That is your call as to whether or not they are for you. I will say this... the letter in Acts 15 is always pointed to as "for us." Yet... do you make sure you avoid blood, things strangled? Or... does the Acts 15 letter tell you not to kill? Or not to steal? See... it isn't a complete list.. it was only meant to be the place to start and we were expected to go and learn the rest. And additional proof of that is in Acts 15:21 which tells those the letter went to, basically... to go hear Moses (an idiomatic reference to God's law) read in the synagogues on the Sabbath. The Acts 15 letter was a place to begin, not the finish line.I just know that the place where I read about eating certain types of foods, or anything else mentioned in Levitical law 76 Things Banned in Leviticus (and their penalties) - ***Dave Does the Blog is not focused on in the New Testament when Jesus taught his disciples, nor in the letters written by the apostles. It seems that those are not the things we're to be focusing on now.
Nope, not going to give up my baby back ribs, snow crab legs, or mussels in white wine sauce!
That's given lol.....I eat it all. Absolutely clear conscience before God.
I enjoy my Pork, chicken, sushi, lobster, steak, frog legs, squid, sometimes all at the same times and topped with cheese on top just for good measure.... Jews wont steal my food that's for sure lol =)
That is your call as to whether or not they are for you. I will say this... the letter in Acts 15 is always pointed to as "for us." Yet... do you make sure you avoid blood, things strangled? Or... does the Acts 15 letter tell you not to kill? Or not to steal? See... it isn't a complete list.. it was only meant to be the place to start and we were expected to go and learn the rest. And additional proof of that is in Acts 15:21 which tells those the letter went to, basically... to go hear Moses (an idiomatic reference to God's law) read in the synagogues on the Sabbath. The Acts 15 letter was a place to begin, not the finish line.
So acts ch 15 was only a start with those four laws? Gentiles were free to murder, steal, commit adultery, covet, bear false witness until they went away and learnt those laws?That is your call as to whether or not they are for you. I will say this... the letter in Acts 15 is always pointed to as "for us." Yet... do you make sure you avoid blood, things strangled? Or... does the Acts 15 letter tell you not to kill? Or not to steal? See... it isn't a complete list.. it was only meant to be the place to start and we were expected to go and learn the rest. And additional proof of that is in Acts 15:19 which tells those the letter went to, basically... to go hear Moses (an idiomatic reference to God's law) read in the synagogues on the Sabbath. The Acts 15 letter was a place to begin, not the finish line.
This is actually a far more simpler question than most Christians realize....Then when we go back to the book of Leviticus, what parts should we still follow, and which ones don't? How do we know?
1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
As I just wrote another... the key is 'word of God.' There was no NT for another 150 years. If the reference is to the written word... which I believe it is... then "Word of God" is the Torah and Prophets." And since that is the case, that which has been sanctified (set apart) by God as food... is what is listed in the Torah as food. And not everything is food no matter how long you pray over it.1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
A closer look at context, while also reading from the beginning of the chapter, will reveal that:Col 2:13-17 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Romans 14:14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
A closer look at context, while also reading from the beginning of the chapter, will reveal that:
1. our death penalty is what was nailed to the cross
2. Paul is writing to people who KEEP sabbath and the food laws
Paul was encouraging them to not let the pagans judge them for keeping them. And he also said that these things ARE a shadow of things to come. Meaning, many things still have to take place that are foreshadowed in the Sabbath, Holy Days, and in the food & drink commandments.
Paul was NOT writing to people who were not keeping the Sabbath, and he wasn't writing to people eating pork and unclean animals.
He admonishes the Colossians to recognize, what he had treated of in a general way, as applicable to themselves, which is by far the most effectual way of teaching. Farther, as they were Gentiles when they were converted to Christ, he takes occasion from this to shew them how absurd it is to pass over from Christ to the ceremonies of Moses. Ye were, says he, dead in Uncircumcision.
Let me post the whole section of Colossians 2:I don't think that can stand. Consider this commentary from Christian Classics Ethereal Library:
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Gal. 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.If God says, don't defile yourselves and eat unclean animals, and an apostle seems to say "it's okay, we can eat pig now", we need to make sure that we understand their words in the proper context, because we must match their words to God's words, and not the other way around.
Thank you for sharing these verses.Gal. 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.