7 PAGAN FESTIVALS WE STILL CELEBRATE TODAY ~ under the guise of Christian celebrations and names.

[BlessedPeace]

I see.... accepting what God has said in His Word first and foremost is . . . "sarcasm and contempt"

That's what the religious people is Jesus' day said about God's Word and it's why they claimed to know God but in reality they did not because they did not put what the Lord had already said first.

Those that don't put God's Word first... are primed for deception! Enjoy!

You just proved my
Observation as true.

May God,if it be his will, find you.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Which going by the Biblical evidence regarding Shepherds out watching their flocks at night and Zechariah of the course of Abijah ministering in the Temple, etc etc, is the wrong track.

But your Roman Bishops took the churches of Christ off the right track in many other ways, so ..

Israel is not Minnesota. Shepherds could very well be out at night with their flocks. Shepherds and cattle herders all over the world keep warm by fire.

PS: Jesus never gave anyone His flesh to eat. He was using a metaphor, and He said so immediately afterward, saying what He meant. We also do not crucify Christ over and over and over when we partake of the unleavened bread that represents His body that was given for all.

Ummmm, time for a Bible Lesson . . .

Jesus said the following:
John 6:53-56
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

No, the usual Greek word used for human eating is “phagon”, however, this is NOT the word used in these passages. John uses the word, “trogon”, which means, to “munch or to gnaw” - like an animal eats. FAR from being a “metaphor” - Jesus was using hyperbole as he often did to drive his point across so that the crowd would understand that he was NOT speaking metaphorically. He meant what he said.

Just as the Paschal Lamb was to be eaten during Passover - it is also true for the Lamb of God.
In verse 60, his disciples said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"

Did Jesus explain what he "really" meant? No, he said in verse 61: "Does this shock you?" He knew that some would not believe because they didn't have true faith from the Father.

In verses 64-65, Jesus says: “But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

He is telling them that they cannot understand what He is telling them because it has not been revealed to them by the Father because of their disbelief. THIS s why they abandoned Him in verse 66 and “returned to their former way of life.”

This marks the only time in Scripture where Jesus' disciples left him for doctrinal reasons. They simply couldn't handle what He was telling them.

Did Jesus plead with them or explain that he was speaking “metaphorically” or “symbolically” as He often did? NO. He turned to the Apostles in verse 67 and said, "Do you also want to leave?"
Here it is completely evident - except to those who refuse to see - that Jesus meant what he said.

THIS is why Jesus said, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” The flesh won’t make you understand the words of Christ – only the Spirit can. Since when does “spirit” mean “symbolic” or “metaphoric”?

OUR flesh profits us nothing. Jesus' flesh profits us everything. The sacrifice of his physical body profits us salvation. Would Jesus have told his disciples that HIS flesh profits nothing? Absolutely NOT.

At the Last Supper – Jesus assured His Apostles that, “This IS my Body”, and “This IS my blood.”
He never even HINTED that it was a mere “symbol”.

Pray for understanding . . .

 

[BreadOfLife]

Not true. JW's don't abide by actual scripture. Their 1870 man made via Charles Taze Russell , tradition operates through Eisegesis tenets. Not Biblical Exegesis..

Jehovah's Witnesses - 15 Beliefs, Practices, and Rules to Know

Jehovah's Witnesses are a people of faith that many of us likely don't know that much about. Below are 10 facts about this group which branched off from orthodox Christianity in the late 1800's. We answer the questions of how they got their start, what their core beliefs are, and how many people...

www.christianity.com

Touché.
I should have referred to him as a Biblical contortionist . . .

 

[BreadOfLife]

Well of course it's your opinion for Dec 25th - you're a roman catholic devotee

I'm also a student of History - whereas, YOU ar not.

 

[David in NJ]

I'm also a student of History - whereas, YOU ar not.

OK, now that we have that all cleared up it is time you start reading your Bible.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

You just proved my
Observation as true.

May God,if it be his will, find you.

Yeah, I just proved you have not put what the Lord says first place in your life.

Grave error on your part!

 

[amigo de christo]

OK, now that we have that all cleared up it is time you start reading your Bible.

Exactly . BIBLE TIME .

 

[BlessedPeace]

OK, now that we have that all cleared up it is time you start reading your Bible.

Just to note. The Catholics Bible is a Vatican seal,approved,version.

Many Catholics do not invest in personal Bible study as laity. Rather,many instead rely on the priesthood to give instruction.

