Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Suspect?

 

Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Suspect?

 

In the commentary thread for my last post (Should the Feast Days Be Kept?), the issue of the Trinity was raised and offered as evidence that Christians should be observing the Feasts and Sabbaths of Torah. “WHAT?” some of you will ask. It was asserted that Jesus of Nazareth was the God of the Old Testament – that Christ was the one who gave the Law to Moses. Hence, for them, the Law of Moses = the Law of Christ. And, of course, everyone knows that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Now, admittedly, in the realm of human reasoning there is a superficial kind of logic to this assertion. However, as usual, if we dig a little deeper, the logic falls apart (because it relies on the Armstrongist binitarianism). In other words, a heresy built on the foundation of yet another heresy!

In response to one of the comments, I wrote: “The fourteenth chapter of John is critical to understanding this phenomenon. We read there: "6 Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' 8 Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' 9 Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.'" (John 14:6-11) Jesus had already told them that he and the Father were ONE (John 10:30).

Likewise, Christ alluded to another part of the Godhead in that same chapter (14) of the Gospel of John. He said: "15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.' 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, 'Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?' 23 Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." (John 14:15-24) Did you get that? Jesus promised that all three parts (Father, Son, Helper/Holy Spirit) would make their home with true Christians - God with and in us!”

In response, the commentator who relied on binitarianism quoted the following passages:

1 Jn 2:1 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate [parakleton] before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (BSB).

Jn 14:16) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate [parakleton] to be with you forever— (BSB).

Rom 8:9 if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you

Gal 4:4) God sent forth [exapostello] his Son

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth [exapostello] the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Now, the commentator obviously believed that these passages supported his/her binitarianism; but if we take a closer look, we see Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in these passages, and they appear as ONE and a part of each other.

Likewise, the same commentator cited a number of other passages that he/she believed would support his/her binitarianism. As one example, the commentator quoted John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He/she then asked: “Why isn’t <it> ‘and the Word was with God and the HS’?” He/she, however, fails to acknowledge that later (in this same chapter) we read: “32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.” (John 1:32-34)

In similar fashion, the commentator quoted: “1Jn 1:3b and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Then asked: “Why isn’t our fellowship with the Father, Jesus Christ and the HS?” As is usually the case with proof texting, the commentator completely ignored what followed. In the second chapter of this same epistle, we read: “20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 

24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. 26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” (I John 2:20-27) 

I don’t know about you, but that sure sounds to me like John believed that the Holy Spirit was essential to maintaining our fellowship with the Father and the Son!

The commentator then went on to list “Well-wishes with two divine sources.” In this instance, the commentator pointed to the greetings in several epistles (mostly Paul’s):

Rom 1:7b Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

1 Cor 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Cor 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Gal 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Phil 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Thess 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

1 Tim 1:2b Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Tim 1:2b Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Titus 1:4b Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Philemon 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Pet 1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord

2 John 3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love

--David E. Aune, Revelation 1-5, WBC, p.27.

Then, he/she went on to quote from Bullinger’s commentary on Revelation: “Nowhere do we find the Holy Spirit associated with the Father and the Son in any salutation. Not even in the Pauline Epistles”

REALLY? Please notice the rest of Paul’s salutation in his epistle to the Romans:

Romans 1: 1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. 6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.” (Romans 1:1-7a)

Likewise, in his first epistle to the saints at Corinth, we read: 

“6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard,  and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (I Corinthians 2:6-12)

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit may not be mentioned in all of the salutations; but this trio is woven into the very fabric of the New Testament (and the Hebrew Scriptures). Indeed, some of the very passages which Armstrongists use to disprove the Trinity actually demonstrate the unity of the Godhead! In the first chapter of Genesis, we read that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” While in the New Testament, we read that God created all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9). So, who did the creating? Was it God, the Word, or the Holy Spirit? The answer is YES! In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Mary “became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Moreover, the angel told Joseph that “the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18-20) Was the Holy Spirit involved or was the Father involved? Once again, the answer is YES! No, sorry folks, the Trinity is demonstrated in a few proof texts – it is in almost every page of the Greek New Testament!

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones

Has Gerald Flurry Been Vindicated, Proven Right, And Restored As A Prophet Of God?

