Cult Watch: Should Christians Observe Sabbath, Passover, And Other Jewish Rituals?

 

            Some Christians observe the Sabbath and the Passover (they do not mandate it on other Christians). Some other Christians do not observe these for they claim that these are no longer applicable to the contemporary Christian. But a few other Christians claim that the Sabbath and the Passover observances are mandatory. What then is right and wrong?

            We are saved by grace through faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). We are not saved by performing good/holy works. This is salvation 101.

            So if a fellow Christian mandates us to observe the Sabbath and the Passover for the sake of salvation, then they are misleading us and they belong to a cult group. Observance of the Sabbath and the Passover plays no role, whatsoever, in gaining salvation. Let’s be clear about this basic fact.

            “Believers are not obligated to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic covenant. The Mosaic covenant and the Sabbath as the covenant sign are no longer applicable now that the new covenant of Jesus Christ has come. Believers are called upon to honor and respect those who think the Sabbath is still mandatory for believers. But if one argues that the Sabbath is required for salvation, such a teaching is contrary to the gospel and should be resisted forcefully. In any case, Paul makes it clear in both Romans 14:5 and Colossians 2:16–17 that the Sabbath has passed away now that Christ has come. It is wise naturally for believers to rest, and hence one principle that could be derived from the Sabbath is that believers should regularly rest. But the New Testament does not specify when that rest should take place, nor does it set forth a period of time when that rest should occur...” says an article entitled Is the Sabbath Still Required for Christians? in The Gospel Coalition website.¹

            Should we observe the Sabbath since Jesus observed it? Jesus observed the Sabbath for HE lived under the Old Testament law (cf. Galatians 4:4). But the same Lord Jesus proclaimed that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). The Gospels also teach us that the Sabbath does not continue to play a significant role in a Christian’s life (cf. Matthew 12:3-4; Mark 2:28; Luke 13:10-17; John 5:17).

            But let us not ridicule our brothers and sisters who celebrate the Old Testament festivals as an act of worship and not as a means to salvation.

            Consider the Passover.

            Some Christians celebrate the Passover, not to gain salvation, but as an act of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ, “While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Passover, it is beneficial to study it and could be beneficial to celebrate it if it leads to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ’s death and resurrection. The Passover is a wonderful picture of Christ’s atonement for His people and His deliverance of us from the bondage of sin. That is something we should celebrate every day of our lives.”² 

            Similarly, it is ok for Christians to celebrate the Old Testament festivals as an act of worship. But it is not ok for Christians to celebrate the Old Testament festivals as a means to their salvation.

Endnotes:

¹https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/schreiner-qa-is-the-sabbath-still-required-for-christians/

²https://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Passover.html

Websites last accessed on 25^th June 2021.