Ever been a part of a Jewish observance?

[God_Owned]

Firstly Jesus didn't tell them to observe anything, he told them to wait in the upper room... all of these men and women were Jews and i am sure they were practising what they knew...

The fast mentioned in Acts 27:9 could be referring to anything, it didn't mean they were fasting... Paul was trying to get to Jerusalem for the fast (day of Aonement) this verse said it was past maybe it just means that he was already late...

Maybe they had a forced fast because of the wind and high seas, maybe the rest of the crew were fasting and not Paul... it could mean anything...

Not necessarily it again could mean anything... 1859. eJorth/ heorte, heh-or-tay´; of uncertain affinity; a festival: — feast, holyday.

Another great post Mike!

 

[plum]

You haven't offended my, neither do you understand what the body and blood of Jesus has done for you. Jesus is the feast! Show me anywhere in the NT where we are instructed to keep OT feasts or where Jesus or any Christian did.

Thanks for replying, Godown. I can see you're very passionate and I always admire that fervor!

I would appreciate it if you did not assume to know what I know about the Messiah. I try to keep an open mind about what others can teach me. I hope you will do me the same courtesy


I'm confused... are you saying all of the apostles were not Christians? If not, when did the first Christians appear? Who was the first Christian?
You asked before for examples of them observing the feasts and I gave that to you. I am sure that the Scriptures were clear to you. could you explain from the Bible where it says the apostles weren't Christians? Or that we should not follow their examples?

[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]1 Corinthians 11:1-16[/FONT] 1 try to imitate me, even as I myself try to imitate the Messiah. 2 Now I praise you because you have remembered everything I told you and observe the traditions just the way I passed them on to you.

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

Firstly Jesus didn't tell them to observe anything, he told them to wait in the upper room... all of these men and women were Jews and i am sure they were practising what they knew...



The fast mentioned in Acts 27:9 could be referring to anything, it didn't mean they were fasting... Paul was trying to get to Jerusalem for the fast (day of Aonement) this verse said it was past maybe it just means that he was already late...

Maybe they had a forced fast because of the wind and high seas, maybe the rest of the crew were fasting and not Paul... it could mean anything...



Not necessarily it again could mean anything... 1859. eJorth/ heorte, heh-or-tay´; of uncertain affinity; a festival: — feast, holyday.

Yes, they were Christian Jews, and God had a reason why the Spirit fell on Pentecost. The fast in 27:9 is talking about the day of atonement, any Bible with footnotes will tell you that. Paul kept the holy days. He also followed other OT laws

Acts 18:18 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.

 

[Trish1947]

I question the ability to "fellowship" with Orthodox observant Jews. I can say this because I am Jewish, with a couple of Rabbi's in the family. We have sat down many many times and talked about my faith in Jesus as the Messiah..they were not receptive at all. They listened, but I always felt that they were listening to me because I was a misquided person, that needed to be re-taught God's laws to be a truely observant Jew. They have a heart for God, but not according to knowledge, or were they willing to receive this knowledge of the Messiah as already come. We respect each others views, but we no longer discuss them on family get togethers. Thats why I don't see where the fellowship comes in. Our fellowship is with like minded believers in Jesus. And our fellowship is in the Holy Spirit.

 

[God_Owned]

Thanks for replying, Godown. I can see you're very passionate and I always admire that fervor!

Passionate or not, I'm correct.

I would appreciate it if you did not assume to know what I know about the Messiah. I try to keep an open mind about what others can teach me. I hope you will do me the same courtesy

I'm assuming nothing. If you think that Jesus wants you to keep the feasts of the OT then you have not discerned Jesus' Flesh and Blood. I doubt you will allow yourself to learn much from me.

I'm confused... are you saying all of the apostles were not Christians? If not, when did the first Christians appear? Who was the first Christian?

The disciples were not Christians prior to Jesus' death burial and resurrection.

You asked before for examples of them observing the feasts and I gave that to you. I am sure that the Scriptures were clear to you. could you explain from the Bible where it says the apostles weren't Christians? Or that we should not follow their examples?

There are no example in the NT where Christians observe any feast other than Communion and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, so I guess you didn't give them to me.

Do you consider yourself Word of Faith?

