Romans 4-5

Ancient Roman ruins (vikgr)

Greetings again. In the first part of this series of the Book of Romans, we concluded in chapter 3, verse 31.

Beginning in the fourth chapter of the Book of Romans. Written around 57-58 A.D. The Apostle Paul is addressing the brethren at Rome, not necessarily to Romans in general.

Turn in your Bible to the Book of Romans, chapter 4.

Verse 1 ── “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?” 

Verse 2 ── “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, …”

And, he’s talking about here – not the works of the Law but rather good works, hence, obedience to the LORD God.

“ … but not before God.”

Verse 3 ── “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted [or imputed] to him for righteousness.’” 

We read a statement from the Book of Genesis that is repeated several times throughout the New Testament. Paul quotes it twice, and James quotes it once.

Verse 4 ── “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”

Verse 5 ── “ But to him who does not work …”

Now, this word “works” we’re going to read several times in these passages. I don’t want to spend too much time on it, but I just feel compelled to say some things. So, throughout here we’re going to read the word “works,” or “the law,” or the “work of the law.” You’ve got to understand that the Apostle Paul is talking about the law of the regulations of the Levitical Priesthood, or sometimes called the Law of Moses. And I like to call it just the law or the traditions of Jewish-ness – Jewish traditions. 

Verse 5 ── “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith, is accounted for righteousness.”

Verse 6 ── “just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness APART FROM WORKS.”

Verse 7 ── ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.’ 

Verse 8 ── ‘Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.’” 

Many of us, brethren, continue to struggle with things that we did in our youth. Teenagers and into our 20s. Quite frankly, a lot of people, when they’re teenagers and up into the early 20s, do things that aren’t very smart. And we are reminded by these beautiful words of the Apostle Paul ── ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven. And whose sins are covered.’ Because if you’ve gone to the LORD God and have asked for forgiveness, those problems of your past are gone! And we need to BELIEVE this, and understand it, and take great hope in it!

Verse 9 ── “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.”

Verse 10 ── “How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or [before he was circumcised?].”

Verse 11 ── “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.” 

So you see, it isn’t just that you believe and then you go on sinning and do not obey. Because we cannot obey the LORD God’s Law and live a perfect life IN OUR OWN STRENGTH. It takes the faith of God to trust that the LORD God will help us through with the glorious Holy Spirit. Later, we find in the Book of Galatians, and I believe back in the Book of James, how the Patriarch Abraham was not justified by faith alone, but also with works ── obedience to the Law.

Verse 12 ── “and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.” 

Verse 13 ── “For the promise [we’re talking about Abraham] that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed THROUGH THE LAW, …”

Again, we hear this phrase ‘the law.’ 

“ … but through the righteousness of faith.” 

Verse 14 ── “For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect.”

Verse 15 ── “because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.”

So, over and over again – the law, the law, the law. And I want you to understand, he wasn’t talking about the Ten Commandments here. He’s talking about Jewish traditions – as taught by the Pharisees. And, in fact, the Apostle Paul spent his entire ministry fighting their misunderstanding – sometimes to the point of them trying to kill him. And, I think, one time he was killed, that’s just my personal view. And God ‘raised’ him back up! Because He wasn’t through with Paul. And, Paul spent his entire ministry fighting Jewish leaders who were trying to bring the New Testament Church members to make them adopt Jewish traditions. And you can read about some of these warnings that Paul had over and over and over. 

Verse 16 ── “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, …” – that is, an undeserving pardon, a free gift from the Eternal One!. “ … so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” 

The Patriarch Abraham is the father of all the faithful.

Verse 17 ── “(as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he believed ── God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” 

Verse 18 ── Abraham, “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’” 

Again, back in the Book of Genesis.

Verse 19 ── “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead [meaning he was an old man] (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” 

So they’re both well advanced in age. And God has told him, ‘You’re gonna have a son!’ Well, notice …

Verse 20 ── “He did not waver at the promise of God, through unbelief, but was [strong] in faith, giving glory to God.”

And here’s verse 21, if you have a little marker on you, please mark Verse 21 – in my opinion is the very best definition in the entire Bible of what faith is. 

This is the best definition of faith you’re ever gonna read! Abraham, “and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” 

Faith is believing in the promises of the LORD God. So, to believe the promises of the LORD God, you’ve got to believe that God exists, you have to believe that the living word of God is the word of God, and then you’ve got to read and study God’s living word! And you need to study these promises that the LORD God made to you! In prayer and supplication, go to the LORD God and say, You have told me from Your word that this is what You will do. And I believe You! I place my life into Your righteous right hand! Truly, that is the Scripture I used this past Sabbath on Facebook – Isaiah 41:10.

Verse 22 ── “And therefore ‘it was [imputed] to him for righteousness.’”

Verse 23 ── “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him.” 

Verse 24 ── “but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”

Verse 25 ── “who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”

That is why we have our Savior, who came out of His tomb!

5th chapter of the Book of Romans. 

