New Testament Verses that Apply to the topic of Following Old Testament Food Laws

 

1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

 

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

 

 

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

 

Gal 6:12-13  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  (13)  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

 

Gal 3:16-25  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  (17)  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.  (18)  For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.  (19)  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  (20)  Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.  (21)  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  (22)  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  (23)  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  (24)  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer

 

under a schoolmaster.

 

End scripture references.

 

Here are a few interesting sections of New Testament to consider.  I have been considering studying this for one of my Kingdom Lessons books.  Maybe the next one, number five, will discuss this topic.

 

It seems in 1^st Corinthians Chapter 9 that Paul not only makes a distinction between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant but seems to hint that he is under the law of Christ and not the Old Covenant.

 

Ephesians 2:15 seems to be saying that the Old Covenant and Ordinances were done away with.

 

Who are the Judaizers? It seems like they were trying to force new Christians back under the law, with circumcision being just one of those laws.  It also seems to hint here that there would be those in the future would cause a great hullabaloo getting people back under the law. Paul later prophesies that those will come that some will forbid the eating of meats and marrying.  I don’t think it is fair to point at just the Vatican when considering this prophecy.

 

When Paul meets with James to discuss this issue and has the opportunity to make all the food laws binding on Christians, does he do so? No.

 

If you look at Galatians three, it appears that God wants to write His law on our hearts, rather than have us follow the letter of the law and Old Covenant.  At the same time, I personally believe there are some old laws which aren’t modified in the N.T., but that we must still be careful and prayerful about how we apply them in our lives.

 

Paul says the law is a school master to show us that we need Jesus.  To me, that means we would be following His Spirit rather than the Old Covenant law which we cannot follow perfectly.  Only Christ had the ability to follow those laws and become the perfect sacrifice.     If he would not have fulfilled the law before his crucifixion, would not that have made his atonement null and void?  But because He did fulfill that law does it mean that we must do the same now?  This weighs heavily on me because I have friends who are very passionate about this question, pro and con.

 

I am still wrestling with this concept, so whether you agree with me or not, I covet your prayers.  While I am curious on what modern teachers teach on this issue, if I am a leader, I have to come to an understanding using the Bible, myself.  I can’t just rely on what others are saying.

 

We each have our own walk. What if, while not trading Christ for the law, we as individuals are called to some modifications in our life that appear to be going back under the law, but isn’t in actuality going back under the law. For example, pork is very unhealthy. God is a good  Father.  If we wish to abstain totally from pork that is not a terrible thing.  Personally, I do not abstain from pork, but I do limit my intake. From time I enjoy a breakfast of toast and eggs, with bacon or sausage, but most mornings I eat some berries, coconut, and nuts, and yogurt.  I have a friend, where the Lord has requested that he not cut his hair, but it seems that Jesus has told him, that he is not under the original Nazarite vow. It seems Jesus is calling him not to cut his hair for various reasons having to do with obedience and supernatural strength.

 

I have learned that many of as brothers and sisters disagree on doctrine.  I have also found that many of us when we say “I want to know the truth,” are really saying, “I only want to know the truth if it fits my doctrine.” In other words, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I have already made up my mind!”  Those who are pushing the modern “law following” are they onto something or have they just fallen heed to the doctrines of devils?  Are they modern day Judaizers?  Are they right? Am I wrong?  Either one of us could be tweaking scripture to justify our doctrinal stance.  That said, so far, from what I am reading in the New Testament, as of yet, I am not seeing that Jesus is calling me to go back under the law.