Does the keeping of the Feasts bring us back to legalism when we have been saved only by grace and mercy through our Savior Jesus Christ? Doesn’t this divide us from Jesus’ provision to save us?
The Bible speaks about justification and sanctification. Justification refers to the remission of sins through the atonement of our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah. This is not something we earn or are given based on obedience or good works but is a free gift from our Father Yahweh (Romans 3:20-28; 4:2; 5:9; 6:23; 1Corinthians 6:11; Colossians 2:16). However, once we are justified from our sins, the Bible speaks about living a sanctified life (Acts 26:18; 1Corinthians 1:2; 6:9-11; 1Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 10:26-31). We do this by obeying Him and living a life of righteousness.
It’s also important to realize that sin is the breaking of the commandments. 1John 3:4 states, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Few would argue that sin doesn’t exist or as believers we should continue to sin, even after coming to grace. Knowing that sin is defined as “transgression of the law” and as believers, we should be avoiding sin, this leads to only one conclusion, we should be obeying the commandments. Also, Jude warns against turning Yahweh’s grace into a license to sin. He states, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, unrighteous men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness [i.e., sin], and denying the only Sovereign Yahweh, and our Master Yahshua Messiah,” verse 4.
In summary, we do not obey to earn justification or redemption from our sins, but once we are justified we are then to live a life of sanctification or holiness by obeying our Father’s commandments. Therefore, obeying our Creator is not legalism, but showing our love and worthiness, 1John 5:3 and Revelation 20:12.
Here are a few additional passages confirming that we are to obey after coming to the knowledge of the truth:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:17.
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law,” Romans 3:31.
“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?…. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Elohim forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good,” Romans 7:1, 7-12.
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Yahweh, and have the testimony of Yahshua Messiah,” Revelation 12:17.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahweh, and the faith of Yahshua,” Revelation 14:12.
Take note from Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 that a saint or believer is defined by those who obey the commandments and believe in Yahshua the Messiah.
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie,” Revelation 22:14-15.
