Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 from the Amplified Version
The Myth!
There are many ways to approach this mangled doctrine of Law and Grace, one of which is to say upfront that the renewal of observing certain feasts and offerings from the Law is merely a blatant attempt to extort money from people who so very much want to please God and desire the blessings found in the scripture. This in itself would be sad enough if this doctrine of devils did not have an added consequence; that of taking away from the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice and offering of Himself, which was not only for our sins and forgiveness, but also that all may come into the blessing of Abraham! (See Galatians 3:14and our teaching on the Blessing of Abraham!)
The teaching goes something like this –
There are three times that the males of Israel were to appear before the Lord and give an offering of money:
There are three times that the Lord told the men of Israel to appear before Him: Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16:16-17 from the Amplified Version
Plus they throw in an offering of money for Passover and the Day of Atonement. (There is not a money offering associated in the Scripture with the Passover itself and as far as an offering on the Day of Atonement, perhaps they take it from the ransom offering at the time of any census which was called atonement money. See Exodus 30:11-16)
While the teaching is based on the Law, it is not a teaching to literally observe the Law, but only to send in an offering to the ministries that teach to do so. The thought is that while Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and if you believe on Him you will go to heaven, it is only by giving the best offering that you can in keeping with each special day that you can receive blessing, deliverance, and God’s favor in your life before you get to heaven.
The propagators of this teaching cite rabbinical teachings and Jewish traditions to back up their teachings and, of course, direct revelation from God. They tell of how the Jewish people and even the Church received great blessing from God for keeping the various offerings but that because the Emperor Constantine hated seeing the Jews prosper, that he stopped the offerings all together. It is only now that God is making known to the Church again that all blessing is tied to the giving of the ascribed offerings.
The blessings are many but follow along with the blessings and promises in Joel 2for the atonement offering:
Double Portion
Financial Abundance
Restoration
Miracles
God’s Divine Presence
Blessings Upon Your Family
Deliverance
The blessing for giving a Passover offering follows the narrative of Exodus 23:
1. God will assign an angel to you. 2. God will be an enemy to your enemies. 3. God will give you prosperity. 4. God will take sickness away from you. 5. God will give you a long life. 6. God will bring increase and inheritance. 7. God will give a special year of blessing.
There are other blessings that they associate with other feasts and days, but they all follow along the same lines; that all blessing and deliverance depends on the believer giving a financial contribution to those that teach the blessings of the feasts.
The Myth Busted!
The truth goes like this:
Everything is found in Christ and in Christ alone!
John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Christ is the fulfillment of the Law with all of its feasts, special days, offerings, and sacrifices!
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Christ is our Passover lamb and He is better than an atonement or covering, He is the forgiveness or remission, doing away with, all of our sins!
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In Christ our families are already blessed and will be saved!
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In Christ we are already blessed financially!
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In Christ our giving already brings a reward!
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Moreover, as God’s children through faith in Christ, we can ask for whatever we want!
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In Christ we have the abiding presence of God through the Holy Spirit!
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All healing, miracles, protection and deliverances come through faith in Christ and in Him alone!
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In Christ, every day of every year is a time of great favor!
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The Law does not bring a promise but a curse!
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Those that teach doctrines based on the Law should stop!
1 Timothy 1:3-11 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work-which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
. . . in Conclusion!
It would seem abundantly clear through the scriptures listed, and many others that have not been, that there is no need to seek non-existent feast day blessings. Christ is everything that we have need of and all our blessing is in Him and in Him alone.
Acts 15:22-29 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul- 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
Colossians 2:8-10 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (NKJV)
Hebrews 13:8-16 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (NKJV)
Unless noted, all scripture references are from the New International Version.
