Fulfilling the Holy Days

The Law of Moses gives us further guidance into the worship of God through Christ, our Heavenly Priest, and His saving Work in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

The Holy Days of Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16 and Number 28 to 29 gives us further insight into our walk towards eternal life.

Whereas the earthly high priest had to repeat the sequence of sanctification on an annual basis due to continual sin, starting with the dedication of the temple at the first new moon of Nisan every year, from the Christian more perfection is required. We can not be rebaptised every year, rededicating ourselves, getting rid of the leaven of malice and deceit every year, after a lapse towards the end of the previous year.

For us as Christians the journey is one way. We can not lapse to repent and redo our relationship on an annual basis. We must repent and stay in a repentant attitude, and build our relationship through successive stages in a permanent way. We may slip and sin from time to time, but we will immediately repent, seek forgiveness, stand up and continue the walk with Christ. We can not fall into a lapse, thinking that we can be rededicated next year, rebaptised and start again. We can not do this on an annual basis.

Therefor the activities in the physical temple guides us to what should be happening in the mind, heart and spirit of the believer.

"1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation."

"7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:"

Once a Christian is called by the message of the Gospel, and has prepared for the Covenant, for the keeping of the Commandments, having set our hearts and mind to please the Father in following Christ, we are ready to be passed over, to come to Calvary, to the event that shows the result of our sin, and through the experience of the crucifixion, to die to our sin, and so establish the new Covenant. We need to come to Jesus.

" 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."

A further aspect of Christian growth is the need to become spiritually deleavened. Following the death of the former sinful self at baptism, we need to deleaven ourselves. Christ often warned against the leaven of deceiving doctrines. One of the most serious forms of spiritual leaven is the deception of the self, trying to please God and follow Christ part-time. We can attend church, but my not have really repented, and may become guilty of malice in the Body of Christ eventually. We glorify in our knowledge, but cause problems through talebearing and other unchristian behavior.

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

"10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. "

Christ rose from the dead as promised. At the time of the Wavesheaf offering after Christ's crucifixion, certain spiritual events were to happen. Notice Christ's comments to Mary when He talked to her on this morning after the Sabbath.

"15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

Much happened this morning. Christ was risen, and the disciples went back and forth, as the news spread. The precise sequence is not under discussion here, but what is important was Jesus' statement. He mentioned that he must ascend to the Father. Revelation 5 gives us further insight as to what happened at the ascension. However, what is important to note is that the ascension happened at the same time when the Wavesheaf offering was waved by the earthly high priest in the temple that morning.

"15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD."

At baptism hands are laid on us also in the name of the Holy Spirit. Counting the Omer refers to the new converts developing the Spirit in them from the first receipt at baptism.

"21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

"23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation."

" 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon."

So we also crown Jesus as our Lord and King in our daily lives, when we submit to His way of love. We also pray for His return, to establish the Kingdom of God. We also pool resources to preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God. So we blow the trumpet in our Christian Work, declaring the coming of our King, and that Jesus is Lord!.

"9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

" 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God."

"10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. "

"33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD."

The next phase of fulfillment is when Jesus and His Father have found us acceptable as a person, and tabernacles with us.

"23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. "

"36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. "

After the feast of tabernacles an eighth day was specified. This was the last day, on which Christ had the following to say:

"37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: ... "

So, we can see how the festivals of the old Covenant can be seen as a barometer that will show us how far we have developed spiritually.

Every festival presents it's own message, demonstrating a phase of development. This is a large subject, developed in the sermons of the Church.