 

Petulant Narcissistic Man-Child Dares To Lecture Us About Anger and Rebellion

 

Never in the history of the Church of God has it been filled with so many narcissistic self-appointed prophets of truth that have been sent by God to lead the church. Where would we be without all of these vainglorious blowhards? Gerald Flurry and Dave Pack, in all of their narcissistic bombastic chest thumping, pale in comparison to our petulant narcissistic man-child who is constantly whipped into a state of prissiness.

He started down that slippery road when he took a class at Fuller and tried to tell them how things should be. They ignored him. Then he tried it in the Worldwide Church of God in hopes of being ordained for his amazing insights. They ignored him. In an act of rebellion, he left to join up with Rod Meredith when the Global Church of God started. He tried to educate McNair and others on how things should be. They ignored him. Then, in another fit of rebellion he left to join up with Rod Merdith when Living Church of God started. He attempted to educate the Council of Elders and other men in the LCG as to how things are to be. They ignored him. More years went by as a non-ordained man of God and he got sick of being ignored. After all, he is God's special gift to the church and they all should be thanking him for his great wisdom. Yet, he was ignored over and over. Ordinations flew by like flies on a rotting carcass.

The anger was too much. Rebellion erupted in his veins once again. This time he would do what HE wanted and no one could stop him. So out the door he went in a fit of rebellion against his spiritual daddy, Rod Meredith. The constant public rebukes by him were too much to endure.

Thus, another rebellious Church of God was formed, all thanks to anger and rebellion. Yet, blind to his own foibles, he is trying to lecture us about anger and rebellion!

Anger and Rebellion
Anger and rebellion have been issues throughout history. Do scientific studies point to venting one’s anger has the answer or something else? What does the Bible say about anger? Is anger ever a sin? Can people repent of rebellion? Do those that harden their hearts risk a root of bitterness? Does the company you keep affect you? Can relaxation and meditation help with anger? Did Jesus teach that we are to to love and do good even to those that hate us? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel discuss these matters and more.

 He also has this to say about anger and rebellion:

29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,

But he who is impulsive exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29)

1 A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. (Proverbs 15:1-2)

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,

But he who is slow to anger allays contention. (Proverbs 15:18) 

 

The Bible also teaches self-control:

9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,

For anger rests in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

5 give yourselves to fasting and prayer; … so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:5) 

 

While Paul did not write that specifically for uncontrolled anger, the principle is still applicable.

He ends with this gem:

Despite our personal flaws, we all need to be striving for perfection–which includes controlling anger.

UCG: We Love Ya Rick, But...Goodbye...

UCG Council of Elders on removal of Rick Shabi as President:

Dear brethren,

As a follow-up to my video message to you on Friday, I’m writing to share an update from our February meeting of the Council of Elders related to our process for reaffirming a president.

As you know, the president is appointed by the Council to serve the Church for three years and this term is ending. It is now time to determine whether to reaffirm our president or select a new president, a process required by our governing documents.

Some might ask, what goes into the decision to reaffirm the president of the United Church of God, an International Association? To be clear, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. After seeking God’s direction, past Councils have chosen seven men to serve as president during our 30-year history, each with different approaches and talents.

The process of reaffirmation allows for either planned continuation of current talents or a transition to another set of talents to further God’s Work. Through this model, we benefit from having emeritus presidents who continue to contribute their skills on an ongoing basis in different capacities.

After seeking God’s direction through prayer and fasting, through thoughtful deliberations, and in accordance with processes outlined in our Bylaws, the Council has decided to transition to a new president. With this decision, we now turn our attention to beginning the selection process for the next president. I will share more information about this in the coming weeks.

We are deeply appreciative of Rick Shabi’s service as president. He traveled extensively to international areas, bringing to light important needs outside of the United States. He also brought a fresh approach to preaching the gospel with the Biblical Worldview video program. Having worked with him since May, I know he put in many hours and late nights fulfilling his duties. He previously served in many other ways, including as a pastor and treasurer.

Thank you for your prayers and support of this process and please join me in thanking Mr. Shabi for his service over the past three years. We look forward to his continued service.

In Christ’s service,

Tim Pebworth

United Church of God: Shabi Out? Already?