Verse 1 ── “Therefore, having been justified by faith, …”

Well… that’s a handful. Isn’t it? “Justified” means being made right in the eyes of God. Not in our own eyes. Because our eyes don’t count. But, it’s how the LORD God views us! ‘Being justified by faith …’ – alright, that faith is the faith that comes from Jesus Christ through His Spirit, and it lives within us! Faith is one of the fruits of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

“…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Now, I’ve said before, I don’t fear dying – or, I don’t fear death. But I don’t want that death to be painful, or miserable, or prolonged. But the idea of going to bed, putting my head on the pillow, and then waking up ── and God willing ── being in the glorious kingdom of God, that doesn’t cause me fear. 

Verse 2 – “through whom also we have access by faith into this grace …”

To understand grace, we need to evolve ── spiritually speaking ── from believing and following the Old Covenant, and you have to evolve and become practitioners and believers, reaching out and taking hold of the glorious New Covenant! So, what is this grace? What is that love, that kindness? And the fact that we mere mortals, small as a human sperm cell ── we don’t truly deserve the LORD God’s grace and mercy. Yet, the LORD God has chosen us out of a huge sea of humanity. And we have been blessed with the gift of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gift of repentance, the gift of baptism, and the gift of the glorious Spirit of God. And now, our names have been written down in the Book of Life, and we can look forward to the glorious and powerful Return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the Earth ── knowing and having faith that we will be a part of it! 

“…in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” 

Talking about the resurrection. That’s talking about becoming a full-time, full-fledged, forever member of the glorious kingdom of God!

Verse 3 ── “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, …”

And, yes, I know that’s hard to do. You know, our Lord Jesus said - in the Apostle Luke’s version – Luke 6 - of what we often call the beatitudes – “…’ Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. 21) Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.’” And there are times when we certainly feel like weeping. O’ my, I know I do. Especially when you thought you had friends and fellow brethren that would support you, and wanted to be with you, would defend you, protect you ── only to find out that they don’t. That’s the stuff of tears, right there. 

“ … and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” 

Which literally means, the resurrection into the glorious kingdom of God! We truly rejoice in that, we think about that! We set our hearts upon that!

“ … knowing that tribulation produces perseverance [patience].” 

Verse 4 ── “and [patience creates experience]; [and experience], hope.”

Verse 5 ── “Now hope [never has to be apologized for], because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us.”

The central meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread! God’s Spirit becoming a part of us! And that’s what that bread means. We are imbibing the unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth. For a week, we follow the symbolism – the teaching point – that we need Jesus Christ, we need the mind of Jesus Christ, we need the Word of Jesus Christ, we need the hope of Jesus Christ, we need the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Love is the fulfillment of the Law of God. Yet, the often fickle love that we have, that we are born with, will not fulfill the spiritual Law of God. Because it takes the glorious Spirit of God, the fruits of God’s Spirit, which includes love ── spiritual love that we were not born with to fulfill the spiritual Law of God. 

Sadly, so few of our peoples understand these things. The LORD God not only gifts us love, but the Holy Spirit is the love of God. That is what is imparted to us, placed within us – the very love of God. A love that we never had before. And that’s the love that comes into us. A kind of faith which we never had. Many say that they just don’t have faith. Well… the faith we need is not something we can just work up. The faith we need is what the LORD God gifts us through the glorious Holy Spirit placed within us. We can’t just work it up. How does God’s Spirit place it with us? It’s the FAITH OF CHRIST. It is the same faith that our Lord Jesus used to walk on the water, that He used to raise the dead, to heal the sick and brokenhearted. And I don’t think many people in these worldly churches understand this. That we need to have a divine love, a divine faith that we were not born with and is not naturally within us. It is something that must be gifted to us from the LORD God. And that’s by the grace of God ── and an unmerited, undeserving gift.

Verse 6 ── “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”            

Our Lord Jesus Christ was the ‘atonement’ for us in the reconciliation to Father God.

Now… “we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” O’ my, there is so much greatness right there! Sadly, the majority of the Protestants tend to leave our heavenly Father out of it altogether. And most don’t even realize and understand that God the Father is coming to Earth with His Son and all the holy angels! (cf. Revelation 21:3). Most only focus on our Lord Jesus Christ. Television evangelists basically say to just “come on down, and give your heart to the Lord” ── with their southern accent making the word Lord sound like lard. And, they make it sound as if that’s all there is to it! Just accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and poof ── you’re saved! But, ponder upon this – if you (God willing) are going to sit upon your throne with our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord Jesus certainly couldn’t sit on His throne until He overcame Satan, the Devil. Our Master and Elder Brother – our Savior – had to conquer Satan! And… where Adam had disobeyed and rebelled against God the Father, our Lord Jesus (the Second Adam) obeyed God the Father. If you’re going to sit upon your throne with Him, you have to OVERCOME! In fact, overcoming is so important that our Lord Jesus tells us SEVEN SEPARATE TIMES! (see: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).

Our Lord and Savior ── His Son. What does He have to do with it? He is the One who makes it possible to reconcile us to God the Father. We’ve got to be reconciled to God the Father first, before our Lord Jesus can save us. It’s important – pay close attention. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the ‘atonement’ for us in the reconciliation to Father God. 

