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Please notice the context of Colossians chapter 2...
In verse 14, it mentions how "the handwritten document that consisted of decrees was erased and nailed to the torture stake." This handwritten document is referencing the Mosaic Law. Christians were no longer under the Mosaic Law after Christ died on the turture stake.
Other scriptures harmonize with this point...
Romans 10:4: "For Christ is the end of the Law [Mosaic Law]..."
Romans 7:6: "But now we have been released from the Law [Mosaic Law]..."
So at Colossians 2:16 where it says "do not let anyone judge you about what you eat or drink or about the observance of a festival," it was counsel to Christians who no longer observed the Mosaic Law to not be in fear of judgement from others who still felt the Mosaic Law was in effect even after Christ's death. But according to the scriptures, Christians were no longer obligated to eat as the Mosaic Law stipulated or observe festivals as the Mosaic Law stipulated.
Col 2:16 is NOT a declaration that Christians are free to celebrate a holiday with pagan origins, that incorporates the worship of false gods and traditions of men, and that has no basis in the scriptures whatsoever.
The Mosaic Law had scriptural history, and was institued by God. However, it was only meant to be a prelude to what Christ would accomplish at his death. After Christ's death, it was no longer necessary to follow the Mosaic Law. Christians had scripturally sound reasons for not keeping the Mosaic Law after Christ's death.
There is no scriptural basis for celebrating Christmas. Some people feel like they can worship the way they want to as long as they do it with sincerity, love, joy, and happiness. However, shouldn't concern be given to how GOD WANTS me to worship, more so than how I WANT to worship?
Case in point: In the absence of Moses, the Israelites made a golden calf and began to view it as representing God who led them out of Egypt. Then, they had a festival to Jehovah. Was Jehovah God pleased with their worship to Him? No, not at all. At Exodus 32:7, God told Moses, "Go, descend, because your people whom you led out of Egypt have CORRUPTED themselves."
One could have imagined that the Israelites may have had good intentions, thinking they were creatively trying to keep their faith strong in God by creating this visible calf and using it to worship God. Perhaps their festival to God was filled with joy as it was supposedly held in Jehovah's honor. Still, the result was that God was not pleased because he wanted them to worship him the way he wanted to be worshipped. He didn't want to be worshipped through any object. So they were punished.
It doesn't seem good to create ways to worship and expect God to be happy with it. Isn't it better to find out what he wants, then stick to that instead of borrowing from pagan religions who worship false gods?
Interestingly too, Jesus never commanded anyone to celebrate his birth. While his birth was a joyous occasion, it was only the beginning. The greatest benefit to mankind came at his death; when he died as a grown man, sinless and could pay the price for our own sins, afterward ascending to heaven preparing to rule as king in God's kingdom. It is Jesus' death for which he himself instituted a commemoration (Luke 22: 14-19)
Following Jesus' directive to "keep doing this in remembrance of me", true Christians continue to commemorate his death and subsequent resurrection as he instituted, not his birth. Which makes sense, because as a baby Jesus had not run a faithful course. But it was at his death that he fully accomplished God's will with regard to the whole reason he came to the earth in the first place. (John 19:30)
In regards to Romans 14: 4 -10...
Again, it goes back to the context of no longer being under the Mosaic Law. At the time, some Christians were having difficulty letting go of the Mosaic Law which included observing sabbath days, and eating certain foods only. Some were negatively judging Christians who did not observe sabbaths and who ate things that had been prohibited under the Mosaic Law. Because the Mosaic Law was done away with after Christ's death according to the scriptures, no one should have judged another for not observing the Mosaic Law. There was no scriptural basis for viewing someone negatively for not observing the Mosaid Law. And for those who wanted to continue devoting a day exclusively to worship God, that was ok too because it certainly is not offensive to God to be worshipped on any day of the week, be it sabbath or not.
When it came to food and which day to worship, it was a matter of choice for which no one should be judged.