 

[God_Owned]

Yes, they were Christian Jews, and God had a reason why the Spirit fell on Pentecost. The fast in 27:9 is talking about the day of atonement, any Bible with footnotes will tell you that. Paul kept the holy days. He also followed other OT laws

God, not the Jews established the day of Pentecost, so Jewish reasoning was unimportant in this instance.

Paul was a Jew, but never kept the OT feast after he became saved.

Acts 18:18 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.

So he had a vow. So what?

 

[God_Owned]

I question the ability to "fellowship" with Orthodox observant Jews. I can say this because I am Jewish, with a couple of Rabbi's in the family. We have sat down many many times and talked about my faith in Jesus as the Messiah..they were not receptive at all. They listened, but I always felt that they were listening to me because I was a misquided person, that needed to be re-taught God's laws to be a truely observant Jew. They have a heart for God, but not according to knowledge, or were they willing to receive this knowledge of the Messiah as already come. We respect each others views, but we no longer discuss them on family get togethers. Thats why I don't see where the fellowship comes in. Our fellowship is with like minded believers in Jesus. And our fellowship is in the Holy Spirit.

Wow, that was good!

 

[J4Jesus]

I question the ability to "fellowship" with Orthodox observant Jews. I can say this because I am Jewish, with a couple of Rabbi's in the family.

I have been talking about Messianic Jews who have recieved Jesus. Not those who reject Him and us..

 

[plum]

The disciples were not Christians prior to Jesus' death burial and resurrection.

Then how do you argue with the observances seen in Acts? Acts happens after his death and resurrection.

There are no example in the NT where Christians observe any feast other than Communion and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, so I guess you didn't give them to me.

I'm not sure you read my previous post where I showed multiple times where this is true"
Acts 2, Acts 27:9, Acts 18.... again, please explain how these do not mean what they say? Literally. In english or in the original greek.


I am not in this thread for any other purpose than to do what you asked: show examples of the believers in Jesus observing God's Holy Days after the resurrection. If you disagree with what Scripture says, then I will not go outside of Scripture to make my point. I stick to the inspired Scriptures, not my own opinion. They are enough.


Peace.

 

[jengoesup]

To reply to the original thread topic, I've attended at least one Hannukah celebration that I remember, and I think I've been to more. I was there when they lit one of the candles of the menorah, that was pretty cool. I've also been to a bat and a bar mitzvah. This has all been from the same family, I guess you would classify them as unorthodox Jews (well, unorthodox meaning that they're not orthodox; I do not intend to imply that they're free-spirited or liberal in any way).

 

[pdudgeon]

for those who may have forgotten....

this is a congregational forum, and as such we do have a sign-in post located here:
http://www.christianforums.com/t736472-sign-in-here-all-wofers.html&page=30

we would request that all CF members who wear an icon other than the WOF icon and who wish to debate in the forum to please sign in with a post stating that you agree with WOF.

Everyone else is requested to only ask questions or post in fellowship, please. thanks!

 

[God_Owned]

Then how do you argue with the observances seen in Acts? Acts happens after his death and resurrection.


I'm not sure you read my previous post where I showed multiple times where this is true"
Acts 2, Acts 27:9, Acts 18.... again, please explain how these do not mean what they say? Literally. In english or in the original greek.


I am not in this thread for any other purpose than to do what you asked: show examples of the believers in Jesus observing God's Holy Days after the resurrection. If you disagree with what Scripture says, then I will not go outside of Scripture to make my point. I stick to the inspired Scriptures, not my own opinion. They are enough.


Peace.

Nothing in you references indicates, much less states that Paul or any other Disciple/Apostle, or Christian for that matter, keep the OT feasts. Just because they were gathered on the day of Pentecost hardly can be interpreted as keeping the OT feast. The Bible states clearly why they were doing on the day of Pentecost in the upper room and it wasn't to keep the OT feasts.

I suggest that you go read the book of Colossians and then the book of Galatians and then try study Communion.

Jesus is the feast.

 

[PastorMike]

Yes, they were Christian Jews, and God had a reason why the Spirit fell on Pentecost. The fast in 27:9 is talking about the day of atonement, any Bible with footnotes will tell you that. Paul kept the holy days. He also followed other OT laws

Hi CrazyforYeshua, I am aware that it was the day of atonement, but it still doesn't prove anything... I know a lot of unbelievers that try to make it home for Christmas... but that doesn't mean they are trying toget home for church or to worship Jesus with believers..