 

A reader here made this comment today:

I just recently watched UCGs "The Red Heifer and the Third Temple" short video from Mr. Shabi. I thought it was average or decent. But what he fails to do is mention that Christians have the temple within them through the Holy Spirit, and that Christ is ultimate sacrifice and our High Priest. Making a distinction between what is Christian and the practice of Judaism which has not accepted Christ. 

 

Instead the focus is on fulfilled prophecy. I am so glad that the bible gives us Paul's writings, which shows a man who was steeped in Judaism and we can see "somewhat" of his transformation into Christianity. The video just wants to show prophecy and doesn't make effort into or emphasis on Christ and His role now. Or how that old system/covenant is gone.
Tank

This was one of the comments to the above comment: 

"That may be Rick Shabi's last video. UCG Council of Elders scuttled him as President this past week."

If this is true, this sure didn't take long! He was named President in May of 2022, he succeeded Vic Kubik's oligarchy.

It might not be hard to see why, based on his comments from last December's Council of Elders meeting, 

Shabi and so many other COG leaders act like they are just now discovering that things are not healthy in their church. Seriously guys, you have had since 1995 to get your act together and you still can't.

Milford, Ohio

Monday, December 9, 2024

Chairman Tim Pebworth called the morning session to order at 9 a.m. Eastern. Paul Wasilkoff opened the meeting with a prayer. Eleven council members were present, and John Elliott joined via Zoom.

Mr. Pebworth began with a few personal opening comments. He then presented the August meeting minutes for approval, which were unanimously approved. He then reviewed the week’s agenda, which was also unanimously approved. Mr. Pebworth then turned the floor over to Rick Shabi for the President’s report.

President’s Report: Rick Shabi

Mr. Shabi opened his report by sharing some personal thoughts and several scriptures that he felt perfectly framed his experiences over the last two years in his current position and what he will discuss in his presentation.

Attend your herds! Members get called a lot of things by leaders and ministers, but this is a new one. 

• Proverbs 27:23, “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.”
• Proverbs 24:27, “Prepare your outside work… and afterward build your house.”
• Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…”
• Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…”
• Ephesians 4:16, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
• Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
• Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”

As Mr. Shabi read each scripture, he commented on the value these biblical principles bring to the Church and the time it takes to implement them as God desires. He said there is much to learn; even though we are a small Church we have a significant, worldwide work. He mentioned that he has learned much from the travels that he, Steve Myers, and Darris McNeely have made through the many different environments worldwide, seeing firsthand where the brethren live, their needs, strengths, and challenges.

Thirty years of wandering around slapping each other on the back as if they were doing some mighty work. Division and discontent are their hallmarks. Just ask COGWA. Never mind though, they are still learning. They are learning to be humble and submissive.

Mr. Shabi mentioned that many things have already been accomplished, but in these travels, they have learned that there are many more areas of concern that we need to address. He noted that it’s apparent that we are still learning, but we know that God will teach and guide us in how He wants this work done. He commented that the only way to know where God wants us to focus our efforts is to let Him lead. In return, we must keep that humble spirit, submit to His will, and always trust Him.

Ai COG: Messianic Torah Observant Israel? The Armstrong Cult in Disguise

If you're feeling nostalgic for the days of Herbert W. Armstrong, but with a little more “Jewish flair” and fewer endless sermons about the “Philadelphia Era,” then have we got a group for you! Messianic Torah Observant Israel (MTOI)—the group that wants you to believe it’s all about following Jesus while adhering to every last Jewish law—is essentially Armstrongism with a yarmulke. That’s right, folks, you can now observe the Torah while pretending that you don’t know exactly where your “feast day” teachings really came from. Spoiler alert: they came from Herbert W. Armstrong.

A New Name, Same Old Cultish Vibes

MTOI may have traded in the title "Church of God" for something that sounds like a more kosher version of a Torah study group, but make no mistake: underneath the surface, it’s Armstrongism through and through. Led by “Rabbi” Steve Berkson—a former member of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG)—MTOI is a well-crafted rebranding of the same doctrine that’s been keeping its members in a state of spiritual confusion for decades.

