The fundamental reason why Kim Joo-cheol’s sermons from the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) are not recognized theologically

The reason lies in his ignorance regarding the fulfillment of Old Testament law, the New Testament understanding of sacraments, and a distorted perception of church history.

1. Fulfillment of Old Testament Law and the Meaning of Church Feasts in the New Testament

In the Old Testament, there were various sacrificial feasts such as the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. However, Jesus Christ personally fulfilled all these laws. Through His death and resurrection, the shadows and symbols of these Old Testament feasts were perfectly realized in Him. The New Testament church no longer needed to repeat the ritual feasts of the Old Testament.

2. The Early Church Celebrated Christ’s Death and Resurrection, Not “Feast Keeping”

The early church commemorated Jesus’ death with the Lord’s Supper (the Passover Eucharist) centered on 3 PM, Nisan 14 (Jewish calendar), the time of His crucifixion, and celebrated His resurrection on the third day, Nisan 16. Importantly, this Eucharist was entirely different from the “Last Supper” Jesus had with His disciples while alive. The Lord’s Supper of the early church was observed after Jesus’ death as a memorial, not as a repetition of the final meal.

3. The East-West Church Split and the “Date Controversy”

As the early church gradually split into the Eastern (Jerusalem) and Western (Rome) branches, controversy arose over when to celebrate the Passover Eucharist.

• Eastern Church: Fasted until 3 PM, Nisan 14 (the time of Jesus’ death), then held the Eucharist that evening.

• Western Church: Fasted from 3 PM, Nisan 14, until the following Sunday (Resurrection Day), then celebrated the Eucharist on the morning of the resurrection.

Ultimately, this difference led to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where the Western practice was adopted and the Passover Eucharist on Nisan 14 was abolished.

4. The Core Mistake of the WMSCOG

The WMSCOG mistakenly equates the “Passover Eucharist” of the early church with the “Last Supper” that Jesus shared with His disciples while alive. Because of this, they claim that “the early church kept the Passover Eucharist,” that it was abolished in 325 AD, and therefore “we must still keep it today.” However, the reality is that the early church’s Passover Eucharist was a memorial held after Jesus’ death and is entirely different in timing and meaning from the Last Supper.

5. Why Clear Distinction Is Critical

If one misunderstands the term “Passover Eucharist” and equates it with the Last Supper, as the WMSCOG does, it is easy to be deceived. But a correct understanding of the Bible and church history shows that the early church observed the Lord’s Supper after Christ’s death, as an act of remembrance and faith—not simply as a ritual feast.

6. The Key Points Are:

• The feasts of the Old Testament were fulfilled through Jesus’ death and resurrection and are no longer required in the New Testament era.

• The early church did not keep Old Testament feasts, but commemorated Christ’s death and resurrection.

• The Passover Eucharist observed by the early church was a memorial after Jesus’ death, not the Last Supper.

• The WMSCOG confuses this distinction and wrongly equates the Last Supper with the Passover Eucharist, thus distorting church history.

If these distinctions are not made clear, people unfamiliar with the Bible or church history can easily be deceived. It is crucial to have an accurate knowledge of Scripture and church history, as precise discernment is the foundation of true faith.