What Are The Old Testament Feasts All About, What Do They Mean Today?

The True Doctrine of Christ Foundation
A Biblical Research Paper (outline and notes)


Written By:  Mike Maynard                             
Scriptural References List 
    


INTRODUCTION, I am sharing, in advance of my paper the scriptural references and notes. This is an outline, not a finished product but the conclusion is clear. 

Subject:


GOD’S HOLY DAYS OR PAGAN HOLIDAY’S, WHICH SHOULD CHRISTIANS OBSERVE? 


My Purpose is not to so much discuss Pagan Holidays,  that is a whole separate study. In this study I will allow New Testament scriptures alone  to utterly refute the official Armstrongite doctrine of commanding Christians to observe the Old Testament Holy Days found in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. Scripture proves that Christians are NOT to observe these annual Sabbaths and by doing so contrary to new covenant doctrine they are rejecting Christ's sacrifice, Paul wrote this in Galatians chapters 3-5.  These sabbaths were only prophetic as was the entire Law of Moses and became the substance of Christ. The Law of Moses which contained the commanded Holy Days were ONLY for the ancient Israelites and only until Faith came, until Christ. They were fulfilled, thus abolished by Christ.


The Words of Moses, Jesus, and the Apostles directly prove this. These are not ideas taken from any other theology on the earth today that I am aware of....directly and without bias from the scriptures in the Holy Bible. The compilation of these scriptures has taken me literally hundreds of hours of analysis and comparison between Old and New Testament writings before placing in this list. 

The thesis of a United Church of God (UGCIA) Publication is my beginning point:

Consider this following quote from the , (UCGIA) booklet entitled:

"Holidays or Holy Days—Does It Matter 
Which Days We Observe?" [1]

They write;


"Why would anyone choose to reject God’s instructions and His marvelous feast days, especially since He gave them us to reveal our ultimate destiny?"

Our Response: 

Did you know that the New Testament Condemns The Observance of the Old Covenant Holy Days as well as "Pagan holidays."

The apostle Paul wrote,“if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain..”


The Apostle Paul gives us STRONG WARNING  AGAINST teaching the keeping Old Covenant Rituals including Circumcision, Feasts, Sacrifices, or Tithing. This warning is found in many places including,


  Galatians 5:1- 4   1  IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do      not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you  have once put off]. 2  Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be   of no profit (advantage, avail) to you [[a]for if you distrust Him, you can gain nothing from Him]. 3  I once more protest and testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation and bound to practice the whole of the Law and its ordinances.  4  If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing).(Amplified Bible)


To summarize what Paul is writing,  In attempting to Keep the Old Covenant Ordinances You have lost your chance for salvation by *BLASPHEMING [1] CHRIST’S SACRIFICE! Those are The Apostle Paul’s Words, Not Mine.



This study is to assist the reader in an analysis of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant and what the writers in the New Testament wrote on the topic. We trace the Covenants from the beginning of the Bible in Genesis through the Torah and until the time of the Apostles. 


The Question is; Which covenant is in effect today for Christians?
Are Christians obligated to observe any of the Old Covenant Laws found in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16?


Scriptural References For This Study Follow.




+++ Righteous Able was the first prophet to prophecy the coming of Christ. He was called “Righteous Able” by God because of his FAITH.


        Genesis 4:4, And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:(KJV)


          When they grew up, Able  became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift (NLV)


        Hebrews 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (NLV)


+++Abraham’s Acts of Faith that brought blessings on His descendants and ALL nations.


        Genesis 12:1-4;  1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
        3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families
        of the earth be blessed.4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:
         and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.


        Genesis 17: 19; And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.


        Genesis 22:2, 9-18;  2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.


         9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.  11And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham:  and he said, Here am I.  12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.  14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
        16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast
         not withheld thy son, thine only son:  17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.


+++ ‘Thy seed’  in verse 18 above is a prophecy of Christ and salvation that would come to ALL nations through Him. This was written of in Galatians 4:2-4. "...until the time appointed by God, Jesus came, born of a woman, under the law."