Acts 18:18 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.

As for Paul shaving his head who knows why he did that, it didn't make him acceptable before God, we ae accepted now by the blood of Jesus not by shorn hair... God bless, Mike.

 

[PastorMike]

I question the ability to "fellowship" with Orthodox observant Jews. I can say this because I am Jewish, with a couple of Rabbi's in the family. We have sat down many many times and talked about my faith in Jesus as the Messiah..they were not receptive at all. They listened, but I always felt that they were listening to me because I was a misquided person, that needed to be re-taught God's laws to be a truely observant Jew. They have a heart for God, but not according to knowledge, or were they willing to receive this knowledge of the Messiah as already come. We respect each others views, but we no longer discuss them on family get togethers. Thats why I don't see where the fellowship comes in. Our fellowship is with like minded believers in Jesus. And our fellowship is in the Holy Spirit.

Amen Trish, that is all we are saying, to win them to be Christ we need to be different, we don't need to be observing their feast etc becoming like them... what they had didn't work, that is why Jesus came and made an end of it and established a new covenant... God bless, Mike.

 

[Father Rick]

Amen Trish, that is all we are saying, to win them to be Christ we need to be different, we don't need to be observing their feast etc becoming like them... what they had didn't work, that is why Jesus came and made an end of it and established a new covenant... God bless, Mike.

As someone who actually trained under a Chassidic rabbi, I'll throw out a few things here.

First, Paul is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the OT, not did away with it. There is a huge difference between the two.

The NT is crystal clear that our salvation is only through Christ and not through keeping the Feasts. However, scripture is also clear that the Feasts were given as teaching tools and that we can learn from keeping them.

Each of the Feasts of Israel as they are commonly called (The Feasts of the Lord your God is what scripture actual calls them) teach us a different aspect of the nature and character of God. We see God as the Creator, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, etc. Scripture actually teaches that the Feasts are to be celebrated forever (and not just until Christ came). Three times in Leviticus 23, where the feasts are all listed out, it says that they are to be a "perpetual statute" (NAS). The word "perpetual" there is literally "forever". I'll just paste one of the verses here so you can check the reference yourself.

23:41
'You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

In the NT, we see Jesus actually celebrating the Feasts as He is perfectly fulfilling the Law. Three times a year, all Jewish men went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feasts-- For Passover/Pesach, Pentecost/Shavuot, and Tabernacles/Sukkot. (It should be noted here that the feasts occur in groups, so the week of Passover actually contains 3 different feasts and the 2 weeks surrounding Tabernacles contains 3 feasts, so one would celebrated all 7 feasts on these 3 trips). If one reads the gospels, you find that Jesus lived in Nazareth in Galilee, yet most of His teaching occurred either in Jerusalem, on His way to Jerusalem, or returning from Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus was fulfilling the Law and keeping the Feasts. During each Feast, He explained how He was fulfilling that Feast. For example: during "Unleavened Bread", He stated that He was the Bread of Life; on the last day of Sukkot/Tabernacles (called "The Great Feast) while the priests were pouring water on the altar for cleansing He taught about rivers of living water flowing from your inner being.

The Last Supper was/is Passover. If you know the Feasts, it becomes instantly apparent that when Jesus took the cup "after the meal" ,as scripture says, it was the "Cup of Redemption"-- a specific cup with specific meaning. It also is clear that the bread Jesus took and broke was not just any bread but the "afikomen", the bread that was broken, wrapped in a cloth and hidden away, then brought back (Just as Jesus' body was broken, wrapped and put in the tomb, then resurrected).

If one knows the feasts, one knows the original "Day of Pentecost" (literally "Shavuot") was not in the NT, but when God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. According to Jewish tradition, which is mentioned in passing in the OT, when God came down on Mt. Sinai, there was a great blowing of trumpets and tongues of fire that sat upon the Israelites. This was re-enacted each year in the Temple, as the Israelites celebrated the empowerment of God to be a covenant people. This was what was taking place in the Temple at the time that the Acts 2 events transpired. While the priests were remembering what God had done and looking forward to what He would do again, God literally repeated Himself with the empowering of the 120 to be a covenant people, signified with a great blowing and tongues of fire.



