Passover of the New Covenant is the Truth of Life
February 22, 2017
The Kingdom of Heaven through the Passover of the new covenant
No more death, mourning, crying or pain – this is what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like. To receive this gracious promise of salvation, it is essential to know and believe that the Passover of the new covenant is the truth of life. Christians know that they must have faith to be saved, but faith must be accompanied by action (James 2:26). Salvation belongs only to God. What action does God want us to take to express our faith? Keep the Passover!
I’ve never heard of the Passover, what is it?
The Passover is the truth of life and an everlasting commandment from God. However, Christians around the world still don’t even know when it is, or what exactly it is. Since it is essential to our salvation then it should be the first thing we know! Both in the old and new testaments God uses the Passover as the way of freedom and salvation for His people.
In the Old Testament God’s people, the Israelites, were under slavery in Egypt. In order to save His people and bring them out of Egypt, God instituted the Passover of the old covenant. They were emancipated and protected from the last of the ten plagues, the death of the firstborn. It was the only way to be saved from God!
Exodus 12:11-13 “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
Since this is God’s feast, He commanded the Israelites to keep it according to these regulations. First, it was to be celebrated on an appointed day and at a specific time. God’s Passover is on the 14th day of the 1st month of the holy calendar (Exodus 12:6, Leviticus 23:4-5). It is also supposed to be kept by the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. The Israelites had to eat the meat of the lamb and pour the blood on the door frame of their homes. Those who kept this holy festival were freed from slavery and protected from destruction. It is truly an amazing commandment from God! Ever since the beginning we see that the Passover is the truth of life for God’s people.
Do we need to keep the Passover in the New Testament?
Absolutely we do! No matter what age it is, God commands His people to keep the Passover as a way of blessing.
Exodus 12:14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD – a lasting ordinance.”
When God originally commanded the Passover, He made it an everlasting law. He did not put an expiration date, or time limitation. We even see Jesus commanding His disciples to keep the Passover of the new covenant, proving that we, too, should celebrate it.
Matthew 26:17-19 “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'”
So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, surely commanded His people to keep the Passover in the New Testament times.
Like the Israelites we also need to be freed from slavery
In the old testament the Passover was the way God freed His people from slavery. Though we are not physical slaves, the Bible teaches us that we, too, need emancipation.
John 8:34 “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”
As sinners we are slaves to sin and death (Romans 6:23), and we must be set free through the truth (John 8:32). The Passover of the new covenant has the power to forgive us of our sins, freeing us from spiritual slavery, as well as, giving us the promise of eternal life.
I have to slaughter a lamb?!
Only if we understand the ministry of Jesus Christ, can we know how to keep the Passover in our age. Christ came to fulfill the law, not abolish it (Matthew 5:17), then the old testament teaches us the way of salvation in the new testament. The old covenant established through the Law of Moses was fulfilled by Jesus. He made the new covenant, establishing the Law of Christ. Though we still need to keep the feast, we do not need to celebrate it with an animal sacrifice. If we don’t have to sacrifice a lamb, then how do we keep the Passover of the new covenant?
Luke 22:7-20 “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover….When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer….And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
According to the regulations of the new covenant we are to celebrate the Passover with the bread and wine. This bread and wine represents the flesh and blood of Christ. This is why the Bible describes Christ as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). He is the fulfillment of the Passover lamb, and it is through His sacrifice we are saved.
The Passover of the new covenant is the truth of life and way of salvation
The bread and wine represents Christ’s flesh and blood. Christ was so eager to give us the Passover of the new covenant because it is the way of salvation.
John 6:53-54 “Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Christ promises us the amazing gift of salvation through His flesh and blood. The annual feast of the Passover is the only way that we may participate in this truth of life.
Why haven’t I heard of it before?
Though it is so clear in the Scriptures that we must keep the Passover of the new covenant for our salvation, most Christian churches don’t keep it. How is it that this precious teaching is unknown in modern day Christianity? We must always remember that our spiritual enemy is constantly working against us. Since the Passover is the truth of life, and the only way of salvation, then he does not want us to keep it. According to prophecy, many of the teachings of Christ were lost in what historians call the dark ages. One historical event of great importance was the Council of Nicea. At this council the Passover of the new covenant was abolished, and the way of salvation was completely destroyed. God knows all things, even the end from the beginning. We can see His warning about this in the book of Daniel.
Daniel 7:25 “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times, and half a time.”
That’s exactly what Satan did, he got rid of the set times and laws. Not only the Passover, but also the truth of the Sabbath day and all 7 holy feasts of God.
We give thanks to Ahnsahnghong who is the second coming Christ (Hebrews 9:28) and has restored to us all of the teachings in the Bible. Before He came no one taught the truth of the Passover of the new covenant. By His coming, He has given us the sure promise that we will receive salvation and rejoice eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven.