Tomb523
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- Jul 6, 2018
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As one who professes the roots of Judaism in worship of God through Jesus, not all custom and laws are applicable, though what they attempted to convey still is applicable. In OT times there were many cultures in the land God gave to Israel. These cultures engaged in the worship of other gods and idols, practiced sexual acts as a means of worship to these other deities and sacrificed various animals including and most often pigs and other lesser animals (considered by most to be less valuable than sheep or cattle). The mosaic laws were in opposition to what is now known as cuneiform laws (so named after the language in which they were written) and the sacrifices made to God were of greater value than those of the pagan practices.
God's intent was to have His chosen people to be set apart (made holy) from these other cultures and thus the mosaic laws were created to show God's people as "different" from others of the time. Even before the law, the commandment to circumcise was given to Abraham to show him and his descendants as "different" or set apart (in that day and age may also have benefited in improved hygiene).
Also regarding the food laws, modern analysis tends to show that the animals that were forbidden tend to be those that consume the dead and dying or clean/filter the waste of other animals. Those allowed generally are vegetarian or insect eaters (insects were often considered clean as well such as locust on which John the Baptist dined). So with perhaps less known about cooking and preserving foods, selecting the right animal may have had some health benefit in addition to following practices different from other cultures.
But as others have pointed out, the keeping of these laws is not what leads to salvation, but rather what "flows from heart". Not what we consume will save or condemn us, but rather how devoted we are to God. The ceremonial washing of the cup did not correct the filth that dwelt within the heart of the person who washed the cup. Salvation comes from a pure heart and a pure love of God and no practice can cause that...but having that can cause certain practices.
Being born a new creature with that pure heart is what causes us to turn from sinful practices. We do the practice because our heart is telling us to, not because the law is telling us to. This is why things we did before we were saved suddenly become disgusting to us after we are saved. It is this behavior that sets us apart or makes us holy, not what we eat.
God's intent was to have His chosen people to be set apart (made holy) from these other cultures and thus the mosaic laws were created to show God's people as "different" from others of the time. Even before the law, the commandment to circumcise was given to Abraham to show him and his descendants as "different" or set apart (in that day and age may also have benefited in improved hygiene).
Also regarding the food laws, modern analysis tends to show that the animals that were forbidden tend to be those that consume the dead and dying or clean/filter the waste of other animals. Those allowed generally are vegetarian or insect eaters (insects were often considered clean as well such as locust on which John the Baptist dined). So with perhaps less known about cooking and preserving foods, selecting the right animal may have had some health benefit in addition to following practices different from other cultures.
But as others have pointed out, the keeping of these laws is not what leads to salvation, but rather what "flows from heart". Not what we consume will save or condemn us, but rather how devoted we are to God. The ceremonial washing of the cup did not correct the filth that dwelt within the heart of the person who washed the cup. Salvation comes from a pure heart and a pure love of God and no practice can cause that...but having that can cause certain practices.
Being born a new creature with that pure heart is what causes us to turn from sinful practices. We do the practice because our heart is telling us to, not because the law is telling us to. This is why things we did before we were saved suddenly become disgusting to us after we are saved. It is this behavior that sets us apart or makes us holy, not what we eat.
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