We know from scripture that the early Christians kept Jewish forms of worship, including going to the Temple for prayer (Acts 3:1) and the apostle Paul even offering sacrifices in the Temple (Acts 21:26). In this case, Paul was there with a group of other Christians who had taken Nazarite vows (an OT practice) and who, when finished, went into the temple to offer sacrifice. Paul defends himself by stating how he was "ceremonially clean" when in the temple (Acts 24) indicating that he followed the various rituals involved there. We know that the early Christians worshipped in synagogues, in fact it was the first place that Paul would go when he was traveling on his missionary journeys.

In Colossians, Paul acknowledged that the Christians there were keeping the Feasts (btw, not only the weekly Sabbath, which is a summary of all 7 Feasts rolled into one, but the Feast days as well are called "Sabbaths"), but simply re-iterated that they were but teaching tools, and not the substance of the promise.

[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]2:17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. [/FONT]

Some, particular those Christians of Jewish lineage, were observing the Feasts. Others, mainly Gentiles who didn't understand, were not. This is the situation into which Paul was speaking when he wrote in Romans 14:

[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]14:4 Who are you to judge the servant of another ? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]14:5 One 3303a> person regards one day above another, another * regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]14:6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. [/FONT]

Interestingly enough, Paul days "he who observes the day, observes it for the Lord", but does not say "he who does not observe the day does that to the Lord", as he does with the eating issue.

Paul makes it clear that the early Christians kept "The Lord's Supper", not as a piece of cracker and a sip of juice as many do today, but rather as a full meal as the Passover meal was. All the early Church writers also acknowledge this fact. In fact, it was not until the time of Constantine in the early 300's that the Church stopped celebrated all the Jewish feasts. The main reason for this was that as the Church spread and grew, most did not understand the lessons being taught by the Feasts due to cultural reasons.


Again, the Feasts, in and of themselves, are in no way a key to salvation. Salvation is ONLY throught the work of Christ. However, they were designed to point us to Christ and to teach us aspects of who He is. When kept in this way, they can be great resources to better understand the scriptures. Huge portions of scripture, especially the prophetic writings, are allusions to one aspect or another of the 7 Feasts. If one actually knows what the writer of the book was referring to, obviously one's understanding of the writers message is greatly enhanced. Jesus constantly referred to the Feasts (in fact, scripture even records His going to Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukah, aka "the Festival of Lights"). To fully understand what Jesus was talking about when explaining His ministry, one needs to know the Feasts.

And, the easiest way to learn the Feasts is to actually celebrate them a couple of times. Not out of a legalistic mindset. Not as trying to earn something. But rather as a way to learn more about who Jesus is.

I can't tell you how many times I have had people come up to me at a Passover (and yes, I lead one each year) with tears in their eyes saying "I never realized______(fill in the blank)___" as they saw for the first time a new aspect of Christ's nature.

 

[FrankFaith]

As someone who actually trained under a Chassidic rabbi, I'll throw out a few things here.

First, Paul is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the OT, not did away with it. There is a huge difference between the two.

The NT is crystal clear that our salvation is only through Christ and not through keeping the Feasts. However, scripture is also clear that the Feasts were given as teaching tools and that we can learn from keeping them.

Each of the Feasts of Israel as they are commonly called (The Feasts of the Lord your God is what scripture actual calls them) teach us a different aspect of the nature and character of God. We see God as the Creator, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, etc. Scripture actually teaches that the Feasts are to be celebrated forever (and not just until Christ came). Three times in Leviticus 23, where the feasts are all listed out, it says that they are to be a "perpetual statute" (NAS). The word "perpetual" there is literally "forever". I'll just paste one of the verses here so you can check the reference yourself.

In the NT, we see Jesus actually celebrating the Feasts as He is perfectly fulfilling the Law. Three times a year, all Jewish men went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feasts-- For Passover/Pesach, Pentecost/Shavuot, and Tabernacles/Sukkot. (It should be noted here that the feasts occur in groups, so the week of Passover actually contains 3 different feasts and the 2 weeks surrounding Tabernacles contains 3 feasts, so one would celebrated all 7 feasts on these 3 trips). If one reads the gospels, you find that Jesus lived in Nazareth in Galilee, yet most of His teaching occurred either in Jerusalem, on His way to Jerusalem, or returning from Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus was fulfilling the Law and keeping the Feasts. During each Feast, He explained how He was fulfilling that Feast. For example: during "Unleavened Bread", He stated that He was the Bread of Life; on the last day of Sukkot/Tabernacles (called "The Great Feast) while the priests were pouring water on the altar for cleansing He taught about rivers of living water flowing from your inner being.

