📖 UNCLEAN FOODS: ARE CHRISTIANS FORBIDDEN TO EAT THEM TODAY?
“What Was Forbidden Under Israel’s Law Is Not the Dietary Rule for the Body of Christ”
Key Texts: Leviticus 11:1–47; Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 10:25–31; Colossians 2:16; 1 Timothy 4:3–5
🔥 INTRODUCTION — DON’T PUT THE BODY OF CHRIST UNDER ISRAEL’S MENU
The poster lists foods commonly associated with the Old Testament distinction between clean and unclean animals. This raises an important question:
Can a Christian today eat pork, ... more📖 UNCLEAN FOODS: ARE CHRISTIANS FORBIDDEN TO EAT THEM TODAY?
“What Was Forbidden Under Israel’s Law Is Not the Dietary Rule for the Body of Christ”
Key Texts: Leviticus 11:1–47; Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 10:25–31; Colossians 2:16; 1 Timothy 4:3–5
🔥 INTRODUCTION — DON’T PUT THE BODY OF CHRIST UNDER ISRAEL’S MENU
The poster lists foods commonly associated with the Old Testament distinction between clean and unclean animals. This raises an important question:
Can a Christian today eat pork, shrimp, crab, lobster, squid, catfish, rabbit, or other foods prohibited to Israel under the Mosaic Law?
From a Dispensational perspective, the answer requires right division.
📖 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God… rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The question is not:
“Is Leviticus inspired?”
Absolutely—it is God's Word.
The question is:
“To whom did God give those dietary commandments, and are they God's dietary program for the Body of Christ today?”
Paul gives a remarkably clear statement:
📖 Romans 14:14
“I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself…”
And:
📖 1 Timothy 4:4
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”
Therefore:
ALL SCRIPTURE IS FOR US, BUT NOT EVERY COMMANDMENT IN SCRIPTURE WAS GIVEN TO US.
1️⃣ THE RESTRICTION UNDER THE LAW
📖 Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:2–21
We must first respect the original context.
God genuinely commanded Israel to distinguish between clean and unclean animals.
This was not imaginary. It was part of Israel's covenant life under the Law.
A. RESTRICTION was REAL
📖 Leviticus 11:46–47
Israel was commanded:
“…to make a difference between the unclean and the clean…”
For Israel under the Mosaic Law, these distinctions mattered.
They were not merely suggestions.
B. RESTRICTION was RELATED TO ISRAEL
📖 Deuteronomy 14:2
“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God…”
Notice the national context.
God had separated Israel from the nations.
Their dietary distinctions formed part of that covenant arrangement.
📖 Exodus 19:5–6
📖 Leviticus 20:24–26
C. RESTRICTION was REGULATED BY COVENANT
📖 Romans 9:4
Paul says concerning Israel:
“…the covenants, and the giving of the law…”
The Law was given specifically within God's dealings with Israel.
Paul does not say that the Body of Christ was placed under the Mosaic covenant.
Instead:
📖 Romans 6:14
“…ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
THE LAW WAS REAL, THE COMMAND WAS REAL, AND THE RESTRICTION WAS REAL—BUT RIGHT DIVISION ASKS WHO WAS UNDER THAT COVENANT.
2️⃣ THE REMOVAL OF THE DIETARY BARRIER
📖 Romans 14:14, 20; 1 Corinthians 10:25–27
Under Paul's instructions, food is not divided into categories that determine our spiritual standing before God.
A. NO FOOD UNCLEAN OF ITSELF
📖 Romans 14:14
“…there is nothing unclean of itself…”
That statement would be impossible to reconcile with putting the Body of Christ back under Leviticus 11 as its dietary law.
Paul's instruction is different.
B. NO FOOD MAKES US ACCEPTABLE
📖 1 Corinthians 8:8
“But meat commendeth us not to God…”
Eating something does not increase our justification.
Abstaining from something does not increase our justification.
Our acceptance before God is in Christ.
📖 Ephesians 1:6
C. NO FOOD SHOULD BECOME OUR BONDAGE
📖 Colossians 2:16
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink…”
Believers should not allow someone to impose Israel's dietary regulations as necessary for spirituality, justification, or acceptance with God.
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
UNDER GRACE, YOUR DINNER PLATE DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR POSITION IN CHRIST.
3️⃣ THE RECEPTION OF FOOD WITH THANKSGIVING
📖 1 Timothy 4:3–5
Paul gives one of the clearest passages concerning food during the present Dispensation of Grace.
📖 1 Timothy 4:4–5
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
A. RECEIVE with GRATITUDE
Food should remind us of God's provision.
Paul doesn't tell believers to approach meals with fear of ceremonial contamination.
He emphasizes:
THANKSGIVING.
📖 1 Timothy 4:4
B. RECEIVE without GUILT
📖 Colossians 2:20–22
Paul warns against religious regulations built around:
“Touch not; taste not; handle not…”
Religious restrictions cannot improve our completed position in Christ.
📖 Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him…”
C. RECEIVE with GODLINESS
Christian liberty is not careless living.
📖 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
The question becomes more than:
“Am I allowed to eat this?”
We should also ask:
“Can I do this responsibly and thankfully to God's glory?”
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
GRACE CHANGES THE QUESTION FROM “IS THIS CEREMONIALLY UNCLEAN?” TO “CAN I RECEIVE THIS THANKFULLY AND GLORIFY GOD?”
