Building on the Foundation

  In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul admonished us regarding the Passover, “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Cor. 11:27-28). This word “examine” is the same one translated “test” in 1 Thes. 5:21: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” It’s Strong’s # G1381, dokimazo , and it means to try, test, examine, prove, or scrutinize. So before Passover, each one of us must scrutinize and examine his or her own heart, to avoid partaking in an unworthy manner. Among the Corinthians, failure to do this brought about God’s judgment: “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30). Paul added, “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged” (v. 31). By this time, most of us have probably begun de-leavening our houses in anticipation of the Feast of Unleaven...

  There is a legend that there was once a God who became flesh and dwelt among men, a God who gave His own life so that these created creatures might have a chance at eternal life and becoming part of His family. This God was beaten and murdered by His own creation, but He did it willingly and without a protest.  This very same God who once died so that all might have life more abundantly and so that He might unwind the curse of death will once again come to free us from the grasp of death for all time as the coming Holy day season pictures.  With Passover, the memorial of this death, just around the corner, now is the perfect time to talk about the importance of preparing for it. The Passover kicks off the Holy day season, and it is the foundation of our faith; as such, it is essential that we understand the necessity of planning ahead. The most important component of Passover is Christ, for without Christ and His sacrifice for our sins, there would be no remission and c...