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19
Dec
2022

Did Jesus Declare All Foods Clean?

All Foods Clean

The New Testament clearly reveals that the Old Testament dietary laws did not carry over into the New Covenant. However, some of the passages which people think eliminate the dietary laws, in fact, do not. One such verse is Mark 7:19 where many of our English Bibles say that Jesus “declared all foods clean.” 

since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (Mark 7:19 ESV)

This is a very direct statement, is it not? How could one say that this verse doesn’t teach that Jesus eliminated the Old Testament food laws? The problem is one of translation. As it turns out, translators are not in agreement on the proper way to translate Mark 7:19 into English. In addition, the context does not support the idea that the Old Testament food laws are under consideration in this passage.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Misconceptions, Purity
12
Dec
2022

Are Christians Required To Keep Old Testament Dietary Laws?

Dietary Laws

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he warned that in the church age (last days) many would depart from the faith and that false teachers would go forth speaking lies (1 Tim 4:1-2). What lies would they speak? Some of their lies undermined marriage. Paul dealt with marriage issues in chapter two and he’ll have more to say about marriage in chapter five. Other lies were about what foods God allows under the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant some foods were off limits. What about now? Are Christians required to keep Old Testament dietary laws?

Paul rather bluntly says that those who teach we should abstain from certain foods are lying! He unequivocally says that God created all foods and we are to reject none of them.

3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Tim. 4:3–5 ESV)

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy
05
Dec
2022

Christian, What Covenant Are You Under?

Covenant

Lots of Christians are confused by the covenants of the Bible. While everyone knows that Christians are bound to the New Covenant, we don’t know what to do with the Old Covenant. 

To make matters even more confusing, conventional wisdom tells us that we should obey the Ten Commandments, but the Ten Commandments were part of the Old Testament law. How do we reconcile these confusing mixed messages? Is it really that hard to sort out? The Bible makes it pretty clear how to understand the testaments, but “conventional wisdom” tends to muddy the waters.

Let’s take a look at the covenants, when they were made, who they were made with, and the reasons they were made. This will help us sort it all out.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Covenants
28
Nov
2022

Are Christians Required To Tithe?

Tithe

I’ve heard people ask, “Why do we tithe ten percent?” This question reveals that the person thinks tithing is a word synonymous with giving. The way many Christians conflate “tithing” and “giving” suggests that they don’t know what the word tithe means. 

Tithe is a word which means one tenth; ten percent. Tithing is the practice of giving ten percent of one’s income to the church. If I give nine percent (or less) of my income I am not tithing. If I give eleven percent (or more) of my income, that is not tithing either. To tithe is to give ten percent.

Some pastors and teachers tell us that giving ten percent is mandatory. On top of that, if we are willing and able we should give “offerings” that are above and beyond the tithe. Conventional Christian wisdom says this is the way it is and the way it has always been. Does the New Testament require Christians to tithe?

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Misconceptions, Money
21
Nov
2022

The Ten Commandments Are Not For Christians!

It is assumed by most people that Christians are obligated to obey the Ten Commandments. Is this true? The question shouldn’t really be about whether Christians must obey the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were part of the Mosaic covenant and therefore part of the law:

“And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.” (Deut. 4:13 ESV)

Therefore, the question should be, “Are Christians required to obey the law of Moses?” This is a question that has resulted in confusion for centuries. There was confusion about it in the earliest days of the church and there has been confusion ever since.

We can see in the New Testament that Christians continued to observe certain Old Covenant commands. Yet, the authors of the New Testament are silent about other Mosaic laws. This leaves us wondering how we are to know which laws from the old covenant Christians are required to obey. 

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Covenants, Misconceptions