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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:47:14 GMT -5
From: Manager Rev. Jim (Original Message) Sent: 10/6/2003 10:40 AM A BLESSED YOM KIPPUR TO ALL OF YOU Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the most holiest of High Holy Days, is a special day which the Lord has appointed in His Word for all believers in the God of Israel, as one Body, to come before His throne to greive and repent of our own sins, the sins of our nation, and the sins of the world, petitioning the Lord for mercy to all. It is a day so holy that, unlike all other holy days in which we are commanded to eat and celebrate, we are commanded in the Bible to fast and set aside all pleasures this day to focus on the redeeming sacrifice of the Lamb of God who took away our sins with His own blood, taking away the curse of death and the judgement of the Law. Let us examine our hearts and lay at the feet of our Savior all things that are displeasing to Him, recalling Paul's words that, though we are heirs as sons & daughters with Christ, we are still servants subject to obedience. Give blessings and glory and honor to God Almighty on bended knees. Worship Him who is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the only True Lord who is and was and is to come, Commander of the Host of Heaven and Most Royal King. Halleluiah to the Lamb of God! This Holy Day lasts until sunset tonight. The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. - Rev. Jim
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:47:46 GMT -5
From: Suhndog Sent: 10/6/2003 3:12 PM
Um..
Growing up as a conservative Jew, we observed Yom Kippur..
As a Messianc Jew, Jesus replaced this observance.. in fact, when the scarlet ribbon placed on the Temple door did NOT change white, it was a sign that Atonement was fulfilled by Jesus.. not Yom Kippur.
Where do you 'draw the line' regarding trying to observe all the feats, fasts, etc.. etc..?
I was never shown that Yom Kippur was in the bible.. Please show me? I'm glad you brought up this subject.. (^_^) I'd like to know some more please...
-- Marcus
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:48:11 GMT -5
From: Manager Rev. Jim Sent: 10/8/2003 10:49 AM
Okay, this is a bit lengthy, but important. A Christian is a Jew, a son of Abraham. No one but the House of Israel can be saved, as God swore to Abraham, and as the entire text of the Scriptures makes plain. Salvation is a promise only to Abraham's descendants. Therefore, the only way that a Gentile may be saved, according to Scripture, is to be adopted into Abraham's family, and the only way to do that is by believing on the Jewish Messiah who is also the God of Abraham. "Christian" means "Messiah Follower". We are told in the Book of Acts that JEWS who believed in Jesus as Messiah were differenciated from the JEWS who did not believe in Jesus as Messiah by being called "Christians" (Messiah Followers). When a Jew believes on his own Savior (Jesus), thereby being christian, he has not converted to "christianity". He remains a Jew. Christianity is not a separate faith from Judaism; it is not some new and foreign faith from the faith of Abraham. When a Gentile believes on the Messiah, thereby being Christian, he has become a Jew, adopted (grafted) into the House of Abraham/Israel". ALL JEWS, whether by birth or adoption, are subject to the Law. The Law is NOT done away with by Christ's atonement, as it is written, "Do we make void the Law through faith? God forbid! Yea, WE ESTABLISH the Law!" Romans 3:31. Christ's atonement set us free from the JUDGEMENT of the Law and the burden of trying to obtain salvation by the Law. But we are not EXEMPT from obeying the Law. There will never be a time when it is okay to break God's commandments. Paul said in Galatians 3:7,16,27-29: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He (God) saith not, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of ONE - "And to thy seed" - which is Christ. And this I say, that the Covenant before of God in Christ -the LAW- which was 430 after, CANNOT DISANNUL that it should make the promise of none effect... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Paul also said in Romans 2:28, For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly... but he is a Jew which is one inwardly... whose praise is not of men but of God. Paul also said in Romans 4:16, Therefore it is of faith that it might be of 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, as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations", before God whom he (that is, Abraham) believed, who (that is, God) quickened the dead, and called those things which are not as though they were, who (that is, Abraham), against hope, believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken - "So shall thy seed be"... Now, it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed IF WE BELIEVE on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead... The only thing that Paul said was done away with was the hand-writing of ordinances CONTAINED IN the Law, which pertains to SACRIFICES of blood, food, and other such things, like incense and candle burning. Nevertheless we are yet commanded to give sacrifices of praise and obedience. The Sabbaths and holidays commanded in the "Old" Testament were still kept by the Apostles in the New Testament long after Jesus rose from the dead, which is evidence that we should be keeping them as well, else they would have ceased to observe them. For example, when we observe the Passover (as Paul commanded and gave instruction in 1Corinthians 5:7-8 and 11:17-34), we do not sacrifice a lamb anymore because Jesus IS the Lamb. But we still CELEBRATE the commanded holiday in commemoration with sacrifices of praise. It is the same with the Feast of Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) and the Fast of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). As pertaining to these two holydays, it is written: Speak unto the children of Israel (remember Paul said that ALL believers are children of Israel!), saying, "In the 7th month in the 1st day of the month shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets (Rosh Hashanah); ye shall do no servile work therein... Also, on the 10th day of this 7th month, there shall be a day of atonement (Yom Kippur): it shall be an holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls (that is, fasting and depriving the flesh of needs/wants)... and ye shall do no work in that same day, for it is a day of atonement (a "yom kippur") to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God... it shall be a statute FOR EVER throughout your generations in ALL your dwellings... It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest and ye shall afflict your souls, in the nine day of the month at evening - from evening unto evening shall ye celebrate your sabbath. If you'll recall in the Book of Acts and several Epistles, Paul repeatedly stated that he would - or would try to - go to Jerusalem in order to celebrate the commanded holidays. Paul was designated as the Apostle to the Gentiles, and if the converted Gentiles were not meant to observe those holy days, Paul would have clearly said so - which he did NOT. Contrariwise, he OBSERVED them. It was not until the founding of the Roman "church" in the 3rd century that the Jewishness of our faith was banished from Christianity. Hating the Jews and forever trying to exterminate them, Rome declared that we are no longer subject to things of the Jews, and this brought about the banning of biblical holidays, including obedience to the fourth commandment, for over 1500 years. When the Protestant Reformation began, this same blasphemous teaching passed into Protestant churches, and Christian ministers to this day continue to teach the lie that the holidays and sabbaths are "only for the Jews". This cannot be so because we now live in the New Testament era, and if believers were to stop celebrating the holidays then God would not have told the Jews to celebrate them FOREVER. We ARE Jews, as believers in Jesus, therefore we are subject to the command to observe these holidays - under threat of excommunication from God's people (Leviticus 23:29-30). I am beside myself with laughter when I hear people say that this is bringing us under bondage to the law. If I say that you will go to hell for not observing a sabbath - or any other commandment, like, do not kill, do not steal, etc. - THEN I would be attempting to bring you "under bondage to the law", because I would then be presuming that salvation is EARNED by deeds. Salvation is received by faith, which means that when we break a commandment we are given mercy and forgiveness (yet we must still ASK for that forgiveness even though we are saved - remember Jesus words? "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors..."). We obey God's commandments because WE LOVE GOD ("If you love Me, keep My commandments"). While we may seek God's forgiveness at any time, Yom Kippur is set aside by God as a special day expressly for that purpose, just as, although we may seek the face of the Lord all week long, the Sabbath is specially set aside for that purpose. Notice that when Paul talked about observing sabbaths he said, "One man observes all days to the Lord, while another man observes one day to the Lord". He never mentions a man who observes NO days, because AT THE LEAST we are commanded to observe one day - the sabbath. If one person only wants to observe the Lord on the Sabbath, do not judge him for not oberving ALL days; and if one person wants to observe ALL days, do not judge him