Verse 12 ── “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death [speaking of the Second Death] spread to all men, because all sinned ──” 

Honoring and worshiping God the Father and our Lord Jesus correctly is to keep and obey the LAW OF GOD – summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENTS – that They established in Their love for all mankind. If mankind would only abide in God’s love,  then they would keep and obey the Law of God. But mankind, as a whole, is rebellious, because we are born carnal – born under sin. So those who are flesh cannot please God. But, brethren, we know – “But [we] are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if ANYONE does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” – Romans 8:6-9. 

Adam disobeyed the LORD God. And, if there was no transgression, then how did Adam sin? Why then did the second death spread to all men? He was going to die because of the natural laws of decay and death ── but, because of his disobedience,  the second death (the ultimate penalty for disobedience against the LORD God) was therefore spread to all men. So, Adam couldn’t have sinned, had the LORD God not explained the Law of God to Adam.

Verse 13 ── (“For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”

Again, sin is not imputed when there is no law. So, the Law of God (summed up with the Ten Commandments) was the Law before the physical ritual laws. Later, the Apostle Paul is going to say that the physical ritual laws were added because there had been transgressions of the spiritual Law. It was added to try and help them live without continuing to break the spiritual Law. It is clear to those who see and hear what the Spirit has to say. 

Verse 14 ── “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, …”

The ultimate penalty of the Law of God (see: Revelation 20:14; 21:7-8) was being enforced!

“ … even over those WHO HAD NOT SINNED according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”

Verse 15 ── “But the FREE GIFT is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the One Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.”

Verse 16 ── “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the FREE GIFT which came from many offenses resulted in justification.”

Verse 17 ── “For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)”

Verse 18 ── “Therefore, as through one man’s offense JUDGMENT CAME TO ALL MEN, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the FREE GIFT came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” 

Understand, it doesn’t mean that the free gift of the justification of life has come to all men yet, because the world has not yet been judged. But it is going to be, and it will be upon all men. So, first, the condemnation because of the transgression of the Law. Then second, the grace by the glorious righteous act of our Lord Jesus Christ – and it hasn’t been applied to everyone yet. But His part of it has been done.

Verse 19 ── “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Verse 20 ── “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. …” 

Now … which law is he talking about here? Is he talking about the Ten Commandments? No. The Apostle Paul here is speaking about the Old Covenant physical ritualistic laws ── meaning the laws surrounding the Jewish religion, the Temple, the animal sacrifices, and the ceremonial washings that they did in the Old Covenant. 

So, “moreover the law entered …” He’s talking about the gathering together of the people of the house of Israel, who escaped the bondage of Egypt on the night of the Passover. Brought out of the land of Egypt by the righteous hand of the Eternal One. And now, while they are free from that Egyptian culture, eventually the LORD God directed the Patriarch Moses and Aaron to set up a physical Levitical priesthood with physical rituals and laws for the people who were physical and carnal-minded. And here the Apostle Paul says, “Moreover the law entered [meaning, the Old Covenant agreement] …” The law entered, and then… “… the offenses …” abound. Then he says ── 

“ … But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” 

A reference to the glorious New Covenant! There was no such concept as grace in the Old Covenant. The closest they got to grace was the sacrificing of animals, like a lamb, goat, bull ── those were a substitution for grace. In the New Testament, here the Apostle Paul is talking about grace. Our Lord Jesus Christ lived His life in the very personification of grace! 

Verse 21 ── “So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life [by] Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Again, talking about the New Covenant! Talking about the promises of the New Covenant! And the ultimate promise of the New Covenant is eternal life! I point out again ── the Old Covenant did not give the people hope for eternal life. Yet, on the other hand, the New Covenant – sanctioned by our Lord Jesus Christ, taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, taught by the Apostle Paul ── does have, hold, and present an offer for eternal life!

“ … grace might reign through righteousness …” 

And righteousness comes through the mind, the Spirit, of our Lord Jesus Christ living within us! CHRIST IN US!         

“ … eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” □

to be continued...

PART I

A Morning Bible Study: The Days of Unleavened Bread ── A Part of God's Master Plan!

The LORD’s Passover. Besides the weekly holy Sabbath, it is the first of the LORD God’s annual commanded feasts (Leviticus 23:5), it pictures for us the first of many steps in the LORD God’s (the Elohim; the family of God – which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) MASTER PLAN for the redemption of all mankind. It was Jesus Christ, “our Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7), who was sacrificed for our past sins. Yet, just accepting the Lord and His living sacrifice is not enough. 

Once we have truly repented of our transgressions against the LORD God, been properly baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit ── we must continually have CHRIST IN US! 

We must come out of this world and its religious institutions ──

“ …’ Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’” – Revelation 18:4.

Just as the children of Israel left ancient Egypt ── used in God’s living word as an analogy to represent the people of God’s bondage to sin. We must strive to PUT ON CHRIST! That is our part in the LORD God’s Master Plan.

The LORD God gave His begotten people the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread. The keeping and observance of this glorious feast impresses upon us the great need to daily imbibe within us God’s living Spirit. 

Let’s understand.  

1) What feast did the LORD God command the children of Israel to proclaim, to keep, and celebrate immediately after the LORD’s Passover?

“’ And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; SEVEN DAYS you must eat unleavened BREAD.’” – Leviticus 23:6.