This is not to say, however, that it is ok to incorporate into our worship things displeasing to God and then expect him to find our worship acceptable. There is no harm done by someone worshipping God IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY on any day of the week. Our concern should be on what is an acceptable way to worship the True God.
Of course, God is the final Judge. However, Jesus instructed his followers to pass his teachings on to others (Matt 28:20). This involves warning others of corrupting influences and things displeasing to God. The aim is not to judge because we don't have that authority, but our aim is to pass along valuable information so that others can make good decisions for themselves.
In verse 14, it mentions how "the handwritten document that consisted of decrees was erased and nailed to the torture stake." This handwritten document is referencing the Mosaic Law. Christians were no longer under the Mosaic Law after Christ died on the turture stake.
Other scriptures harmonize with this point...
Romans 10:4: "For Christ is the end of the Law [Mosaic Law]..."
Romans 7:6: "But now we have been released from the Law [Mosaic Law]..."
So at Colossians 2:16 where it says "do not let anyone judge you about what you eat or drink or about the observance of a festival," it was counsel to Christians who no longer observed the Mosaic Law to not be in fear of judgement from others who still felt the Mosaic Law was in effect even after Christ's death. But according to the scriptures, Christians were no longer obligated to eat as the Mosaic Law stipulated or observe festivals as the Mosaic Law stipulated.
Col 2:16 is NOT a declaration that Christians are free to celebrate a holiday with pagan origins, that incorporates the worship of false gods and traditions of men, and that has no basis in the scriptures whatsoever.
The Mosaic Law had scriptural history, and was institued by God. However, it was only meant to be a prelude to what Christ would accomplish at his death. After Christ's death, it was no longer necessary to follow the Mosaic Law. Christians had scripturally sound reasons for not keeping the Mosaic Law after Christ's death.
There is no scriptural basis for celebrating Christmas. Some people feel like they can worship the way they want to as long as they do it with sincerity, love, joy, and happiness. However, shouldn't concern be given to how GOD WANTS me to worship, more so than how I WANT to worship?
Case in point: In the absence of Moses, the Israelites made a golden calf and began to view it as representing God who led them out of Egypt. Then, they had a festival to Jehovah. Was Jehovah God pleased with their worship to Him? No, not at all. At Exodus 32:7, God told Moses, "Go, descend, because your people whom you led out of Egypt have CORRUPTED themselves."
One could have imagined that the Israelites may have had good intentions, thinking they were creatively trying to keep their faith strong in God by creating this visible calf and using it to worship God. Perhaps their festival to God was filled with joy as it was supposedly held in Jehovah's honor. Still, the result was that God was not pleased because he wanted them to worship him the way he wanted to be worshipped. He didn't want to be worshipped through any object. So they were punished.
It doesn't seem good to create ways to worship and expect God to be happy with it. Isn't it better to find out what he wants, then stick to that instead of borrowing from pagan religions who worship false gods?
Interestingly too, Jesus never commanded anyone to celebrate his birth. While his birth was a joyous occasion, it was only the beginning. The greatest benefit to mankind came at his death; when he died as a grown man, sinless and could pay the price for our own sins, afterward ascending to heaven preparing to rule as king in God's kingdom. It is Jesus' death for which he himself instituted a commemoration (Luke 22: 14-19)
Following Jesus' directive to "keep doing this in remembrance of me", true Christians continue to commemorate his death and subsequent resurrection as he instituted, not his birth. Which makes sense, because as a baby Jesus had not run a faithful course. But it was at his death that he fully accomplished God's will with regard to the whole reason he came to the earth in the first place. (John 19:30)
In regards to Romans 14: 4 -10...
