Passover is the Passport into Heaven

World Mission Society Church of God teaches that one must keep the Passover in order to have eternal life based on the teachings of the Bible. This may come as a surprise to many Christians who have been taught differently by other churches with fragmentary doctrines. Some churches insist that faith alone saves while others insist on only observing a certain part of the law (e.g. baptism or Sabbath) to be saved.

However, when we understand through the Bible who commanded us to keep the Passover and the reason why it was commanded, we can firmly believe that the Passover is the truth of life through which we can be freed from death and have eternal life.

Passover is the Everlasting Command of God

In the Old Testament, it was the LORD God who commanded the Israelites to keep the Passover.

Exodus 12:11-14 “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord… This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.”

When the Israelites kept the Passover in obedience to God’s command, they ended their miserable 430 years life of slavery in Egypt and were set free. The Passover was a command given to the Israelites not only at the time of the Exodus but as a lasting ordinance. A lasting ordinance means it is a law for all time (New Living Translation). Therefore, its observance must continue in the New Testament times as well.

In the New Testament times, Jesus commanded His disciples to keep the Passover.

Matthew 26:17-19 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” … So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Jesus commanded the disciples to prepare the Passover and celebrated it. He chose the very same day the Israelites were emancipated from slavery in Egypt to keep the Passover of the new covenant to set us free from this sinful world.

The Way to be Freed from Sin and Death

According to the Bible, all mankind are slaves to sin and come to die.

John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

Only through Jesus’ flesh and blood can we be set free from sin and death.

John 6:53-54 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…”

Jesus promised that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have eternal life. The word “unless” implies that there is no other way for us to have eternal life. Although one may have great faith or have good deeds, unless they receive Jesus’ flesh and blood, they cannot claim to have eternal life.

Through the Passover of the new covenant, we can receive Jesus’ flesh and blood.

Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread… “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

The Passover bread is Jesus’ flesh and the Passover wine is Jesus’ blood. Whoever keeps the Passover receives Jesus’ flesh and blood and has eternal life. Unless we keep the Passover, we cannot have eternal life.

We Must Receive the Promise of Eternal Life on Earth

Why did God want us to have eternal life? To know the reason, we must understand about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

The Kingdom of Heaven is a place where there is no death which means only eternal life remains. For us, mere mortals, Jesus allowed us to receive the promise of eternal life through the Passover so we can live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.

In obedience to the command of God, the Church of God teaches that Passover is the way to receive eternal life. Just like when travelling to another country, one must prepare many things (luggage, visa, plane ticket, etc.). However, without a passport one cannot even board the plane. Likewise, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must prepare many things (faith, good deeds, prayer, baptism, etc.); however, without keeping the Passover, we cannot have eternal life. Therefore, the Passover is the passport through which we can be granted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and live there forever as immortal beings.

Without keeping the Passover, no one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”

On the last day, many will claim to believe in God saying “Lord, Lord” and have the faith to prophesy and perform miracles but since they did not do the will of God, they cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, what is the will of God? Both in the Old and New Testament times, God showed us His will for His people to keep the Passover. Through the Passover, God’s people are redeemed and are blessed with eternal life.

For this reason, the members of the Church of God celebrate the Passover of the new covenant every year longing for the Kingdom of Heaven. Please contact us to find out how you can keep the Passover to receive the stamp of eternal life and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.