 “’ So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS as an EVERLASTING ORDINANCE.’” – Exodus 12:17.

So, the children of Israel were to keep and observe this feast throughout all their generations as an everlasting ordinance.

To help you understand who the successive generations are of the children of Israel  ── be sure to read our article "Freedom ── A True Blessing From God." Or, "Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright" by J.H. Allen.

2) How many days is the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Notice ──

“’ And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for SEVEN DAYS.’” – Numbers 28:17.

“’ The Feast of Unleavened Bread you shall keep. SEVEN DAYS you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, in the appointed time of the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt.’” – Exodus 34:18.

Was the first day and the seventh day set apart as “holy” days on which God’s people were to assemble together? Notice ── 

“’ On the FIRST DAY there shall be a holy convocation, and on the SEVENTH DAY there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat ── that only may be prepared by you.’” – Exodus 12:16. 

The very first month of God’s sacred calendar, which the LORD God has preserved through the Jews, though they don’t keep it accurate ── is called Abib or Nisan in Hebrew. It corresponds to our pagan Gregorian calendar to the time that falls during March and April. March is named after the pagan god Mars. Interestingly enough, the Anglo-Saxons called April ēastre-monaþ ── which The Reckoning of Time states that this month ēastre is the root of the word Easter. Therefore, the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the evening of the 14th immediately after the LORD’s Passover. It continues for seven days until the sunset of the 21st. Both the 15th and the 21st are holy Sabbaths ── annual “holy convocations.”

3) Were the children of Israel to have no leaven (which means, leavened bread) in all their territory for those seven days? Notice ──

“’ You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4) And no leaven [leavened bread] shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, …’” – Deuteronomy 16:3-4.

So, that’s very clear. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, you are to eat – every day – at least some unleavened bread. And for those seven days, you will not eat leavened bread. Now that’s all it said. It didn’t say, “Get down on your hands and knees and look for old cookie crumbs.” It just didn’t say it. It is not the Days of Unleavened Beer. You know, to make beer, you have to have yeast. Yeast, the number one leavening agent in the history of mankind, always has been and will be. It is not the Days of Unleavened Wine. It is not the Days of Unleavened Toothpaste. Because some toothpastes have baking powder in them. A lot of people think, ‘Well, I’m not supposed to eat leavening.’ You’re not supposed to consume leavened bread. Didn’t we read that?

4) Is leaven ever used metaphorically in God’s living word?

Yes. Our Lord Jesus did speak of leaven metaphorically ── 

“Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6) Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.’ 

7) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘Is it because we have taken no bread.’

8) But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9) Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10) Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?

11) How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? ── but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’

12) Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:5-12. 

The ‘doctrine’ of the Pharisees ──

• The importance of keeping rituals. 

• The overwhelming desire to convert Gentiles. 

• The Way to God was by obeying the physical Law. 

• Extending Jewish practices into life outside the temple. 

• Instilling greater piety in “the common people.”

To name but a few. 

Additionally, they put significant weight on the “oral tradition,” or the traditions of the elders, believing this interpretive framework helped clarify the written Law. Ancient rabbinic sources and later compilations, such as portions of the Talmud, reflect the Pharisaic influence in codifying and teaching these traditions. This oral tradition functioned to address practical questions about Sabbath observance, dietary laws, ritual purity, and other facets of devotion.

Our Lord Jesus is showing us that His New Covenant does not match the old rites of the Pharisees, which required a lot of fasting. Our Lord Jesus taught against syncretism ── which is the mixing of beliefs, such as Judeo-Christianity.

Having a show of piety, without true holiness, is like leaven in that it gradually increases and spreads corruption, puffing up a person with vanity. Indeed, friends, the very nature of leaven (or, rather, yeast) is to change whatever it contacts. Yeast does its job slowly, secretly, and silently, but no one can deny its effect on bread. Yeast is microscopic in size, and only a little is kneaded into the dough. Yet, given time, the yeast will spread through all the dough.

The ’doctrine’ of the Sadducees ── 

• Rejection of the Resurrection and Afterlife. 

• Adherence to the Written Law. 

• Temple Worship and Sacrificial System.

The Sadducees’ interactions with our Lord Jesus were marked by theological disagreements, particularly concerning their rejection of a resurrection. In Matthew 22:29-32, our Lord Jesus addresses their unbelief by affirming that there is a resurrection unto life and correcting their misunderstanding of His living word.

5) Does the LORD God specifically command the people of God to consume unleavened bread during this feast?

Yes.

“’ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the FIRST DAY you shall remove leaven [speaking of leavened bread] from your houses.’” – Exodus 12:15. 

So, not only were the children of Israel to remove any leavened bread from their houses, they were also commanded to eat unleavened bread during the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Why some want to make this command complicated is beyond me! This act of eating a little bit of unleavened bread every day of the feast symbolizes the imbibing of CHRIST IN US! 

6) Upon our proper repentance, proper baptism, and the laying on of hands, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit ── our Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice blots out all our past sins. And when the apostle Paul asks if we, as true Christians, should continue in sin ── he gives the answer! 

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law [speaking of the Old Covenant] but under grace? Certainly not! 16) Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death [speaking of the second death], or of obedience leading to righteousness?” – Romans 6:15-16. 

