Passover/Unleavened Countdown . . .For Those Who Celebrate Them
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M
Galatians 5:4. Paul, writing to Christians in the church in Galatia says, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law;” “you have fallen from grace.” Not, you are thinking about it or not, you might, you already have. You were in the grace of God, you tried to go back now to the old law, and you are now outside of God's grace, you've been cut off from Christ. A person can fall from the grace of God, and so the old idea that false teachers propagate that one can never be lost once he's saved doesn't stand the scrutiny of honest Bible study.
I don't agree with this; because Paul to the Galatians here isn't saying: You guys, you Galatians, you are fallen from grace. Rather, he is using the phrase in the context of showing a faulty argument.
Elsewhere Paul affirms the true believer's eternal security very strongly: in Romans 8.28, for example.
Elsewhere Paul affirms the true believer's eternal security very strongly: in Romans 8.28, for example.
M
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
The purpose of God is to call the worthy and true souls of humanity into His church and to discipline and educate them so as to fit them to dwell with him in his eternal home, and to those who love him and are called in harmony with his purpose, all things work together for good. When He says "all things," He means even things that are painful, for even if affliction, poverty, imprisonment, hunger, death, or any other thing, come upon them, God is able to turn all things to their good and fit them for His eternal home. If they are not able to bear the trials and afflictions that come upon them and accept them as means of discipline from the hand of the Father, they judge themselves unworthy of eternal life. If they fail to do His requirements, they deprive themselves of the education that will fit them for service in the eternal kingdom.
even to them that are called—These have been called by the gospel, and accepted it. Many others are called, Jews and Gentiles; but only those who hear and obey are God's chosen ones. (Matt. 22:14.)
according to his purpose.—God determined that man should be called by the gospel, to be called according to God's purpose is to called by the gospel. In speaking of this call, Paul said: "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 2:13, 14.)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
The purpose of God is to call the worthy and true souls of humanity into His church and to discipline and educate them so as to fit them to dwell with him in his eternal home, and to those who love him and are called in harmony with his purpose, all things work together for good. When He says "all things," He means even things that are painful, for even if affliction, poverty, imprisonment, hunger, death, or any other thing, come upon them, God is able to turn all things to their good and fit them for His eternal home. If they are not able to bear the trials and afflictions that come upon them and accept them as means of discipline from the hand of the Father, they judge themselves unworthy of eternal life. If they fail to do His requirements, they deprive themselves of the education that will fit them for service in the eternal kingdom.
even to them that are called—These have been called by the gospel, and accepted it. Many others are called, Jews and Gentiles; but only those who hear and obey are God's chosen ones. (Matt. 22:14.)
according to his purpose.—God determined that man should be called by the gospel, to be called according to God's purpose is to called by the gospel. In speaking of this call, Paul said: "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 2:13, 14.)
K
Acts 15 is often misunderstood, and I do apologize if I am addressing something different than to what you refer.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: [SUP]29 [/SUP]that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.[SUP][g][/SUP] If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
One needs ask himself why these things? (for instance, I don't need to be told not to drink blood! Yuck!) Why not, "Thou shalt not kill"? Was it because these were the things they practiced in their worship of pagan gods? With a small amount of research you will find it to be the case. And so, they were instructed what was most pressing at the time of their conversion. If you'll notice, Paul wasn't troubled about teaching them more, because Moses was read in the synagog every Sabbath, and eventually they would learn, just as every believer, it is a lifetime study.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]“Known to God from eternity are all His works.[SUP][c][/SUP] [SUP]19 [/SUP]Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, [SUP]20 [/SUP]but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,[SUP][d][/SUP] from things strangled, and from blood. [SUP]21[/SUP]For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
We must keep the letters in context! They were written specifically to address specific situations.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: [SUP]29 [/SUP]that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.[SUP][g][/SUP] If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
One needs ask himself why these things? (for instance, I don't need to be told not to drink blood! Yuck!) Why not, "Thou shalt not kill"? Was it because these were the things they practiced in their worship of pagan gods? With a small amount of research you will find it to be the case. And so, they were instructed what was most pressing at the time of their conversion. If you'll notice, Paul wasn't troubled about teaching them more, because Moses was read in the synagog every Sabbath, and eventually they would learn, just as every believer, it is a lifetime study.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]“Known to God from eternity are all His works.[SUP][c][/SUP] [SUP]19 [/SUP]Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, [SUP]20 [/SUP]but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,[SUP][d][/SUP] from things strangled, and from blood. [SUP]21[/SUP]For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
We must keep the letters in context! They were written specifically to address specific situations.
