Basic HTML Version
of righteousness leads to acquittal
and life for all men" (Rom. 5: 18).
"Since, therefore, we are now justi–
fied by his blood, much more shaU
we be saved by bim from the wrath
of God" (Rom. 5:9).
The Days of Unleavened Bread
The book of Acts chronicles a short
history of the early Church. Jn Acts
12:1-4, Luke wrote about the mar–
tyrdom of James and the
im
prison–
ment of Peter. To time these events,
he added: "This was during the
days
of Unleavened Bread"
(verse 3).
So Luke, the Gentile physician,
was aware that this annual festival
continued to be observed in the
early New Testament Church.
Similarly, he wrote in Acts 20:4-6
that several of Paul's assistants and
fellow ministers "went on and were
waiting for us at Troas, but we
sailed away from Philippi after the
days of Unleavened Bread...."
But what do these days signify for
the modern Christian? Are they up
to date in the twentieth cen tury? Do
they have poignant meaning in the
plan ofsalvation?
Notice, first of all, that the Days
of Unleavened Bread
follow immedi–
ately
on the heels of the Passover.
Note the biblical record in Levi–
ticus-the third book of Moses.
"And on the fifteenth day (following
the Passover on the fourteenth, see
Leviticus 23 :5) of the same month is
the feast of unleavened bread to the
Lord ; seven days you shall eat un–
leavened bread. On the first day you
shall have a holy convocation [com–
manded assembly).... on the sev–
enth day is a holy convocation ..."
(Lev. 23 :6-8).
Sorne few observe the beginning
of God's festivals by keeping the
Passover (or Lord's Supper), but
never go on to an in-depth under–
standing of God's plan by celebra–
ting
the other
annual holy days and
festivals. But Christ is the Alpha
and the Omega- the beginning
and
the end!
We must understand His
entire
master plan!
In the twelfth chapter of the book
of Hebrews we are told to "run with
perseverance
the race
that is set be–
fore us" (verse
1
).
So the Christian
life is reckoned as a footrace with a
30
starting gate and a tape a t the finish
line.
The account continues in verse 2:
" ... looking to Jesus
the pioneer and
perfecter ["che author and .finisher,"
KN]
of our faith , who for the joy
that was set before him endured the
cross ... and is seated at the right
hand ofthe throne ofGod."
Jesus Christ-Our Hlgh Priest.
lt
has been said- and with much ac–
curacy- that Hebrews is the book of
the priesthood. Jesus Christ is our
High Priest in heaven. His Passover
sacrifice pictures the complete, total
forgiveness of past sins. But unfor–
tunately, the typical Christian finds
himself (or herself) still involved in
the struggle against sin throughout
his natural life.
lt
was no t "all over
long ago" after initial repentance
and water baptism.
The Christian must endeavor to
put sin out of his life. But he soon
discovers that he has embarked on
no easy task. On occasion the Chris–
tian finds himself once aga in the ab–
ject slave to sorne sin or bad habit.
He is unable to overthrow sin a ll at
once. Frankly, it takes a lifetime to
overcome sorne of our stubborn
weaknesses.
Forgiveness of past sins is poi–
gnantly pictured by the Passover
festival. Totally putting away sin
(symbolized by the Days of Unleav–
ened Bread) fills in the picture be–
gun by the Passover. Leaven is a
symbol of sin. And the command to
remove leaven from our houses and
to eat only un leavened bread for
seven days impresses upon us the
importance of a complete spiri tual
housecleaning (Ex. 12: 19-20;
1
Cor.
5:7-8). This has been called "our
part in God's master plan."
But make no mistake about it.
The Christian cannot put sin out of
his life
by himseif- without
the help
of his living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Even the new babe in Christ soon
discovers his utte r help1essness. Sin
is a master that doesn't relinquish its
hold without a tough , grueling fight.
Like all the other steps in God's
plan of salvation, this one too re–
q uires the band of God.
This is where Jesus comes in as our
High Priest. The book of Hebrews
explains: "Since then we have a great
high priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus, the Son ofGod, Jet
us hold fast
ourconfession
(the Chris–
tian life]. Forwe have nota high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who
in every
respecl
has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then with con–
fidence draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive merey and
find grace to help in time of need"
(Heb. 4: 14-16).
Putting sin out of our lives would
be utterly impossíble without this
kind of help. Jesus ís
total/y com–
mitted
to those who continue in the
race. We are
no/ alone
in our
struggle against sin! He said: " 1 am
with you
a/ways,
to the close of the
age" (Matt. 28:20). Jesus "wiU sus–
tain you to the end,
guiltless
("blameless," KN] in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ" (1Cor.
1
:8).
Paul, in his salutation to the Phil–
ippian brethren , wrote: "[ 1 am)
thankful for your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now.
And
l
am sure that he
who began
a
good work in you [by the forgive–
ness of their sins through Christ's
Passover sacrifice]
wi/1 bring il ro
complelion
a t the day of Jesus
Christ" (Phi l. 1:5-6).
Even the prophet David wrote:
"The Lord wi/1 perfec/
that which
concerneth me" (Ps. 138:8. KJV).
Remember. Christ is the
pioneer
and
(the)
perjec1er
of our faith" (Heb.
12:2). We a re saved
by His liJe
as
our High Priest (Rom. 5: 10).
Chrlstlans Must Expel Sin
Yet, we must put forth
our own ef–
forts!
Says the book of Hebrews:
" ... Jet us also
/ay aside
every
weight ,
and sin which clings so
c/osely,
and 1et us run with per–
severance the race that is set before
us" (Heb. 12: 1). Continue in verses
3-4: "Consider him (Jesus Christ)
who endured from sinners such hos–
tility against himself, so tha t you
may not grow weary or faint–
hearted. In your struggle against
sin you have not yet resisted to the
point of shedding your b1ood (as
Christ díd] ."
The apostle Paul wrote: "Every
(Continued on page 38)
The
PLAIN TRUTH Deoember 1978