The Last Supper was/is Passover. If you know the Feasts, it becomes instantly apparent that when Jesus took the cup "after the meal" ,as scripture says, it was the "Cup of Redemption"-- a specific cup with specific meaning. It also is clear that the bread Jesus took and broke was not just any bread but the "afikomen", the bread that was broken, wrapped in a cloth and hidden away, then brought back (Just as Jesus' body was broken, wrapped and put in the tomb, then resurrected).

If one knows the feasts, one knows the original "Day of Pentecost" (literally "Shavuot") was not in the NT, but when God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. According to Jewish tradition, which is mentioned in passing in the OT, when God came down on Mt. Sinai, there was a great blowing of trumpets and tongues of fire that sat upon the Israelites. This was re-enacted each year in the Temple, as the Israelites celebrated the empowerment of God to be a covenant people. This was what was taking place in the Temple at the time that the Acts 2 events transpired. While the priests were remembering what God had done and looking forward to what He would do again, God literally repeated Himself with the empowering of the 120 to be a covenant people, signified with a great blowing and tongues of fire.



We know from scripture that the early Christians kept Jewish forms of worship, including going to the Temple for prayer (Acts 3:1) and the apostle Paul even offering sacrifices in the Temple (Acts 21:26). In this case, Paul was there with a group of other Christians who had taken Nazarite vows (an OT practice) and who, when finished, went into the temple to offer sacrifice. Paul defends himself by stating how he was "ceremonially clean" when in the temple (Acts 24) indicating that he followed the various rituals involved there. We know that the early Christians worshipped in synagogues, in fact it was the first place that Paul would go when he was traveling on his missionary journeys.

In Colossians, Paul acknowledged that the Christians there were keeping the Feasts (btw, not only the weekly Sabbath, which is a summary of all 7 Feasts rolled into one, but the Feast days as well are called "Sabbaths"), but simply re-iterated that they were but teaching tools, and not the substance of the promise.

Paul makes it clear that the early Christians kept "The Lord's Supper", not as a piece of cracker and a sip of juice as many do today, but rather as a full meal as the Passover meal was. All the early Church writers also acknowledge this fact. In fact, it was not until the time of Constantine in the early 300's that the Church stopped celebrated all the Jewish feasts. The main reason for this was that as the Church spread and grew, most did not understand the lessons being taught by the Feasts due to cultural reasons.


Again, the Feasts, in and of themselves, are in no way a key to salvation. Salvation is ONLY throught the work of Christ. However, they were designed to point us to Christ and to teach us aspects of who He is. When kept in this way, they can be great resources to better understand the scriptures. Huge portions of scripture, especially the prophetic writings, are allusions to one aspect or another of the 7 Feasts. If one actually knows what the writer of the book was referring to, obviously one's understanding of the writers message is greatly enhanced. Jesus constantly referred to the Feasts (in fact, scripture even records His going to Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukah, aka "the Festival of Lights"). To fully understand what Jesus was talking about when explaining His ministry, one needs to know the Feasts.

And, the easiest way to learn the Feasts is to actually celebrate them a couple of times. Not out of a legalistic mindset. Not as trying to earn something. But rather as a way to learn more about who Jesus is.

I can't tell you how many times I have had people come up to me at a Passover (and yes, I lead one each year) with tears in their eyes saying "I never realized______(fill in the blank)___" as they saw for the first time a new aspect of Christ's nature.

Amen. Thank you for your thorough explaination and for the time you took to put that together.

I sure hope we're all on track after that.

Do you have any on-line resources for us to learn the Feasts?

Thanks very much again!!!

 

[FrankFaith]

Oh--and Happy Birthday!!!

 

[msbojingles]

As someone who actually trained under a Chassidic rabbi, I'll throw out a few things here.

First, Paul is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the OT, not did away with it. There is a huge difference between the two.

