The WMSCOG and the Feasts of God, Part 3
In part 1 of this series, I explained why it’s incorrect to use Hosea 2:11 to say that the feasts of God, including the Sabbath day, are abolished. And in part 2, I proved why it’s also wrong to use Colossians 2:16 to back up this lie. In this post, I will discuss the reason it’s also an error to use Galatians 4:10 to claim that we shouldn’t keep God’s feasts.
Here is the verse in different versions of the Bible.
Galatians 4:10 (NIV) You are observing special days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Galatians 4:10 (NLT) You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
Galatians 4:10 (NCV) You still follow teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years. I am afraid for you, that my work for you has been wasted.
I mentioned this before and now I’ll say it again. If Christians don’t need to observe any special religious holidays, why then do they keep Christmas, Sunday worship, and Easter? If God abolished all religious feasts, no Christian should be observing any feast at all.
Apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians.
So if by writing Galatians 4:10 Apostle Paul meant that we should not keep the feasts of God or the Sabbath day, why then did he himself observe God’s feasts?
Acts 17:2 (NCV) Paul went into the synagogue as he always did, and on each Sabbath day for three weeks, he talked with his fellow Jews about the Scriptures.
Acts 18:4 (NLT) Each Sabbath day found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike.
1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Apostle Paul kept the Sabbath day and all of the feasts of God. In fact, he emphasized to the early Church that he was under the law of Christ. That is why he set the example of keeping the Sabbath day and the feasts.
1 Corinthians 9:21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ law), so as to win those not having the law.
What special observations was Apostle Paul referring to?
In the book of Galatians, Apostle Paul is referring to the feasts in the Old Testament, which the people of Israel who did not believe in Jesus still observed at the time. And being influenced by them, some Christians thought it was correct to continue following the laws according to the Old Testament. That is why Apostle Paul tells them they should not follow the teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years—from the Old Testament. Instead, they were to keep the law of Christ.
Galatians 4:9 (NCV) But now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?
What are the “weak and useless rules” Apostle Paul is referring to?
Galatians 4:3-5 (NCV) It is the same for us. We were once like children, slaves to useless rules of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son who was born of a woman and lived under the law. God did this so he could buy freedom for those who were under the law and so we could become his children.
Apostle Paul explains that the people of God were enslaved “under the useless rules of this world.”
And when Christ came to the earth, he redeemed those who were “under the law.” This law refers to the Old Testament law, which God’s people followed before the coming of Christ.
Apostle Paul explained to the members of the early Church that they must not try to go back to following that order. Instead, they must continue to follow the teachings of Christ.
Apostle Paul never taught to stop keeping the feasts.
He never said “do not follow the New Covenant feasts,” which are in accordance with the law of Christ.
Apostle Paul never said we can stop keeping the Sabbath day and should keep Sunday worship instead.
Apostle Paul never said we can stop keeping the feasts of God and should keep Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.
People who use verses such as Galatians 4:10 or Colossians 2:16 or Hosea 2:11 as an excuse to not keep the feasts of God have no interest in following God’s laws. In fact, by making these claims they show they have no knowledge of God or God’s plan of salvation for His people.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
The Bible is not a book of rules to burden us. It’s a treasure map to lead us to Christ and be able to return to heaven. If you’re interested in understanding more about the feasts of God, and how we can receive God’s blessing by keeping the feasts, I encourage you to visit your local World Mission Society Church of God.