	Church of God (Seventh Day) South Africa \| home Brotherly Love \| Covenant Theology \| Food Laws \| Annual Holy Days \| Fulfilling the Holy Days \| The Kingdom of God \| Law of Moses \| Nature of God \| The Sabbath \| Which Law? \| Speaking in Tongues \| Vegetarianism \| The New Jerusalem Fulfilling the Holy Days The Law of Moses gives us further guidance into the worship of God through Christ, our Heavenly Priest, and His saving Work in the Heavenly Sanctuary. The Holy Days of Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16 and Number 28 to 29 gives us further insight into our walk towards eternal life. Whereas the earthly high priest had to repeat the sequence of sanctification on an annual basis due to continual sin, starting with the dedication of the temple at the first new moon of Nisan every year, from the Christian more perfection is required. We can not be rebaptised every year, rededicating ourselves, getting rid of the leaven of malice and deceit every year, after a lapse towards the end of the previous year. For us as Christians the journey is one way. We can not lapse to repent and redo our relationship on an annual basis. We must repent and stay in a repentant attitude, and build our relationship through successive stages in a permanent way. We may slip and sin from time to time, but we will immediately repent, seek forgiveness, stand up and continue the walk with Christ. We can not fall into a lapse, thinking that we can be rededicated next year, rebaptised and start again. We can not do this on an annual basis. The first guiding light comes from the Apostle Paul, who told us that we are the Temple of God "16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, KJV) Therefor the activities in the physical temple guides us to what should be happening in the mind, heart and spirit of the believer. The first new moon First is the dedication of the temple. From the beginning days of the tabernacle in the desert this was the case. "1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation." (Exodus 40:1-2, KJV) The Passover "5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover." (Leviticus 23:5, KJV) We find that Christ has fulfilled this law and has become our Passover. "7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" (1 Corinthians 5:7, KJV) Once a Christian is called by the message of the Gospel, and has prepared for the Covenant, for the keeping of the Commandments, having set our hearts and mind to please the Father in following Christ, we are ready to be passed over, to come to Calvary, to the event that shows the result of our sin, and through the experience of the crucifixion, to die to our sin, and so establish the new Covenant. We need to come to Jesus. Feast of Unleavened Bread " 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread." (Leviticus 23:6, KJV) A further aspect of Christian growth is the need to become spiritually deleavened. Following the death of the former sinful self at baptism, we need to deleaven ourselves. Christ often warned against the leaven of deceiving doctrines. One of the most serious forms of spiritual leaven is the deception of the self, trying to please God and follow Christ part-time. We can attend church, but my not have really repented, and may become guilty of malice in the Body of Christ eventually. We glorify in our knowledge, but cause problems through talebearing and other unchristian behavior. "6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:5-8, KJV) The Wavesheaf offering "10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. " (Leviticus 23:10-11, KJV) Christ rose from the dead as promised. At the time of the Wavesheaf offering after Christ's crucifixion, certain spiritual events were to happen. Notice Christ's comments to Mary when He talked to her on this morning after the Sabbath. "15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:15-17, KJV) Much happened this morning. Christ was risen, and the disciples went back and forth, as the news spread. The precise sequence is not under discussion here, but what is important was Jesus' statement. He mentioned that he must ascend to the Father. Revelation 5 gives us further insight as to what happened at the ascension. However, what is important to note is that the ascension happened at the same time when the Wavesheaf offering was waved by the earthly high priest in the temple that morning. Christ was indeed waved as our acceptable Wavesheaf offering. Pentecost, the counting of the omer "15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD." (Leviticus 23:15-17, KJV) In the Talmud a description is given of how to count the fifty days. It is known as the "counting of the Omer". At baptism hands are laid on us also in the name of the Holy Spirit. Counting the Omer refers to the new converts developing the Spirit in them from the first receipt at baptism. "21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, KJV) From receipt of the Spirit, we need to stir up the Spirit. Trumpets "23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation." (Leviticus 23:23-24, KJV) The blowing of trumpets demonstrates the crowning and coming of the King. " 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon." (1 Kings 1:34, KJV) So we also crown Jesus as our Lord and King in our daily lives, when we submit to His way of love. We also pray for His return, to establish the Kingdom of God. We also pool resources to preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God. So we blow the trumpet in our Christian Work, declaring the coming of our King, and that Jesus is Lord!. "9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11, KJV) Atonement " 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God." (Leviticus 23:27-28, KJV) Christ has already made atonement for us. "10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. " (Romans 5:10-11, KJV) Tabernacles "33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD." (Leviticus 23:33, KJV) The apostle Paul indicated that we are the Temple of God, and our bodies are then indeed considered a tabernacle. The next phase of fulfillment is when Jesus and His Father have found us acceptable as a person, and tabernacles with us. "23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. " (John 14:23, KJV) The last day "36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. " (Leviticus 23:36, KJV) After the feast of tabernacles an eighth day was specified. This was the last day, on which Christ had the following to say: "37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: ... " (John 7:37-39a, KJV) So, we can see how the festivals of the old Covenant can be seen as a barometer that will show us how far we have developed spiritually. Every festival presents it's own message, demonstrating a phase of development. This is a large subject, developed in the sermons of the Church.