I was sent a email question about the keeping of the festivals that God had ordained for Israel in the Torah. We agreed it would be best to answer it here for the edification of saints all over the world. See his questions below and my answer with ***** by my words in red.
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Question 1
If we as believers are made to celebrate, and created to celebrate,
***** First I would challenge this idea we humans were made to celebrate? I find no scriptural basis for this statement. The word celebrate appears only 3 times in the Word (Lev 23:32 / Lev 23:41 and Isaiah 38:18) None of these indicate we were made to celebrate at all. While they did celebrate certain festivals; the truth is that if man did not sin, Christ would not have had to come and to have been crucified. The festivals were all put in place just as shadows pointing to Him to come. I think a much better case would be made to say we were created to praise/worship God.
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isa 43;7
do you believe there is/can be benefit to the Gentile or Messianic believer to celebrate the feasts of the Lord, not as means of salvation or a work unto earning, but as a matter of conscience/liberty, in as much as we don't hold it as merit or something we could/would judge other disciples of Yeshua/Jesus by?
*******This is an interesting question but not a new one at all. In fact; Apostle Paul addressed this question in the Holy Word 2000 years ago.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Romans 14
This verse is a direct contextual situation of Jews doing the Torah ways and gentles not doing them. It has nothing to do with any other liberty situation but those in Torah ways to those not in Torah ways. While it is true that saints of God have liberty in the ordained ways that God has set in place based on timing and if you are a Jew or Gentile, I do still find some troubling aspects of this practice happening today with gentiles and I will explain.
1) In Acts 15 we see the gentiles were NOT told to keep the OT law/festivals so why would we do it today if we are to model Paul? We have what we are to keep/remember in the NEW, it is the Lords supper!
2) there is a strong heretical Hebrew root influence all about the world today and I fear this festival keeping could be a gateway for people to enter into their false gospel and corrupt cult ways. I have seen hundreds of people start to just dabble in the OT festival ways and they end up shipwrecking their biblical NT faith for a cultish unbiblical way called Hebrew roots. (see a link that exposes them below)
3) We just do not need to do them but we can learn of them in the OT Word indeed. All we need to be furnished in Christ is in the Holy Word not in some OT festival way that once was. I am concerned when people feel they need to ADD to God's design or ways for the NEW covenant as that is leaving scripture and thus sinful.
Question 2
With Yeshua/Jesus being the true and complete fulfillment and embodiment Word of God, the pattern in scripture seems to be Messiah fulfilling the feasts of God.
**** On this I would agree as they were a shadow of Him to come but the NT Word says the old has faded away. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 8:13
Teachings seems to indicate that the spring feasts have been fully embodied and lived out by Christ incarnate, but that the fall feasts are still awaiting final revelation/fulffilment on the earth. Do you see awareness, knowledge, or possibly even participation in the fall feasts (Sukkot in particular) as an act of wisdom or preparatory obedience?
******* Again a good question but in love; what I or you see or feel is meaningless. What does the model of the NT Word/body that Christ created and Paul was charged to oversee (Acts 9:15) example of us? Fact; There was NO practice, command or example for the gentile bodies to keep the festivals given to Israel ever. In 1 Cor 11 we see the gentiles keeping the Lords Supper! We do not need the OT ways we need to obey the NT ways which are living holy, leaving the culture / man made religion, looking for Him and preaching the biblical gospel till He comes. I am sure myself that we need not anything else to see other then God's Word does NOT instruct gentiles to do what was given to Israel alone. If gentiles start just doing what they want even if God did not ordain it, how is that different then the priest who was told NOT to touch the ark of the covenant and when he did; God was angry and killed him?
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
2 Samuel 6:7
The truth is you cannot even rightly do many of the Torah ways not being in the land without a temple and Levite priesthood.. These ideas of gentiles keeping Torah ways today is a new creation of the cult of Hebrews roots and I would encourage you to avoid them at all costs. Sadly we see men and woman being swept up in keeping Torah festivals when they are NOT even keeping what God gave all of mankind to keep like biblical dress, or head covering or leaving the worlds culture etc etc.
To be clear, if a man said he was going to reenact a festival to teach his family about the OT ways foreshadowing Christ, he has liberty to teach that way. But; If he starts to do it all time time and is swept up in festival keeping annually, it is taking your eyes off of Christ's NT model, His finished work and it is NEVER exampled in the NT body Christ ordained and Paul was striving to raise up. Even Apostle Paul a Jew did NOT keep the festivals and how do we know this? He was away form Jerusalem for 14 years but Torah says go there annually.
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.
Gal 2:1
If we look at what the Word and what saints modeled in the NT body, it is clear we gentiles are to NOT do festivals given for a time to Israel. Adding them can be harmless for teaching or very harmful based on your ability/inability to rightly discern or be swept away by cult groups like Hebrew roots.
I appreciate your perspective if and when you have time to reflect and respond to them. Bless you on your journeys and hope you are staying safe on the road and being fruitful in all Christ has for you.
***** my pleasure and may God be glorified in this
Peace
**** God be praised
Brother Jim
See Hebrew Roots theology exposed here with many articles:
God be praised
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