+++ God lamented, He knew that Israel could not obey his law without the Holy spirit, and that was a part of his plan. Galatians chapters 3&4 explains the use and purpose of the law, as a tutor and guide till Christ (the Seed) would come. Then the law would end, no longer needed.
      
        Deuteronomy 5:29: O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
  
+++God gave the Law of Moses, of statutes and ordinances to be observed in one place only and when Israel arrived at this place only;
      
        Deuteronomy 5:31: But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
      
        Deuteronomy 12.8-14,”... Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. “At the Temple in Jerusalem ONLY! 8 “Your pattern of worship will change. Today all of you are doing         as you please,


+++Abraham was called righteous because of his FAITH. Faith is what God looks upon, not works. His faith was accounted as righteousness. The same Faith we must have in Christ for salvation which Israel lacked.


        Romans 4:9   Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.


        Romans 4:12  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.


        Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.


        Romans 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,


        Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.


        Galatians 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.


        Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.


        Galatians 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


        Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.


        Hebrews 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Prophetic type of Christ).


+++ God did not give Israel the ability to obey The Law. It was only a tutor or guide until Christ. Israel was not able to obey the Law of Ordinances that were prophetic.
      
        Deuteronomy 29.4,  4 But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!  (Matt 11:13)


+++ God did not give Israel the ability to Obey The Law. It was only a tutor or guide until Christ. Israel was not able to obey the Law of Ordinances that were prophetic.
      
        Deuteronomy 29.4,  4 But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!  (Matt 11.13)


+++God showed that there would be a way of salvation but NOT by the Law of Ordinances,  another way was to be revealed in God’s time.
  
        Jeremiah 3:16, 16 “And when your land is once more filled with people,” says the Lord, “you will no longer wish for ‘the good old days’ when you possessed the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. You will not miss those days or even remember them, and there will be no need to rebuild the Ark.


+++God pronounced a curse on those who did not obey ALL of the words of the covenant. Paul called the law a curse to those who wanted to go back to it after Christ had abolished it and brought a new and better covenant.


        Jeremiah 11.3, 3And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,


+++ Jeremiah prophesied of this time. When the those who are circumcised will be also uncircumcised. How? Circumcision is of the Heart matters to God not that of the flesh.


    Jeremiah 9:22-25,   23 Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;  24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah. 25 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision:


+++ God revealed that there would be a new covenant that would allow men to have the law in their hearts.    “...I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and the house of Judah:...”(Prophetic of grace and Faith for salvation through Christ.)


    Jeremiah 31:31-34,   31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.


+++Christ came for the purpose of Fulfilling the Law. ‘...Until ALL is fulfilled’.  Here the Law of Ordinances and Statures and the Ten Commandments are separated.


    Matthew 5:17-19:   17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  18 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. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


+++Christ told us ALL of the prophets and law ONLY  Prophesied Until John the Baptist.


    Matthew 11:13: 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.


+++The Law and Prophets ended at John but the Commandments continue (Matt. 5:20-48). Law would not fail but was fulfilled by Christ. With John the Baptist a New Way was introduced for the forgiveness of sin, The sacrificial laws and ordinances were made obsolete. The way to grace and the Holy Spirit began in Christ.




    Luke 16.16-18, 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.  17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.


+++Christ verified the 10 commandments when He was asked. He taught that the Law and Prophets hung on them and not the 10 commandments on the Prophets and Law.


    Matthew 22 :36-40,   36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.   40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


+++ Christ uttered things that had never been uttered before this time.
  
    Matthew 13:35,   35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.




+++ Psalms prophesied about a King Priest, a Melchizedek, that would be a priest forever, a messianic prophecy. The ‘rightful King’.


    Psalm 110:4: 4  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.


+++Christ was born under the Law so He could fulfill it. Christ was born a Jew when the Jews were under Moses’ Law.

    Galatians 4:4,   4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.


+++At Christ’s Death the New Covenant Began and Christ explained Matt 5:18, Matt. 11:13, Gal. 4:4. He declared ALL THINGS FULFILLED concerning the law as prophesied in the Prophets and the Law.


