In Galatians 4:8-11 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.9 But 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? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Here, Paul was dealing with gentiles who had become Christians. They had once observed days in honour of their gods. Now, some Jewish Christians required them to keep the days prescribed by the Law of Moses. But gentiles were never under the Law of Moses, and all people, including the Jews have been set free from the Law of Moses by the gospel of Christ. Paul’s concern from the context pertains to ‘why’ they were doing these things. If they believed it was necessary to be saved, then Paul’s labour among them was in danger of being in vain Gal 5:4 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Col 2:16-17 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: 17 which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Some Jewish men came up from Judea to Antioch seeking to bind the Law of Moses upon the gentile believers in Antioch church, according to Acts 15:1-5 1And certain men which came down from Judaea 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.
Paul and Barnabas withstood these men and even travelled to Jerusalem to meet the Apostles if these men were from them. Gentile Christians were urged not to let any one judge (condemn) them, for salvation is in Christ, not in keeping of the religious feast days of the law.
Jesus warns of the traditions of men. In Mark 7:1-13 1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Traditions are therefore like the feast days. Tradition does not provide an adequate foundation for truth. Though something is firmly fastened in tradition, it does not mean it is firmly fastened in religious truth. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
II John 9-11 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Making Applications
The Bible is silent regarding any Yearly Observance of Christ resurrection. God did not deem it fit for his children to celebrate this annually. Any yearly observance is based upon human tradition, not God’s word.
The Bible does not mention Easter. Rather, the New Testament commands Jesus’ disciples to commemorate his death, not Easter. The Lord’s Church does not celebrate Easter as the manner of some in the religious world, but we celebrate the Lord’s death and resurrection upon the first day of the week as commanded in the New Testament. Acts 20:7 7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. I Cor. 11:23-29 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
Col 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Not one verse in the N/T exhorts us to celebrate a particular Sunday as the ‘’resurrection Sunday’’. Nor did we read of any special service organised by the church and termed ‘’Easter service’’. Since we pattern ourselves after the N/T Church, we do not hold Easter services either. Therefore, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ upon the first day of the week because Christ resurrected on the first day of the week.
Romans 14:5-6: 5 one man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
I have heard people say – this means that if you are fully convinced of something in your mind and your conscience does not condemn you, that’s okay. For example, some people are convinced that baptism is NOT essential for the forgiveness of sins and salvation; they believe baptism is done for fulfilment of righteousness, just like Jesus. So then, just because they are convinced that baptism is not essential for salvation doesn’t make it right. We know as a matter of fact that one would be eternally lost if you think that baptism is not essential for salvation. If you are convinced that something is not true, when the Bible says it is true, then one is in a bad situation.
Romans 14:23 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
How do you have faith? Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom 10:17. Romans 14:22: Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
This means that the foundation or bedrock of your conscience is the word of God, hence this forms your conviction on any matter of life.
I John 3:20-24 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.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.
Someone wrote ‘’As long as we are not taken captive by the worldly principles behind Easter so that we compromise our commitments, there is no harm in observing Easter. This is not true! Please note ‘’ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Cor. 5:17).
Eccl 12:13-14 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Prov. 30:6 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Conclusion
Religion is defined by God not man. He is the author of Christianity, making Christ the author and the finisher of our faith – he decides, tells us what to do and not vice-versa. I Peter 4:11 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Remember, a day is coming called the Judgement day when everyone shall stand before God. There are two certainties in life – death and judgement. Have you thought about this? How are you living your life on Earth? The story is told of a man in the prime of his life who was always involved in crime. He got arrested one day but had no money to engage the services of a lawyer. In the court, he found a lawyer who defended him without asking for payment. The lawyer pleaded for leniency and argued his case. He was set free. This scenario played out several times without a change of heart from the young man. One fateful day, he committed another heinous crime worthy of death and was brought into the court. He believed the lawyer would be in court representing him as usual, but he did not find him there. Case proceedings began, and he looked up only to see that lawyer sitting as the Judge. He almost leaped for joy. The Judge looked at him and said ‘’It is so painful and sad to see you here again. I had always pleaded on your behalf, defended you but you have refused to change. Today, unfortunately, I cannot defend you. I am the Judge. He was sentenced to death.
Moral of the story
The young man – us; you and I who would always commit sin
The Lawyer – Jesus Christ, the Advocate
The Judge – Jesus Christ (On the final day) because he will judge the world
The Judge on previous days – God
Think on these things!!!