Oh yes, Rabbi Berkson may now sport a tallit and encourage you to say "Yeshua" instead of "Jesus," but his teachings are firmly rooted in the same legalistic mindset that the Worldwide Church of God proudly embraced under Herbert W. Armstrong. The key difference? Now there’s a menorah in the front of the room instead of a framed portrait of Armstrong’s face. No wonder Berkson found it so easy to transition from Armstrongism to Messianic Judaism—he was merely stepping into the same doctrine with a slightly different wardrobe.

Self-Appointed Leaders: A Tradition of “Divine” Appointments

Ah, the classic self-appointment—nothing quite says "authentic spiritual leader" like a leader who declares themselves to be just that. Rabbi Steve Berkson is no different from his predecessor in spiritual self-promotion, Herbert W. Armstrong. Both men, in their own ways, decided that they were the “chosen ones” to lead their respective flocks, despite any formal qualifications, theological training, or external validation.

While Berkson might wear the title of “rabbi,” let’s not forget that it’s entirely self-bestowed. Just like Armstrong, who made himself “apostle” without so much as a seminary degree, Berkson has no rabbinical ordination or recognized Jewish lineage. Yet, much like Armstrong’s claim to be the “only true apostle,” Berkson operates as though his position is divinely ordained—because he says it is.

This self-appointed authority isn’t just a quirky habit—it’s a cornerstone of the group's structure. Why question a leader who has appointed himself to the job? After all, who needs a congregation of peers to validate your status when you’re convinced that God himself has granted you the title, right? Just like Armstrong’s exclusive “Church of God,” MTOI’s leadership hinges on Berkson's personal vision, not any external or historical legitimacy.

In the grand tradition of Armstrong, Berkson's followers are expected to buy into the idea that the self-appointed leader is the authority. And if you question that? Well, you’re just questioning “God’s appointed servant”—which is, of course, another classic cultic tactic.

Torah Observance: The Armstrongian Dream

When you step into an MTOI gathering, you’re not just learning about Jesus. You’re being indoctrinated into a meticulous set of rules—Sabbaths, holy days, and kosher food laws—that may make your average Orthodox Jew raise an eyebrow. But it’s not about embracing Jewish culture or tradition for the sake of deeper understanding of the Bible. Oh no. It’s about creating the illusion that, somehow, these practices make you a “true Christian” (or better yet, a “true disciple of Yeshua”). Sound familiar?

Remember the old WCG teaching that salvation was dependent on yourability to toe the line of “biblical obedience”? Well, MTOI has just replaced "The Church of God" with a shofar and swapped out Armstrong’s self-appointed apostles for a whole new leadership structure. You’ll get the same heavy-handed focus on obedience to laws, only this time it’s “Torah observance” and “Jewish identity.”

Feast Days and the Return of the Golden Calf

MTOI is particularly obsessed with the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot—nothing screams “genuine faith” like a tent in your backyard, right? It’s not just a fun way to celebrate biblical history; it’s presented as a necessary part of your salvation. But let’s not kid ourselves: this isn’t about honoring God’s festivals—this is about a cultish insistence that unless you observe these rituals, you might as well be throwing away your eternal life.

Sound like something you’ve heard before? That’s because, once again, this is pure Armstrongian doctrine, dressed up in the robes of Messianic Judaism. Armstrong’s people, just like MTOI’s leaders, were obsessed with specific, nit-picky rituals that had no clear biblical mandate but made the group feel elite. And who could forget the endless church-sponsored trips to Sukkot sites? In MTOI, the same idea is recycled, with Berkson at the helm, eager to remind you that your spiritual well-being is intrinsically tied to how you celebrate the “biblical feasts” that coincidentally reflect the teachings of Armstrong’s original cult.

The Cult of Personality: Just Like Armstrong, but with More Chutzpah

MTOI’s leader, Rabbi Steve Berkson, is a master at presenting himself as the humble “teacher” who is just leading people to the truth. But let’s take a step back, shall we? A leader who once belonged to the Worldwide Church of God—a man who likely learned how to manipulate and coerce people into following him during his time there—is now running a group where the leader is the authority. Does this sound familiar? It should. It’s straight out of the Armstrong playbook.