The NT is crystal clear that our salvation is only through Christ and not through keeping the Feasts. However, scripture is also clear that the Feasts were given as teaching tools and that we can learn from keeping them.

Each of the Feasts of Israel as they are commonly called (The Feasts of the Lord your God is what scripture actual calls them) teach us a different aspect of the nature and character of God. We see God as the Creator, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, etc. Scripture actually teaches that the Feasts are to be celebrated forever (and not just until Christ came). Three times in Leviticus 23, where the feasts are all listed out, it says that they are to be a "perpetual statute" (NAS). The word "perpetual" there is literally "forever". I'll just paste one of the verses here so you can check the reference yourself.

In the NT, we see Jesus actually celebrating the Feasts as He is perfectly fulfilling the Law. Three times a year, all Jewish men went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feasts-- For Passover/Pesach, Pentecost/Shavuot, and Tabernacles/Sukkot. (It should be noted here that the feasts occur in groups, so the week of Passover actually contains 3 different feasts and the 2 weeks surrounding Tabernacles contains 3 feasts, so one would celebrated all 7 feasts on these 3 trips). If one reads the gospels, you find that Jesus lived in Nazareth in Galilee, yet most of His teaching occurred either in Jerusalem, on His way to Jerusalem, or returning from Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus was fulfilling the Law and keeping the Feasts. During each Feast, He explained how He was fulfilling that Feast. For example: during "Unleavened Bread", He stated that He was the Bread of Life; on the last day of Sukkot/Tabernacles (called "The Great Feast) while the priests were pouring water on the altar for cleansing He taught about rivers of living water flowing from your inner being.

The Last Supper was/is Passover. If you know the Feasts, it becomes instantly apparent that when Jesus took the cup "after the meal" ,as scripture says, it was the "Cup of Redemption"-- a specific cup with specific meaning. It also is clear that the bread Jesus took and broke was not just any bread but the "afikomen", the bread that was broken, wrapped in a cloth and hidden away, then brought back (Just as Jesus' body was broken, wrapped and put in the tomb, then resurrected).

If one knows the feasts, one knows the original "Day of Pentecost" (literally "Shavuot") was not in the NT, but when God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. According to Jewish tradition, which is mentioned in passing in the OT, when God came down on Mt. Sinai, there was a great blowing of trumpets and tongues of fire that sat upon the Israelites. This was re-enacted each year in the Temple, as the Israelites celebrated the empowerment of God to be a covenant people. This was what was taking place in the Temple at the time that the Acts 2 events transpired. While the priests were remembering what God had done and looking forward to what He would do again, God literally repeated Himself with the empowering of the 120 to be a covenant people, signified with a great blowing and tongues of fire.



We know from scripture that the early Christians kept Jewish forms of worship, including going to the Temple for prayer (Acts 3:1) and the apostle Paul even offering sacrifices in the Temple (Acts 21:26). In this case, Paul was there with a group of other Christians who had taken Nazarite vows (an OT practice) and who, when finished, went into the temple to offer sacrifice. Paul defends himself by stating how he was "ceremonially clean" when in the temple (Acts 24) indicating that he followed the various rituals involved there. We know that the early Christians worshipped in synagogues, in fact it was the first place that Paul would go when he was traveling on his missionary journeys.

In Colossians, Paul acknowledged that the Christians there were keeping the Feasts (btw, not only the weekly Sabbath, which is a summary of all 7 Feasts rolled into one, but the Feast days as well are called "Sabbaths"), but simply re-iterated that they were but teaching tools, and not the substance of the promise.
Some, particular those Christians of Jewish lineage, were observing the Feasts. Others, mainly Gentiles who didn't understand, were not. This is the situation into which Paul was speaking when he wrote in Romans 14: Interestingly enough, Paul days "he who observes the day, observes it for the Lord", but does not say "he who does not observe the day does that to the Lord", as he does with the eating issue.

Paul makes it clear that the early Christians kept "The Lord's Supper", not as a piece of cracker and a sip of juice as many do today, but rather as a full meal as the Passover meal was. All the early Church writers also acknowledge this fact. In fact, it was not until the time of Constantine in the early 300's that the Church stopped celebrated all the Jewish feasts. The main reason for this was that as the Church spread and grew, most did not understand the lessons being taught by the Feasts due to cultural reasons.


