In a world where differences seem to divide us more than ever, it's crucial to remember the essence of compassion and understanding, especially regarding matters of faith and personal choices. As Christians, we're blessed to have moved beyond the constraints of the Mosaic Laws, those guidelines once necessary for spiritual growth and connection with God. Mosaic Laws Versus Jesus' Truth and Grace The Mosaic Laws were intricate, filled with ceremonies, rituals, and symbols intended to guide people in their faith journey. They served as a bridge leading humanity toward Christ, reminding them of their duties and responsibilities. Yet, as God observed our struggle to uphold these laws, He sent His Son, Jesus, to fulfill them completely. Jesus didn't come to abolish the Law of Moses but to bring it to its consummation. His sacrifice on the cross marked the fulfillment of those laws, liberating us from their mandates. Through His grace, we are no longer bound by legalistic observances but are saved from sin and embraced by His love. As Jesus Himself said in John 13:34-35 (ESV): 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." However, the transition from the law to grace wasn't easy for everyone, especially for Jewish Christians, who found it challenging to let go of familiar rituals. Yet, the essence of grace and truth brought by Jesus surpasses the confines of any law as John 1:17 (NIV) reminds us: 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. What Defiles a Person? While we should never knowingly serve pork to someone who regards it as "unclean," and we may choose not to eat pork in their presence, we, however, reject the idea of condemning others who consume it as part of their regular diet. Judging others in this matter comes from the mistaken belief that today, pork is forbidden, unclean, going against God's wishes, and eating it defiles the body and the Holy Spirit living in it. We can point to several points in Scripture that weigh in on this matter, for example, Mark 7:14-23 (ESV), which reads: 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." In Acts 10:10-15 (NLT), we read how God sent meat for Peter to eat, and when Peter would not eat the meat, claiming it was unclean, God made it clear that anything He made clean is clean. 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them." No Judgment When faced with criticism or judgment for choices that may differ from others' interpretations, it's essential to recall the wisdom of Scripture. Romans 14:1-4 and Romans 14:14-15 teach us about respecting individual convictions, emphasizing that what may be permissible for one could cause distress to another. Romans 14:1-4 (NLT) Similarly, 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 and 1 Timothy 4:4-5 reassure us that everything created by God is good and acceptable, urging us to receive all with gratitude and without causing unnecessary offense. 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 (CJB) We, as humans, are also God's creatures. In Acts 10:28-29 (NLT), we read that we should not judge people as unclean. 28 Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me. Released From the Laws I believe the Mosaic laws were in place to help guide people toward a reliable, sustainable lifestyle, one that pleased God. But, when God saw that man could not follow these laws, He sent His Son, Jesus, to fulfill these laws once and for all. It was at the moment of sacrifice in death that our lives were released from the confines of the Mosaic laws. With Jesus' death and resurrection, we were then released under the love of Jesus' grace and guidance. The laws became a burden, and in time, the laws were drilled down to just a few things, as pointed out in Acts 15:29 (NLT): 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell. I believe it is essential to read Acts 15:13-31 to gain a deeper understanding of the laws, why they were instilled in the first place, and why they were reduced to just following a few basic laws that would not hinder believers but would allow them to live a life with a deeper connection to God. Acts 15:13-31 (NLT) God Made All Things Good I believe God made everything good, and I do not judge what people eat, what they wear, or how they act. I leave judgment up to God. Colossians 2:16-17 (NLT) says: 16 So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. In a world where diversity is celebrated, let us extend the same grace and understanding to one another as Christ has shown us. Instead of chastising differences, let us embrace them with love and humility, remembering that our ultimate calling is to love one another as Christ loves us. KEY:
CJB = Complete Jewish Bible ESV = English Standard Version NIV = New International Version NLT = New Living Translation Red text denotes direct quotes of Jesus speaking.