for not observing only the one day. Why? Because "TO THE LORD do they observe them, and who are you to judge another man's servant?!" It is a day when ALL of God's people come together as one voice to cry and grieve for sin before God and to seek His mercy on the world. In fact, we are supossed to be so caught up in this this type of prayer on this holy day that we neglect our bodily needs; and God COMMANDS it to make sure we do it that way. Imagine that your baby is so ill that he is about to die. You would be on your knees, praying so hard that you won't even notice that you are hungry. THAT is how we are to feel when we pray on this day. So, contrary to what church doctrine teaches ( - that same "church" which also teaches you that being gay will send you to hell - ), the BIBLE teaches us to OBEY. Any church which tells you not to obey God's specific and express commandments is a liar and damnable, as it is written, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed; as we said before, so say I now again: if ANY MAN (your pastor, your parent, your friend, the pope) preach any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed!" - Galatians 1:8 The holidays and sabbaths are blessed and sanctified by God Himself. When God ordained the Sabbath day in Genesis 2:3, He "blessed the seveth day and sanctified it." We are told in Leviticus 23:20, "He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it." And 1 Chronicles 17:27 says, "For Thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed FOREVER!" If any man tells you otherwise, he is a LIAR. Blessings in Christ Jesus, Rev. Jim
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:48:57 GMT -5
From: Cantor Sent: 10/9/2003 7:39 AM
Dear Friends in Christ,
If you study the patterns of the Jewish year and the Christian Church year, there are many similarities in rhythmn. These feast days also coorespond to the seasons of the northern hemisphere. Because Jesus worshiped on earth as a Jew, and made no references to major changes in his new Church after His ressurection, we can assume that God is of the opinion that "if it aint broken, don't fix it".
American Christianity changed much in the nineteenth century when the reformed church "tent revivalists", moved by the Holy Spirit, abandoned most traditional church structures, and as a result, we see our "contemporary worship" patterns (or lack there of). Preachers, instead of ordained clergy, decide what bible lectionary to use each week "as the spirit moves them", and the celebrations of Christ's life on earth, or our Old Testement foundations are lost.
As a result, your average Christian has no concept of "The Day of Atonement", "All Saints Day" (comming up soon!), Jesus' Ascension Day, or even the Day of Pentecost! Only time will tell if there is a revival of what God's people have experienced for thousands of years!
Cantor John
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:49:16 GMT -5
From: Fence_sitter_guy Sent: 10/9/2003 10:26 AM
Well, if they're so important, can someone list them all (in one year) and explain them in semi-detail to the rest of us? Thank you.
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:50:22 GMT -5
From: Manager Rev. Jim Sent: 10/9/2003 12:02 PM
BIBLICALLY COMMANDED HOLIDAYS:
PASSOVER - "Pesah" (14th to the 20th day of the 1st Jewish calendar month): Originally commanded to be celebrated in memorial of Abraham's children's freedom from bondage in Egypt by God, and later commanded by Jesus Christ to be celebrated in memorial of His death and our freedom from bondage to sin (Matthew 26:1-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:1-20, John 13:1, 1st Corinthians 5:7-8 & 11:17-34). Passover is a full meal, consisting of lamb, bitter herbs, matza (unleavened bread), and wine. It is commanded to be celebrated only within a believer's home, and not with the whole congregation. This was later changed by the Roman Church to the "communion" service, where all of its Biblical Jewishness were stripped away and reduced to a small cracker and sip of wine every Sunday, in violation of Jesus' command. God commanded this holiday to be commemorated "forever", and nowhere in the Scripture, in either the Old or New Testaments, has this command been recalled. Pentacost - "Shavuot" (50th day following the 2nd day of Passover): Beginning with the second day of Passover, 50 days are counted (called the Days of the Omer, or Sefirah Days) to Pentacost (meaning "the 50th" day). This is a commanded holiday, also known as "First Fruits". It celebrates the giving of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to man by God. The continued celebration of this holiday in the New Testament era is clearly supported in the Book of Acts. FEAST OF TABERNACLES - "Sukkot" (15th day of the 7th Jewish calendar month): This is an eight-day holiday