    Luke 24:44-47,  44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.   45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
    47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.


+++ No man can be justified by the Law, only the believers in Christ are justified.


    Acts 13:38-39,  38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
  
+++ The decision against Circumcision and Law of Moses being required for salvation. Salvation was by faith alone for both the Jews and Gentiles alike. God made no distinction between either group.


    Acts 15:1-5, 9-11, 24 1 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.  2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria,
declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.  5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 


    9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.


    24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:


 +++King David had God’s Spirit and understood the New Covenant far before Christ’s time.
 
        Psalm 40:6-9: 6Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require. 7Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me; 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart


        6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]—  you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
        7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures:
        8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
      
+++The Law of Moses did not circumcise the heart and produce Lovingkindness, Justice, and righteousness. Nor was it meant to.

    Jeremiah 9:22-25,  23 Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;  24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah.  25 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision:


+++The Laws and Prophets only Foreshadowed Christ and salvation outside of the Law, by another righteousness than that of the Law. The Law was against us and Christ abolished it on the cross.


    Colossians 2:8-17, 8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.   10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:   11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:   12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.   13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;   14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;   15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.   16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:   17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
                          (“... a shadow of things that were to come...”)(NIV)+++Do not follow ordinances of the Old Law which are only the commandments of men, not Christ.


    Colossians 2:20-22;  20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;  22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?


   +++ Why did Jesus still teach observance of the Law throughout his life if it was to be abolished?  

Answer: Because the New Covenant would not begin until Christ Died and was resurrected. He was living under the Law for the purpose of redemption of mankind. He lived a perfect, sinless life under the Old Covenant requirements. He met the requirements of all of the statutes and ordinances before he died.


        Matthew 23:23:  23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
         undone.




+++Christ came to condemn sin in the flesh.


    Romans 8:3-4:   3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:   4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.


+++The new path to salvation is revealed. A gift of God, By GRACE through FAITH and not by works of the Law. You can not earn a Gift. Christ ABOLISHES the Law in His Flesh at death.


    Ephesians 2:8, 14-16,   8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:   14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;   15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;   16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Enmity=the Law.)   


+++Our victory over sin is now through Christ.


    1 Corinthians 15:57,  57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Not through deeds of the law)


+++ Under the new covenant the fulfillment of the law is summed up in Christ’s two great commandments for us; (Christ loved us to the point of death)


    Romans 13:8:  8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.


    John 13:34:   34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
   
+++The dictates of the Old Covenant are no longer binding as Paul taught, but the Law is in ones heart and mind. It is now a spiritual law.


    1 Corinthians 6:12:  12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.



+++ God has given the Holy Spirit to those who have accepted Christ as their savior and by this have accepted the Father. This is the power that will lead us into all understanding.  Do you have the Holy Spirit? Not unless you have accepted Christ through Grace by Faith!


    1 John 2:27, 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even
as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


+++ To receive salvation it must be on God’s terms.


    1 John 3:22-24,  22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.


+++ Beware of those false teachers who tell you that going back to the Law of Ordinances will lead to your salvation, Paul called those men DOGS, EVIL WORKERS, MUTILATORS!
  
    Philippians 3:2-9,   2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.(KJV) 


     2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God[b] are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
    (New Living Translation)


    2 Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.(Amplified Bible)( See Acts 15 and the apostles decision on keeping Moses’ Law)  3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the  6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  


    1 Timothy 4:5, 1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.   4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:   5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
    (The whole law included the Clean and Unclean meats ordinances as well as blood sacrifices)


+++ Jeremiah prophesied of this time. When the those who are circumcised will be also uncircumcised. How? Circumcision is of the Heart matters to God not that of the flesh.


    Jeremiah 9:22-25,   23 Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;  24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah. 25 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision:
  
+++ In Deuteronomy, Moses told the Israelites that their worship would be at ONE physical location and no other.