Again, the Feasts, in and of themselves, are in no way a key to salvation. Salvation is ONLY throught the work of Christ. However, they were designed to point us to Christ and to teach us aspects of who He is. When kept in this way, they can be great resources to better understand the scriptures. Huge portions of scripture, especially the prophetic writings, are allusions to one aspect or another of the 7 Feasts. If one actually knows what the writer of the book was referring to, obviously one's understanding of the writers message is greatly enhanced. Jesus constantly referred to the Feasts (in fact, scripture even records His going to Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukah, aka "the Festival of Lights"). To fully understand what Jesus was talking about when explaining His ministry, one needs to know the Feasts.

And, the easiest way to learn the Feasts is to actually celebrate them a couple of times. Not out of a legalistic mindset. Not as trying to earn something. But rather as a way to learn more about who Jesus is.

I can't tell you how many times I have had people come up to me at a Passover (and yes, I lead one each year) with tears in their eyes saying "I never realized______(fill in the blank)___" as they saw for the first time a new aspect of Christ's nature.

You say it with so much eloquence.

 

[Trish1947]

As someone who actually trained under a Chassidic rabbi, I'll throw out a few things here.

First, Paul is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the OT, not did away with it. There is a huge difference between the two.

The NT is crystal clear that our salvation is only through Christ and not through keeping the Feasts. However, scripture is also clear that the Feasts were given as teaching tools and that we can learn from keeping them.

Each of the Feasts of Israel as they are commonly called (The Feasts of the Lord your God is what scripture actual calls them) teach us a different aspect of the nature and character of God. We see God as the Creator, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, etc. Scripture actually teaches that the Feasts are to be celebrated forever (and not just until Christ came). Three times in Leviticus 23, where the feasts are all listed out, it says that they are to be a "perpetual statute" (NAS). The word "perpetual" there is literally "forever". I'll just paste one of the verses here so you can check the reference yourself.

In the NT, we see Jesus actually celebrating the Feasts as He is perfectly fulfilling the Law. Three times a year, all Jewish men went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feasts-- For Passover/Pesach, Pentecost/Shavuot, and Tabernacles/Sukkot. (It should be noted here that the feasts occur in groups, so the week of Passover actually contains 3 different feasts and the 2 weeks surrounding Tabernacles contains 3 feasts, so one would celebrated all 7 feasts on these 3 trips). If one reads the gospels, you find that Jesus lived in Nazareth in Galilee, yet most of His teaching occurred either in Jerusalem, on His way to Jerusalem, or returning from Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus was fulfilling the Law and keeping the Feasts. During each Feast, He explained how He was fulfilling that Feast. For example: during "Unleavened Bread", He stated that He was the Bread of Life; on the last day of Sukkot/Tabernacles (called "The Great Feast) while the priests were pouring water on the altar for cleansing He taught about rivers of living water flowing from your inner being.

The Last Supper was/is Passover. If you know the Feasts, it becomes instantly apparent that when Jesus took the cup "after the meal" ,as scripture says, it was the "Cup of Redemption"-- a specific cup with specific meaning. It also is clear that the bread Jesus took and broke was not just any bread but the "afikomen", the bread that was broken, wrapped in a cloth and hidden away, then brought back (Just as Jesus' body was broken, wrapped and put in the tomb, then resurrected).

If one knows the feasts, one knows the original "Day of Pentecost" (literally "Shavuot") was not in the NT, but when God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai. According to Jewish tradition, which is mentioned in passing in the OT, when God came down on Mt. Sinai, there was a great blowing of trumpets and tongues of fire that sat upon the Israelites. This was re-enacted each year in the Temple, as the Israelites celebrated the empowerment of God to be a covenant people. This was what was taking place in the Temple at the time that the Acts 2 events transpired. While the priests were remembering what God had done and looking forward to what He would do again, God literally repeated Himself with the empowering of the 120 to be a covenant people, signified with a great blowing and tongues of fire.



We know from scripture that the early Christians kept Jewish forms of worship, including going to the Temple for prayer (Acts 3:1) and the apostle Paul even offering sacrifices in the Temple (Acts 21:26). In this case, Paul was there with a group of other Christians who had taken Nazarite vows (an OT practice) and who, when finished, went into the temple to offer sacrifice. Paul defends himself by stating how he was "ceremonially clean" when in the temple (Acts 24) indicating that he followed the various rituals involved there. We know that the early Christians worshipped in synagogues, in fact it was the first place that Paul would go when he was traveling on his missionary journeys.