in which believers are commanded (Leviticus 23:34) to build and dwell within a sukkah, or hut, in commemoration of the forty years of wandering in the desert AND subsequent arrival in the Promised Land. We are told in Zechariah 14:16 that this feast will be kept after Christ's 2nd coming; therefore, if we had to celebrate it IN THE PAST and we will have to celebrate it in the FUTURE, logic dictates that it should still be in observance NOW. FEAST OF HADASSAH - "Purim" (14th day of Adar): When the hand of God, through Queen Hadasa (Ester), saved the Hebrews from death in Persia, the Bible tells us that the Hebrews began an annual festival to commemorate the event. While not a COMMANDED holiday, nevertheless it is a holiday sanctioned by Scripture. On this day, in the spirit of godly behavior, it is appropriate that we should celebrate with our natural-born Jewish friends in honor of this magnificent miracle of God. FEAST OF TRUMPETS - "Rosh Hashanah" (1st day of the 7th Jewish calendar month): While the Biblical New Year starts 14 days before Passover, Rosh Hashanah begins the spiritual new year, seven months later. On this day it is commanded that we celebrate with the blasting of trumpets and a great feast. History and prophecy now tell us why God commanded the celebration of this day in such a fashion: it is the birthday of Jesus himself. In prophecy we are told that the arrival of Messiah would be heralded by trumpets. By easy calculations, the New Testament shows this to be Christ's birthday as well. John the Baptist was conceived in the month of Tishri (the time when his father had to serve his office in the temple); when Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be Christ's mother he also said that Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant with John; nine months from this would bring us to Rosh Hashannah - the Feast of Trumpets. DAY OF ATONEMENT - "Yom Kippur" (10th day of the 7th Jewish calendar month): On this day we are commanded to abstain from all bodily needs while praying for the Lord's forgiveness. FEAST OF DEDICATION - "Chanukkah" (25th day of Kislev): A week long holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of God. It was observed by New Testament believers in John 10:22. It is written that we are the Temple of the Lord, and on this day we rededicate ourselves to Him. MAN MADE HOLIDAYS:
CHRISTMAS (December 25th): Created by the Romans in celebration of the birth of Mithras the sun god. The Catholic Church changed the sanctity of Christ's birthday from Rosh Hashanna (1st day of the 7th Jewish calendar month) to December 25th, calling it Christ's Mass, to compromise with the sun worshipers of Mithras, of which Constantine, the first pope, was a staunch supporter and instigator. The "Christmas" tree, which has been around since Old Testament days, is banned by Scripture in Jeremiah 10:1-5. EASTER (1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox): An ancient pagan festival devoted to the goddess Astarte', also known in many guises as Asshura, Asteroth, Ishtar, and Diana - the "Queen of Heaven whom all the world worshipeth". As a fertility goddess, her mascots are the rabbit (the "Easter Bunny"), the egg (the "Easter Egg"), and the Spring Orchid (worn as a corsage by woman on Easter). The Roman Catholic Church changed the sanctity of Christ's resurrection from the third day of Passover (17th day of the 1st Jewish calendar month) to Easter in compromising with the pagans. Celebrations to the "Queen of Heaven" is banned by Scripture in Jeremiah 44:16-27 & 7:18. Celebrating a pagan holiday to honor God is banned by Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:22. ALL SAINTS DAY (November 1st): A Roman Catholic holiday celebrating dead Catholic saints beginning the previous night of October 31st (All Hallow's Eve/Halloween), known first to pagans and satanists as Samhein (pronounced saw-wee), when the dead "come back to life". There is nothing Christian about either of these two days.
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:51:18 GMT -5
From: Cantor Sent: 10/9/2003 10:24 PM
Re: Comments concerning "All Saints Day" not being Christian........
Thank you very much for your matter-of-fact opinions. One can not say that you aren't self-confident can one?
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:54:04 GMT -5
From: Cantor Sent: 10/9/2003 4:15 PM
Fence Sitter Guy:
I'm no expert in Jewish Holy Days, but I can give you the official Christian Major Festivals:
1. The Nativity of Our Lord (December 25) Lasts for 12 days (birth of Jesus)
2. The Epiphany of Our Lord (comming of the magi) January 5.
3. The Baptism of Our Lord (first Sunday after January 5) Christ Baptized by John.
4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Sunday before Ash Wednesday) Jesus appears w/ Moses and Elijah.