Again, it goes back to the context of no longer being under the Mosaic Law. At the time, some Christians were having difficulty letting go of the Mosaic Law which included observing sabbath days, and eating certain foods only. Some were negatively judging Christians who did not observe sabbaths and who ate things that had been prohibited under the Mosaic Law. Because the Mosaic Law was done away with after Christ's death according to the scriptures, no one should have judged another for not observing the Mosaic Law. There was no scriptural basis for viewing someone negatively for not observing the Mosaid Law. And for those who wanted to continue devoting a day exclusively to worship God, that was ok too because it certainly is not offensive to God to be worshipped on any day of the week, be it sabbath or not.
When it came to food and which day to worship, it was a matter of choice for which no one should be judged.
This is not to say, however, that it is ok to incorporate into our worship things displeasing to God and then expect him to find our worship acceptable. There is no harm done by someone worshipping God IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY on any day of the week. Our concern should be on what is an acceptable way to worship the True God.
Of course, God is the final Judge. However, Jesus instructed his followers to pass his teachings on to others (Matt 28:20). This involves warning others of corrupting influences and things displeasing to God. The aim is not to judge because we don't have that authority, but our aim is to pass along valuable information so that others can make good decisions for themselves.
We can know that there is absolutely NO Biblical command or day set aside in Scripture to celebrate Christ's birthday; Christmas, as a day to celebrate His birth, was ordained by men….Christmas is simply a manmade day, chosen to coincide with the already universally celebrated Winter Solstice.
It isn't wrong to celebrate Christ's birthday, but it is wrong to say that day is Holy.
It isn't wrong to celebrate Christ's birthday, but it is wrong to say that day is Holy.
Oh Geez, seriously? I have no problem with worshipping Christ on a day that we choose to celebrate His birthday. It is lost to history what day He was born, and it was lost to history when Christians decided to hold the celebration on December 25th. Yes, there was a pagan holiday of Saturnalia that existed prior, but HEY guess what...NO ONE CELEBRATES SATURNALIA! Except possibly those in the occult who don't even know what they're doing, other than its "New Age."
It is pretty well established that Constantine's influence was behind the decision to Christianize the pagan holiday. He wanted to take out any Jewishness from Christianity, and being Christ was the way we were to grow and mature from the 4,000 years of time, and was the beginning of seriously spreading the word of God to the gentile world, taking so much of the Old Testament out of Christianity left a pretty big hole.
The question is, what does God want? God clearly was against using pagan ways to worship Him. God wanted His word to be spread to all people, and that meant that the truth of God needed to be told first, not such as that pagans needed physical circumcision. Paul even spoke against the feasts that were the God ordained holidays, the ones that gave God's plan of redemption. If we aren't to celebrate the holidays that God told us to celebrate, we need SOME holidays.
With all the pros and cons, I have come to a personal decision. Not worth much because it is from a person not God. I think that the church would be safest if it just went by God's plan, I don't think Paul said it was a wrong thing to do, just that the gospel was much more important and we had to know it was that and not our actions that saves. God is more important than all our traditions, God is be followed exactly, God is our life. I would prefer to celebrate my love for my Savior with the feast days that God prescribed.
The question is, what does God want? God clearly was against using pagan ways to worship Him. God wanted His word to be spread to all people, and that meant that the truth of God needed to be told first, not such as that pagans needed physical circumcision. Paul even spoke against the feasts that were the God ordained holidays, the ones that gave God's plan of redemption. If we aren't to celebrate the holidays that God told us to celebrate, we need SOME holidays.
With all the pros and cons, I have come to a personal decision. Not worth much because it is from a person not God. I think that the church would be safest if it just went by God's plan, I don't think Paul said it was a wrong thing to do, just that the gospel was much more important and we had to know it was that and not our actions that saves. God is more important than all our traditions, God is be followed exactly, God is our life. I would prefer to celebrate my love for my Savior with the feast days that God prescribed.
I have to disagreee with this
one if he did say this he would be speaking against something that Yahweh said should be celebrated forever.
