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Keeping a Godly New Year in January?

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SABBATH BIBLE STUDY

9-22

(2018)

ReNEWed COVENANT Ministry

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Compiled by JS LOWTHER
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Keeping a Godly New Year in January?

Non-biblical feasts part 2

 The earth is YHWH’s, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein. Psa_24:1

Do you believe this? and Have total trust and faith in this fact of life?

Did you know the LORD GOD of creation who owns all things said:

 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Exo_12:2

and , we are directly told to
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto YHWH thy God: for in the month of Abib YHWH thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Deu_16:1 
?

    So last week we focused on Christmas, I thought I’d bore every one with a New Year message. I know if I asked one of my Children if they know the meanings of the first pseudo month of the Julian Gregorian calendar, January, they would know it as being related to the so-called ‘door god’ Janus, because of my discussions of it in their presents. I have taught this to the from a very young age so that this is reason they give for why we do not celebrate the day pagans call new year, of course as many who know us also know my children are the ones before they learn how to be more tactful often exclaim in horror ” you celebrate pagan days!” So of course I have often time had to remind them to help soften them to the fact that many are in a varied state of ignorance (not in the sense of ignoring, though there is that too)as to where the modern calendar ascends to us from, and that softening comes from telling them I once didn’t think of this either and when I was less bright concerning festivals of Pagan-Catholic origin, “What is so bad about the Gregorian new year’s day?” and that even after I personally has committed to follow biblical festivals for worship; but after YHWH’s Law had taught me that He is our judge, He Is our lawgiver, He Is our king; he will save us. (Isa_33:22), Then the impact of Reality lived out by that standard causes YHWH’s holy days to become paramount so much so that even if the whole world says a lie exists for me, as if they call a pagan calendar real, YHWH still determines my reality, or if the whole world calls a day of an archaic idols service a holy day, even if everyone does so, which sadly is still the worlds reality this week, my faith and trust in YHWH’s reality and what His word with creations witness says exists is y reality.
And it is often time, this time of the winter I find myself having the moment to share, invited to a pagan Christmas or new year party or not or to past days such as halloween, or even a sunday or saturday church service by those who do not know YHWH has proclaimed a way to serve him using the times he has chosen as revealed in his Word. There is a gentle and non-aggressive way to express this truth of God’s word after that we have been taught by the scriptures what is normal and what is real and I think the scripture calls Christians to use whatsoever they do, to do all to the glory of God, not to self, or to keep peace presupposing that if you bring it up a fight will occur, thereby giving no place to the spirit in that situation.
I often find a way to ask when someone says happy new year, and I know they are a bible reader: I don’t celebrate new years day at this time., I’ve even had some knowledgeable folk ask if I was ‘Eastern orthodox’ supposing I religiously kept the Julian calendar…you can talk a bit more with those who know that much.
Sometimes I ask folks, have you ever wondered why this time of the year is new year?
And sometimes I’ll perhaps say: Did you know that the LORD actually tells his people that they are to observe the agricultural year which happens in the spring?
Or, I don’t believe a Christian society should use times GOD never mentioned or suggested by his creation.
And sometimes Christians say in response, the typical: “That was the Old Covenant”
Yet there is no new commandment on this as taught by Christ or an apostle or prophet, yet somehow a pagan Greco Roman practice have been embraced by the Papal Church and is now the standard for nearly the whole world under a popes name Gregory 8th, isn’t this odd to you Christians?
God gives you the food to get through winter, GOD gives you New Ears of grain to sustain and bless you in the times to come yet: But Christians everywhere, those who claim faith in Jesus Christ as king and Lord of their life and after life, they find them self doing, in my opinion, something worse than sitting with Pagans at one of their feasts, at least there they can witness the gospel, but worse they don’t even know why they do what they do! Ignorance is bliss perhaps? But ignorance and bliss make a great breeding ground for self and sin.
Christians often time do not even know that the LORD GOD specifically revealed himself from heaven to our ancestors, and said Observe the month of Abib…This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

Why don’t they know this?