In Colossians, Paul acknowledged that the Christians there were keeping the Feasts (btw, not only the weekly Sabbath, which is a summary of all 7 Feasts rolled into one, but the Feast days as well are called "Sabbaths"), but simply re-iterated that they were but teaching tools, and not the substance of the promise.
Some, particular those Christians of Jewish lineage, were observing the Feasts. Others, mainly Gentiles who didn't understand, were not. This is the situation into which Paul was speaking when he wrote in Romans 14: Interestingly enough, Paul days "he who observes the day, observes it for the Lord", but does not say "he who does not observe the day does that to the Lord", as he does with the eating issue.

Paul makes it clear that the early Christians kept "The Lord's Supper", not as a piece of cracker and a sip of juice as many do today, but rather as a full meal as the Passover meal was. All the early Church writers also acknowledge this fact. In fact, it was not until the time of Constantine in the early 300's that the Church stopped celebrated all the Jewish feasts. The main reason for this was that as the Church spread and grew, most did not understand the lessons being taught by the Feasts due to cultural reasons.


Again, the Feasts, in and of themselves, are in no way a key to salvation. Salvation is ONLY throught the work of Christ. However, they were designed to point us to Christ and to teach us aspects of who He is. When kept in this way, they can be great resources to better understand the scriptures. Huge portions of scripture, especially the prophetic writings, are allusions to one aspect or another of the 7 Feasts. If one actually knows what the writer of the book was referring to, obviously one's understanding of the writers message is greatly enhanced. Jesus constantly referred to the Feasts (in fact, scripture even records His going to Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukah, aka "the Festival of Lights"). To fully understand what Jesus was talking about when explaining His ministry, one needs to know the Feasts.

And, the easiest way to learn the Feasts is to actually celebrate them a couple of times. Not out of a legalistic mindset. Not as trying to earn something. But rather as a way to learn more about who Jesus is.

I can't tell you how many times I have had people come up to me at a Passover (and yes, I lead one each year) with tears in their eyes saying "I never realized______(fill in the blank)___" as they saw for the first time a new aspect of Christ's nature.

While I understand what you are saying..the Gentiles never kept the Feasts to begin with, nor were they circumcised. Paul said about circumcision and the Gentiles that no other "burden" should be lain on the Gentiles other than obstaining from fornication and things that are strangled. I don't see any thing against one being curious as a Gentile to see what the Feasts represent, as such, I think that's good to learn about them, but learning about them, and following them as a requirement, and as a Gentile are two different issues. Gentiles receive mercy and grace without the requirement of the law, and the Jews that follow the law receive grace and mercy within the law. What was your condition at the time you received His mercy and grace? And can you really practice it without it affecting the liberty where in you were called? I think it would be very hard.

 

[FrankFaith]

While I understand what you are saying..the Gentiles never kept the Feasts to begin with, nor were they circumcised. Paul said about circumcision and the Gentiles that no other "burden" should be lain on the Gentiles other than obstaining from fornication and things that are strangled. I don't see any thing against one being curious as a Gentile to see what the Feasts represent, as such, I think that's good to learn about them, but learning about them, and following them as a requirement, and as a Gentile are two different issues. Gentiles receive mercy and grace without the requirement of the law, and the Jews that follow the law receive grace and mercy within the law. What was your condition at the time you received His mercy and grace? And can you really practice it without it affecting the liberty where in you were called? I think it would be very hard.

I think that we are all missing each other here.

I am under the impression that we are no longer under the law...so how could we put ourselves back under the law by performing a ceremony that reverences God? Do you realize that we are under Grace? No matter what we do, we can't change that--we reside in New Covenant times, under the New Covenant. The New Covenant applies to us, NOT the old!

I think that there are some here who are being deceived into thinking that we can be forced back under the law. We can't, though--this is merely a deception. Their fear is unfounded.

We're ALL under Grace, whether we realize it, refuse to accept it, or accept it; Jew or gentile!

Under Grace is where we reside--as recipients of the New Covenant promise that God and Jesus made with each other!

Am I missing something here?!