That I Might Know Him

We are taught in Holy Scripture to note and keep the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread coming up. We all believe certain things about these days. And we will all be doing some things. . . . we will meet, eat, take communion fellowship, etc. But why do we do these things? To win our salvation? Other? What is the purpose of keeping these Feast Days? There is form. And there is substance. Today we will look at what we do and what we believe as Christians. What is the bottom line? And what is important above all?

By Jerry Gentry

Passover is coming up. What does it mean to “keep Passover?” I submit to you today that any teaching or doctrine about Passover that puts form over substance is a false doctrine. If I teach anything today that neglects to exalt Christ above all, then I have failed. If I exalt anything that I can do as above what He has already done, then don’t listen to me. . . I’m a false teacher.

The apostle Paul told the Ephesians:

Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Eph. 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph. 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph. 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Eph. 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The apostle Paul taught:

Phil. 3:1 ¶ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Phil. 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Phil. 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Phil. 3:4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Phil. 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Phil. 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Phil. 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Phil. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Phil. 3:9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Phil. 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Phil. 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Phil. 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Phil. 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil. 3:15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Phil. 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Phil. 3:17 ¶ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Phil. 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Phil. 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Phil. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Phil. 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

We are taught in Holy Scripture to note and keep the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread coming up.

1Cor. 5:7 ¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1Cor. 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

But why keep the feast? What is the purpose of keeping these Feast Days?

Scripture identifies there is form:

2Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

And Scripture also identifies substance:

Heb. 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith. What do we believe? Substance.

Action. What do we do? Form.

Passover is a Memorial of what He did for us all. Keeping Passover typifies and Memorializes Christ’s sacrifice and finished work at the Cross. Do we believe? Do we believe that He did what he said He did? The act of taking Holy Communion and keeping the Days of Unleavened shows our faith (substance) by our works (form). There are symbolisms related to two types of bread.

Am I “leavened,” that is, puffed up with my own good works, as the Pharisee? Do I thank God that I am not as other men, sinners? Do I boast that I am filled with tithing, alms giving and other good works?

Or am I “unleavened,” that is, fallen flat on the ground, empty, prostrate, and repentant, confessing that I am a sinner, as the Publican, crying, “Lord have mercy on me”?

Everything I can DO FOR CHRIST does not begin to equal what HE HAS ALREADY DONE FOR ME. I submit to you that what I believe trumps anything I can do. Even considering ALL my good works, I fall short. I am as the publican, a sinner, empty, undone, in need of mercy. What I believe is the substance of everything including Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. It is His faith in me that brings me unto perfection. And what I do is the form of all these things, a shadow, a Memorial only, reminding me of what the Perfect One and his finished work as the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world, has already completed for me.

Hallelujah!

3.27.2010