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Today, one of my friends asked if I have favorite scriptures. The truth is, I have several favorite scriptures. John 3:16, Hebrews 11:1, and 1 Corinthians 13:13. But, if I had to pick one, it would be 1 Corinthians 13:13 because I feel it encompasses the concept of everything I believe about life with Jesus. John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 is a verse that summarizes everything we need to know about God. Concisely and stated, God loved the world so much that He sacrificed His only Son so that our sins could be forgiven. The world had become separated and rebellious against God. Sin was rampant. And, you see, God could not look upon sin, so something had to be done. A sacrifice of atonement had to be made. When we sacrifice something, it should be precious. What good is a sacrifice that we don’t care about? Is it a sacrifice if we are willing to throw it away anyway? No, a sacrifice is something valuable to us, and the thought of giving it up makes it a sacrifice. God loved His Son like a father loves a child. And God loves us like a father loves a child. The sacrifice of God’s only child is a sacrifice like no other. And, He made that sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven, we could have a way to build a relationship with Him, and we could be invited into the Kingdom of Heaven to enjoy a glorious life forever in the presence of God, our Creator. There is no greater love than the love our Father has for us. His sacrifice is evidence of that. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We know there is a Creator, God. We know God saved us through His Son, Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. And we know that Christ is coming back for us. We know God loves us merely by all He has done for us. We have faith in God’s promises. Our Father has never and never will lie to us. Hope is living this life without a doubt, but with the expectation of Jesus returning to take us home to the Father’s Kingdom. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Love is the greatest gift of all time. It is a gift that can be given and received simultaneously. It is out of love that we have been saved. Out of love, we have been given an opportunity to have eternal life in Heaven. And, for that, we are asked to do nothing except to believe and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Jesus Christ is the epitome of love. His sacrifice says it all. We live life with faith and hope of His return. As He loves us, He asks us to love others. Bestow upon others the kind of love He has bestowed upon us. Do you have favorite scriptures? Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-jacket-sitting-beside-woman-in-blue-dress-shirt-6860466/ Copyright Marlene C Bertrand April 1, 2023 Marlene Bertrand is an evangelist and a reputably ordained minister. In 2012, Marlene established a ministry with Christian House International to share the gospel with the world. Through Voice of Hope, Marlene hopes people will learn about the Lord, our Savior and will come to know, love, and trust Him for a life forever in the Kingdom of God. Faith is a difficult concept for people to grasp. For those of us who profess our love for Christ, faith is one of those things we must have, and there are no ifs, ands, or buts. We either have faith, or we don’t have faith. There is nothing in between. Strong Faith Carries Us Through Life We live in a chaotic world. Every day every moment, we hear of senseless acts of violence. We experience hardships and loss that can never be recovered. God has a beautiful plan for us in a heavenly kingdom that is created for those who are faithful to Him. Faith understands that the world we live in today is not the ultimate world destined for us to live in forever. No matter what we see, hear, and experience, we are destined for a better place. Only faith will carry us through to the life we are meant to live forever. We have power through our Lord, Jesus Christ. We must keep our eyes on the Lord, and as we make decisions, we must make them based on what pleases our Lord. We must pray, and as we pray, we must have faith in the prayers we lift to our Heavenly Father. Having a solid and high level of faith helps us endure this earth. Let us take our troubles to our Lord, Jesus Christ, who strengthens us, for it is through Him that we have the power to do everything worthy of His blessings. As is written in the book of Matthew, whatever we desire as it pleases the Lord, we can achieve through our Lord, Jesus Christ. He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” ~Matthew 17:20 (ESV) Have Faith Faith is central to our daily walk with God. Faith is based on the Word of God, and as we read in Matthew 17:20, we cannot go wrong when we have faith. Let’s keep our eyes on the Lord and make faith-based decisions. Let us remember that without faith, pleasing God is impossible. Why? Because anyone who comes to Him through the Lord must believe He exists. And we must believe that because of our faith and earnest service to Him, He rewards us. --Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/landscape-nature-flowers-summer-46164/
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