While the Church of God celebrates Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, the world, including Orthodox Christianity, celebrates Easter — that is, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and, in some countries, Easter Monday. Why do they do it, and why don’t we? Does it make any difference? This sermon will show that it makes a world of a difference. It is so important that we can safely say that it is a matter of life and death. It is a matter of accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. It is a matter of receiving forgiveness of sins, or of still living in sin, being cut off from God. If we believe in the Good Friday crucifixion and the Easter Sunday resurrection, we are rejecting the only sign that Christ gave to the people of His time that He was the Messiah — namely, that He would be for three days and three nights dead in the grave, and that He would afterwards raise from the dead.

The commonly held definition of the word “saint” as generally used in both secular and religious settings is different than that of the Bible. The Bible reveals that “saints” is a designation to the company of God’s people and applies to ALL believers–that is, to all who live holy lives based on God’s calling and selection. As used in the Bible, the term saint or saints conveys righteousness or goodness as illustrated by godly and holy character along with consecration (being set apart by God as His own). Furthermore, along with the remarkable opportunity to be called at this time, Christians, who the Bible also describes as saints, bear a great responsibility and accountability to God.

Today, let us examine Biblical principles showing us HOW to keep God’s weekly and annual Holy Days. They are Feast days, to be kept holy. Our inward and outward appearance, especially while we are attending services, should reflect the holiness of those feast days. We should realize that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the holy angels are watching us, and that we are appearing before the God and Creator of the universe — a great King of splendor, beauty and quality. We are to dress up and we are to pay attention to what is being taught. We also need to prepare for the commanded eight-day-attendance of the Feast of Tabernacles, by carefully setting aside our Second Tithe for this purpose.

A cycling super star who confronted, and beat cancer in the 1990’s made a simple but very profound and incisive statement that “Pain is Temporary but Quitting Lasts Forever”. This truly sums up the way of life that we’ve been called to. We can, and we all do get temporarily discouraged at times but we are not alone in this and the Christian way of life is a calling and a full time career – and if we permanently forsake it then we have, in effect, quit forever.

This subject deals with why the ministry exist. It is to fulfill seven points of scripture from preaching the Gospel to the world to performing marriages and funerals to baptism to anointing both in baptism and raising one in the ministry.

Our God is a merciful God. We must all come to understand just how merciful our God is and realize that this point of Character which is typical of His Mind is a quality He would have His people develop in their lives. Christ tells us in Luke 6:36 to “… be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” And in Matthew 5:4 He taught that if we are merciful, God will be merciful with us.

Love covers all sin!

Throughout the pages of the Bible, we read that Jesus committed no sin; that no deceit was found in His mouth; that He did do no violence; that He came into sinful flesh, becoming sin for us; and that He was numbered with the transgressors for our sakes. It is clear that He did not transgress God’s law — He never sinned even once. But what about man’s law? Was He properly sentenced to death according to the Jewish and Roman law that was in effect at His time?

Some have erroneously concluded that He was, neither knowing the law of man nor the Scriptures. Others have rightly pointed out that Jesus’ execution was nothing more than premeditated murder. The Bible, as well as the relevant provisions of the applicable human law, make this fact very obvious.

In the face of the prevailing attitude of division that is so much a part of society whether in nations or families or even the Church of God, the people of God must be careful to not allow this approach in their own lives. As a test of Christian unity, we must examine and test where we stand. Do we possess and are we growing in the spirit of unity that God has established in His Church

All of us suffer of trials, tribulations, and persecutions. In fact, the Bible tells us that everyone who is a true Christian and who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL have trials. Sometimes, it may appear that our difficulties are more than we can possibly endure — and we might be tempted to throw in the towel. Tragically, many have done so in times past. But, when we go through trials, we should understand why there are trials. That will help us to look at them, and especially the ultimate outcome, in a much more positive light. When God allows trials to come upon us, it is for a reason. And, it is for our ultimate good.

The Bible has much to say about the tribe of Judah – both their history and their future. It is important for Christians to understand Judah’s role in the plan of God. It is into the line of Judah that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born, and prophecy shows that Jerusalem will be the seat of government upon His return to this earth. The Old Testament reveals the emergence of Judah as a nation, and the selection of David as an enduring king over the house of Israel. Although chosen to rule, the house of Judah has been the target of violent persecution because of enemies, and the Bible shows that the Jews have failed to obey God and have rather allowed their religious practices to become polluted with human traditions. The Bible also shows a bright and enduring future for the tribe of Judah once the Kingdom of God is established.