5. Ash Wednesday (40 days 'not including Sundays' before Easter) Beginning of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness (we call Lent)
6. Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Good Friday 'the crucifixion') Jesus' last week in Jerusalem (see Passover traditions)
7. Easter Eve and Day (First Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox) Ressurection of Christ.
8. The Ascension of Our Lord (40 days after Easter) Jesus ascends full-body into heaven
9. The Day of Pentecost (50 days after Easter) Holy Spirit descends upon first pastors
10. Holy Trinity (Sunday after Pentecost) Father, Son and Holy Spirit
11. Sunday of Fulfillment (last Sunday of the Church Year)
All Saints Day (remembering the departed believers in Christ) is a minor festival, and is on Nov. 1 (Memorial Day for Christians) All Hallow's Eve (the night before All Saints Day), as well as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) before Ash Wednessday have been seen as secular outlets for celebratory sinning right before two major Religious Holy Days of repentance and rememberance.
Cantor John
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Post by Rev. Jim Cunningham on Nov 19, 2008 0:54:44 GMT -5
From: Manager Rev. Jim Sent: 10/10/2003 10:47 AM
Cantor, Self-confident? No. Biblically confident? Absolutely! You see, when anyone teaches something which is contrary to Scripture, that person's teaching is automatically in error ("let God be true but every man a liar", Romans 3:4). The reason I and my family abandoned the Roman Catholic religion was because of its endless unbiblical doctrines. We stand on the Word of God alone, not church doctrine. The Bible provides strong punishments to anyone who adds to or diminishes from the Scriptures, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men". When the pope says that the first day of the week is the Sabbath, but the Bible says that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath (in both the Old and New Testament), then the pope - who claims infallibility - is in error. When the pope says that we are no longer to observe (what he calls) the "Jewish" holidays, yet the Bible insists that we must, then the pope is in error. When the pope invents religious holidays by converting pagan celebrations, with all its trappings. to "Christian" holidays, he is in error. Each one of the holidays that you listed are Roman Catholic holidays, with the exception of Pentacost (which is the 50th day after the 2nd day of Passover - not the 50th day after Easter). The holidays that I listed are biblically commanded holidays. So, is it better for me to obey the Word of God or the word of man? There is nothing necessarily wrong with celebrating man made holidays, like Thanksgiving or Independence day or Labor Day. But it is totally wrong to supplant God's commanded holidays with renamed pagan holidays or any other invented holy days. Holidays like All Saint's Day and All Hallow's Eve, in their very concept are in error, because the Roman church teaches that we can pray to dead saints for extra blessings on this day ( I know this first hand from attending CCD and serving as an altar boy during these ceremonies). The Bible, however, teaches that we can pray to NO ONE but God and that NO ONE but Jesus is our Mediator. If the pope says otherwise, then he is in error. When we abandon God's holidays in favor of man's holidays, we destroy the meaning and purpose of those holidays. For example, the Passover holiday was given to us - first as a foreshadowing of Christ's death, and then as a memorial of Christ's death. But here comes Rome, telling us that, no, we must celebrate the pagan Easter festival as the memorial - not of Christ's death, but of His resurrection! The Bible says that we celebrate Christ's resurrection THROUGH BAPTISM, and that we celebrate Christ's death in THE PASSOVER. When we corrupt the Word of God, is it any wonder that the Jews see us as some weird cult? We push them away from Christ with our unbiblical traditions. Jesus said, "Ye make the Word of God of no effect by your traditions". Easter is NOT the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Christmas is NOT the day that Jesus was born. Sunday is NOT the Sabbath that God commanded us to observe. Am I being "self-confident" (or, as you truly mean, "arrogant") for teaching the Scriptures? To the contrary, those who invent their own religion and religious practices, and then call it "Christian", are the ones who dwell in error. The Bible is the Truth; anything contrary to the Scriptures is a falsehood. We judge all doctrines by the Scriptures; we do not judge the Bible by our doctrines. In Christ, Rev. Jim
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