02/20/2023 – “Pascha”, not Easter / Attached commentary – Thoughts? // Lent begins in two days with Ash Wednesday. // “One body in Christ”
Pascha
Monday, February 20, 2023
We know it as Easter, the time of the crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is a pagan word linked to Ayustra, the goddess of fertility. The actual word in the Bible is written in the old King James is the word Pascha. Pascha comes from the Hebrew word Pesach. Pesach is Passover. Messiah is not our Easter, but Messiah is our Passover Lamb. Even the first believers celebrated what we call Easter on Passover. It was only later ruled out as they ruled out the Jewish things. It shows us that our faith is Jewish, no matter what; you are born as a citizen of Israel. Messiah is our Passover; Pesach, our Passover Lamb. His name is Passover. And therefore, Messiah gives you the power of Passover, the power to walk in freedom as did the Israelites. Let the power of Passover cause you to Passover that past, to whatever you have been in, to Passover from death to life, from that sin to freedom.
From Message #1203 – The Hidden End-Time Holiday
Scripture: Romans 6:13
TODAY’S MISSION – Receive the power of the Passover Lamb in every area of your life, and walk in freedom today.
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Commentary Insert:
https://www.history.com/news/easter-orthodox-easter-differences
From past experience, I suspect this post to generate much mis-understanding and/or controversy. Check out the link above, as many christians are not aware that the Orthodox Church uses the term “Pascha” as opposed to “Easter”, which I agree is a pagan derived term. I posit the thought that even outside of foundational questions, conflict is the pre-requisite to growth in the body of Christ.
As opposed to Romans 6:13, I would start with Romans 11 (*A): “A Remnant Remains” as scriptural support for this Sapphires post. Let’s look at 6:26-32: “And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, There shall come out of Sion (*) the Deliverer, and shall turn ways ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed , that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”
(*A) – King James Version (KJV)
Let’s take a look at John Gill’s commentary from Romans, Chapter 11 above, verses: 29 & 30:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/romans-11-29.html
You may even want to toggle forward or back to verses on either side, one by one, as well.
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Salvation-For-Israel
This article connects back to Romans 9, including Old Testament verses for support of God’s covenant with the nation of Israel.
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-gentiles-are-included
God keeps all His promises! There is a heresy in today’s church called “replacement theory” or “supersessionism” that maintains that Israel has been replaced as the covenant people. Such a notion helped to drive medieval anti-semitism.
I submit that there are many legitimate reasons why we worship in different church buildings within our local sphere across the world. But, that does not negate : One body of Christ, so let’s not divide the church unnecessarily. On the other side of the coin, there are old historical denominations that have become completely and fundamentally “confused” on: 1) Who is God?; 2) Who is man?; and 3) What is our relationship to God? They are no longer Christian, and are outside the one body of Christ. I think we should keep these two sides of the coin distinct, not mixing the two.
The foundation: Forced to make a choice between 1) Man’s free will; and 2) God’s sovereignty, I will go with #2 every single time. I realize I am taking a risk, given that we all face a judgement, namely that I am “giving God too much of the credit.” I recall one of my Christian warrior quotes that submitted: the only thing we ourselves contribute to our own salvation is the sin that necessitated Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. I further believe that God calls me to look at fellow souls in only two ways: 1) current Christian, or 2) future Christian. And I can’t distinguish the difference. That’s ok, because God doesn’t distinguish a difference either. The Great Commission mandate to witness to a lost world is our primary mission.
He has risen indeed!
Thoughts?
Your brother in Christ,
Jim