What was his admonishment for us to put on?

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” – Romans 13:14.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was tortured, beaten, and sacrificed so that mankind did not have to pay the penalty of eternal death ── 

“For if by one man’s offense death [speaking of the second death; eternal death] reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life [eternal life] through the One, Jesus Christ.)” – Romans 5:13-17. 

7) Did our beloved Apostle Paul admonish us ── through the inspiration of God’s Spirit ── to keep and observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Yes.

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, …” ── recall what the old leaven he is speaking of. False doctrines. “ … that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.

The unleavened bread of sincerity and truth is JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

The Holy Days are all Christocentric! The Days of Unleavened Bread are pointing us to one thing – Jesus Christ! He is that unleavened bread of sincerity and truth!

The LORD God knows that to properly overcome and faithfully obey Them, we need Their spiritual help! We must eat unleavened bread every day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread to symbolize us imbibing the glorious Spirit of God ── Their mind, Their strength! □   

Additional Bible Studies

Passover Begins ── God's Master Plan From the Beginning!

What Is Repentance?

Water Baptism?

Just What Is the Holy Spirit?

The Day of Atonement ── A Great Prophetic Meaning!

Feast of Trumpets - The Return of our Lord Jesus!

What the Feast of Tabernacles Pictures

The Last Great Day - How It Completes God's Master Plan

A Time of Spiritual Examination

by Leonard V Johnson

The LORD God’s Feast of Unleavened Bread began this year at sunset on April 12th and runs until sunset on the 19th. 

Notice here what WVTM13 writes ── 

April 12th, 2025, 

One of the holiest holidays of the year begins for the Jewish community in Alabama and worldwide. 

Passover begins at sundown Saturday and is a time of reflection and celebration, which lasts eight days. 

This special time commemorates the Jewish people's exodus from Egypt. Those who celebrate … remove leavened foods and eat … unleavened bread. 

(Read More: https://www.wvtm13.com/article/time-of-reflection-andcelebration-as-passover-begins/64465319).

However, brethren, this Passover season means so much more to us than just the Exodus from Egypt.

Indeed, many keep the beginning of this first feast of the LORD’s in observing the LORD’s Passover. Yet, they never go on to learn the awesome “depth of the riches” of God’s grace and mercy pictured by the following feasts! Let us ALWAYS look unto JESUS, “the Author and Finisher of our faith” unto salvation! – Hebrews 12:2. 

On the 10th day of this first month, the children of Israel were instructed to take a lamb without blemish. And they were to keep it UNTIL – not after – the 14th of the same first month, at “EVEN” – which is sunset – and then kill it. Notice above ── the secular source speaks of it being the 15th.

This was within – not AFTER – the 14th day. They shed the blood of the lamb, which pictured Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, which was to come. And they ate the flesh of the lamb THAT NIGHT. Then, at midnight, the death angel came, but PASSED OVER [hence, PASSOVER] every dwelling where the BLOOD had been sprinkled.

THERE ARE some very important details. And we must notice them. It proves that the Passover is to be observed on the 14th, not the 15th. 

Now, I want you to see another vital point. Turn to the Book of Numbers, chapter 28 –

Verse 16 – “’ ON the FOURTEENTH DAY [not after it] of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. 17) And ON the FIFTEENTH DAY [not before it] of this month is the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.’”

Truly, one way you can understand the Days of Unleavened Bread, is by understanding the very central focus of the Days of Unleavened Bread – Jesus Christ!

Sadly, many minds were soiled concerning the true meaning and the teaching points which are associated with the Days of Unleavened Bread! And many of these misconceptions continue to grip many people – many remnant church groups. Well, they continue to teach ritualistic housecleaning. And to so many, the Days of Unleavened Bread is a campaign to “find leavening.” And they always claim that leaven is equated with the term sin. While that is a tradition, it is not Scriptural! And I want you to understand that they were teaching this as Judeo-Christianity – not as part of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ! In fact, no Scripture declares that leaven (which is short for leavened bread) is sin. There is certainly a passage which tells us exactly what sin is. It’s 1st John 3:4 – “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”     

Our Lord and Savior – the true Messiah - never called leaven sin. An example can be found in the Book of Matthew, chapter 13 –

Verse 33 – “’ The kingdom [from] heaven is like leaven, …’”

Is He saying that the kingdom of God is like sin here? No.

And another passage which offers a perspective is in the Book of Luke, chapter 13 –

“’ To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21) It is like leaven, …’”

Again, is He saying that the kingdom of God is like sin? No.

Our Lord Jesus is saying that the kingdom from heaven is like leaven because it's likened to the concept that “’ the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, ...’” ─ Matthew 13:31.

