This article is part of the Black Thread Series. If you have not read the previous articles, please STOP, and read those first. It is very important that you read the articles in this series in order. To read previous articles in this series, click on the Black Thread link in the left side bar.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. -John 19:30
It is finished. Jesus fulfilled the demands of the law, to free us from the law of sin and death, so that we can be born again as new creatures in Christ.
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 -Colossians 2:14
In the previous article in this series, we studied about the Christian's relationship to the Torah and the Ten Commandments. Through the Scriptures, it was concluded that the letter of the Torah and Ten Commandments have been "abolished," "done away," and were "nailed to the cross."
We came away, having seen that the Christian's relationship to the Old Testament is one of the spirit of the law, not the letter:
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. -2 Corinthians 3:6
We learned about the blindness of Judaiazers and "Torah Observant Christians," and that these things are part of the black thread:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. -2 Corinthians 3:14
The Christian's relationship to the Old Testament is:
1) Under the spirit, not the letter.
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. -Romans 7:6
2) The born again Christian fulfills the spirit of the law:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. -Romans 8:4
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. -Romans 13:10
3) The Old Testament is an example/ensample, for Christians to learn from:
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. -1 Corinthians 10:1-6
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. -Hebrews 4:11
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. -James 5:10
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. -Jude 1:7
The Old Testament is still the Word of God, and is still to be read and followed, because:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. -Hebrews 13:8
The thing the Christian must remember, in the reading of the Old Testament, is that the Torah, Sabbath, Jewish feasts, and sacrifices are all fulfilled in Christ:
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. -Matthew 1:22-23
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. -Matthew 5:18
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. -John 19:30
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. -Romans 10:4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. -Romans 8:4
Jesus Fulfilled/fulfills/will fulfill the Days and Feasts
Jesus is our Sabbath rest:
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works... Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief... Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. -Hebrews 4:4,6,11
Jesus is the Passover Lamb of God:
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. -John 1:29
Jesus is the Unleavened Bread of Life:
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. - John 6:51
Jesus is the First Fruits:
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. - 1 Corinthians 15:20.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost):
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. -Acts 2:1-4
The other feasts come to their complete fulfillment durring the rapture, Christ's second coming, and afterward.
Jesus is our High Priest; our Mediator between God and man:
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. -Hebrews 4:14
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus -1 Timothy 2:5
Conclusion
The ceremonial laws, sacrifices, sabbaths, and Jewish feasts are fulfilled in Christ. The moral laws stand - such as being honest, not worshipping false gods, etc.
Question: Should the Christian celebrate the feasts that still have their future fulfillment in Christ's second coming? No. Romans 7 and other Scriptures are clear that once the Christian is born again, they are no longer under the law, but have died to it, and have arisen as a new creature in Christ, adopted as a child of the King, and now under the royal law:
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well -James 2:8
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. -Galatians 5:14
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. -Romans 7:4
Notes
1) The New Testament Christian should be a whole Bible Christian. The Old Testament is also still part of the Word of God.
2) The ceremonial laws, the feasts, Sabbath day, and sacrificial laws are done away in Christ, because He fulfilled/fulfills/will fulfill them.
