Here's my story. I was raised a Baptist, and attended a Baptist church until I was 14. I was baptized at 12, and when my grandparents, who were raising me died I went to live with another set of relatives. We attended a Methodist Church for a short time, but I really didn't have any spiritual life. During that time, I became backslidden (so I thought) but eventually realized that I probably was never changed to start with.

I lived the rest of my life without God until I was 35 years of age. At that time, I asked Jesus to come into my heart, save me, walk with me, teach me and be my best friend, and He has done that from that day.

As I began reading His Word more and more, first of all, I was convicted about keeping Pagan holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and also minor ones, such as Valentine's Day, St. Particks's Day, Halloween, etc.

As I read Jeremiah 10:1-4, which says:

Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

I became convinced that we should not be keeping that holiday, and as I searched Scriptures I found more to refute keeping any Pagan holiday. A good search and study of Ishtar, Isis, Odin, Mithra, Tammuz, Nimrod and other ancient gods will explain how the holidays, which Christians keep, are actually honoring Pagan deities.

Also, when God instructed the Hebrews to overtake the Pagan nations, He gave these orders (Deuteronomy 12:29-32):

When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

And if that wasn't enough, we are also warned here in Deuteronomy 7:23-26:

But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them. The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: [but] thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it [is] a cursed thing.

So, after studying Pagan history, and recognizing that the Pagans used such things as trees, wreaths, mistletoes and other Christmas goodies, bunnies, chicks, eggs and other Easter goodies, then we should know by reading the passage above that all Christians are cursed for even bringing Pagan paraphernalia into their houses.

Nowhere in Scriptures are we commanded to remember Jesus' birthday or keep it. What about Easter?

In Acts, we read (where Herod had imprisoned Peter):

And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

So, does this mean that we are to keep Easter (which is actually in Greek pascha - meaning Passover?

No, you see - God used many parallels between the Old Testament and the New Testament and Passover and the Crucifixion of Jesus is one of those parallels. The sacfificial lamb was taken and examined for four days before Passover, and Jesus was also arrested and examined for four days and found without blemish just as the lambs were, and so He died on Passover. Three days later, when He resurrected, it was the Feast of Firstfruits, which signifies that He was raised as a firstfruit among those who are going to be quickened and raised with Him. So, God keeps His feasts parallel and organized according to His plan, and that is what we should be keeping.

Here is where we get the ideas to keep otherwise holidays:

Celebration of Easter was not universal until the Council of Nicea and Constantine decided to make the celebration mandatory for all Greco-Roman Christians. The Council declared that Easter was to be kept the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. It was Theodosius I, implementing the decisions of the First Council of Constantinople in CE 381, that ordered all Christians to observe the celebration or suffer the consequences. Today some groups, in an effort to distance the Christian aspects of the day from paganism, refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday.

http://www.bibarch.com/glossary/MI/Easter.htm

The Catholic encyclopedia states that shortly after the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, a pope assigned December 25th as the day for observing the birth of Yeshua. Then in the 5th century AD, another pope made it church law, that all Christians would observe December 25 as Christmas, forever. Think about it, the date of December 25 was chosen over 300 years after the death of Yeshua, as the date of His birth; and 400 years afterwards it was institutionalized as a mandatory church observance. The same bunch who changed the Sabbath from the 7th day of the week to the first, also decided to create Christmas.

http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Christianity/christmas2.html

So really, study up on the holidays, especially God's feasts and decide to keep them, learn how to keep them Biblically and run from Pagan holidays, which God finds offensive!

Then, after I learned about these holidays, about a year or so later, I was reading Isaiah 56:2 and , where it states:

Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation [is] near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed [is] the man [that] doeth this, and the son of man [that] layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I [am] a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger (Gentiles), that join themselves to the LORD (Christians), to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

So, when I read that the Gentiles, who join themselves to the Lord should be keeping the Sabbath, and to them they will be welcome in His house, a red light went off in my head, and I said, we are doing this all wrong, and I began to keep the Sabbath on Friday nights and Saturday. I did this for several months, until a friend pointed out to me and reminded me of one particular verse (Daniel 7:25):

And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

The Catholic Church came up with new calendars, and the dates which we believe to be the Sabbath are actually not. The Gregorian seventh day has nothing to do with God's Hebrew seventh day.

