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what happened to Gods sacred festivals
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The Feast in Church History Since Jesus kept the feast and the early church kept the feast, and Jesus commanded us to obey everything He commanded, why don’t Christians keep the Feasts of God today? The Feast of Trumpets contains an important message for Christians. In fact, it is the most important news on the globe today. It heralds the gospel's emphasis on repentance and judgment, the warning blasts of the shofar, the Day of the Lord and the proclamation that the Messiah is returning to establish God's Kingdom on the earth. God’s command to ancient Israel is to celebrate a series of appointed times or feasts: Exodus 23:14 "Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.
Leviticus 23:4 " 'These are the LORD's appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The feasts occur during three periods during the year which are associated with three yearly harvests: spring, summer and fall. Matthew 4:4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"
Matthew 28:20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Luke 6:46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Hebrews 5:9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
1 John 2:3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. Constantine, Emperor of Rome, claimed conversion to Christianity and considered himself the leader in the Christian church. Things changed drastically for the Gentile believers. Gentile believers were no longer persecuted. It became an economic advantage to be a Christian. Constantine also supported paganism with Christianity. Under Constantine things got better for the believing gentiles; however, now the Christians persecuted the Jews. The Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah were forced to give up all ties with Judaism, Jewish practices, Jewish friends and anything Jewish. Constantine issued laws forbidding Jewish believers to keep Saturday as Sabbath, circumcise their children, celebrate Passover, etc. The punishments included imprisonment and even death. Constantine replaced the Biblical Holidays with alternative forms of celebrations adopted from other religions. Faithful Christians continued, for several centuries after Christ's death, to follow His and the apostles' examples in keeping the festivals. But this all changed when a politicized and paganized form of Christianity developed within the Roman Empire. in the early centuries after the passing of the original apostles—observance of biblical practices, including the seventh-day Sabbath and God's festivals, practically disappeared from the new and growing religion. They were replaced with other practices and a new set of religious holidays. the change occurred—with the help of the Roman emperors. "Constantine [A.D. 306-337], though not baptized a Christian until he was on his deathbed, took an active interest in the [Christian] religion, presiding over the important Council of Nicea .. During the fourth century, under imperial protection ..., the Christian religion ... made rapid progress, even in the rural areas where the old gods had never altogether lost their appeal. When at the end of the century (A.D. 392) [Emperor] Theodosius I decreed that henceforth Christianity was to be the only religion in the [Roman] empire, the countryside perforce had to submit and adopt at least the forms of Christianity. But it would probably have been difficult for any observer to detect much difference ... It is clear that these folk knew little enough of the teachings or theology of Christianity, and the festivals and ceremonies of paganism for the most part were incorporated directly into the new official religion. Should Christians continue observing the New Testament Passover service? Does God still expect us to observe the Passover? "And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever" (Exodus 12:24). God instituted the Passover, and all His other festivals, as continual, enduring and permanent observances (compare Leviticus 23:14; 21, 31, 41). The word translated "forever" in these verses usually means perpetual rather than eternal. In other words, these festivals were given as permanent festivals, observances we should keep throughout our physical existence. God never intended them to be mere temporary observances that we would discard at a later date, as is commonly taught today. Bible's center verse. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8)
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