IntroductionMillions of people are going to Catholic, Millions of people are going to Catholic,

Protestant, or non denominational Protestant, or non denominational services to celebrate Easter. services to celebrate Easter.

When our religious neighbors, friends, or When our religious neighbors, friends, or family hear that we don’t, they may family hear that we don’t, they may

ask why. ask why. This morning we will examine the This morning we will examine the Scriptures so that we might give an Scriptures so that we might give an answer from God’s word rather than answer from God’s word rather than

our opinion. our opinion. (Isaiah 55:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 14:12; 1

Thess. 5:21-22; 1 Peter 4:11)

We Can’t Celebrate Easter by Faith

Faith comes by hearing God’s word Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Ro. 10:17)

We can’t please God without faith (Heb. 11:6)

We believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day because of what the

Bible says. (Luke 24:46; Acts 3:18; 1 Cor. 15:1-8)

Christians were commanded to remember His death on the 1st day of the week. (Matthew 26:26; 1 Cor. 11:23f;

Acts 20:7) But where does the Scripture approve of But where does the Scripture approve of

a religious observance of Easter? a religious observance of Easter?

We Can’t Celebrate Easter by Faith

But the word Easter is in the Bible in Acts But the word Easter is in the Bible in Acts 12:4.12:4.

““And when he had apprehended him And when he had apprehended him (Peter), he put him in prison, and (Peter), he put him in prison, and

delivered him to four quaternions of delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after soldiers to keep him; intending after

EasterEaster to bring him forth to the to bring him forth to the people.” (KJV)people.” (KJV)

The Greek word “pascha” is always The Greek word “pascha” is always translated Passover in the New translated Passover in the New

Testament. Testament. Even Albert Barnes, a respected Even Albert Barnes, a respected

Presbyterian commentator, admits the Presbyterian commentator, admits the truth.truth.

“There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this. The

original is simply after the Passover, meta to pasca. The word Easter now

denotes the festival observed by many Christian churches in honour of the resurrection of the Saviour. But the

original has no reference to that; nor is there the slightest evidence that any

such festival was observed at the time when this book was written. The

translation is not only unhappy, as it does not convey at all the meaning of the

original, but because it may contribute to foster an opinion that such a festival was observed in the times of the apostles.”

(Albert Barnes- Acts 12:4)

We Can’t Celebrate Easter by Faith

The Encyclopedia Britannica (14th edition, The Encyclopedia Britannica (14th edition, Vol. II, p. 859) says, “Vol. II, p. 859) says, “There is no There is no

indication of the observance of the Easter indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament or in the festival in the New Testament or in the writings of the apostolic fathers. The writings of the apostolic fathers. The

sanctity of the special times was an idea sanctity of the special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first absent from the minds of the first

Christians.“ Christians.“

If the Passover in Acts 12:4 was the If the Passover in Acts 12:4 was the observance of Easter as practiced today, observance of Easter as practiced today, we would have the absurdity of the Jews we would have the absurdity of the Jews

celebrating the resurrection of Christ celebrating the resurrection of Christ while crucifying the Son of God. Think while crucifying the Son of God. Think

about it!about it!

Easter Was Instituted by Man, not Christ

After the death of the apostles, Easter After the death of the apostles, Easter began to observed as a “Christian” began to observed as a “Christian”

festival.festival.““Perhaps the earliest extant primary Perhaps the earliest extant primary source source referencing Easter is a mid-2nd century Paschal homily attributed to Melito of Sardis, which characterizes the celebration as a well-established

one.[21]” (Wikipedia) But it was a departure from the pattern of

partaking the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7).

Easter Was Instituted by Man, not Christ

There was much division in the church in There was much division in the church in the 2the 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd centuries about which centuries about which

day to day to observe Easter. (Catholic Encyclopedia)

“The First Council of Nicaea (325) decreed that the Roman practice

should be observed throughout the Church. But even at Rome the Easter term was changed repeatedly.” (ibid)

“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints”.

(1 Corinthians 14:33)

Easter Was Instituted by Man, not Christ

Christ’s rule, authority, and dominion is Christ’s rule, authority, and dominion is far above man’s and He is head over far above man’s and He is head over

all things to the churchall things to the church. (Eph. 1:20-23)The apostle Paul warned about the

apostasy that would come in which one would display himself as being

God. (2 Thess. 2:3-8)Who will you listen to and obey? God or

man?Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, Lord,

Lord, and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Easter Has Pagan Origins““The English term, according to the The English term, according to the Ven. Bede (De temporum ratione, I, v), (De temporum ratione, I, v), relates to Estre, a Teutonic goddess of relates to Estre, a Teutonic goddess of

the rising light of day and spring, the rising light of day and spring, which deity, however, is otherwise which deity, however, is otherwise unknown” unknown” (Catholic Encyclopedia)(Catholic Encyclopedia)

Van Bede is a historian of the Catholic Van Bede is a historian of the Catholic church who lived from c. 672- 735 A.D. church who lived from c. 672- 735 A.D.

Words mean things. The Catholic Words mean things. The Catholic Encyclopedia relates Easter to a diety.Encyclopedia relates Easter to a diety.

God’s People Must Not Compromise

The Israelites were commanded not to The Israelites were commanded not to have any other gods before them & have any other gods before them &

weren’t to mention them by weren’t to mention them by name (Ex. 20:1; 23:13-14).

In disobedience to God’s word they feared the Lord but served their own gods and had to go into captivity (2 Kings 17:6-

19).Denominations have been compromising Denominations have been compromising

with the world about Easter for a long with the world about Easter for a long time. time.

Churches of Christ are tempted to be like Churches of Christ are tempted to be like the denominations and sadly some give the denominations and sadly some give

in. in.

Our Worship must be in spirit and truth and if it is not, our worship is in vain.

(John 4:23-24; Matthew 15:9)

Is this speaking as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11) or according to the traditions of

men?

ConclusionThe facts bear witness to the fact that The facts bear witness to the fact that

Easter is without divine authority. Easter is without divine authority. Since there is no command from the Lord, Since there is no command from the Lord,

divinely approved example, or divinely approved example, or necessary inference demonstrating we necessary inference demonstrating we should practice it, we must expose it should practice it, we must expose it

as an unfruitful work of darkness as an unfruitful work of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).(Ephesians 5:11).

We must be content with what pleases We must be content with what pleases the Lord as we have been commanded the Lord as we have been commanded to remember the Lord’s death on the to remember the Lord’s death on the

first day of the week. first day of the week.