Transcript SHOULD CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE “EASTER” AS A RELIGIOUS …

And whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through Him. Col 3:17 (NKJV)
1
• Why?
– Is it “church of Christ” tradition?
– Is it an arbitrary decision handed down to
all the congregations?
– Is it because churches of Christ do not
believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the
dead?
2
• NOT BECAUSE IT IS “CHURCH OF CHRIST
TRADITION.”
”If anyone speaks, let
him speak as the oracles
of God….” (1 Peter 4:11).
3
• Contrary to the will of God!
Honor
father
and
mother
He
Thus
answered
you
have
and
made
saidthe
to
and
whoever
them
commandment
them,
"Why curses
do of
you
God
also
of
should
be
put by
to death
no
transgress
effect
the
your (Ex.
12:17).
commandment
tradition. Mattof15:6
God
because of(NKJV)
your tradition?
Matt 15:3 (NKJV)
4
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ash Wednesday
Holy Week
Palm Sunday
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday
• Place ashes on
forehead to
symbolize death and
sorrow?
• Commemorate the
“last Supper?”
• Keep “lent?”
5
For I received from the Lord that which I also
delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same
night in which He was betrayed took bread;
• 24
Not
just
once
year
butthanks,
every He
week!
and
when
Heahad
given
broke it
well
dothis
youisreject
the which is
and said,“Full
"Take,
eat;
My body
Nowcommandment
on
day
of
thethat
week,
ofin
God
youwhen
may
broken
for the
you;first
do this
remembrance
of the
Me."
came
together
to(Mark
break
bread,
your
tradition”
25 disciples
In thekeep
same
manner
He also
took7:8,
the9).
cupPaul,
after
readysaying,
to depart
the
next
day,new
spoke
to themin
supper,
"This
cup
is the
covenant
continued
hisasmessage
midnight.
Myand
blood.
This do,
often asuntil
you drink
it, in
(NKJV)
remembrance of Acts
Me."20:7
26 For
as often as you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord's death till He comes. 1 Cor 11:23-26 (NKJV)
6
Acts 12:4
“And when he had apprehended him, he put him
in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of
soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to
bring him forth to the people.” KJV
Pascha = Passover
7
The
Christian
church however,
changed with
the Pagan
The
Pagan festivals
always coincided
the
festival
fromon
a celebration
spring
to a year.
vernal
Equinox
the 21st of of
March
every
celebration
the resurrection
of Jesus.
In 325
Though theofGreek
were not fully
cognizant
of
A.D.
church
changed
date
of the
whythe
and
whenalso
spring
comes,the
they
believed
festival.
festival
was notolonger
held
onshe
the
EostreThe
must
be pleased
ensure
that
spring
equinox.
Instead,
perfestivals
the Church
returns
year after
year.asThe
wereCouncil
lavish
of Nicaea
it wasthe
to be
held onofthe
very
feastshenceforth
that celebrated
booming
new
firstflowers,
Sunday the
following
theoffull
moon
on or after
the
chirping
birds,
butterflies,
and
vernal equinox.
today
Easter
celebrated
sunshineThus,
and in
general
theisfeeling
of on
different
dates everythat
yearisand
can occur
as early as
rejuvenation
inherent
of spring.
March 22nd or as late as April 25th.
8
Galatians
Colossians
4:8-11
2:20-22
Titus
1:14
But
Therefore,
then,
indeed,
if youwhen
died with
you did
Christ
notfrom
knowthe
God,
basic
you
not
giving
towhy,
Jewish
fables
and
served
principles
those
of which
the heed
world,
by nature
as
arethough
not gods.
living
Butin
commandments
of men
turn
now
the world,
after
you
do have
you subject
known
yourselves
God,who
or rather
to are
from
the
truth.
known
regulations
by God,
— how
21 "Do
is NKJV
itnot
thattouch,
you turn
do not
again
taste,
to the
do
weak
not handle,"
and beggarly
22 which
elements,
all concern
to which
things
youwhich
desire
again
perishtowith
be inthe
bondage?
using — 10
according
You observe
to thedays and
months
commandments
and seasons
andand
doctrines
years. of
11men?
I am afraid
NKJV for
you, lest I have labored for you in vain. NKJV
9
• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is vital to
the very existence of Christianity and the
faith and salvation of every Christian!
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is
empty and your faith is also empty.
1 Cor 15:14 (NKJV)
And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile;
you are still in your sins! 1 Cor 15:17 (NKJV)
10
• The record of hundreds of witnesses (1
Corinthians 15:3-8).
• By men inspired by the Holy Spirit (1
Corinthians 15:20; Acts 2:23-24, 32).
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this
cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV)
11
Whoever transgresses
and does not abide in
the doctrine of Christ
does not have God. He
who abides in the
doctrine of Christ has
both the Father and
the Son. 2 John 1:9
(NKJV)
• Transgress = to go
beyond.
• Doctrine = teaching
• To go beyond or fail
to remain in what
the Word of God
teaches.
12
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ash Wednesday
Holy Week
Palm Sunday
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday
• Place ashes on
forehead to
symbolize death and
sorrow?
• Commemorate the
“last Supper?”
• Keep “lent?”
13
• GO BACK TO THE BIBLE FOR ALL
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY!
– People have the mistaken idea that
whatever they desire to practice in the
name of religion is ok just as long as they do
it to honor or please God whether in the
Bible or not.
14
So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight
in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying
the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is
better
than
Andspared
to heed
thanand
thethe
fat
But Saul
andsacrifice,
the people
Agag
of of
rams.
For rebellion
as fatlings,
the sin ofthe
best
the 23
sheep,
the oxen,isthe
witchcraft,
Andall
stubbornness
is asand
iniquity
lambs, and
that was good,
wereand
idolatry.
Because
you have
rejected
the
word
unwilling
to utterly
destroy
them.
But
of the LORD
, He alsoand
hasworthless,
rejected you
from
everything
despised
that
they
being king."
1 Sam1 15:22-23
utterly
destroyed.
Sam 15:9(NKJV)
(NKJV)
15
• Any religious practice not found in the Bible
must be rejected as the human tradition that
it is.
• The first consideration is has God given us
permission for this religious practice?
• All the sincerity and good intentions combined
will contribute nothing if I do in religion what
God has not given me permission or
instruction to do.
16
17
And whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through Him. Col 3:17 (NKJV)
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