Leviticau 23:31, "You shall do no manner of work at all; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings, wherever you may live."
also Shaul (Paul) did not speak against them, he spoke against the man made rules and days of the pharisees and maybe other worldly ordinances, this is such a misunderstood passage I really hope all will consider what I have written:
Colossians 2:16-23, "16Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body [is] of the Christ; 18let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and [in] worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, 19and not holding the head, from which all the body — through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together — may increase with the increase of God.20If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? 21— thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle — 22which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men, 23which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body — not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh."
I think we have v16 down, I want to focus on 20-23, as to see context. Shaul (Paul) in nearly all his thoughts talks about a topic and then goes on to explain, he uses an advanced style of writing as his (worldly) education was beyond that of the other NT writers.
20If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
So he is saying if your dead to the world why would you subject yourself to its (the worlds) ordinances. To think he is saying if your dead to the world then why would you subject yourself to Yahweh"s/Yahshua's Commandments would make no sense, but he explains it further.
21— thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle
the pharisees had a law in which you could not eat meat and cheese togather, or even within 4 houhs of eachother. Now this is not in Yahweh's Law even, Yahweh's Law says dont boil a child in its mothers milk (3 times) (the local pagans had this as a religious practice Yahweh did not want His people to partake in these evil pagan practices) the pharisees using something called "midrashic interpretation" the pharisees looked at it and said well since it says this three times it must meant three different things. SO THEY MADE UP THEIR OWN LAW, that was completely disconnected from Scripture and enforced it as from Yahweh.
22which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men,
So here very clearly he states "the commandments of men", now if you read from 16-20 you see he stays on topic, and 20 says basically if your dead to the world why do what the world tells you, so we can see he is still on this topic from v16. In this verse 22, he says "which are all for destruction", how does Sabbath lead to destruction and it would also have to be a "commandment of men" if there is ant commandment that is the farthest thing possible from being a "commandment of men" it is the Sabbath, it was from creation and it shows the AUTHORITY of the Creator, the mark of the Creator. Also tying a "commandment of men" to destruction Romans 8:13, "For if you live according to the commandments of men, you will die; but if, through the Spirit, you put to death; put an end to, the evildoing of mankind, you will live."
23which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body — not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Pleasing of the pharisees by following the talmud. v22 for context = "after the commands and teachings of men"
you see the pharisees would have a problem if you did things according to Yahweh's instruction and not their ORAL LAW, this is shown in MATT 15, 23, mark 7:7-9, etc
If you kept the Sabbath NOT according to the Talmud but according to the Scriptures the Pharisees would have a problem.
Matt 12:10 & 12, "And, behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. Then they asked
Him, saying; Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Days?--so that they might accuse Him."
"And how much more valuable is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is Lawful to do righteousness on the Sabbath."
The "Rabbis" also made their own holidays, Haunnaka and Rosh hashanna and more. when they left babylon they even changed the names of the moons (months), and rosh hashanna even changes the time of the new year, commandment and ordinances of men. the calendar Yahweh instuted is Yahweh's calendar, the one who created it created the heavens and the earth. Our current calendar is the gregorian calendar, which goes back to the bablonian calendar. Yahweh said the days end and begin at sunset, not the "Rabbis."
% made up "feast days" the Pharisees may had, brought you to trial, beat, imprisoned, or even killed you for not honoring. The Talmud tells a story of another "Rabbi" disagreeing and wanting to follow the Scriptures, and the head Pharisees makes then man, on threat of death appear in public on a Scriptual Feast Day in a way that the man cant honor Yahweh, thus commanding him to disobey Yahweh.
Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri (the 7th moon or month, Yahweh's year starts in the 1st month). In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year.
How does the year start in the 7th month? According to the Scriptures and Yahweh;s calendar the year starts in the 1st month, Abib.