The Bible

Sacred Scripture, The Bible

www.vatican.va

Also, when asked, most Catholics will not identify solely as Christian, if as Christian at all. The church has primacy. Thus, they will identify as Catholic.

This conflict is what generates the objection to the fact Mary was not a perpetual virgin who after Jesus,gave birth to at least 6 other children. All would be half siblings of Jesus,her firstborn.

Per the Gospel, Roman Catholics are not born again Christians.
Per the RCC practice of infant baptism into the church, they know this.

 

[amigo de christo]

Touché.
I should have referred to him as a Biblical contortionist . . .

Heed not that man charles russell . HE is FALSE . Heed not calivin , heed not mormonism
Heed not THE RCC . time we open the bible for ourselves and start learning .

 

[Zao is life]

Israel is not Minnesota. Shepherds could very well be out at night with their flocks. Shepherds and cattle herders all over the world keep warm by fire.

Ummmm, time for a Bible Lesson . . .

Jesus said the following:
John 6:53-56
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

No, the usual Greek word used for human eating is “phagon”, however, this is NOT the word used in these passages. John uses the word, “trogon”, which means, to “munch or to gnaw” - like an animal eats. FAR from being a “metaphor” - Jesus was using hyperbole as he often did to drive his point across so that the crowd would understand that he was NOT speaking metaphorically. He meant what he said.

Just as the Paschal Lamb was to be eaten during Passover - it is also true for the Lamb of God.
In verse 60, his disciples said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"

Did Jesus explain what he "really" meant? No, he said in verse 61: "Does this shock you?" He knew that some would not believe because they didn't have true faith from the Father.

In verses 64-65, Jesus says: “But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

He is telling them that they cannot understand what He is telling them because it has not been revealed to them by the Father because of their disbelief. THIS s why they abandoned Him in verse 66 and “returned to their former way of life.”

This marks the only time in Scripture where Jesus' disciples left him for doctrinal reasons. They simply couldn't handle what He was telling them.

Did Jesus plead with them or explain that he was speaking “metaphorically” or “symbolically” as He often did? NO. He turned to the Apostles in verse 67 and said, "Do you also want to leave?"
Here it is completely evident - except to those who refuse to see - that Jesus meant what he said.

THIS is why Jesus said, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” The flesh won’t make you understand the words of Christ – only the Spirit can. Since when does “spirit” mean “symbolic” or “metaphoric”?

OUR flesh profits us nothing. Jesus' flesh profits us everything. The sacrifice of his physical body profits us salvation. Would Jesus have told his disciples that HIS flesh profits nothing? Absolutely NOT.

At the Last Supper – Jesus assured His Apostles that, “This IS my Body”, and “This IS my blood.”
He never even HINTED that it was a mere “symbol”.

Pray for understanding . . .

The understanding that I pray for does not come from your doctrine. It comes from God, the Word in whom is life who became flesh and told us that the words He speaks to us are Spirit and are life.

I'd like to know, in your imagination, are you eating the flesh of the dead Christ or of the risen Christ when you eat the wafer?

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

And it's MY informed opinion that He was born on December 25th.

Ever wonder why the Eastern Churches celebrate Christmas on January 6th - 12 days later?
It's because they do by the older Julian calendar, which had an extra of 12 days than our Gregorian calendar - but we're all on the same track.

Do you read anything that has not been written by a Roman Catholic?

POSTED today by me in reply to Fullness of the Gentiles ... who said
"I've done some quick searches in the Internet on the research of others regarding what time of year the course of Abijah (the key) were due to perform their priestly service in the temple, but it's too much reading for now."

I posted an easily understood explanation on why it was not December 25. (Post#328)

It IS pretty definitive... See the chart below in The Course of Abija
Make sure you read below the chart about " The Course of Abija "

What are the Jewish New Years? Here are Three

Biblical year starting on Aviv/Nisan 1​

Nisan 1 marked the new year for the purpose of counting the months on the Jewish calendar. Scripture lists two names for the first month of the Jewish calendar year: Aviv and Nisan. Most of the Jewish culture today refers to it as Nisan. On the Gregorian calendar, it begins usually in March.

Traditional Jewish New Year on Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah)​

Leviticus 23:24 says: Speak to the people of Israel, saying, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.”

(It is noteworthy to observe that "Jewish New Year " is not considered the start of the year on their calendar.
BUT I SEE A RELEVANCE)

Nisan is. (my side note... interesting that this beginning of a year is the month Jesus was resurrected.... Nisan 14 WHICH IS A NEW BEGINNING FOR US.)

