Should a Hebrew in Christ Keep the Leviticus 23 Appointments?

As I reflect on my journey as a Seventh Day Adventist who has recently embraced the Hebrew roots and traditions of my faith through conversion to Messianic Judaism, I am often asked whether one who is a Hebrew in Christ by birth or adoption should keep the appointed times in Leviticus 23. These include the Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, First-Fruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. My answer, based on a comprehensive understanding of both the Old and New Covenants, is nuanced and reflective of the broader Christian and Jewish teachings on this subject.

Introduction to the Law and the New Covenant

From my Lutheran upbringing, I understood the law as an essential part of the Old Covenant. However, the Lord Jesus Himself said, 'I am the Lord also of the Sabbath,' indicating a continuity of the Lord's authority in keeping these appointed times. In God's unchanging nature, the focus rests on what the Lord Jesus said and demonstrated for us to follow.

Adventist Perspective and Protestant Traditions

As a Seventh Day Adventist, my upbringing and current teachings emphasize the importance of the Sabbath and other Adventist holidays. However, I wish we did not keep the Protestant traditional holidays because they are not biblical, rooted in pagan practices and reinvented by the early church to bridge pagans to Christ. Instead, I find great value in keeping the biblical appointments mentioned in Leviticus 23, such as the Sabbath, Passover, and Feast of Tabernacles.

The Old and New Covenants: A Marriage Analogy

One must consider the relationship between the Old and New Covenants as a marriage. When a couple enters into a covenant, it is not automatic that all the rules and traditions of the old relationship are suddenly invalidated. Instead, a new covenant brings its own set of expectations and responsibilities while building upon and respecting the past. In the same way, the New Covenant through Christ, ushers in a new relationship focused on grace rather than law.

The Role of Faith, Obedience, and Service

While Christians are not under the law to achieve righteousness, there is still a duty to obey its moral principles. However, the rituals, feasts, and sabbaths of the Old Testament are no longer binding on believers in Christ. Jesus, as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, has fulfilled all the requirements of the law, including the enactment and fulfillment of its punishments and curses.

Biblical Evidence: The Letter to the Colossians

To further elucidate this perspective, we turn to the letters of St. Paul in the New Testament, particularly the first part of Colossians 2:1-17. Here, we find a clear and direct command that we should not be judged by others according to these shadowy ordinances:

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: Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

This letter emphasizes the importance of the body of Christ, which has replaced the shadows and ordinances of the past. The Colossians faced the temptation to revert to the ways of the law, which would lead them away from the fullness of Christ. Instead, Paul teaches that the truest and most complete fulfillment of the law is found in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.

Conclusion: Keep the Faith, Embrace Grace

While the Old Testament appointments have a rich history and spiritual significance, they do not hold the same binding obligations as they did for those under the Old Covenant. Instead, we are to keep the faith with Jesus, embrace the grace of God, and serve Him in a way that is obedient and reflective of His teachings. Whether I am a Hebrew by birth or a convert through marriage, my commitments and practices should align with the perfect fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the New.

As we journey in Christ, let us remember that our commitment is not to the law, but to the person of Jesus Christ, and the life He has made available to us through the greatest act of love and sacrifice the world has ever known.