Chanukkah
On the 25th of Kislev are the days of Chanukkah, which are eight... these were appointed a Festival with Hallel [prayers of praise] and thanksgiving. -Shabbat 21b, Babylonian Talmud
Tu B'Shevat
There are four new years... the first of Shevat is the new year for trees according to the ruling of Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel, however, places it on the fifteenth of that month. -Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1
Purim
Is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.
Tisha B'Av
Five misfortunes befell our fathers ... on the ninth of Av. ...On the ninth of Av it was decreed that our fathers should not enter the [Promised] Land, the Temple was destroyed the first and second time, Bethar was captured and the city [Jerusalem] was ploughed up. -Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6
one if he did say this he would be speaking against something that Yahweh said should be celebrated forever.
Leviticau 23:31, "You shall do no manner of work at all; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings, wherever you may live."
also Shaul (Paul) did not speak against them, he spoke against the man made rules and days of the pharisees and maybe other worldly ordinances, this is such a misunderstood passage I really hope all will consider what I have written:
Colossians 2:16-23, "16Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body [is] of the Christ; 18let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and [in] worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, 19and not holding the head, from which all the body — through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together — may increase with the increase of God.20If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? 21— thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle — 22which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men, 23which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body — not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh."
I think we have v16 down, I want to focus on 20-23, as to see context. Shaul (Paul) in nearly all his thoughts talks about a topic and then goes on to explain, he uses an advanced style of writing as his (worldly) education was beyond that of the other NT writers.
20If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?
So he is saying if your dead to the world why would you subject yourself to its (the worlds) ordinances. To think he is saying if your dead to the world then why would you subject yourself to Yahweh"s/Yahshua's Commandments would make no sense, but he explains it further.
21— thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle
the pharisees had a law in which you could not eat meat and cheese togather, or even within 4 houhs of eachother. Now this is not in Yahweh's Law even, Yahweh's Law says dont boil a child in its mothers milk (3 times) (the local pagans had this as a religious practice Yahweh did not want His people to partake in these evil pagan practices) the pharisees using something called "midrashic interpretation" the pharisees looked at it and said well since it says this three times it must meant three different things. SO THEY MADE UP THEIR OWN LAW, that was completely disconnected from Scripture and enforced it as from Yahweh.
22which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men,
So here very clearly he states "the commandments of men", now if you read from 16-20 you see he stays on topic, and 20 says basically if your dead to the world why do what the world tells you, so we can see he is still on this topic from v16. In this verse 22, he says "which are all for destruction", how does Sabbath lead to destruction and it would also have to be a "commandment of men" if there is ant commandment that is the farthest thing possible from being a "commandment of men" it is the Sabbath, it was from creation and it shows the AUTHORITY of the Creator, the mark of the Creator. Also tying a "commandment of men" to destruction Romans 8:13, "For if you live according to the commandments of men, you will die; but if, through the Spirit, you put to death; put an end to, the evildoing of mankind, you will live."
23which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body — not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh.
Pleasing of the pharisees by following the talmud. v22 for context = "after the commands and teachings of men"
you see the pharisees would have a problem if you did things according to Yahweh's instruction and not their ORAL LAW, this is shown in MATT 15, 23, mark 7:7-9, etc
If you kept the Sabbath NOT according to the Talmud but according to the Scriptures the Pharisees would have a problem.
Matt 12:10 & 12, "And, behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. Then they asked
Him, saying; Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Days?--so that they might accuse Him."
"And how much more valuable is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is Lawful to do righteousness on the Sabbath."
The "Rabbis" also made their own holidays, Haunnaka and Rosh hashanna and more. when they left babylon they even changed the names of the moons (months), and rosh hashanna even changes the time of the new year, commandment and ordinances of men. the calendar Yahweh instuted is Yahweh's calendar, the one who created it created the heavens and the earth. Our current calendar is the gregorian calendar, which goes back to the bablonian calendar. Yahweh said the days end and begin at sunset, not the "Rabbis."