Any way THE CHART BELOW is very definitive based on what biblically you have shown in your post. Bolding and enlargements are mine.

The Course of Abija - William Struse​

How many of you have heard of the course of Abija (Abijah)? Did you know it is one of the only ways to date the birth of Jesus in the Bible? 95% of Americans will celebrate the birth of Christ this year, so I thought some might be interested in the Biblical case for the […]
www.the13thenumeration.com

The Course of Abija​

How many of you have heard of the course of Abija (Abijah)? Did you know it is one of the only ways to date the birth of Jesus in the Bible? 95% of Americans will celebrate the birth of Christ this year, so I thought some might be interested in the Biblical case for the timing of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Most are familiar with story of the birth of Christ from Luke 2. But it is Luke 1 that provides the means by which the timing of the birth of Jesus can be determined. In Luke 1 we have the story of Zacharias, the priest, and his wife, Elisabeth. Zacharias and Elisabeth were well on in years and without children. As it is told in Luke 1, Zacharias was performing his duty in the temple when the angel appeared and told him they would have a son and to call his name John. Needless to say Zacharias was somewhat incredulous considering their age. As proof of his message the angel told Zacharias he would be unable to speak until the day the message was fulfilled.

The passage goes on to say that Elisabeth conceived after Zacharias’ service ended. Then 6 months later Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived. Zacharias performed his priestly service during the course of Abijah which fell during the latter part of the 4th month. From this it is a simple matter to determine the general time of the birth of Jesus. The chart below gives the priestly courses in relation to the conception of Elisabeth and Mary.

Luke 1:35-37 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

(Click to enlarge picture)

The birth of Jesus fell during the 7th month of the Biblical calendar which is our September/October. It is during the 7th month that the Biblical holy day of Succoth is celebrated. The term Succoth comes from the Hebrew word “cukkah” which literally means booth or tabernacle. The Jewish people were commanded to dwell in booths during the 8 days of this feast. Succoth is one of the Biblical holydays which all adult males were commanded to observe in Jerusalem. This is likely the reason the only lodgings which Mary and Joseph found were in a stable.

Further confirmation of the evidence of Luke 1 is found in Luke 2. The shepherds were still in the fields keeping watch over their flocks when the angles announced the birth of Christ. This places the birth of Jesus sometime between the spring and fall. It was not common practice in Israel to stay in the fields with the sheep during the winter months.

John 1:14 makes a possible allusion to the birth of Jesus during the feast of Succoth.

John 1:14 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The “Word” (Jesus) “was made flesh” (conceived) “and dwelt” (skenoo – from the Greek meaning to dwell or fix ones tabernacle.)

Now look at the priestly courses again. Jesus “dwelt” with man at his birth during the 13th and 14th priestly courses. The names of these courses were Huppah (Canopy) and Jeshebeab (dwelling of the father). Pretty neat if you ask me! Now take a look again at my blog post A New Testamen;t Cipher, note especially the missing names and their arrangement in the list. Matthew’s lineage of Jesus was intentional wasn’t it? The 13th Enumeration is the key!

Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

[David in NJ]

Do you read anything that has not been written by a Roman Catholic?

POSTED today by me in reply to Fullness of the Gentiles ... who said
"I've done some quick searches in the Internet on the research of others regarding what time of year the course of Abijah (the key) were due to perform their priestly service in the temple, but it's too much reading for now."

I posted an easily understood explanation on why it was not December 25. (Post#328)

It IS pretty definitive... See the chart below in The Course of Abija
Make sure you read below the chart about " The Course of Abija "

What are the Jewish New Years? Here are Three

Biblical year starting on Aviv/Nisan 1​

Nisan 1 marked the new year for the purpose of counting the months on the Jewish calendar. Scripture lists two names for the first month of the Jewish calendar year: Aviv and Nisan. Most of the Jewish culture today refers to it as Nisan. On the Gregorian calendar, it begins usually in March.

Traditional Jewish New Year on Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah)​

Leviticus 23:24 says: Speak to the people of Israel, saying, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.”

(It is noteworthy to observe that "Jewish New Year " is not considered the start of the year on their calendar.
BUT I SEE A RELEVANCE)

Nisan is. (my side note... interesting that this beginning of a year is the month Jesus was resurrected.... Nisan 14 WHICH IS A NEW BEGINNING FOR US.)

Any way THE CHART BELOW is very definitive based on what biblically you have shown in your post. Bolding and enlargements are mine.