MTOI, much like Armstrong’s own churches, isn’t about the gospel of Jesus—it’s about following the leader. It’s about observing the law with the same level of intensity as if salvation depended on it. If you don’t toe the line in MTOI, you’ll quickly find yourself on the outside, just like in the good ol’ WCG days. The “community” becomes less about fellowship and more about conformity. After all, who could challenge the "Rabbi" without risking excommunication? Oh wait, that’s just the type of spiritual authoritarianism that Armstrongism thrived on, just with a more Jewish-looking façade.

The Big Hypocrisy: Armstrongism, but With a Side of "Yeshua"

The heart of the issue is simple: MTOI pretends to be a Christian organization, but it’s really just Armstrongism dressed in a new outfit.Berkson and the rest of MTOI’s leaders, who once drank deeply from the well of Armstrong's teachings, can’t help but continue perpetuating the same false doctrines. Whether it’s the emphasis on following the law as a means of salvation, or the insistence that only a select group of people are truly part of the “elect,” the doctrines are eerily familiar.

MTOI may proudly claim they’re following Jesus (or Yeshua, if you will), but the only thing they’re really following is the same legalistic, self-righteous framework that has plagued Armstrongism for generations. You can dress up these teachings in Hebrew roots and Torah observance, but at the end of the day, it’s still the same cultic mindset—your salvation is based on what you do.

Conclusion: From Armstrongism to MTOI—The Same Old Song, But with a New Mask

So there you have it: Messianic Torah Observant Israel is nothing more than Armstrongism with a kippah and a side of falafel. Whether it’s the cultish devotion to rituals, the obsession with Feast Days, or the unquestioning allegiance to a leader who knows exactly how to build a personality cult, MTOI is just Armstrongism repackaged. All the self-righteousness, all the legalism, all the exclusivity—it’s all there, only now it comes with an extra dose of “Jewish authenticity.”

But here’s the rub: The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about following rules and rituals to earn your salvation—it’s about faith in Him and the grace He offers. The real freedom and truth come from trusting in Jesus, not in human-made laws or self-appointed leaders. Jesus came to set us free from the endless cycle of trying to earn God's approval through our actions. He has already done the work, and His grace is sufficient for our salvation.

So, if you find yourself tangled in the web of legalism or lost in a cult of personality, remember that Jesus is the answer, not a list of rules or the whims of a self-proclaimed rabbi. Embrace the gospel—the good news that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Only He can give you peace, freedom, and eternal life, and He doesn’t require a membership card to His inner circle. He’s already offered it freely to anyone who believes in Him.

MTOI can keep offering you a checklist of feasts and laws, but Jesus offers something far better: salvation by grace through faith. There’s no need for a rabbi or an apostle to point the way when Jesus has already lit the path.

---

Messianic Torah Observant Israel? © 2025 by Ai-COG is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

The Church of God International Asks: Should the Feast Days Be Kept?

 

The Church of God International Asks:

Should the Feast Days Be Kept?

 

In the latest edition of The International News, Solomon Bleary writes: “The feast days and weekly Sabbath stand or fall together. In Leviticus 23:1, God uses the possessive pronoun “MY appointed festivals, the festivals of the LORD” to show ownership. Leviticus 23 addresses God’s seven annual holy days and the Sabbath.”

In response, I would note that God “owns” the entire Torah, and that ALL of the commandments contained therein are “His!” Indeed, they are repeatedly characterized as “my commandments,” “my statutes,” and “my laws” throughout those first five books of the Hebrew Bible (See Genesis 26:5, Exodus 16:28, 20:6, Leviticus 22:31, 26:3, 15, Numbers 15:40, Deuteronomy 5:10, 29, 11:13). I would also agree with Solomon that ALL of these obligations (feast days, weekly Sabbath, sacrifices, offerings, etc.) “stand or fall together.”

Like Herbert Armstrong before him, Solomon failed to mention that everything outlined in Torah represented the terms of God’s covenant with ISRAEL! For instance, the twenty-third chapter of the book of Leviticus opens with this statement: “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.’” (Leviticus 23:1-2, ESV) Likewise, after enumerating all of the Lord’s holy times, we read: “Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:44, ESV)

Moreover, God made clear to the people of Israel that ALL of the commandments and instructions included therein were parts of an inseparable whole. In the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy, we read: “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, ESV) And, a little later in the same chapter: “This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel. These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 4:44-45, ESV) In this sense, the entire legislation of Torah “stands or falls together.”

