| |
| |
But
food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if
we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. (NASB) 1 Corinthians
8:8
If
you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the
world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit
yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste,
do not touch!” . . . These are matters which have, to be
sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement
and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against
fleshly indulgence. (NASB) Colossians 2:20-23 |
Notice that there are no longer any rules against what we can eat.
Earlier, the apostle Peter had been told that he could eat anything.
There is a previous question
which discusses Peter's experience. However, we should add that
this does not mean we can drink poison nor can we be gluttons. The
dietary laws were made obsolete by the New Covenant, but God had to
speak to Peter in a dream before he would accept the fact that there
was a change.
Capital Punishment. Capital punishment
is
God's rule. It has never been replaced and it is still in force today.
Yes, the Old Covenant was replaced. but God restated it in the New
Testament. Therefore, capital punishment is in effect today. Capital
punishment for murder is still in effect today, but capital punishment
for adultery is not (John 8:1-11). Capital punishment is the responsibility
of the government according to Romans 13:1-4. Capital punishment only
reduces criminal behavior when it is enforced, it reduces crime by
removing criminals from this present life and by serving as a strong
warning to others. The present practice in many countries is to tolerate
crime and criminals. This was not God's design. Evil is being tolerated.
Conclusion: Only
some of the Old Testament laws apply today. Many have been canceled,
but some have been retained. Most of those which were canceled deal
with the Mosaic Law such as the dietary laws, the sacrificial system,
keeping of the Sabbath on Saturday, and the priesthood. God has established
some new ones while keeping some of the old ones. Saturday
worship has been replaced with worship on Sunday. The priesthood
has been replaced with elders in the church. The greatest change
is Jesus, the perfect, sinless sacrifice who abolished the animal
sacrifices which never took away our sins. Salvation comes only
by faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing else is important for our salvation.
| |
By
this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily
ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice
for sins for all time . . . For by one offering He has perfected
for all time those who are sanctified . . . Now where there
is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering
for sin. (NASB) Hebrews 10:10-14, 18 |
|
|