    Deuteronomy 12.8-14,”... Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. “
    At the Temple in Jerusalem ONLY! 8 “Your pattern of worship will change. Today all of you are doing as you please,      


+++ Christ inroduced the New Covenant at the well of Jacob in Sychar (Shecheem). He The  taught about a time when the Law of Ordinances would be changed from a fleshly to a spiritual form of worship of God. No longer one approved location, in Jerusalem at the Temple. The time was at that hour.
   
     John 4:19-24,  19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.  20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.  21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.   22 Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.  23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.


+++The Old Covenant ordinances are no longer binding on Christians.


    1 Timothy 4:5, 1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.   4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:   5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.


+++Justification of Christians is through Faith not the Law of Moses.
 
    Acts 13:38-39,  38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:  39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.


+++The TRUE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST is written and taught here. The Law of Moses is considered a burden and not the doctrine that the Apostles taught. Circumcision and the Law of Moses were not to be requirements for salvation but Faith alone!


    Acts 15:1-5, 9-11, 24 (Please read the entire chapter)


       1And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
       2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
       3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
       4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
       5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
       9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
       10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
       11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
      24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

   
+++Christ invited us to take his easy yoke and  light burden, He fulfilled the Law and removed the curse. Not the burden that the apostles forbade for the disciples in Acts 15.


            Matthew 11:28-30:  28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


+++ Justification in God’s sight does not come from deeds of the law.


    Romans 3:20, 28,   20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.




+++Christians are to have NO participation with the Law of Moses since Christ fulfilled, discharged, and terminated it.
  
 Romans 7:6,   6But now...
             ...we are discharged from the Law and  have
                terminated all intercourse with it,...
        ...having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life].(AB)


          6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. (NLB)


         6But now we have been (I)released from the Law, having (J)died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in (K)newness of (L)the [a]Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. (ASV)


+++Christ is Lord of the Sabbath and greater than the physical temple. The Law was to bring about Mercy not sacrifices!


    Matthew 12:5-8,  5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?  6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.  7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.  8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.


+++The Jews were teaching the Christians that circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses was required for salvation which was refuted by the Apostles in Acts 15. This was the same false Doctrine of Christ Armstrongism teaches now!


    Gal 3, 4 ,5  (Read All) This is Paul’s continuing battle against Heresy. the Jews who told the Christian Jews that they had to go back and keep the Law for salvation.


+++ The Old Covenant ended in the death of Christ on the cross and at our baptism when we accept Christ as the Son of God and our savior.  


    2 Corinthians 3:6: 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.


+++We are redeemed through the Blood of Christ and the Grace of God.


    Ephesians 1:7: 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;


+++We are saved by Grace only, not works of the Law.
 
    Ephesians 2:4-9, 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
    5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
    6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
    7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us


through Christ Jesus.
    8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
    9Not of works, lest any man should boast.


    Gal.  2.16, 21,    “...for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”     “if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain..”


       16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.


       21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV)
 
       21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.(NLT)




    Galatians 3.10-13,    “...The just shall live by faith.”  “...This way of faith is very different from the way of law.”


    10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”[d] 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”[e] 12, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”[f] (NLT)


       13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[g] 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised[h] Holy Spirit through faith. (NLT)


      10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (KJV)
       11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
       12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
       13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:


    Eph 6.13-17,    The Whole Armor is NOT the LAW.  Verse 16; The shield of Faith, not the shield of the Law of statutes, or ordinances.


       13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
       14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
       15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
       16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
       17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:


    Galatians 4.9-11, 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?   10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.


    Gal 5.1-13,   “...by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.” “...
       1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.


       2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.


       5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.


       7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.  
   
    11 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. 12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.[b]


       13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[c] 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.


 +++1 Corinthians 10:23-32,   “...whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.”  “...Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles.”


       23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
          24Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
       25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
 
       26For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.


       27If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
       28But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
       29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
       30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
       31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
       32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:




+++Romans 4:13:  13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.


+++Romans 4:9-11,     9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles?[c] Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith.
      10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
  11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.
      12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. (NLT)




+++Jeremiah 3:16, No Longer Temple worship, no physical Ark of the Covenant. The believers will be the Temple where the Holy Spirit dwells.

       16 “And when your land is once more filled with people,” says the Lord, “you will no longer wish for ‘the good old days’ when you possessed the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. You will not miss those days or even remember them, and there will be no need to rebuild the Ark.


+++Jeremiah 11.3, Men cursed who do not obey the covenant.

       3And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,


 +++ A new Covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34,    “...I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:...” (Prophetic of grace and faith with salvation through Christ.)
  
+++ Law only for one people, Israel in one place;

Deuteronomy 12.8-14,”... Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. “


+++At the Temple in Jerusalem ONLY!
    8 “Your pattern of worship will change. Today all of you are doing as you please,


+++ The Law of Moses ended at the cross:

Colossians 2:11-14,   “...Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ...”


       11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:


       12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.


       13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;


       14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;


+++Clean and Unclean food laws for Israel under Old Covenant only...Matthew 15.11,    “...For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. “
     11It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].


+++ Clean animals were part of the old covenant sacrificial system only,
1 Timothy 4.4-5, (some say only Lev. 11 animals, this is part of the abolished statutes and ordinances, see Gen 9:3, “every moving thing is food for you.)


    4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
  


+++ Christ taught in Luke 10.8, concerning foods and meats;
    8And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:




++ The Commandment that Christ gave was , Love one another as I have loved you; This is the fulfilling of the whole law. 1 John 5.3,  
3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.


+++ 1 John 4.15, Confessing Christ is the acceptance of God and not through Law but Faith.


+++ The Law of Moses was only applicable within the Promised Land.


     15Whosobecause you have not yet arrived at the place of rest, the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession.
    10 But you will soon cross the Jordan River and live in the land the Lord your God is giving you. When he gives you rest from all your enemies and you’re living safely in the land,
    11 you must bring everything I command you—your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, and your offerings to fulfill a vow—to the designated place of worship, the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored.
    12 “You must celebrate there in the presence of the Lord your God with your sons and daughters and all your servants. And remember to include the Levites who live in your towns, for they will receive no allotment of land among you.
    13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like.
    14 You may do so only at the place the Lord will choose within one of your tribal territories. There you must offer your burnt offerings and do everything I command you.(AB)


  +++ Passover Only kept in one place. 
Deuteronomy 16.1, “...You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns..But at the place which the Lord your God will choose in which to make His Name [and His Presence] dwell.” At the Temple in Jerusalem ONLY!


      2You shall offer the Passover sacrifice to the Lord your God from the flock or the herd in the place where the Lord will choose to make His Name [and His Presence] dwell.
      5You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns which the Lord your God gives you,
      6But at the place which the Lord your God will choose in which to make His Name [and His Presence] dwell, there you shall offer the Passover sacrifice in the evening at sunset, at the season that you came out of Egypt. (AB)


   +++ Must keep the whole law. This means all of the instructions about the feasts as well if you are under the Old Covenant.

Numbers 28.1-40 and Leviticus 23.1-44,  These are the statutes and ordinances covering the annual sabbaths that can not be kept in part.    (See Galatians 5.1-3,   2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.)(NLT)


    (See also Ephesians 2:14-15, 14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.)(NLT)


 +++   Deuteronomy 29.4, “Israel was not able to obey the Prophets and Law were only prophetic Matt 11.13.”
  
       4 But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!


+ ++ A veil of blindness until Christ is accepted
  2 Corinthians 3:7-18,       ”And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.”
   7 The old way,[b] with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!
    12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.
    13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away.


14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.
    15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
    16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
    17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
    18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.(NLT)


  +++ Do you not hear the law?
Galatians 4:21-3,   "...Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?..So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” 

    21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.




    27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.


       28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (KJV)


   +++ Titus 3.5-8,    “...Because of his grace he declared us righteous...”


       5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (KJV)
  
    4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” (NLT)




+++ The scriptures point not to eternal life but to Christ who is eternal life.
    John 5:39, 45, (The Jews only had the OT)
39 "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!


    45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”(NLT) (Deuteronomy 18.15)


  +++ Desiring to be teachers of the law they understand nothing they teach...then and now!

1 Timothy 1.6-7,     6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
      7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

+++ The old covenant was defective and replaced by God who prophecied Israel would not keep it. 

Heb 8.7-8, 13, (Amplified Bible)
      7For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.
        8However, He finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
       13When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether. (AB)


  +++  Hebrews 9:9-15,    “ statutes and ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation. Until the Messiah came.Only a temporary covenant." It was only a type of the present.


      9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
       10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
       11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
       12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
       13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
       14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
       15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (The Old Covenant was not a path to Salvation)


    Hebrews 10:1-4, 18


       1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
       2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
       3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
       4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  
 
      18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.


    Hebrews 12.24,


    24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.




    Hebrews 13.9,


    9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.


+++ The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ.    John 1.16-17,


      16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.




+++  Ezekiel 37:26, 26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. ( See. Luke 17.20)


+++ The New Covenant of Grace can not be contained in the Old Covenant, The one ENDS the other begins.  The New Covenant can not be stitched together with the Old. Christ explained this lesson of incompatibility. The Jews would say the ‘Old tastes just fine' rejecting the New Covenant.



    Matthew 9:17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”


    Matthew 26:29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”


    Mark 2:22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”


    Luke 5:37  “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.


Luke 5:38  New wine must be stored in new wineskins.


 Luke 5:39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”
   
Luke 5:39  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. 

+++ Christ taught using symbolic old and new cloth that the Old and New covenants were incompatable and could not be sewn or woven together. 
 
Matthew 9:16   No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.


Mark 2:21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.


Luke 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.


+++ Matthew 17.24-27,    “..the disciples are the sons of the King of the Kingdom of God.”


       24When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half shekel [the temple tax] went up to Peter and said, Does not your Teacher pay the half shekel?(C)  25He answered, Yes. And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him [about it] first, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or tribute--from their own sons or from others [k]not of their own family? 26And when Peter said, From other people [l]not of their own family, Jesus said to him, Then the sons are exempt. 27However, in order not to give offense and cause them to stumble [that is, to cause them [m]to judge unfavorably and unjustly] go down to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself. (AB)




+++Christ taught the intent of the law which was not sacrifices of animal blood but Faith, Mercy, Justice; Matthew 12.5-8,    “..I will have mercy, and not sacrifice..”


      5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?  6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.  7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.   8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.


+++ The Commandments did not hang on the Law or Prophets;    Matthew 22.36-40,   “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. “

  36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


+++Matthew 15.11,
     11It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].


+++ Some claim the Apostles went to worship with the Jews in their synagogues...No, they argued in the synagogues to draw Jews away from Judaism and into the new covenant through Christ. As Christ did also.

Acts 18.19,  19Then they arrived in Ephesus, and [Paul] left the others there; but he himself entered the synagogue and discoursed and argued with the Jews.

+++John 7.19, “...the Jews were keeping the Feast but still breaking the Law of Moses.”


      14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.  15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?  16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?


+++When one teaches that Christianity contains commands to keep any of the Old Covenant statutes and Ordinances they are blaspheming or refuting the direct teachings of Jesus, there for the Words of God the Father. 


We must learn the definition of blasphemy, the most dangerous sin.


[1] Here is a dictionary definition of blaspheme:
blaspheme - vb  1.  ( tr ) to show contempt or disrespect for (God, a divine being, or sacred things), esp in speech 2.( intr ) to utter profanities, curses, or impious expressions *World English Dictionary;


Versions of the Bible Referenced and abbreviations:


American Standard Version (ASV)
Amplified Bible (AB)
English Standard Version (ESV)
King James Version (KJV)
New International Version (NIV)
New King James Version (NKJV)
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Message (TM)


[1] Since this paper was begun the UCGIA has a new revised version of this booklet; Holidays or Holy Days - Does It Matter Which We Observe? but the same title. My quotes were taken from the older version from 2010. But similar statements can be found on page 31 in the new version section; 

God's Days of Worship
"God has given us seven annual festivals, or feasts, on
which to worship and honor Him. His festivals are far
more significant than this world’s holidays because they
reveal His plan for humanity."