacrifices which made up the Day of Atonement were brought to an end when Christ made the great sacrifice of Himself.
Go to Colossians chapter 2:1, 6, 9, 10,14. This is Paul talking to the people about the mysteries of God and of Christ. Who taught the Colossians to live by faith? Paul did. He did not teach them to keep the laws or part of the laws contained in ordinances. Later in the chapter Paul taught them not to be judged because they did "not" keep the laws contained in ordinances. In verse 9 Paul tells the Colossians that the fullness is in Christ and not in anything else. Verse 10 says we are complete in Christ. The feasts were shadows of things to come (Christ). Why keep part of them and only the part man chooses to keep and leave the rest unkept? In verse 14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that were against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His (Christ's) cross." The handwriting was none other than the laws contained in rituals. The scripture does not say sacrifices were nailed to the cross. It says the law of sacrifices. Those who teach it is necessary to keep parts of the feasts try to maintain that the "Days" remained, but do you know that the "day" of the feast was the most unimportant thing of the feast and did not exist until the beginning of the Levitical Priesthood? The Levitical Priesthood began with Exodus, and so did the feasts. They also vanished with the Levitical Priesthood. Anyone claiming to keep the feasts or any part of them, same as claims Christ is not yet come to take away the shadow that stood or stands before them.
If we are to keep the day of Pentecost, why didn't Paul explain to them why and how they were to keep the day of Pentecost? If it was to be observed by the people in the new testament, there should be instructions in the scriptures as to how and where to keep it. Where are these scriptures in the new testament? What special days or festivals has "God" commanded Christians to observe? did God or Jesus at any time direct or command Christians to observe or commemorate the birth of Christ? Were the feasts commanded to be observed by Israel forever? Notice how the scriptures show that these things were to be in affect for the "generations" of Israel to the end of "their" time, which would be forever for them. Till the end of the generations of the Israelites whose fathers came out of Egypt and followed after other gods. We are not to observe the feasts and holy days of Israel. The only holy day we should observe is "God's Holy Sabbath Day." Christ done away with the sacrificial rituals, when He became our supreme sacrifice. Christ instituted the Lord's Supper and foot washing with His disciples adn commanded them to observe it yearly in memory of His death. By example Christ taught water baptism and coming up a new creature. If we are not baptized, we cannot enter into the everlasting "Kingdom of God".
Some say what does it hurt to observe the feast days? In so many scriptures it seems to tell us, that if we take part in "Israel's" feast days, we are crucifying Christ all over again. It makes His sacrifice for our sins of none effect. As for me and my family, the feast days were for the Israelites and when Christ came as our sacrificial lamb, the sacrificial laws were done away with and nailed to Christ's cross. Be very careful about what you observe. Search the scriptures and pray for guidence. Make up your own mind.
Starlight*
I have written an article about this "A Study on the Feast Days of the Old Testament. Should they be Observed Today?" I was going to post the whole study on here, but I felt it would get to long. I am only going to post parts of it. If you would like a copy of my study, email me with an address and I will send you one. oklibrarianc@yahoo.com. I am not sure this link will work for you. You may have to go to your email account and send it.
I belong to the Church of God (7th Day) with Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. This organization teaches we should not keep them today. Christians are not obligated to observe the feast days, the annual Hebrew holy days of Leviticus 23. The annual holy days were part of the Levitical law of the old convenant and were intimately liked to its system of animal sacrifices. The annual holy days were neither Creation ordinances nor included among the Ten Commandments, but they belong to a portion of law that may be called ceremonial. So if the Levitical Priesthood ended so did the laws given at that time. The annual holy days were commanded to the nation of Israel when they departed from Egypt and were to be observed where the Lord placed His name. The Israelites were to observed them until the end of the Israelites that came out of Egypt. Only two of those people were able to even cross over to the promised land.
There were seven high days, called holy days in the Old Testament. The groups that teach the observance of these feast days today, list them as holy days. These holy days are Passover, Feast of Unleaven Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. But the Bible says that Israel was commanded to keep just three annual "feasts", each kept for a designated period of time and two other special days, each with significance. Notice it says Israel was commanded to keep.
In Hosea 2:11, "God will end Israel's feast days, new moons, sabbaths (not seventh day sabbath) and all solemn feasts." In chapter 5:5-7, it says God was angry at the Israelites for going after pagan gods and traditions. Isaiah 1:13 & 14, God rejected Israel's observance of new moons, and appointed feasts. Amos 5:21 says God despises feast days. What about these scriptures? I have been told these scriptures do not pertain to the feast days. What do they pertain to then?