And so I learned and still am learning about God's Hebrew calendar, which He created when He created all things. Basically, there are ten months on a Hebrew calendar. Each month starts at the New Moon. You do not even have to go out and gaze at the sky to keep up with the calendar; just find one online to go by, but the New Moon is the first day of the month, and then every seven days after that are the Sabbath we are to keep. These days are the 8th, the 15th, the 22nd, and the 29th. Then we skip the 30th day and always have another Sabbath on the New Moon the next day after. These days do not fall on Saturday or Sunday as a rule, but change from month to month. These are the days, which you should be honoring God on.

So, I began to keep the Sabbath, and then God lead me to Isaiah 66:15-17, where it reads:

For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one [tree] in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

When I read that when the Lord will return, He will come with anger, rebuking those who eat swine's (pig's)flesh, I knew right then and there that I wasn't going to eat it anymore. I have always loved pork, and so this was hard for me, and I slipped up a couple of times, but I haven't eaten it in months nor do I intend to again. I have given up pork and all other unclean meats.

Now, after God showing me all these things, especially the verse about the unclean meat, I began looking at the Law in a new light. Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that one has to follow the law (Torah) to become saved, for we are clearly shown that we are saved by faith alone. But we are also shown that if we love Jesus and trust in His saving us, then we will obey Him, so I keep the Torah, as best as I can, not out of thinking it will save me, but by wanting to be an obedient child of God.

Things Jesus taught about the law (Torah).

Matthew 5:17-23:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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.

So how righteous were the scribes and Pharisees? Watch this short video to see.

So, we see that clearly Jesus taught to keep and follow the Torah.

What are some of the things, which Paul taught about the Torah?

Romans 2:13 - For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 3:31 - Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God 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.

Romans 7:12 - Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:14 - For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 7:22 - For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

Romans 7:25 - I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 Timothy 1:8 - But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully.

Paul's writings do become confusing, and Peter also acknowledged and warned against this in 2 Peter 3:10-18:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.

So, God provided us with knowledge and warnings about people who try to lead us astray with lawlessness; therefore, we have no excuse for not knowing to follow Torah.

In addition, in Acts 21, we see that Paul took a Nazarene vow to show that he did keep the Torah, by the advice of James. Acts 21:18-28 says:

And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise [their] children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave [their] heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but [that] thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written [and] concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from [things] offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place - and going to the next chpater, 22:3, we see that Paul replied, "I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day."

So, we see that Paul kept the Torah and said that he taught it, even to the day he was questioned and accused.

What vow was he taking? Let's go to see in Numbers 6:

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate [themselves] to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate [themselves] unto the LORD: He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth [himself] unto the LORD, he shall be holy, [and] shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separateth [himself] unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God [is] upon his head. All the days of his separation he [is] holy unto the LORD. And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it. And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.

And you can go to Numbers 6 to read more if you should like, but this is enough to show that Paul did keep the vow of the Torah, James instructed him to, that he still participated in sacrifices, etc., and none of this is done away with.

Colossians 2:16 says:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.

This says which are to come, (because in the Millenium we will also keep the Lord's feasts), but it doesn't say were a shadow of things to come. Are means present tense, and so He is telling the Colossians not to let any man judge them in which days or feasts they keep, but only men in the body of Christ. Only are they able to judge. I say this, because the word is in "is of Christ" was put there by interpreters to make sense, but wasn't in the original Greek manuscripts. Therefore, it should have remained "the body of Christ" and is a flaw in the interpretation.

Please watch this short video.

I hope that this short page has helped some, and if anyone has any questions or comments, they are welcome to write me at toknowthetruthofgod@yahoo.com.

God (YHWH) bless you all!