12. When does God’s New year begin? Does He provide Days He wants His people to observe in- stead? Exodus 12:1-2 and Leviticus 23:1– 36. God’s Year begins in the Spring in the month of Abib. The Eternal’s Feasts — Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atone- ment, the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day— were ordained by Him, not invented by man. Each re- veals part of His plan of salvation for humanity. 13. Did Jesus and the apostles keep these annual festivals? Luke 2:41–43; John 7:1–2, 14, 37, Acts 27:9 and I Corinthians 5:6-8. Comment: Jesus observed God’s feast days and so did the Church He founded. These festivals are joy - ous times that reveal God’s plan of Salvation and the hope of His soon coming Kingdom on earth. The Bible never commands Christ- mas or New Year’s observance and history clearly shows their pagan origins. In fact it teaches the con- trary. God calls His people to wor- ship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), not by adopting the customs of the nations. If asked we should always be ready to give a defense. There are far better days — God’s own Holy Days — filled with true joy, meaning, and understanding of His great plan for mankind. Adapted and expanded from ear- ly Worldwide Church of God ma- terials on “The Plain Truth About Christmas and New Years”.
Continued from page 6 Even the hardest things work to- gether for good for God’s chosen people. Continuing in Romans 8:31–32: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? God intends to give His people all things. Can we maintain our focus on that picture—even on the diffi - cult days? A little later in Romans 8:35; 38–39 Paul was inspired to record: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribula - tion, or distress, or persecu - tion, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …For I am persuaded that neither death
nor life, nor angels nor princi - palities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any oth - er created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Christians must believe these words. God’s people must live in a way that remains focused on the positive— on God’s promises? God has called a people to be filled with a positive mindset. Not fo- cused on the evils around them, but on the larger picture - The Good News: God’s Kingdom is coming, and coming soon. He has prom- ised it and He is faithful to fulfill it. We can have the faith to know that the life He offers—a life of joy, of purpose, of eternal positivity—will come when Christ returns. Keep your eyes on that goal. Keep your focus on the positive.
Holy Day Calendar 2026 Passover: April 1 (observed the evening before) Days of Unleavened Bread: April 2-8 Pentecost: May 24 Trumpets: September 12 Atonement: September 21 Feast of Tabernacles: September 26 - October 2 Last Great Day: October 3
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