The work of faith that grows from such an insignificant beginning. Now, if you’ve ever looked at a mustard seed – they’re the tiniest of all seeds! Yet, the Bible describes the kingdom growing into a tree in whose branches the birds of the air can rest and receive shade. Also, the faith in which we have and how it grows can signify the work of God in a person’s life.  The kingdom of God begins quite small, but will become exceptionally large. The kingdom of God will have people from all over the world. Now, some biblical commentators believe that – because He mentions leaven, it could be a warning from Jesus. Leaven is often spoken of in the Bible as a metaphor for false doctrines and self-righteousness. That ‘leaven’ could be false doctrine that began and eventually engulfed the whole earth. Jesus spoke of this false doctrine in the Book of Revelation, which will be extent at His return – and it will be immensely powerful. Like Revelation 6:2 and the ‘white horse’ – you could conceivably go either way with this. Either way – remember that these are ‘hidden truths’ which Jesus revealed to His disciples.

Here’s another example – when our Lord Jesus compared the teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees with leaven.

“’ How is it you do not understand that I DID NOT SPEAK TO YOU CONCERNING BREAD? – but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees’” – Matthew 16:11; see also Luke 12:1.

And sadly, even today, many ministers post on their websites during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, “leavening equals sin!” And they would jump from there to the next conclusion, “One must go around the house and find every little crumb of nine-month-old breadcrumbs! Wherever they might be!” And out goes the toaster into the garbage! And sadly, they taught this as one of their main doctrines for the Days of Unleavened Bread! And this ideology is continuing to be propagated!

And certainly, a true Christian should strive daily to keep sin at bay. But to outright say that leaven is equated to sin is not Scriptural. Now, we’re dead to sin, but we’re alive through Jesus Christ! We live unto Jesus Christ! “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” ── Book of Romans, chapter 6, verse 12. He is saying, ‘Don’t let sin have control over you anymore.’ You’re free! Like the man that was on death row – now you find yourself walking down the road and you say, “How in the world did I get off of death row and now walking along here a free man!?” You’re not in the dungeon anymore! You’re not in chains; you’re not waiting for execution anymore! You’re out of prison – you’re walking freely down the road! That is the analogy that he is making here.

Well, we believe that Worldwide misinterpreted, as well as misrepresented, just what the Days of Unleavened Bread truly mean. The meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread is powerful!

So, what day is established as a MEMORIAL, a feast by an EVERLASTING ORDINANCE? Not a shadow, but a memorial? Again, notice, it is the day that is the feast “’ you shall keep it as a feast …’” It is the day that is a feast day – the 15th of Abib/Nisan – not the Passover! And it is to be kept as a Sabbath – or holy convocation, FOREVER!

Exodus 12:16 – “’ On the FIRST DAY [the first day of the seven – the 15th of Abib/Nisan] there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day [the 21st of Abib/Nisan] there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work [as in labor or occupation] shall be done on them; …’”  

We Christians understand and recognize that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for our sins on the LORD’S Passover and was sacrificed smack dab in the middle of the Feast of Unleavened Bread!

And brethren, all of the LORD’s Holy Days are what we call Christocentric. Meaning that they are all centered around JESUS CHRIST! In other words, we shouldn’t be so steeped and so misguided by Judeo-Christianity that we lose focus on who we are to look to! JESUS CHRIST! Recall, Jesus built His Church! The New Covenant Church!

So, if you go to JESUS CHRIST, He will forgive you – and we are told this back in the epistles of John. He is faithful to forgive!

John 6 –

Verse 48 – “’ I AM the bread of life.’” 

The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are pointing us to ONE THING – Jesus Christ! Brethren, He is that Unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth! He is the meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread! Now, that may sound as if we here at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries are part of the “Jesus Only” churches – we are certainly not!

It was not abolished with the Old Covenant

Notice that the Days of Unleavened Bread is a PERIOD – having two DOUBLE holy days. And this period is established FOREVER! The Living Bible translates this verse – “’ You shall celebrate this event each year (this is a permanent law) – to remind you …’” – Exodus 12:14, TLB. The whole period is included. 

That alone should prove that the HOLY DAYS – including the seven Days of Unleavened Bread – are binding today, and FOREVER!

The Passover is again referred to in verse 21 – “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. … 24) And you shall observe this thing as an ORDINANCE for you and your sons FOREVER.’”

A Little Bit of History 

Let’s go back into Catholic history. The Roman Catholic writer, Eusebius, recorded that Polycrates of Ephesus ── and I want to note here: Polycrates of Ephesus, as well as some other church leaders of the 2nd century (those in Asia Minor) refused to accept the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, especially when it came in conflict with God’s true teachings from His living word – the Holy Bible. But Polycrates of Ephesus, around 195 AD, wrote the following – admonishing strongly those who had changed the Passover from the 14th of Nisan to a Sunday ──

“2. We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John, who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate.

3. He fell asleep at Ephesus.

4. And Polycarp in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna.

5. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius, or Melito, the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead?

6. All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven.

7. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said, 'We ought to obey God rather than man.' Acts 5:29.” 

 (Book V, Chapter 24 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm).

Please note ── it was reported that Polycrates had said that he and some of the other early church leaders (such as the apostles Philip and John, Polycarp in Smyrna, Thraseas, Sagaris, Papirius, and Melito) who were not adding or taking away from God’s living word ── because they knew just what God’s word says regarding keeping and observing the holy Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread on the correct dates. Notice also that they “observed the day when the people put away the leaven.” 

Again, here is a link to an article entitled, “What Is Meant... 'Nothing Leavened'?” 