The Course of Abija - William Struse​

How many of you have heard of the course of Abija (Abijah)? Did you know it is one of the only ways to date the birth of Jesus in the Bible? 95% of Americans will celebrate the birth of Christ this year, so I thought some might be interested in the Biblical case for the […]
www.the13thenumeration.com

Jewish people do not celebrate the Beginning of their New Year with Nissan/Passover because they are always seeking to establish their own righteousness before God = avoid the Blood of the Lamb.
They have been without their Temple for 2,000 years, so they go about making up their own religious code to avoid the stark reality of what happened to their great loss.

Romans 10:1-3
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

 

[Illuminator]

Just to note. The Catholics Bible is a Vatican seal,approved,version.

Many Catholics do not invest in personal Bible study as laity. Rather,many instead rely on the priesthood to give instruction.

Likewise, Vatican II, Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum):

Access to sacred Scripture ought to be wide open to the Christian faithful . . . the Church, with motherly concern, sees to it that suitable and correct translations are made into various languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. If it should happen that . . . these translations are made in a joint effort with the separated brethren, they may be used by all Christians. (ch. 6, sec. 22)

...So that takes care of use of different translations. Nor do Catholics have to interpret every verse of the Bible according to some dogmatic proclamation of the Church. This is another ridiculous (and highly annoying) myth that we hear all the time. Indeed, the orthodox, faithful Catholic must interpret doctrines he derives from Scripture in accordance with the Church and tradition, but so what?

Every Protestant does the same thing within their own denominational tradition. No five-point Calvinist can find a verse in the Bible which proves apostasy or falling away, or one that teaches God’s desire for universal, rather than limited atonement (and there are many such passages). He can’t deny total depravity in any text, or irresistible grace. We all have orthodox and dogmatic boundaries that we abide by. The Catholic exegete is bound by very little, and has virtually as much freedom of inquiry as the Protestant exegete.

Catholics are allowed to translate from the Greek, according to the latest textual and archaeological knowledge, to use different translations, and to even cooperate in ecumenical translation projects, such as the RSV and NEB. We can do all the stuff that Protestant biblical exegetes do. And I am allowed to freely interpret almost any text on its own, provided I don’t go against a dogma of the Church (I couldn’t, e.g., say that John 1:1 does not teach the deity and Godhood of Jesus).

The Freedom Of The Catholic Biblical Exegete / Interpreter

Catholics have freedom to exegete and interpret the Bible. We submit to the guidelines of orthodoxy, but so do Protestants in large part as well.

www.patheos.com

Per the Gospel, Roman Catholics are not born again Christians.

This implies Catholicism doesn't teach the Gospel. Why don't you give a summary of YOUR private "true" Gospel and I will show you how the same Gospel is proclaimed and taught in many ways every day.
Do you define "born again" according to John 3:6?

Per the RCC practice of infant baptism into the church, they know this.

Luther and Calvin BOTH baptized infants. Are you anti-Protestant as you are anti-Catholic?

 

[Zao is life]

Do you read anything that has not been written by a Roman Catholic?

POSTED today by me in reply to Fullness of the Gentiles ... who said
"I've done some quick searches in the Internet on the research of others regarding what time of year the course of Abijah (the key) were due to perform their priestly service in the temple, but it's too much reading for now."

I posted an easily understood explanation on why it was not December 25. (Post#328)

It IS pretty definitive... See the chart below in The Course of Abija
Make sure you read below the chart about " The Course of Abija "

What are the Jewish New Years? Here are Three

Biblical year starting on Aviv/Nisan 1​

Nisan 1 marked the new year for the purpose of counting the months on the Jewish calendar. Scripture lists two names for the first month of the Jewish calendar year: Aviv and Nisan. Most of the Jewish culture today refers to it as Nisan. On the Gregorian calendar, it begins usually in March.

Traditional Jewish New Year on Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah)​

Leviticus 23:24 says: Speak to the people of Israel, saying, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.”

(It is noteworthy to observe that "Jewish New Year " is not considered the start of the year on their calendar.
BUT I SEE A RELEVANCE)

Nisan is. (my side note... interesting that this beginning of a year is the month Jesus was resurrected.... Nisan 14 WHICH IS A NEW BEGINNING FOR US.)

Any way THE CHART BELOW is very definitive based on what biblically you have shown in your post. Bolding and enlargements are mine.