4️⃣ THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
📖 Romans 14:1–23; 1 Corinthians 8:8–13
Liberty does not mean selfishness.
Paul teaches freedom concerning food while simultaneously teaching sensitivity toward other believers.
A. LIBERTY without LEGALISM
📖 Romans 14:3
“Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not…”
Do not condemn a believer simply because he chooses not to eat pork or shellfish.
He may abstain for health, taste, culture, conscience, or personal preference.
His voluntary abstinence is not the problem.
The problem comes when personal abstinence becomes a supposed requirement for salvation or spiritual acceptance.
B. LIBERTY with LOVE
📖 Romans 14:15
“…Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”
You may possess liberty and still voluntarily limit yourself because you love another believer.
Christian liberty asks:
“What am I permitted to do?”
Christian love also asks:
“How will my action affect my brother?”
C. LIBERTY under LORDSHIP
📖 Romans 14:8
“…whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.”
Grace does not mean:
“I can do whatever I want.”
Grace means:
“I belong to Christ.”
📖 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
LIBERTY WITHOUT LOVE BECOMES SELFISHNESS; LIBERTY GOVERNED BY LOVE BECOMES CHRISTIAN MATURITY.
5️⃣ THE RIGHT DIVISION OF THE WORD
📖 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1–9
Here lies the doctrinal foundation.
If we fail to rightly divide Scripture, we may take commands God gave to Israel and impose them upon the Body of Christ.
A. DISTINGUISH ISRAEL'S PROGRAM
📖 Romans 9:4
To Israel belonged:
“…the covenants, and the giving of the law…”
Leviticus 11 must first be interpreted in its proper historical and dispensational setting.
B. DISCERN PAUL'S REVELATION
📖 Romans 11:13
“…I am the apostle of the Gentiles…”
For doctrine concerning the Body of Christ in the present Dispensation of Grace, we particularly recognize the revelation committed to Paul.
📖 Ephesians 3:1–9
📖 Colossians 1:25–27
And Paul's instructions concerning food are unmistakable:
📖 Romans 14:14
📖 1 Corinthians 10:25
📖 Colossians 2:16
📖 1 Timothy 4:3–5
C. DEFEND GRACE FROM LEGALISM
📖 Galatians 5:1
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…”
Do not make dietary observance a requirement for justification or spirituality when Paul does not.
We are not justified by what enters our stomach.
We are justified through faith in Christ.
📖 Romans 3:28
🔥 PREACHING LINE:
WHEN YOU RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD, YOU DON'T DELETE LEVITICUS—YOU PUT LEVITICUS WHERE GOD PUT IT.
📣 CALL TO ACTION — THREE D's
1️⃣ DIVIDE THE WORD CORRECTLY
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
Never ask only:
“Is it in the Bible?”
Also ask:
Who is speaking?
To whom?
Under what program?
Study all Scripture, but rightly divide it.
2️⃣ DEFEND YOUR LIBERTY GRACIOUSLY
📖 Galatians 5:1
Do not surrender grace liberty to religious legalism.
But never use liberty as an excuse for arrogance.
📖 Romans 14:13
3️⃣ DO EVERYTHING FOR GOD'S GLORY
📖 1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether you eat pork or abstain…
Whether you eat shrimp or abstain…
Whether you eat crab or abstain…
Your highest concern should be:
“CAN I GLORIFY GOD IN THIS?”
🏁 CONCLUSION — YOUR FOOD DOES NOT SAVE YOU
Suppose two believers sit at the same table.
One eats pork.
The other chooses vegetables.
One enjoys shrimp.
The other abstains from shellfish.
Which one is more justified before God?
Neither.
Why?
Because justification is not found on the dinner table.
JUSTIFICATION IS FOUND IN CHRIST.
📖 Romans 5:1
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Your salvation does not depend upon:
❌ avoiding pork
❌ avoiding shrimp
❌ avoiding crab
❌ keeping Israel's dietary code
It depends upon the finished work of Jesus Christ received by faith.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
Christ died for our sins.
He was buried.
He rose again the third day.
That is where salvation rests.
🔥 FINAL THOUGHTS — THE FIVE R's OF FOOD UNDER GRACE
1️⃣ RESTRICTION — Understand it.
📖 Leviticus 11:46–47
Israel genuinely had clean and unclean food regulations.
2️⃣ REMOVAL — Recognize it.
📖 Romans 14:14
Paul says nothing is unclean of itself.
3️⃣ RECEPTION — Give thanks for it.
📖 1 Timothy 4:4–5
Food may be received with thanksgiving.
4️⃣ RESPONSIBILITY — Use liberty lovingly.
📖 Romans 14:15
Your freedom should never become an excuse to harm another believer's conscience.
5️⃣ RIGHT DIVISION — Keep doctrine in its proper dispensation.
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
Do not place the Body of Christ under Israel's dietary covenant.
✝️ PORK DOES NOT CONDEMN YOU.
SHRIMP DOES NOT JUSTIFY YOU.
ABSTINENCE DOES NOT SAVE YOU.
CHRIST ALONE SAVES YOU.
📖 1 Timothy 4:4 KJV
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”
UNDER LAW: DIETARY DISTINCTIONS.
UNDER GRACE: CHRISTIAN LIBERTY WITH RESPONSIBILITY.
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH.
⚔️✝️✠ Lady Dinah Scivoletti ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠ Turco, Joan of Arc Priory ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠✠Act and God will Act (Actus et Deus Act)✠✠✝️📖⚔️
