P. O. Box 893909 Temecula, CA 92589
February 26, 2006
Dear Brethren in Christ,
God’s people will soon be observing the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. The observance of these days commemorates both a sorrowful (i.e. Passover) occasion as well as a joyful one (i.e. Feast of Unleavened Bread).
How blessed we are to understand the true meaning in taking the bread and wine as fit symbols of Christ’s supreme sacrifice on behalf of all mankind!
Brethren, the Bible makes it very clear that we are living in very difficult, perilous times (2 Tim. 3:1; Matt. 24:21, 22). Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23 explain that God’s people would be greatly scattered by their religious leaders or shepherds: pastors, priests, rabbis, etc. This has happened to our people living in the modern nations of “Israel” who now reside in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc. The brethren in God’s true Church—God’s New Testament “Spiritual Israel” (Gal. 6:16)—have been scattered, as well as the physical Israelites, who are not now being called.
The controversy over how to observe the Passover illustrates some of the confusion and error that is being taught in this world today. Most professing Christians don’t know when or how to properly commemorate Christ’s death. Some observe what they call a weekly Communion service; others observe it monthly or quarterly, while others take “Communion” whenever they please. But when and how often does God say we should observe it? The Bible says, “Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us....” We do not observe an Old Testament Passover of the slaying of lambs, but we annually take the bread and wine symbols representing the body and the blood of Jesus Christ—“our Passover.”
Since many of you brethren are scattered, it is necessary for you to observe the Passover in your home by yourselves or with a few others.
Important Passover Instructions
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong’s very important Passover letter I am enclosing along with my letter, an important form letter that was written by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, which has been used for decades in instructing brethren who must observe the Passover in their own homes. I want to further comment on a few points that are mentioned in his Passover letter.
Prepare for the Passover Firstly, we should prepare ourselves spiritually to observe this important N. T. Passover, by prayer, Bible study, and if need be, by fasting, to make certain that we are in the right frame of mind in observing this important occasion, the annual memorial of the death of the “Lamb of God.”
[Note The person conducting the Passover service should procure in advance a natural red wine, such as a burgundy or claret, of about 10-13% alcohol. A small portion of this wine should be poured out in little wine glasses. A red wine is a fit symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ. You should also prepare in advance some unleavened bread, which you can purchase, or bake your own unleavened bread, making sure that it contains no leavening. During the Passover service, the bread will be prayed over, broken and blessed by the one officiating, and then partaken of in the manner that Mr. Armstrong describes in the enclosed letter.]
This year the true Passover will be observed according to God’s command as explained in Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23—on the 14th day of the first month of Abib or Nisan. This 14th day begins on Tuesday evening, April 11th according to the Roman calendar. The Passover should always be observed in the early evening shortly after dark, and it should be observed in a sober manner. The room in which the Passover will be observed should be clean and neat, having everything in order so that the Passover can be observed in the proper way. The wine and bread should be made ready, placed on a tray or table, and covered with a napkin, before the actual partaking of these symbols. If several are present, follow Christ’s instructions to “wash one another’s feet” (John 13:1-17). This is a very important occasion symbolizing our humility before Christ and His people.
Important bread and wine symbols Brethren, the bread and wine represent the following: the bread symbolizes Christ’s body, broken for the healing of our sicknesses and diseases as we read in both Isaiah 53:4-12, and I Pet. 2:21-25. The wine represents the blood of Christ, which was poured out at the foot of the cross/stake on which Christ was crucified. Jesus gave His life’s blood for us. The Bible explains that the life is in the blood. This wine represents Christ’s blood, which we take symbolically by drinking a small amount as we meditate on what it represents—the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for the remission of our sins.
During the service various scriptures should be read. Mr. Armstrong explains this more fully in the letter which I am enclosing. After the foot-washing service, and the bread and wine have been blessed and taken, the one officiating should read aloud certain relevant portions of the scriptures found in the gospel of John, beginning with chapter 13, verse 18, on through the 17th chapter. After reading those scriptures, sing a hymn, if you have hymnals. Next, quietly dismiss yourselves, realizing this is a very solemn memorial of Christ’s death.
This Passover service can be observed by one person alone. If two or more are present, then the foot-washing part of the service should be included. Finally, after the service has been concluded, the left-over bread and wine should be destroyed. Remember, Jesus Christ is “our Passover” (1Cor. 5:7).
Don’t Take the Passover “Unworthily”!
Countless professing Christians mistakenly call “Passover” Communion, or Lord’s Supper. This is not what God intended. The Apostle Paul’s instruction in 1 Cor. 1:20-30 states, “When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.” Then Paul shows that in the same night after Christ was crucified, He took the bread and wine and blessed them, which He and the disciples then partook of. He said, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till He comes.”