Also, here is our suggested holy day sermon for the FIRST DAY of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for our scattered brethren and other interested people ──  “First Day Unleavened Bread.” □

What Is Meant... 'Nothing Leavened'?

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is here! The LORD’s feast began at sunset on April 12th and will run through to sunset on April 19th.

What does the LORD God mean ── “’ You shall eat NOTHING LEAVENED’”? 

I have typed up an article entitled, “What Is Meant… ‘Nothing Leavened’?” on our website https://www.owensborocojc.com/. 

For nearly a century, there have been those who have taught that faithful Christians are to participate each year in a commanded traditional Jewish housecleaning ritual. But is this truly what the LORD God meant by not having any LEAVEN in all your dwellings? What is meant by the LORD God saying, ‘leaven’? Leaven (not yeast; while yeast is a type of leavening agent, not all leavening agents are yeast) causes BREAD TO RISE. To truly simplify ── To commemorate the children of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the LORD God commanded the children of Israel to keep and celebrate a week of feasting following the holy Passover (the 14th day of the FIRST MONTH on God’s holy Calendar). It is called the “Feast of Unleavened Bread.” And, during this time, the children of Israel were commanded to remove all leaven from their homes and to eat no BREAD containing leaven ── Exodus 12:15; 13:6-7.  

Leaven is also mentioned to us in the New Testament. In Matthew 16:6-12, our Lord Jesus compares the false doctrines of the Sadducees, the Pharisees, along with the Herodians, to leaven. He was speaking metaphorically. They put significant weight on the “oral tradition,” or the traditions of the elders, believing this interpretive framework helped clarify the written Law. Ancient rabbinic sources and later compilations, such as portions of the Talmud, reflect the Pharisaic influence in codifying and teaching these traditions. This oral tradition functioned to address practical questions about Sabbath observance, dietary laws, ritual purity, and other facets of devotion. Our Lord Jesus specifies that the “leaven” of the Pharisees is indeed “hypocrisy.” Because just having a show of piety ── without true holiness ── is like leaven that gradually increases, spreads, and puffs up a person with vanity and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy can poison one’s very character. 

Here is a link to this important article: “What Is Meant… ‘Nothing Leavened’?” 

Let us always be honest with the living word of God.

A Morning Bible Study ── The Days of Unleavened Bread (A Part of God's Master Plan)

by Leonard V Johnson

The most important ‘feast of the LORD’ will soon be here! The LORD’s Passover ── April 11th, beginning at sunset. Besides the weekly holy Sabbath, it is the first of the LORD God’s annual commanded feasts (Leviticus 23:5), it pictures for us the first of many steps in the LORD God’s (the Elohim; the family of God – which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) MASTER PLAN for the redemption of all mankind. It was Jesus Christ, “our Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7), who was sacrificed for our past sins. Yet, just accepting the Lord and believing in Him, and His living sacrifice is not enough.

Once we have truly repented of our transgressions against the LORD God, been properly baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and having received the gift of the Holy Spirit ── we must continually have CHRIST IN US!

We must come out of this world and its religious institutions ──

“ …’ Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’” – Revelation 18:4.

Just as the children of Israel left ancient Egypt ── used in God’s living word as an analogy to represent the people of God’s bondage to sin. We must strive to PUT ON CHRIST! That is our part in the LORD God’s Master Plan.

The LORD God gave His begotten people the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread. The keeping and observance of this glorious feast impresses upon us the great need to daily imbibe within us God’s living Spirit. Let’s understand.

1) What feast did the LORD God command the children of Israel to proclaim, to keep, and celebrate immediately after the LORD’s Passover?

“’ And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; SEVEN DAYS you must eat unleavened BREAD.’” – Leviticus 23:6.

“’ So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS as an EVERLASTING ORDINANCE.’” – Exodus 12:17.

So, the children of Israel were to keep and observe this feast throughout all their generations as an everlasting ordinance.

2) How many days is the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Notice ──

“’ And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for SEVEN DAYS.’” – Numbers 28:17.

“’ The Feast of Unleavened Bread you shall keep. SEVEN DAYS you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, in the appointed time of the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt.’” – Exodus 34:18.

Were the first day and the seventh day set apart as “holy” days on which God’s people were to assemble together? Notice ──

“’ On the FIRST DAY there shall be a holy convocation, and on the SEVENTH DAY there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat ── that only may be prepared by you.’” – Exodus 12:16.

The very first month of God’s sacred calendar – which the LORD God has preserved through the Jews, though they don’t keep it accurate ── is called Abib or Nisan in Hebrew. It corresponds to our pagan Gregorian calendar to the time that falls during March and April. March is named after the pagan god Mars. Interestingly enough, the Anglo-Saxons called April ēastre-monaþ ── which The Reckoning of Time states that this month ēastre is the root of the word Easter. Therefore, the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the evening of the 14th immediately after the LORD’s Passover. It continues for seven days until the sunset of the 21st. Both the 15th and the 21st are holy Sabbaths ── annual “holy convocations.”

3) Were the children of Israel to have no leaven (speaking of bread with leavening in it; as in baking) in all their territory for those seven days? Notice ──

“’ You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4) And no leaven [speaking of bread with leavening in it; as in baking] shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, …’” – Deuteronomy 16:3-4.