The Course of Abija - William Struse​

How many of you have heard of the course of Abija (Abijah)? Did you know it is one of the only ways to date the birth of Jesus in the Bible? 95% of Americans will celebrate the birth of Christ this year, so I thought some might be interested in the Biblical case for the […]
www.the13thenumeration.com

Thank you for all the info.

One thing I note: Whereas both the birth of Christ and the death and resurrection of Christ was deemed of the utmost importance to be written about by the apostles or Luke in the gospels (because it's Who and what our faith is all about), the actual dates of either our Lord's birth or death were not - though it would have been easy enough for the Jewish apostles to date both according to the biblical calendar they used.

In my opinion, this fact should tell us something: It should tell us that we are placing far too much importance on dates to remember each event, and whether or not the dates established by the earliest Christians for this are correct.

If the apostles who wrote Matthew, Mark and John (or in the case of Mark, it was someone writing for Peter), and Luke did not consider these things (the actual dates) important enough to record in their gospels, and if the apostles did not deem the dates important enough to mention in any of their epistles, then why are we making such a fuss about dates?

 

[Zao is life]

The understanding that I pray for does not come from your doctrine. It comes from God, the Word in whom is life who became flesh and told us that the words He speaks to us are Spirit and are life.

I'd like to know, in your imagination, are you eating the flesh of the dead Christ or of the risen Christ when you eat the wafer?

@David in NJ I really did not, and don't like even having to ask the question, because it seems so blasphemous and degrading even to ask - but the question needs to be asked because it does show just how blasphemous and degrading their doctrine regarding the wafer and "the flesh of Christ" is.

They just don't see it. Why?

Notice they have not answered the question.

 

[Zao is life]

Jewish people do not celebrate the Beginning of their New Year with Nissan/Passover because they are always seeking to establish their own righteousness before God = avoid the Blood of the Lamb.
They have been without their Temple for 2,000 years, so they go about making up their own religious code to avoid the stark reality of what happened to their great loss.

Romans 10:1-3
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

I believe they had changed the new year day by the time they came back from Babylon, or shortly afterwards. There was a Babylonian influence in their decision.

 

[David in NJ]

I believe they had changed the new year day by the time they came back from Babylon, or shortly afterwards. There was a Babylonian influence in their decision.

That was also during the destruction of the first Temple built by Solomon.

 

[David in NJ]

Likewise, Vatican II, Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum):


...So that takes care of use of different translations. Nor do Catholics have to interpret every verse of the Bible according to some dogmatic proclamation of the Church. This is another ridiculous (and highly annoying) myth that we hear all the time. Indeed, the orthodox, faithful Catholic must interpret doctrines he derives from Scripture in accordance with the Church and tradition, but so what?

Every Protestant does the same thing within their own denominational tradition. No five-point Calvinist can find a verse in the Bible which proves apostasy or falling away, or one that teaches God’s desire for universal, rather than limited atonement (and there are many such passages). He can’t deny total depravity in any text, or irresistible grace. We all have orthodox and dogmatic boundaries that we abide by. The Catholic exegete is bound by very little, and has virtually as much freedom of inquiry as the Protestant exegete.

Catholics are allowed to translate from the Greek, according to the latest textual and archaeological knowledge, to use different translations, and to even cooperate in ecumenical translation projects, such as the RSV and NEB. We can do all the stuff that Protestant biblical exegetes do. And I am allowed to freely interpret almost any text on its own, provided I don’t go against a dogma of the Church (I couldn’t, e.g., say that John 1:1 does not teach the deity and Godhood of Jesus).

The Freedom Of The Catholic Biblical Exegete / Interpreter

Catholics have freedom to exegete and interpret the Bible. We submit to the guidelines of orthodoxy, but so do Protestants in large part as well.

www.patheos.com

Please explain why objection to infant baptism didn't take root for 17 centuries.

@Illuminator says: "Indeed, the orthodox, faithful Catholic must interpret doctrines he derives from Scripture in accordance with the Church and tradition, but so what?"

That is the whole point!
Which is used by the Vatican(and all religions - see Post #352) to nullify and/or obscure and/or divert from the Truth.

 

[Zao is life]

That was also during the destruction of the first Temple built by Solomon.

They also picked up some Babylonian religious ideas during their captivity, which partly influenced their changing of the new year date.

 

[David in NJ]

They also picked up some Babylonian religious ideas during their captivity, which partly influenced their changing of the new year date.

The rabbi who visits my home waived the chicken blood for Yom Kipper - i told him it did not count/satisfy God's requirement

PS - He did not do this at our home as the above sentence may suggest.