Well, some Christians believe that the law is done away with. Others believe it is still binding. This is what Jesus says about the law:
Matt 5:17, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (KJV)
18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The word "jot" there in this verse is this Greek word:
2503
iwta
iota
ee-o'-tah
of Hebrew origin (the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet); "iota", the name of the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, put (figuratively) for a very small part of anything:--jot.
So Jesus didn't destroy the law, not one (Iota or the smallest part of it) and heaven and earth have not passed away so the law would still be binding.
Many can't distinguish between a Biblical law, statute(commandment), judgement or ordinance. The ordinances were done away with. Not so the commandments, judgements or law.
Col 2:14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Some have misunderstood Acts chapter 10 where Peter sees a vision of unclean meats, believing that it is speaking of food. It is not. It is speaking of the Gentile nations, not food. Peter never ate anything that was offered to him, even though he was hungry.
Acts 10:15, And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Acts 10:28, And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
But this is what is said about unclean foods:
Isa 65:4, Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Isa 65:5, Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Isa 66:17, They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
Doing these abominations, including eating the flesh of swine(pigs) is like smoke up God's nose as Isa 65:5 states. Why? Because God knows people who eat these creatures are going to make themselves sick when they are supposed to treat their bodies with holiness. God is angry because the pig along with other animals that God lists in the Old Testament law, were never created to be eaten.
Newer translations have added to this confusion of what to eat or what not to eat. Compare these two verses; the first from the NIV, the second from the KJV:
Mk 7:17, After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") (NIV)
Mk 7:17, And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. (KJV)
18, And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; (KJV)
19, Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (KJV)
If you notice the NIV adds the phrase in quotations, (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") That is not in the original text and was deliberately added when it should not have been and the reason I stress that Christians stick to the KJV.
The subject was handwashing, not unclean meats. The Pharisees were claiming the disciples were unclean by not washing their hands. It has nothing to do with them eating unclean foods. And Jesus certainly didn't declare all foods clean. God created certain animals to be eaten and others not to be. The pig for example, is an unclean animal. It was never meant to be consumed. It's purpose was to clean up the dirt of the earth like any scavenger animal and there are quite a few listed in the Old Testament. The animals listed are either scavengers, animals that eat their own kind or animals that eat their own dung. It doesn't matter what these animals are fed, even if it's grain and corn. Eating those animals would only lead to the person who consumed them, eventually becoming sick. God knows what animals he created for the purpose of eating and remaining healthy.
Others will claim what is said in Timothy is claiming that all foods are clean but this is what it says:
1Tim 4:3, Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4, For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
God didn't create certain meats to be "received" with thanksgiving. If it is ok to eat, then it should be received with thanksgiving. But the owl, the rabbit, the dog, the cat, the seagull etc, were not created to be eaten.
Yes, every creature of God's is good. There were just specific creatures He specifies in the "law" that were not to be eaten.
From a personal point of view, I haven't eaten a piece of bacon, a pork chop or pork roast in 15 years and I haven't gotten a cold or been ill in thoe 15 years. When I was young I used to eat rabbits but now I stick to the Biblical food laws. God knows what foods keep you healthy and what foods make you sick. It is written in the law.
Hope that helps.
http://www.sacrednamebible.com/kjvstrongs/index2.htm
-
