One of the most vital keys that identifies the true original Church of God is His Sabbath. The Annual Holy Days The weekly Sabbath is not the only Sabbath God ordained to be kept forever. In Ezekiel 20:12, God said, “I gave them My Sabbaths”—plural. Leviticus 23 describes seven Holy Days—annual Sabbaths—that God commanded Israel (four times) to keep “forever.” Verse 2 calls these “feasts of the Lord.” The terms Holy Day, High Day and Feast Day are all found in the Bible and are synonymous. When understood, these days, as they are kept each year in sequence, depict important events within God’s Plan. The first two Holy Days are the First and Last Days of Unleavened Bread. These were kept by the early Church (Acts 12:3; 20:6) in conjunction with, and immediately after, the Lord’s Supper—the New Testament Passover. The Passover shows God’s mercy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and is the one feast that is not an annual Sabbath. The seven Days of Unleavened Bread depict the Christian coming out of sin, just as Israel came out of Egypt after the first Passover of Exodus 12. In late spring is the Day of Pentecost, or the Feast of Firstfruits, representing the early spring harvest in Israel. It portrays the first resurrection of true saints—the firstfruits of God’s Plan—at Christ’s Return. Four more annual Sabbaths are kept in the fall. The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah to the Jews) depicts Christ’s Return, with Revelation 8, 9 and 11:15-19 describing what occurs when each of the seven trumpets are blown. The Day of Atonement (meaning, “at-one-ment”)—or Yom Kippur—pictures the whole world finally “at one” with God, because Satan will have been bound and cast into “the bottomless pit” (Rev. 20:2-3), where he can no longer deceive the nations. The Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) depicts Christ’s 1,000-year reign with the saints—and a time of peace, happiness, abundance and prosperity for a world that has not known this for 6,000 years. This also seven-day feast is immediately followed by the Last Great Day, which represents a time after the Millennium when all human beings who have ever lived will receive a full opportunity to know God’s truth and plan of salvation. (My book The Awesome Potential of Man presents a detailed overview of God’s Master Plan.) Those few being called in this age (John 6:44) have a special opportunity to be part of God’s early harvest, while the world learns the truth later, during the times pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. Other Important Truths Christmas and Easter (as well as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, April Fool’s, New Year’s, and certain other popular days) are not Bible customs. Rather, they are completely pagan in origin, and have nothing to do with God!—and are in fact condemned in Scripture in the strongest terms. Christ’s Church teaches the truth about the pagan origin of men’s days and the scriptures that condemn them, and about God’s weekly Sabbath and His annual Holy Days, and the scriptures that support their observance. And His Church observes all these days together. Most are amazed to learn how many plain, basic truths of the Bible they have never heard. You have just heard several, but here are more. God’s Word says, “The wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). Yet, most are taught and believe there is an “ever-burning hell,” where sinners and unbelievers go because they are still alive after death, since they have immortal souls. The prophet Ezekiel wrote (twice), “…the soul that sins, it shall die” (18:4, 20)—souls can die!—and Matthew in the New Testament recorded, “…fear Him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [gehenna: the “lake of fire,” which burns up the wicked]” (Matt. 10:28). Souls can be destroyed! Countless millions have feared an ever-burning “hell” that does not exist! The Greek word for hell is hades, simply meaning “the grave.” When Is One “Born Again”? Here is another truth. The vast majority of churchgoers believe that conversion makes them “born again.” But Jesus taught, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Why do most believe they can be born again in this life, while they are still flesh? Jesus, only after His Resurrection, was called “the firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18). No wonder He said that those who are born again are spirit. They are no longer composed of flesh—God’s Spirit has “changed” them from “flesh and blood” to spirit. (Read I Corinthians 15:50-52.) Romans 8:29 also describes Christ as “the firstborn among many brethren.” You could be one of these “many brethren”—if you qualify! The Definition of Sin The Bible explains, “…sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4), and that the Law of God is “holy, and just, and good,” and “spiritual” (Rom. 7:12, 14). Why then does almost everyone believe Jesus “did away” with the Law when He declared, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled,” and that “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom…” (Matt. 5:17-19), meaning the very worst or lowest of men? When people keep the Law of God, it keeps them! This is because it is a law. And because it is a law, when people break it, it breaks them! If everyone on Earth obeyed God’s Law, as will happen in Christ’s Millennial rule, the world would be a very different place. Baptism and Conversion Finally, the Bible method of baptism is immersion in water. No other form is acceptable to God. Baptism must be preceded by repentance and recognition of what human nature is—where it came from and why it needs to be repented of. “The laying on of hands” immediately follows baptism and is the only way a person can receive the gift of God’s Spirit. God’s Church teaches the truth about death, hell, the soul, law and sin, baptism, conversion, receiving God’s Spirit and the true meaning of born again, as well as the straightforward scriptures explaining each. They are among the many clearly and easily understood truths taught by the only Church Jesus built. We have covered but a fraction of Christ’s teachings. Much more could be said about each, but all are covered more extensively in our vast library of literature. Also, some truths, such as the gospel of the kingdom, tithing and God’s Sabbath, among many others, are the subject of many books and booklets we offer. God’s people must always be fed the truth. So this means there has to be loving authority in the Church Christ built—under God’s form of government. Part 3 of this series will explore this and other related topics in depth. Many verses explain that God has a form of government, and He gives leaders—His leaders—true ministers—necessary authority so they are able to teach, strengthen, protect and lead His Flock. You will want to read this extraordinary book, Where Is the True Church? – and Its Incredible History! It examines how Christ governs His Church. Millions think He built it on the apostle Peter, and gave him and his successors authority to exchange God’s laws and teachings for men’s rules and traditions. The book reveals what He actually said to Peter, and you will be amazed!
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:36:21 +0000
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