% made up "feast days" the Pharisees may had, brought you to trial, beat, imprisoned, or even killed you for not honoring. The Talmud tells a story of another "Rabbi" disagreeing and wanting to follow the Scriptures, and the head Pharisees makes then man, on threat of death appear in public on a Scriptual Feast Day in a way that the man cant honor Yahweh, thus commanding him to disobey Yahweh.
Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri (the 7th moon or month, Yahweh's year starts in the 1st month). In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year.
How does the year start in the 7th month? According to the Scriptures and Yahweh;s calendar the year starts in the 1st month, Abib.
Chanukkah
On the 25th of Kislev are the days of Chanukkah, which are eight... these were appointed a Festival with Hallel [prayers of praise] and thanksgiving. -Shabbat 21b, Babylonian Talmud
Tu B'Shevat
There are four new years... the first of Shevat is the new year for trees according to the ruling of Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel, however, places it on the fifteenth of that month. -Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1
Purim
Is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.
Tisha B'Av
Five misfortunes befell our fathers ... on the ninth of Av. ...On the ninth of Av it was decreed that our fathers should not enter the [Promised] Land, the Temple was destroyed the first and second time, Bethar was captured and the city [Jerusalem] was ploughed up. -Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6
Okay, I apologize for any misrepresentations I have said of you, let us let God sort it out to each of us then, thanks all in live of Father through Christ to you, Do as you may, yet let others do as well
[h=3]Psalm 1:1[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[h=3]Psalm 1[/h][SUP]1 [/SUP]Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful
It just sometimes seems that you are not abiding here in the above verse, I do it too and pray I do not. Thanks
[h=3]Psalm 1:1[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
[h=3]Psalm 1[/h][SUP]1 [/SUP]Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful
It just sometimes seems that you are not abiding here in the above verse, I do it too and pray I do not. Thanks
M
But what was Paul talking about concerning "the pollution of idols"? Wouldn't that be the same thing as "the broth of abominal things" that Isaiah referred to? What is the "unequal yoke" of 2 Cor.6.14-17 that God says come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, sayeth the Lord". I do not judge those that celebrate, it is the word of God that judges all of us. There was always a sacrifice fo rthe sins of ignorance, and it is no different now that Christ is our sacrifice, but those who know, especially those who know and defend the error, it is another story.
M
Friend, what you say has merrit. My Mother took me out of our nice home when I was four, and took me to live with my Grand parents that had already raised 13 children, and had no use for another child. I was so lost! I remember that Christmas so well. Walking into that little country church that sad night, and seeing the nativity scene with soft lights making it look sureal, and wonderful songs playing, and then they told the story of the virgin birth and baby Jesus. I fell so inlove with him that night! I would not have made it thorugh my youth with him. When I grew up, it was that love that kept calling me back to him when I would back slide, and finally drew me to familiarize myself with the whole and express word of God, and that put so much strenght into me, that my back sliding days were over. I no longer celebrate Christmas, because the Lord led me to a greater truth, but God bless the lie that brought me to that truth. God is so all merciful, his word says that those who knew not and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few, and those that do not know the depts of Satan, he will put no further burden of them, but woe to us if we know better, and still go on in things he makes known he doesn't approve of.
God bless
God bless
M
Thomist, actually that is not true, just something the Council of Nicaea said to cover the fact that they were allowing a pagan holiday to be celebrated under guise of Christian. Luke 1.5-8-9 with 1 Chron.24.5-19 makes known when Zechariah and Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, and Luke 1.26.36 says Elizabeth was in her sixth month when Mary became pregnant by the Holy Ghost. So Jesus was born during the feast of Tabernacles, and how apropo, since he is God's tabernacle with man. It is quite a touching story, how the swaddling cloth was what the Priest use for undergarments, and used strips of it to keep the lamps lit continually. That was the swaddling cloths the baby Jesus was wrapped in. Again, how aprapo, since he is the light of the world.
God bless
God bless