WHY STUDY THE FEASTS OF GOD?

By Sherry Cumby
Some of the major scriptural reasons why the Feasts should be studied. Many Christians are like many in Israel, who as Hosea lamented "I wrote for him the ten thousand things of My law, but they are counted as a strange thing (as something which does not concern him)"
(Hosea 8:12).
The Mosaic economy becomes meaningless unless all is seen through the Cross in relation to Christ and the Church.
Some of the major scriptural reasons why the Feasts should be studied.

The Feasts should be studied because:

1. They are a part of the Scriptures given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit which are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17).
2. They are a "shadow of things to come" (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1-2). They point to Christ Who is the substance.
3. They were prophetic types and examples, foreshadowing in Israel's history future events. They shadowed forth that which Christ would fulfill in Himself and in the Church, which is His Body (I Corinthians 10:6, 11; Matthew 5:17-18). Part have found fulfillment, and part are yet to be fulfilled.
4. The believer will find that there are things written therein for his learning (Romans 15:4).
5. Christ came to fulfill all that was written of Him in "the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets" (Luke 24:26, 27, 44, 45; John 5:45-46; Acts 3:22-23).
6. This part of the Law was also a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24).
7. There was knowledge and truth in the external form of the Law. We study the external form to discover the internal knowledge and truth that was hidden therein (Romans 2:20; Hebrews 1:1-2).
8. They set forth "patterns" of heavenly things on earth (Hebrews 8:5; 9:9, 23-24).
9. They set forth the total ministry of Christ relative to the plan of redemption.
10. The truths therein are part of "present truth" which the Holy Spirit is quickening to the Church in these "last days" (II Peter 1:12; Matthew 4:4).

We need to study the Feasts of the Lord to better understand the covenant God has made with the Church, the Bride of Christ. Promises are made and fulfilled when God puts His stamp of approval on something.

His stamp of approval is on the saved...the Church. Jesus died for us as the Feasts show the plan of God for redemption of the saints of God.

Just as we take Communion to honor one of Jesus's last request of us, the Jewish communities around the world remember and humbly honor the many feasts of the Lord to give glory and honor to God and His Word.

One of these days the Lord will appear to take us home. We will have the honor to be welcomed by the King of Kings as we partake of the cup of His presence.

Although we are not required to hold the feasts as was the Old Testament saints, we should show and give respect for all of the Jewish traditional feasts in that the Jews are obedient to their past history and to their forefathers' memory.

We Gentiles who are grafted into the root should understand that we are only given the right to become the heirs of the Promise and Covenant through faith and it is available to us only through the grace given to us by the Lord Himself. "By grace are you saved; not of works lest any man should boast."

We are adopted sons of the promise...the Church of the Newborn!

The Jews (Israel) are/is still the "apple of God's eye" and we should never give way to any other teaching. The 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of Romans were and still are relevant and truth for today.
Lest we forget.
God is just and true...His Word declares it to be so!