Because a believer hasn’t told them!

Mat_5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
In our age this applies to preaching God’s Law in every area of life: Not compromising to an ungodly standard such as non-biblical holidays to bridge the distance between us and the world. But this time of a pagan new year is a perfect time to witness to the lessons we have learned from the Law of God, even concerning the time of His New year to other Christians who are ignorant to God’s Law and to the culture of good word we created to in Christ!
Let’s go to
1Co_10:1 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;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Here Paul is speaking to the ignorant, and Paul is teaching these Corinthian Gentiles who they are, that their fathers had passed through they see with Moses, they had been Baptized and purified unto Moses by an immersion, not just symbolic but literal in the sea and wet cloud.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co_10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Paul is then teaching us a lesson from Israel’s history, as well concerning idolatry, he first uses the example of the golden calf, which if we look at the text of Exo_32:4-5 Aaron made it a molten calf: and the people said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to YHWH.
An idolatrous feast to YHWH, Paul says it given for our example. And next he utilizes once again the incident of baal peor which we discussed last week, in saying
1Co_10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
and then He references the people’s temptation not by idols, or fornication or pagan worship but by hunger and thirst, downright selfishness
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
and Paul concludes:
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
3 forms of offense are then being specified and grouped into this term Idolatry: 1. idols with self proclaimed feasts, 2. fornication which lead to idolatry, and 3. temptation with murmuring
these are our examples Christians, take heed. This is exactly the example Jude as well warns us of, yet he attributes his warning to “ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness…”, This is fully alive and well in our day, men who because they themselves have no faith in the inspiration of Scripture they teach a grace that leads to looseness where in they no longer feel the prick of the conscience.
But Paul says in speaking of the Passover just referenced in the time the people left Egypt in the cloud, the time reflected on when Jude says “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”

1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Paul in a biblical context is speaking of the feast of unleavened bread, the festival of passover, it is only by reading some non-biblical Eucharist calibration (with or without transubstantiation) that one even comes to that conclusion, but rather Paul used the feast as a type to represent the communion of the body of Christ as the bread and wine of that festival directly in context with the text and straight from YHWH’s word.
and then right beside this is the connected next example wise men are to judge:
1Co 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
and here is the point to carry into the following reading, Israelites are the people who eat of YHWH’s altar sacrifices according to the Law, only Israel, and most times only Levites. and adding that to Paul’s prior statement concerning our “flee from idolatry”, the question is rightly asked:
1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?
because if a biblical Christian believes in only one GOD, YHWH, then the confusion seems to be in other words, ” Paul are you saying that the golden calf or of baal peor, or of returning to the idolatry of Egypt as the murmurers and tempters did, are those idols something like YHWH’s altar is something? or that one who eats of an idol’s altar or calibration is joined to another god? How could that be Paul is there is only one GOD in heaven and earth?
So Paul says:
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

The word devils is rooted in the idea of lying, and idols are empty or vain lies, this does not mean that a man dreams up a deity in his mind and fashions it with his hands, gives it a name and a day or system of service and worship at it literally becomes a devil-god in an unseen realm. Rather Paul is quoting from Deu_32:17 which in context is great way to illustrate the way NT writers use a bit of general context from God’s Law to carry allot of meaning, starting in v.16-18
They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. You can see a lot of context there from 1 Corinthians 10. And so Paul states in relationship to this anger of YHWH against idolatry or simply the worship of lies, lies which strike at the heal of every man through lust:
1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
And so Paul, speaking of himself and in the first person for others:
1Co_10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
In the context of what we have been discussing here, Paul is explaining his relationship to idolatry, coming from the perspective that “there is one GOD, YHWH”, from that perspective and in this context “all things” refers back to the cup and table of v.21. And further, as it pertains to the KJV the word here translated “lawful” (εξεστιν/ exestin G1832) does not implicate the technical aspect of the Law of GOD or nomos, rather like the word sounds in English it implicates the idea of ‘exist-ence, existing’, this is actually where I often draw the concept of Biblical Reality and of existing personally and nationally as a lawful people, because the word is often used to indicate a lawful action, but it is more simply building a top a prior knowledge of nomos or Law, in other words the ABP says “allowed”, and I think of it as could do, should do, will do…and so forth. The point is that Paul is saying on this subject, concerning the eating of food or drink, which is blessed in the name of a false god, an empty lie, all things I could do but all things are not going to be advantageous to the building of another man’s advantage in faith, therefore Paul says:
1Co 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
That is the point, this is the focus, to proclaim v.26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.
Now in Paul’s limited context:
1Co 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the markets, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.
The shambles is simply a market place where one buys food, the Latin / Roman word used here makel is not used anywhere else in Scripture, it was obviously a Roman understanding, however knowing that this is referencing a market in context we can be assured this is what it is speaking of directly simply a market. And to this day we have this type of religious influence upon marketed items such as muslim -halal food or jewish-kosher food all of their food especially their meat they have blessed and slaughtered their animal in the name of their god, whom they worship by his rites and rituals (regardless if it is or is not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or not), one kills it’s lamb in the name of Adon and the other in the name of Allah, and either way they do not do so in the name of YHWH.
In Paul’s day the pagans did this too, they slaughtered according to their god, before their idol, sometimes the entrails or blood was given to the priest of their idol, so this is an issue people would have need to ask about, especially when you were at one time a known worshiper of a Greco-roman god or goddess, who now as a Christian you believe is a devil an vain or empty lie.
Paul is saying, to me this is allowed, I can do this lawfully, because I know because I am confirmed that an idol god is nothing, I could never be joined to that lie. But this isn’t about you if your conscience has Faith, it is about “any of them that believe not…” thus in the market don’t ask any questions…and for the record in this day and age you knew what you were buying, this is a place where you see the lamb, calf, goat, bird, pig hanging from a rope, no pre-packaged plastic wrap covered meat holders, and while some will try and sway this lesson of Paul’s into the realm of clean vs. unclean food, it is quiet the poor attempt to put it here.
And so because it is referring to the subject of 1Co_10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
And your job as a convinced, trusting, believing, faithful Christian, knowing there is one GOD:
1Co_10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof:
1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
Now a few things here need spoken of as well, 1. notice I had read verse 27 without the words ‘to a feast’, it’s because it’s not in the text, and so this is, as most other translations say, when one literally call you, and in this context this may imply a ‘church like’ calling (similar to the calling YHWH calls in Lev_23:2 as the work kellos, a root of EK-klesia /ecclesia is used in both. and 2. you are disposed or wanting to go with this person, it should be noted that this specifically implies your desire to go to this calling, and so this if you know it is a pagan festival, meaning non-lawful, ungodly, not spoken by the one GOD, you would be disposed to go in order to share the Gospel of Psa_24:1 The earth is YHWH’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 3. and you get there and they say as could be suspected or presumed “This is offered in sacrifice unto idols”, then Paul presses the impinging duty of a Christian to non-eat to that idols praise, but to set yourself up as an objector…How d you think the Roman pantheon was topples and the world was turned upside down? Do you think it wasn’t done by the foolishness of preaching? or by the wisdom, which is intrinsic in the preaching of ONE GOD in creation who made everything, and not that stupid idol you are bowing to? And I guarantee you, the world was not turned upside down by saying there is another king who was instrumental in creation but his days can be ignored and well keep the idols, such as Janus, or baal peor, or of Ashtoreth, or of Moloch’s worship and service. That is not a world turned upside down it’s a world that ignores the scripture and makes it up as they go, a world stuck on its side somewhere. Behold, you men have turned the world sideways! That’s what it is when so-called Christians keep the feasts of paganism painted with ignorance to be Christian.
But some encroaching into the lasciviousness of Jud_1:4 will start to say:
1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
And to them Paul says:
1Co_10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1Co 10:33 Even as I please all in all, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
This is the point of it all, and this is where we should be as well as the called out of God, the church of God. Your Grace is not a tool for looseness! our Grace is not to partake in what so ever we will, our Grace is the tool moving through the operating mechanism of Faith, it is the object which renews us and allows us to be given faith in the new covenant, receiving the writing of the law of God on our heart and mind and forgiving our sin and transgression, creating us to walk in YHWH’s before ordained good works, not to turn the Grace of God into looseness where in we no longer feel the prick of our conscience, our hearts which in fact is the operation of the spirit using the law to correct us even after we have received a gift of trusting in Christ, how then do we use that Trust given by a gift? Do we open our hand and allow Him to furnish us liberally or no we return back to our state prior the gift given, unto dead works, whereby we show that gift was never imparted, we saw, maybe we entered but it was the wrong kingdom, the wrong gate, the wrong road.

What is the point brother Joshua, why did we read this Chapter in light of Gregorian New Year day? Many, many people have been called to an assembly for pagan new year, you may be disposed to go, last week you may have been called to a ‘Christ-mass’ some may have been disposed to go, and rather than not using this time if you are disposed to go, because your family will be there or because it’s a fun time, use it to share the Gospel if you are disposed to go. Tell them about Psa_24:1 The earth is YHWH’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. and he has given his people a calendar that worships and serves Him. And I know, someone will say, but none will say “this is sacrificed to idols!”… No, they probably won’t unless you hang out with wiccan or some such modern pagan, but your fellows will most likely say “This is a celebration of nothing.” or “It’s just a party!”… NO it’s not!

If anything even attempts to replace something YHWH has Spoken on it is an attempt to replace YHWH acknowledgment in the world and EVERTHING in IT, including an a replacement for understanding  YHWH’s calendar, it is then an idol, and idle worship, idle service is still worship and service, it’s just worship of yourself, a worship you choose when you choose to do nothing.

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About JS Lowther

Foremost I know that I am a chief sinner saved by Grace. I am a servant of YHWH Almighty the one true God Who is Father, Son and Spirit. I believe in God's only begotten and perfect Son Jesu(s) Christ whose redemption power of my soul I have Faith in and testify of. Having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, I wish to no longer spend my time in the lusts of the flesh and of this world, but to promote the Gospel of the Kingdom by means of the knowledge of the New Covenant, a reNewal of the Covenant God made with his people Israel in the blood of Christ (Jer 31:31 and Heb 8:8) whereby He writes His Law upon the Heart and Mind beside the forgiveness of sin and transgressions. I believe Christ Jesus is the incarnate Son of God as the WORD made flesh, and the son of man born of the virgin Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit: I believe Christ Jesus Lived a perfect life for us as a living sacrifice as well as a pattern of the Sanctified newness of life a believer has in Him, I believe Christ Jesus died a cursed death on the Cross for His people of Covenant who are sinners, and I believe in Christ Jesus who Resurrected with power from Death from the grave to Justify the offenders. This is the same Jesus who is indeed the Son of David and king of Israel, who is both LORD and Christ over all the kings and dominions of the earth! In the fullness of time YHWH will regather his people under the Head of the Church, Jesu(s) Christ to affect his will according to the Lord's prayer, Psalm 2, 8 and 110 as well as Genesis 1:26. The focus of my administration of the Gospel is like unto my Lord's who said "I have come not but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.."(Mathew 15:24), and so I have come to my European kinsman according to the flesh. It is my mission to show the Israel of God the Salvation which is taught by Scripture Alone and offered in all ages by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in the work of Christ Alone to the Glory of GOD Alone. As a modern day Puritan separatist it is my goal to purify the church of Christ with Faith heretofore stated. I am studying to show my self approved, if you have any questions just ask!

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