Many people are confused because they are not able to determine what was nailed to the cross and what was not. The Ten Commandments were not laws contained in ordinances. That is where people get confused. What is a law contained in ordiances? The word "contained" means, "to have within itself," "included in," and "comprised of." The law contained in ordinances would simply mean a law that has within itself "rules or "regulations" to exercise that law. These laws have rules of instructions how to keep, or exercise the law. In some languages the word ordinances is translated "rituals", and in some languages "ceremonies". In both languages there are no other words that can be used to mean the same thing as rituals or ceremonies.
Paul tells us that the law contained in ordinances was nailed to the cross. Jesus took it out of the way. It was not part of the "LAW", but the law contained in ordinances. I didn't find any scritpure that separates anything from the law contained in ordinances or that tells us to keep this part of the law but not to keep the other part. The ones who try to hold part of the feasts also try to connect the weekly Sabbath with the feasts, as I have said earlier. They are trying to twist the scriptures to fit man's theory, but in scripture it is not found.
Are we to observe the day of Pentecost (or feast of first fruits or feast of weeks)? This was for the "Israelites" to observe when they reached the Promise Land. Leviticus 23:10 tells the "Israelites" to observe the "feast of harvest". They couldn't have such a feast until they had reaped their "first harvest". Acts 20:16, Paul was determined to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It doesn't say Paul was there to "observe" the day or telling people to observe the day. In 1 Corinthians 16:18 does it say Paul was there to observe the day of Pentecost? It just says he would tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. The scripture shows Paul, the Corinthians and the Ephesians knew when Pentecost was. It doesn't say in scripture that it was being observed by Paul and the others. It was being used to show the church a time frame.
The "Day of Atonement was a Holy Convocations, Luke 23:26, 27, 32. The "type" of the Day of Atonement and the things done that day were typical of the atonement Christ made for us by His death on the cross and His ascending into Heaven. This is explained in the book of Hebrews, chapter 9 and 10. In chapter 10 you will find it further explained that the ceremonies and sacrifices which made up the Day of Atonement were brought to an end when Christ made the great sacrifice of Himself.
Go to Colossians chapter 2:1, 6, 9, 10,14. This is Paul talking to the people about the mysteries of God and of Christ. Who taught the Colossians to live by faith? Paul did. He did not teach them to keep the laws or part of the laws contained in ordinances. Later in the chapter Paul taught them not to be judged because they did "not" keep the laws contained in ordinances. In verse 9 Paul tells the Colossians that the fullness is in Christ and not in anything else. Verse 10 says we are complete in Christ. The feasts were shadows of things to come (Christ). Why keep part of them and only the part man chooses to keep and leave the rest unkept? In verse 14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that were against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His (Christ's) cross." The handwriting was none other than the laws contained in rituals. The scripture does not say sacrifices were nailed to the cross. It says the law of sacrifices. Those who teach it is necessary to keep parts of the feasts try to maintain that the "Days" remained, but do you know that the "day" of the feast was the most unimportant thing of the feast and did not exist until the beginning of the Levitical Priesthood? The Levitical Priesthood began with Exodus, and so did the feasts. They also vanished with the Levitical Priesthood. Anyone claiming to keep the feasts or any part of them, same as claims Christ is not yet come to take away the shadow that stood or stands before them.
If we are to keep the day of Pentecost, why didn't Paul explain to them why and how they were to keep the day of Pentecost? If it was to be observed by the people in the new testament, there should be instructions in the scriptures as to how and where to keep it. Where are these scriptures in the new testament? What special days or festivals has "God" commanded Christians to observe? did God or Jesus at any time direct or command Christians to observe or commemorate the birth of Christ? Were the feasts commanded to be observed by Israel forever? Notice how the scriptures show that these things were to be in affect for the "generations" of Israel to the end of "their" time, which would be forever for them. Till the end of the generations of the Israelites whose fathers came out of Egypt and followed after other gods. We are not to observe the feasts and holy days of Israel. The only holy day we should observe is "God's Holy Sabbath Day." Christ done away with the sacrificial rituals, when He became our supreme sacrifice. Christ instituted the Lord's Supper and foot washing with His disciples adn commanded them to observe it yearly in memory of His death. By example Christ taught water baptism and coming up a new creature. If we are not baptized, we cannot enter into the everlasting "Kingdom of God".
Some say what does it hurt to observe the feast days? In so many scriptures it seems to tell us, that if we take part in "Israel's" feast days, we are crucifying Christ all over again. It makes His sacrifice for our sins of none effect. As for me and my family, the feast days were for the Israelites and when Christ came as our sacrificial lamb, the sacrificial laws were done away with and nailed to Christ's cross. Be very careful about what you observe. Search the scriptures and pray for guidence. Make up your own mind.
Starlight*
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