Paul then adds, “Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation [judgment] to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep” (vv 25-30). It is very important that we take this Passover in the right manner, with the proper solemnity.
Paul warns the brethren not to take the Passover “unworthily.” Brethren, he doesn’t mean that unless we are perfect in character and absolutely sinless, we are not worthy to partake of these symbols (Phil. 3:13-15). No! If that were the case, none of us would ever be able to partake of these symbols. Those scriptures point out that if we take the bread without realizing that it symbolizes Christ’s body broken for our healing, then, we are taking the bread unworthily. Likewise, if we drink a small portion of wine representing Christ’s blood, and do not have faith in the blood of Christ to cleanse us from all sins, then we take that wine unworthily.
The Bible makes it very clear, that when we truly repent, God removes our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Ps.103:10-17). Furthermore, Christians are without sin after having repented and having begun the Christian life. We are cleansed from all sin. It does not mean that we never sin, but when we sin, we should constantly remain in an attitude of repentance, yielded to God and His Word. The Apostle Paul says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit” (Rom. 8:1). Thus, it is very clear brethren, that God does not condemn us—because we are not under the death penalty. There is “no condemnation” before God, of you or me, once we truly repent and accept the blood of Christ in full payment for our sins.
Saved by Christ’s “Death” or by His “Life”?
This solemn occasion commemorates the greatest sacrifice that was ever made, or could ever be made: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Yet, it seems some people misunderstand exactly how that sacrifice is to be applied.
Many wrongly believe we are saved by Christ’s death. No, we are not saved by His death. We are saved by His life! Can we be saved without Christ’s death? No! Paul explains this clearly: “But God commendeth His love toward us that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified [that is, our guilty past blotted out] by His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom now we receive the atonement [reconciliation]” (Rom. 5:8-11).
So, let us remember this tremendous Sacrifice that God gave when He sacrificed His own Son and our dear Brother, Jesus Christ, to pay for the sins of all mankind. His death was more than adequate to pay for all of man’s sins, and was more than sufficient to make it possible to eradicate the sins of all humans who would ever live, if they repent of their sins and yield themselves to God willingly.
That is what we read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world….” That is, all the people of the world, all of humanity! God does not love the “world,” that is, He does not love the wicked ways of man’s corrupt world/society. We are told that, “He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” Do we fully realize that God’s giving up His own dear Son to die for our sins, and His resurrection from the dead, was the greatest sacrifice/gift that has ever been made in the entire history of this awesome Universe?
How Important Is God’s Passover?
Brethren, we should realize that observing the Passover symbols properly is very important in the eyes of God, including observing this memorial of Christ’s death in the proper attitude! His own words show us how important it is that we take the fit symbols of bread and wine annually, as commanded, in order to renew our faith in the solemn sacrifice which our Father and His Son made nearly 2000 years ago.
Notice what Christ said in John 6:53, “Then Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me and I in him.’” Then He mentions in verse 57, “so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.” Jesus Christ says that unless we partake of the bread and wine symbols representing the broken body and the shed blood of Christ as our substitute sacrifice we have no life in us.
Again, I would urge all of you to begin preparing yourselves to be in the right frame of mind, and attitude, when you come before God, to observe this most important occasion, according to the biblical instructions. The Old Testament Israelites were not to partake of the Passover in just any old manner; rather, all the males were first to be circumcised. The New Testament scriptures show that circumcision of the flesh is not now required, but circumcision of the heart, of the mind is what God desires (Rom. 2:28-29; 1 Cor. 7:19). We need to come before God in a humble, yielded, repentant attitude. Therefore, when we come before Him on this solemn occasion let us do so in a very serious, sober, respectful manner. What a tremendous price God had to pay! We should deeply appreciate God’s tremendous sacrifice—the supreme Sacrifice of all time!
May God be with all of you in your preparations to observe this coming Passover, and may He bless each and every one of you as you commemorate this very important memorial of the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Sincerely, in Jesus Christ’s name,
Raymond F. McNair
P.S. Brethren, I am now feeling much better after having suffered a few weeks from a minor back injury. Thanks for your fervent prayers on my behalf. The Apostle James tells us to “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (Jas. 5:16). Your calls, letters and expressions of loving concern, including some who fasted for my healing, and fervently prayed for my recovery, have been very much appreciated by my wife and me!
I had planned to include in this letter some important information which Almighty God is revealing to me from His Word regarding how Bible prophecy is now being fulfilled by recent events which are taking place in the Middle East, but I hope to include that in my next letter to you brethren so I can go into more detail than would be possible in this letter.
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