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Why Should Christians Celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

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Why Should Christians Celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

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A wheat field up close. Nitin Bhosale/Unsplash
Why should Christians celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

The third of God's annual festivals (after the Feast of Unleavened Bread) is the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16-21; Acts 2:1). This festival, also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits (Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22), was also the day God first granted His Spirit to the New Testament Church of God (Acts 2).

Pentecost portrays God as the Lord of His harvest, choosing and preparing the firstfruits of His coming Kingdom by giving them His Holy Spirit (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). The preceding festival of Unleavened Bread pictures our commitment to come out of a sinful life and live our lives by God's perfect laws. But we can't do this on our own. Pentecost pictures God's willingness to give His Holy Spirit to provide the power those He has called need.

God's Holy Spirit empowers us with the love of God, the motivation to obey Him and a sound mind to discern His truth (2 Timothy 1:7; John 15:26; John 16:13). Only those who are led by God's Spirit are called the sons of God (Romans 8:9, Romans 8:14). These Christians have a pledge or down payment on eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:5) and can look forward to the first resurrection, which is to eternal life in God's family.

The Church of God, which began on Pentecost (Acts 2), is given the mission of preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God in preparation for the next step in God's plan, the return of Jesus Christ. This is pictured by the next festival, the Feast of Trumpets.

 

Pentecost feast of weeks feast of harvest Firstfruits God's Holy Days God's Holy Days or Man's Holidays?

Comments

  • cyn_coronado
    CYN Coro

    Thank you for explaining, this was causing some confusion for me. God bless all!

  • Craig Scott
    Craig Scott
    Frozen, Regarding your reference to the new covenant… according to scripture the new covenant is a process whereby God writes His laws upon our hearts and minds (Hebrews 10:16). He does that so that we can walk in them and live them, not abolish them. The new covenant did include a change to the law (Hebrews 7:12) as the rest of the book of Hebrews explains; the sacrificial system is replaced by Jesus’ sacrifice once for all, the Levitical priesthood is replaced by Jesus who is now our high priest… but the Sabbath remains (as noted above). Regarding the verse in Acts… well, this is a verse that is highly debatable. Bottom line… bibles based on the work of Erasmus and the Textus Receptus (such as the KJV) say: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. Most modern translations (which based on a more thorough review of the available ancient texts) such as the RSV, ESV, NIV say: Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions (RSV). The KJV is a nice English translation with a lot of stirring cultural heritage wrapped up in it… but it has its weaknesses and biases. Acts 15:24 is one area of the KJV that does appear to be a problem in the translation or transmission of the text. Right or wrong it questionable. Even if one were to accept the KJV as the best transmission of Acts 15:24 (which most do not… including myself) the preponderance of scriptural evidence supports the commandments as our continuing guide to Godly living. A good verse to ponder is Romans 3:31. Ironically, your partial quotation of 1 Cor 5:7 is actually part of an exhortation to continue observing the festival days associated with the Passover. Read it together with the following verse and it says: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor. 5:7-8) The verses in Luke 22:19 and 1 Cor. 11:26 are more exhortation to preserve the annual observance of the Passover.
  • Craig Scott
    Craig Scott
    Frozen, Paul wrote those words in Romans (and similar words in Galatians) regarding people who were attempting to show how righteous they could be with special days of fasting and other self-imposed observances, many of which were probably picked up from the Jewish members of the church who held these dear as part of their cultural heritage. Generally, that’s how people thought about their relationship with God… self denial, ritual and so forth. It was something they had to unlearn… both Jew and Gentile. In Colossians, Paul addresses people who were judging and comparing themselves to one another in regard to their own ideas about food, drink, special fast days, how the new moons affect the timing of the holydays, and what they permit themselves to do or not do on the Sabbath(s). That doesn’t mean we should stop worshipping on the Sabbath, or stop following our conscience on how to keep it holy, or stop fasting, or dump the holydays. It means that we should stop judging one another’s standing before God on matters of worship, calendars, and spiritual discipline. As noted in Colossians the Sabbath is indeed a shadow (or symbol) of what is to come. And as such, the seventh day Sabbath has an ongoing purpose. That purpose is to remind us of, and point us toward, the fullness of God’s promise of resurrection to eternal life… which is to come. That’s the point of Hebrews 4 and is why that chapter contains the verse that says “There remains a sabbath rest for the people of God.” I see you like the KJV... So, you should try reading Hebrews 4:9 in either a Greek bible or a more modern translation where the word “sabbatismos” is more accurately translated as Sabbath rest. I’m not sure why the KJV translators chose to obscure the real meaning of the word there but I have my suspicions. Note: the feast days are considered Sabbaths to the Lord and days of worship. They also have an ongoing role to play in reminding and pointing us to the fullness of God’s promise. For a more complete overview of where to find them in the new testament writings and what they mean read the booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope For All Mankind.
  • EvanToledo
    Evan Toledo
    In the first post, there are scriptures cited which by traditional Christianity are used to teach that Christians don't have to obey God's laws or observe His Sabbaths and Holy Days. When we look at the CONTEXT of each scripture--and understand WHO they were addressed to, we can better understand them. There are MANY scriptures showing God's people WILL be keeping His Holy Days and Commandments in these last days before Christ's return, ( examples: I John 2:3-4, Matthew 24:20, Revelation 14:12) Romans 14:5 Paul is teaching us not to judge other Christians who are vegetarians and those who choose particular days to fast, (CONTEXT: verses 2-3) If he was speaking about the Sabbath or Holy Days, he would be CONTRADICTING HIMSELF on his other teaching (Romans 3:31, I Cor 5:8) In most of Paul's writings, he was correcting those former Gentiles who were pagans before conversion to Christianity, either telling them to set aside their pagan traditions or not believe salvation comes by ONLY obeying God's Laws, which were common at that time. Colossians 2:16 Here again, those brethren in Colosse who Paul was addressing, were former Gentiles whose understanding needed correcting. Paul tells them not to worry about others judging them for forsaking their former pagan ways and now keeping God's Holy Days and Sabbaths. The King James Version has the clearest translation--the word IS in italics was inserted by translators. If we look at Paul's original intent, the CHURCH is the only authority for observance of Holy Days, etc. (...the body of Christ) Actually, Colossians 2:16 is one of the STRONGEST proofs of Christian observance of Holy Days....notice Paul says they are "...shadows of things to come.." which they most certainly are--they represent events in God's Plan for humanity! (see our booklets on Holy Days and the Sabbath) The NEW COVENANT Christians are under is clearly spelled out in both the Old and New Testament: HEBREWS 8:10 QUOTING JEREMIAH 31:31. Hope this brings things in better focus!
  • KARS
    Kathy Shafer
    Hi Frozen! Besides that, Judaism is a religion all it's own and they have several sects. We know of the two that Jesus had to go up against. The Pharisees and Sadducess that had put their own restrictions and beliefs in their religions besides the 10 Commandments and the Law. Like for instance their restriction about having washed hands to eat. That is not part of the Law or Ten Commandments; Jesus said so.
  • DanielSnedden
    Daniel Snedden
    Hi Frozen! Welcome to the United Church of God website! I really recommend that you order the booklet mentioned above "God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope For All Mankind". The scriptures that you mention are often misinterpreted. Many believe that Paul was talking about the 10 Commandments, Sabbath, God's Holy Days and God's clean meats laws. These were not the intention of Paul. He was addressing issues regarding when to fast, what days to eat or drink ceratin things (clean) and vegetarianism. He was trying to express that these are personal choices. As for God's Holy Days, Commandments and Sabbath Jesus himself said that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fullfill it(Matthew 5:17). The 10 Commandments were physical laws to man but Jesus upped the ante by adding a spiritual componenet to them. Matthew 5:8 Not one jot or tittle will be changed. Have a great day!
  • frozen
    frozen
    For the Church, the body of Christ, keeping Old Testament Feasts is optional: Rm. 14:5: 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. Col:2:16: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an 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. There is a new and better covenant. The church is exhorted not to return to Judiasm. The apostles and elders from the church at Jerusalem wrote to the Gentile churches at Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Acts:15:24: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: The church is exhorted, nonetheless, to remember the Lord at His table. "Christ is our passover" (1Cor:5:7). Lk:22:19: ". . . this do in remembrance of me". 1Cor:11:26: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1Cor:14:26: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

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