Likewise, the Greek New Testament makes clear that Jesus Christ and his apostles viewed Torah (AKA “The Law”) as a comprehensive, inseparable whole. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17, ESV) Here, Christ divided the Hebrew Scriptures into Law and Prophets and said that he came here to FULFILL THEM (ALL of them). Later, in this same account, we read that Christ was asked about the greatest commandments of the Law. He replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, ESV) In similar fashion, Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10, ESV) James wrote: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10 ESV)

In other words, Jesus Christ fulfilled ALL of the Law and ALL of the Prophets. It all pointed to HIM! That is why Paul wrote to the saints at Colossae: “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.” (Colossians 2:16-17, NLT)

How do they all point to Christ? Jesus was our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for us. He is also the Unleavened Bread of Life, without the leavening of sin. He is our Wave Sheaf Offering! He is the firstfruits of God’s plan to redeem humankind from sin and death, and who made it possible for us to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! Jesus is both the epitome of God’s reign over the earth and its inhabitants and the impetus for the proclamation of that Good News. He is the one who carries away our sins and reconciles us to God – achieving our at-one-ment. Finally, Jesus is the one who took on our nature and tabernacled in the flesh for a little while, and the one who invited “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!” (John 7:37-38, NLT)

In fact, the New Testament informs us that the ENTIRE Hebrew Bible MUST be interpreted and understood through the Christ event! In the Gospel of Luke, we read: “’When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45, NLT) Hence, we are forced to ask ourselves: What happens to the symbol when the reality comes to pass?

In his article, Solomon went on to point out that “Some argue that the feast days (Leviticus 23) are a part of the sacrificial system of the Levites.” My reaction: Have you actually read this chapter of Leviticus? Do you realize that sacrifices and offerings are woven into the text describing ALL of these appointed times which the Israelites were instructed to observe. Yes, as Solomon points out, there were also sacrifices associated with the weekly Sabbath. That’s because it was ALL part of a system – components of a whole!

So, how are these things manifested in the New Covenant? Jesus is the true Sabbath rest who said: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT) Likewise, in terms of circumcision (another sign of God’s covenant with Israel), Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome: “For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” (Romans 2:28-29, NLT)

What Solomon and his associates fail to see is that Jesus of Nazareth FULFILLED ALL of the requirements of Torah for us. He didn’t do away with them. He made them obsolete by being  what they pointed to! Moreover, like the saints of Galatia, many of the people of CGI continue to believe that salvation is something which they must earn! Solomon wrote: “If we are not commandment-keeping people, how will we be saved and be a part of the first resurrection?” The answer to his question, of course, is that we will be saved because Christ obeyed those commandments without flaw and then offered himself as a sacrifice for us – to pay the penalty for all of the occasions we failed to obey!

As Paul wrote to the saints at Galatia almost two thousand years ago: “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.’ So, it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’ This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, ‘It is through obeying the law that a person has life.’” (Galatians 3:10-12, NLT) Even so, there is a sense in which Solomon’s assertion that Christ is going to return to a commandment keeping people is true.

Quite intentionally, Christ drew Two Great Commandments from the Torah and identified them as fulfilling the Law (Love for God and each other). Indeed, Christ commanded his disciples to love each other, and that them doing so would identify them as his disciples (John 15:9-13).

Paul wrote: “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” (Romans 6:6-14, NLT) Hence, Christ will be returning to people who have been transformed and are living their lives in obedience to Christ’s commandments about love.

Christ’s people do NOT need a list of dos and don’ts like the one given to the people of Israel. The people of the New Covenant do NOT need to present sacrifices and offerings, keep the festivals at Jerusalem, be physically circumcised, attend synagogue on Sabbath, avoid eating unclean animals, consult the Urim and Thummim, observe mildew regulations, or write bills of divorce when they become dissatisfied with their spouses! If Christ’s followers are truly loving each other, a specific commandment against murder, adultery, stealing, or coveting becomes redundant and unnecessary. Hence, the answer to the question that Solomon posed (Should the Feast Days Be Kept?) is NO! One last thing, it is currently impossible to observe the festivals in the manner prescribed by Torah anyway!

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones