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From:    Eddie Chumney
To:         heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject:   Why Should Christians Celebrate Passover ???


From Eddie:
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I praise God for the members of this newsgroup and countless others around the USA and the rest of the world whom God by His Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit is putting upon the hearts of His people to return to and examine the Hebraic/Jewish Roots of their faith!!! In doing so, believers are discovering the richness of the Sabbath and the Biblical Festivals. It is the primary focus of this ministry (Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l) to network with other ministries and believers worldwide to teach about the Hebraic/Jewish Roots of Christianity in all its aspects with special emphasis on the Sabbath, Biblical Festivals and the role of the Torah to the non-Jewish believer in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah.

Since a major emphasis of this ministry is to teach the significance of the Biblical Festivals to Bible believing Christians who have accepted Yeshua/Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, I would like to take this time to share why EVERY Christian should be celebrating Passover and doing a Passover Seder every year.

I am so encouraged to see so many members of the newsgroup and your churches / Messianic synagogues and fellowship groups having Passover Seders this year.  I would strongly encourage you to continue to learn about the Festivals of God and their importance in revealing God's redemptive plan (both the 1st and 2nd coming of Yeshua/Jesus and our personal relationship with God).

If you have already celebrated Passover this year, perhaps you can share with others how this Biblical holiday is related / connected to all believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah.

KEEPING PASSOVER IS NOT A SALVATION ISSUE

For many Christians who have an engrained "we are not under the law" mentality and misunderstanding of the Bible even though the New Covenant is the TORAH written upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10) whenever they hear the word "Passover", the immediately begin to have the thoughts that "you are trying to put me back under the law and we are not saved by keeping the law". So, I need to first explain that keeping Passover is NOT a salvation issue. In Ephesians 2:8-9 it is written:

"For by GRACE are you SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast"

Therefore, keeping Passover is NOT a salvation issue as we are saved by GRACE through faith. However, if we read the next verse in Ephesians 2:10 it is written:

"For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS, which GOD has before ORDAINED that we should walk in them"

Reading Ephesians 2:10 with a Jewish mindset, the "good works" can only be interpreted to mean "keeping the commandments of God". That we should "walk" in them referrs also to keeping the commandments of God as the Jewish people refer to keeping the commandments as "halacha" which means "how one walks".

Therefore, we have this order.

#1) Salvation by GRACE through FAITH and NOT of works (Ephesians 2:8-9)

#2) While not being saved by works, we are ordained by God AFTER we are saved to DO GOOD WORKS and WALK in them   (Eph 2:10)

This same truth is iterated in Romans 3:28,31

#1) Romans 3:28: "Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law"
                 
#2) Romans 3:31: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid, yea, we establish (keep) the law"

Therefore, in discussing the keeping of Passover for Christians, we must first understand that keeping Passover is NOT a salvation issue but is a commandment of G-d that we are to keep AFTER we are saved. Next, in order to get a better understanding regarding how Passover should be a part of the life of every believer in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah, we need to understand who Yeshua/Jesus is and by knowing who He is we can better relate and understand how Passover pertains to both Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Him as Messiah.

JESUS IS LORD (YHVH)

In I Corinthians 12:3 it is written:

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is LORD (YHVH in Hebrew) but by the Holy Ghost /Ruach HaKodesh.

In Philippians 2:10-11 it is written:

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD (YHVH in Hebrew) to the glory of God the Father"

In Revelation 19:13, 16 it is written:

"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called The WORD OF GOD (Jesus) ... and he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written KING of kings and LORD of lords"

In Acts 1:9-12, it tells us that Yeshua/Jesus ascended up to heaven from the Mount of Olives as it is written:

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this SAME JESUS will come in LIKE MANNER as you
have seen him go to heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called OLIVES ..."

Therefore, in this passage in Acts 1:9-12, we are told that Jesus ascended up to heaven from the Mount of Olives and he will return IN LIKE MANNER to the Mount of Olives. Where is this recorded in the Bible? In Zechariah 14:3-4 as it is written:

"Then the LORD (YHVH) shall go forth and fight against the nations as when he fought in the day of battle. And HIS FEET (the LORD in Zech 14:3 who is YHVH) shall stand upon the mount of Olives ..."

So, in Acts 1:9-12, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives and we are told that he would return in like manner. In Zechariah 14:3-4, we see the prophecy of his return at his second coming and we are told that the one who sets his feet on the Mount of Olives in Zechariah 14:4 is the LORD (YHVH) in Zechariah 14:3 who is Jesus (Acts 1:9-12). Jesus is LORD as we are told in (I Cor 12:3, Philippians 2:10-11, Revelation 19:13,16). Why is this important to understand? We need to understand this truth to see the festivals in their proper perspective which will allow us to see why we as Christians are called by God to keep and celebrate Passover.

PASSOVER IS A FEAST OF THE LORD

In Leviticus 23:1-2,4 it is written:

"And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the FEASTS of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations ("miqra" (4744) = which means "rehearsals") even these are MY FEASTS .. These are the FEASTS of the LORD, even holy convocations (4744 = rehearsals) which you shall proclaim in the seasons (4150 - "mo'ed" = "an exact time, a set time or an appointed time")"

Notice that Leviticus 23:1-2,4 does NOT say that these are the feasts of the JEWS. It DOES say that these are the FEASTS of the LORD.

In Psalm 40:7 and Hebrews 10:7, it tells us that in the volume of the book (the Bible) it is written about Jesus. In Luke 24:44, Yeshua/Jesus tells us that the OT or the TeNaKH (Law, Prophets, Writings) are written about HIM!  In Philippians 2:10-11, I Cor 12:3, Revelation 19:13,16, we are told that Yeshua/Jesus is LORD. In Acts 1:9-12 and Zechariah 14:3-4, we know that Yeshua/Jesus is LORD (YHVH in Hebrew). So, by understanding this, in Leviticus 23:1-2,4 it is telling us that these are the festivals of the LORD (YHVH) or Yeshua/Jesus. These are HIS FEASTS that WE are supposed to keep.

In Leviticus 23:5, it describes the feast of Passover as it is written:

"In the 14th day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover"

In Leviticus 23:14, we read that this is to be a statute FOREVER as it is written:

"... it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings"

In Exodus 12:14 it is written:

"So this day shall be unto you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an EVERLASTING ORDINANCE"


JESUS CELEBRATED PASSOVER

In Luke 2:41-42, Yeshua/Jesus celebrated Passover as it it written:

"Now his parents went to Jerusalem EVERY YEAR at the FEAST of  PASSOVER. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the CUSTOM of the feast"

The "last supper" was a PASSOVER SEDER. In Luke 22:15, 18-19 it is written:

"And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this PASSOVER with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God ... For I say unto you, I will not drink of the FRUIT OF THE VINE (the cup in the Passover Seder) until the Kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread (the MATZA in the PASSOVER SEDER) and gave thanks (saying the blessing over the bread (Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech HaOlam HaMotzi Lechem Min Ha Aretz) and broke it and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me"


YESHUA/JESUS IS GOD'S PASSOVER LAMB

Regarding the Passover Lamb, it was to be without blemish. In Exodus 12:5 it is written:

"Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year ..."

In John 1:29, Yochanan/John the Baptist /Immerser identified Yeshua/Jesus as being the "Lamb of God" as it is written:

"The next day John seeing Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world"

In I Peter 1:18-19 it is written:

"For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as a LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH and without spot"

THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PASSOVER

When you celebrate Passover, you are to view it as G-d personally redeeming YOU. In Exodus 13:8 it is written:

"And you shall tell you son in that day, saying, This is done because of what the LORD DID unto ME when *I* came forth out of Egypt"

This is what the Apostle Paul was trying to communicate in I Corinthians 10:1 at it is written:

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant how that ALL OUR fathers were under the cloud and ALL passed through the sea..."

PASSOVER IS THE REDEMPTION OF GOD'S FIRSTBORN

In Exodus 4:22 it is written:

"Then you shall say to Pharoah, Thus says the Lord: Israel is my son, even MY FIRSTBORN"

The church (called out assembly of people who have accepted Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah both Jew and non-Jew) is the firstborn of G-d. In Hebrews 12:22-23a it is written:

"But you have come unto Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN"

Even as G-d redeemed the children of Israel from the bondages of Egypt by applying the blood of the Lamb upon the doorposts of their houses, this is rich is spiritual application and significance.

Egypt is a type of the world and the world's system. The ruler of Egypt (the world) is Pharaoah (HaSatan/Satan). The bondage that we are enslaved when we are in the world's system is sin. Spiritually, the believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah are the house of G-d (Hebrews 3:6, I Peter 2:5). The slaying of the Passover Lamb is a spiritually picture of the spiritual Lamb of God,  Yeshua/Jesus and His death upon the tree whose blood takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Historically, the blood was applied to the doorposts. Spiritually, the doorposts represents our hearts.

PURGING LEAVEN FROM OUR HOUSES

In preparation for the Passover season, Orthodox Jews remove leaven from their houses. In the Bible, leaven is symbolic of sin. Spiritually, the houses represents our hearts. Spiritually, we are to examine our lives and allow the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit to reveal the sin that is in our lives and to remove that sin by confessing our sins to God the Father and allow the blood of Yeshua/Jesus to forgive us of our sins.

In the ceremony of purging leaven from your houses, it is tradition in the Orthodox Jewish home that 10 small pieces of leaven in hidden in the house. The house is dark and the leaven is searched with a candle. Once found the leaven it is taken along with a wooden spoon and the leaven is swept onto the spoon with a feather. It is then wrapped in linen and thrown out of the house. This is RICH in spiritual meaning.

The leaven represents sin. The house represents our bodies. The candle represents the Word of God (Psalm 119:105). The feather represents the Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh. We find sin in our lives by knowing the Word of God with the help of the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit to convict us of that sin. Once the sin is found, we are to sweep the leaven onto the wooden spoon. The wooden spoon represents the tree that Yeshua/Jesus was crucified. It is then wrapped in a linen cloth. Following the death of Yeshua/Jesus when He took upon
Himself the sins of the entire world by dying on the tree, He was wrapped in linen.  The linen cloth is then thrown out of the house and burned. Even so, Yeshua/Jesus descended into the depts of hell (a place of burning) and purchased our redemption by being our substitute for the penalty of sin so that we will not have go to hell if we confess Yeshua/Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.

THE 15 STEPS IN THE PASSOVER SEDER

There are 15 steps in the Passover Seder.  There 15 steps are seen as being a ladder or steps to the throne of God. As you progress from one step to the final step, spiritually, you should see yourself as making spiritual "aliyah" (ascent) unto God. This teaches us that G-d doesn't want us to remain spiritual babies but He desires all believers to grow to spiritual maturity (make spiritual aliyah). The steps prior to eating the Passover Seder meal will teach about the events in the 1st coming of Yeshua/Jesus. The steps following the Seder meal will teach about the 2nd coming of Yeshua/Jesus.


YESHUA AND HIS FOLLOWERS WILL OBSERVE PASSOVER DURING THE MESSIANIC AGE

In Luke 22:18, Yeshua/Jesus told us that He would drink again of the "FRUIT OF THE VINE" (the cup of Passover) when He returns during the Messianic Age as it is written:

"For I say unto you, I will not drink of the FRUIT OF THE VINE until the Kingdom of God shall come"

Ezekiel 40-48 describes the future Temple which will be during the Messianic Age. In Ezekiel 45:21, we see that the feast of Passover will be kept as it is written:

"In the first day in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten"


CONCLUSION

This is a BRIEF summary of Passover. From this teaching, we are able to understand the following:

#1)  Keeping Passover is NOT a salvation issue
#2)  Passover is a FEAST of the LORD not a FEAST of the Jews. However, BOTH Jews and non-Jewish believers in the G-d of Israel and in the Messiah are to keep Passover FOREVER.      
#3)  Yeshua/Jesus kept Passover YEARLY and the final "supper" of Yeshua/Jesus was a PASSOVER SEDER.
#4)  Spiritually, Yeshua/Jesus is G-d's Passover Lamb
#5)  We are saved by applying the blood of G-d's Passover Lamb (Yeshua/Jesus) upon our hearts
#6)  Spiritually, the believers in Yeshua/Jesus are the house of G-d and we are to remove the leaven (sin) from our lives on a regular basis.
#7)  Passover is an ETERNAL ordinance given by G-d and will be celebrated during the Messianic Age and throughout all eternity.

I pray that this teaching will begin to encourage you to examine and seek to celebrate and keep Passover in your heart, with your family's, in your churches/Messianic Synagogues. May you begin to see that Passover and ALL the Festivals are meant to be celebrated by ALL believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah for ALL eternity.

THESE ARE the FEASTS of the LORD (Lev 23:4) and not Christmas and Easter.

May God continue to bless you in your studies.

Eddie Chumney  

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