So, that’s very clear. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, you are to eat – every day – at least some unleavened bread. And for those seven days you will not eat leavened bread. Now that’s all it said. It didn’t say, “Get down on your hands and knees and look for old cookie crumbs.” It just didn’t say it. It is not the Days of Unleavened Beer. You know, to make beer you have to have yeast. Yeast, the number one leavening agent in the history of mankind, always has been and will be. It is not the Days of Unleavened Wine. It is not the Days of Unleavened Toothpaste. Because some toothpastes have baking powder in them. A lot of people think, ‘Well, I’m not supposed to eat leavening.’ You’re not supposed to consume leavened bread. Didn’t we read that?

4) Is leaven ever used metaphorically in God’s living word?

Our Lord Jesus did speak of leaven metaphorically ──

“Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6) Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.’

7) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘Is it because we have taken no bread.’

8) But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9) Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10) Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?

11) How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? ── but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’

12) Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:5-12.

The ‘doctrine’ of the Pharisees ──

• The importance of keeping rituals.

• The overwhelming desire to convert Gentiles.

• The Way to God was by obeying the physical Law.

• Extending Jewish practices into life outside the temple.

• Instilling greater piety in “the common people.”

To name but a few.

Additionally, they put significant weight on the “oral tradition,” or the traditions of the elders, believing this interpretive framework helped clarify the written Law. Ancient rabbinic sources and later compilations, such as portions of the Talmud, reflect the Pharisaic influence in codifying and teaching these traditions. This oral tradition functioned to address practical questions about Sabbath observance, dietary laws, ritual purity, and other facets of devotion.

Our Lord Jesus is showing us that His New Covenant does not match the old rites of the Pharisees, which required a lot of fasting. Our Lord Jesus taught against syncretism ── which is the mixing of beliefs, such as Judeo-Christianity.

Having a show of piety, without true holiness, is like leaven in that it gradually increases and spreads corruption, puffing up a person with vanity. Indeed, friends, the very nature of leaven (or, rather, yeast) is to change whatever it contacts. Yeast does its job slowly, secretly, and silently, but no one can deny its effect on bread. Yeast is microscopic in size, and only a little is kneaded into the dough. Yet, given time, the yeast will spread through all the dough.

The ’doctrine’ of the Sadducees ──

• Rejection of the Resurrection and Afterlife.

• Adherence to the Written Law.

• Temple Worship and Sacrificial System.

The Sadducees’ interactions with our Lord Jesus were marked by theological disagreements, particularly concerning their rejection of a resurrection. In Matthew 22:29-32, our Lord Jesus addresses their unbelief by affirming that there is a resurrection unto life and correcting their misunderstanding of His living word.

In Jewish tradition, the removal of all leaven, known as “bedikat chametz,” is a meticulous process that involves searching and ritualistically cleaning the home to ensure no leaven remains in the home. However, this practice greatly underscores the great importance of true obedience to the LORD God. In our Lord Jesus’ New Covenant, the concept of leaven is used by our Lord Jesus along with the apostles to WARN us against false doctrines and hypocrisy.

5) Does the LORD God specifically command the people of God to consume unleavened bread during this feast?

“’ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the FIRST DAY you shall remove leaven [speaking of leavened bread] from your houses.’” – Exodus 12:15.

So, not only were the children of Israel to remove any leavened bread from their houses, they were also commanded to eat unleavened bread during the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Why some want to make this command complicated is beyond me! This act of eating a little bit of unleavened bread every day of the feast symbolizes the imbibing of CHRIST IN US!

6) Upon our proper repentance, proper baptism, and the laying on of hands, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit ── our Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice blots out all our past sins. And when the apostle Paul asks if we as true Christians should continue in sin ── he gives the answer!

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law [speaking of the Old Covenant] but under grace? Certainly not! 16) Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death [speaking of the second death], or of obedience leading to righteousness?” – Romans 6:15-16.

What was his admonishment for us to put on?

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” – Romans 13:14.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was tortured, beaten, and sacrificed so that mankind did not have to pay the penalty of eternal death ──

“For if by one man’s offense death [speaking of the second death; eternal death] reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life [eternal life] through the One, Jesus Christ.)” – Romans 5:13-17.

7) Did our beloved apostle Paul admonish us ── through the inspiration of God’s Spirit ── to keep and observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, …” ── recall what the old leaven he is speaking of. False doctrines. “ … that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.

The unleavened bread of sincerity and truth is JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

The Holy Days are all Christocentric! The Days of Unleavened Bread are pointing us to one thing – Jesus Christ! He is that unleavened bread of sincerity and truth!

The LORD God knows that to properly overcome and faithfully obey Them, we need Their spiritual help! We must eat unleavened bread every day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread to symbolize us imbibing the glorious Spirit of God ── Their mind, Their strength! □

Being Born Again (Sermon) - delivered by Minister Leonard Johnson

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE "BORN AGAIN"! If someone were to come to your door and ask, "Brother, have you been born again?" Would you know how to properly answer─ using God's living word!? Here in this sermon, Minister Leonard V. Johnson covers with you─ the answer. Using God's living word.