Sorry, I didn't meant to be rude. If I remember right, I never advocated that there was a difference between them in the sight of God. So I declined in answering a question that I never instigated. It is my mistake however, because so many people that want to label God's word as more or less important than other things written, according to their liking, usually ask questions that are leading in order to justify their doctrines that they are comfortable with. So with that said, if I instigate a question by stating or commenting about something, if there is a question, the first thing I have to determine is the sincerity of the person asking me the question. If it is leading into conflict I determine very quickly that the person asking the question isn't sincere.
Karraster's post on #110 is the answer, and I agree with her. Acts 15 depicts a starting point for new believers, but they were not supposed to stop there. God doesn't want us to be complacent and say to ourselves. "I'm satisfied and all done with learning more. I'm where I should be, and that's all there is, there ain't no more."
So to answer your question, even though I think it was leading, the difference was that these Gentiles in Acts 15 were new born babies in Christ, and the people Jesus picked to minister to them were not, even though they once were in the same condition. As far as the Jew and Gentile staying that way because of the law is bogus because God is not a respecter of persons.
Romans 10:12 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Romans 2:10 (KJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP]But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
God expects us to grow in understanding, and not to think that anything He has ever said has less impact because of the New Covenant/Testament. After all Jesus taught the Old Testament before His death. Who ya gonna believe?
Karraster's post on #110 is the answer, and I agree with her. Acts 15 depicts a starting point for new believers, but they were not supposed to stop there. God doesn't want us to be complacent and say to ourselves. "I'm satisfied and all done with learning more. I'm where I should be, and that's all there is, there ain't no more."
So to answer your question, even though I think it was leading, the difference was that these Gentiles in Acts 15 were new born babies in Christ, and the people Jesus picked to minister to them were not, even though they once were in the same condition. As far as the Jew and Gentile staying that way because of the law is bogus because God is not a respecter of persons.
Romans 10:12 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP]For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Romans 2:10 (KJV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP]But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
God expects us to grow in understanding, and not to think that anything He has ever said has less impact because of the New Covenant/Testament. After all Jesus taught the Old Testament before His death. Who ya gonna believe?
After I was saved I couldn't even call it easter anymore. And I'm not jewish so I couldn't pretend that I was keeping one of their feasts. So I started calling it Resurrection day too.
We have been celebrating christmas and easter in my family ever since I was born. And then kept the tradition with my own kids and grand-kids. It would almost be a punishment to them to stop these traditions now. I know, because I wanted to but my wife wouldn't let me... I asked her what do eggs and an easter bunny have to do with the Lord Jesus being crucified on a cross? And what does a decorated pine tree and a fat guy in a red suit have to do with the birth of our Lord? The answer was its for the kids and they like it and we can just explain to them who the Lord is to us and what He means to us. Plus my wife likes buying everyone candy and presents and spending all my money... I can give you her phone number if you want to try and talk her out of it... j/k lol
We have been celebrating christmas and easter in my family ever since I was born. And then kept the tradition with my own kids and grand-kids. It would almost be a punishment to them to stop these traditions now. I know, because I wanted to but my wife wouldn't let me... I asked her what do eggs and an easter bunny have to do with the Lord Jesus being crucified on a cross? And what does a decorated pine tree and a fat guy in a red suit have to do with the birth of our Lord? The answer was its for the kids and they like it and we can just explain to them who the Lord is to us and what He means to us. Plus my wife likes buying everyone candy and presents and spending all my money... I can give you her phone number if you want to try and talk her out of it... j/k lol
I can sympathize. That's a tough place to be in. I was married, with our 1st baby when I told my parents we weren't doing christmas or easter anymore because of the roots of them. It didn't go over well at all with them, mainly because of the traditions and wanting to do those things with their grandkids. It lead to a couple of years of dissension between us. 4 kids later, they have grown to accept that we won't do those things, but it's an issue we pretty much ignore.
C
We know a couple very similar to your situation but you know I'm very "Jewish" so on one of our gatherings during the holiday season my wife told their kids, one 8 and the other 10, that Christmas is not the actual birthday of the Lord and that Easter is after the name of a pagan goddess, risking losing our friendship of over 15 years with the parents. The response of the kids were astonishing. They asked their parents if what she said was true and why they didn't stop celebrating. A lot of times the problem is with us adults.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notice one thing conspicuously missing from this list?
Ourselves. We can do that job...
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
I would read the above passages with a very careful and sober minded approach.
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notice one thing conspicuously missing from this list?
Ourselves. We can do that job...
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
I would read the above passages with a very careful and sober minded approach.