by Guy C. LaMar
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Should unbaptized people attend a Passover service and partake of the foot-washing?
Foot-washing at Passover is a command by Jesus which is still in force and effect today (Exceptions apply if a person is alone and partakes of the Passover at home).
Passover service is in remembrance of Jesus’ death, and it is only to be observed by properly baptized true Christians who have received the Holy Spirit.
Those who have not been baptized in accordance with Scripture should not participate in the yearly Passover service.
The Old Covenant demanded that no male who was "uncircumcised" was to participate in the Passover - Exodus 12:48.
The New Covenant Christians, baptized, Holy Spirit led begotten children of God, are "circumcised" spiritually - Colossians 2:11-12; Romans 2:26-29.
Our Lord Jesus' disciples had been baptized (even though in the extraordinary case of the eleven apostles, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit - they would, however, receive it, on the Day of Pentecost A.D. 31).
Notice: During the Passover evening, Jesus told the apostle Peter along with the other apostles, when He proceeded to wash their feet, that they had been "bathed" or baptized - John 13:10.
Jesus waited until Judas Iscariot had left before He changed the Old Covenant symbols of the Passover to the New Covenant symbols of unleavened bread and wine. A reason for Judas Iscariot's exclusion from participating in the New Covenant symbols of unleavened bread and wine was that Judas had not been properly baptized. His entire lifestyle and conduct showed that he did not have GODLY REPENTANCE. Judas was not qualified to participate in the new symbols - although he was present for the Lord's Supper (the Passover meal) along with the foot-washing. The spiritual symbols of unleavened bread and wine DID NOT apply to Judas!
"'He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him'" - John 6:56.
So, notice that after Jesus gave Judas the "dipped" piece of bread (which was not the same as the unleavened bread representative of the broken body of Christ, but rather it was just a piece of the Passover meal - compare Psalm 41:9).
" ... And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27) Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. ..." - John 13:26, 27.
Judas left immediately following the traditional Passover meal and the foot-washing, before the institution of the spiritual symbols of the unleavened bread and wine.
No male was allowed, in the Old Covenant, to partake of the Passover, unless he was circumcised.
True Christians are circumcised spiritually, of the heart, by and through the Holy Spirit dwelling within them - after proper baptism.
THEREFORE, only properly baptized members of the spiritual Body of Christ - the Church - who don't hold grudges against anyone, who doesn't have hatred toward anyone in their hearts, are to partake of the annual spiritual symbols of unleavened bread and wine - the body and the blood of Christ.
In doing so, they reflect on the grave suffering and death of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This teaching is supported by the fact that Jesus waited until Judas had left them before He introduced the New Covenant spiritualized symbols of the unleavened bread and wine.
So, even though Judas betrayed Him for money, the other apostles did not know what Judas was going to do until after the foot-washing ceremony had been completed.
The fact that Judas was allowed to participate in the foot-washing shows us our Lord Jesus Christ's great love, His humility, and servant attitude in that He washed Judas Iscariot's feet, even though He knew that His friend was going to betray Him.
So, to answer the question: For Passover observance, a spiritually "uncircumcised", unbaptized, or improperly baptized (as in "dipped" or "poured"), person SHOULD NOT be participating in the Passover Service. □
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Repent For Salvation by Michael C. Garrett
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