I asked someone why they believe we must still keep the Sabbath and all of the Festivals of the Old Testament. My understanding of Scripture is that when Jesus came, He was the fulfillment of all of this and we no longer have to practice them. Below is the response I received. I would really like your input.
“Referring to keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days. Most fail to understand that both the Sabbath and Holy Days actually point toward Jesus Christ not away from Him. A proper understanding of the Holy Days reminds us that He is returning again soon.”
I’ve answered questions like this before, but it bears repeating. In Colossians 2:16-17 Paul wrote,
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
He was saying that while these holy days were pointing toward the Lord’s coming, their continued celebration is not mandatory. You can find similar advice in Romans 14:5 where he wrote:
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Studying them to see how they pointed to the Lord can be a powerful experience, and there’s nothing wrong with voluntary observance. But claiming that their continued celebration is mandatory is not consistent with Scripture.