Hi everyone!
Welcome to this week's video.
This is another video request from our subscribers.
Thank you, guys.
The question we got is, "Is it a sin to eat pork [pig]? "
What does the Bible really say about this?
That's what we're going to talk about in this video.
Let's get to it.
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Now, is it a sin to eat pork?
Well, some believers say, "Yes, it is a sin", and some of them say, "No, it is not".
And I believe these two groups are probably going to always be there, until the end of the world.
But we should not give the devil any room here to come between us and bring division.
I'm so tired of churches fighting over things all the time,
and then they forget to build each other up in love.
Our fight is not against each other.
Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
So, our fight is not with each other, or even other human beings,
but it is with all the evil that is at work behind the scenes.
And yes, we should stand for the fundamental truths of Scripture,
but we should not quarrel or argue over opinions.
Especially with people of little faith.
Paul said in Romans 14,
"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions."
"One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables."
"Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains,
and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?
It is before his own master that he stands or falls."
"And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
Let me just give you some context here.
You see, in the Old Testament, God gave the people, the nation of Israel, over 600 laws to follow.
And they had to follow them because God wanted them to be set apart, to live Holy for God.
He did not want them to live like the other nations.
And then, of course, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would also come from the nation of Israel,
and this happened in the New Testament.
So, now, while Paul was writing this, Jesus was already here and with Him,
Jesus, He brought a new covenant, and this covenant was not just for the Jews,
but also for the gentiles, for the whole world.
And you see, at this time when a lot of the gentiles came to faith in Jesus Christ,
some of the Jews judged them because they did not obey the old testament laws.
And that is why Paul stepped in here, and he wrote to them, and he further said in verse 5,
"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike."
And now, here comes a very important verse.
"Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.
The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God,
while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God."
And then he says in verse 10,
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother?
Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."
Okay, I wanted to make this part very clear, and I'm not saying it, God's Word says it.
So, let us not go and judge each other on this.
But more importantly, let us not be a stumbling block for another believer.
For example, if you know John and Linda, they believe that you should not eat pork,
don't invite them and then eat the pork in front of them.
Paul says in verse 13,
"Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer,
but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
"I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself,
but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean."
So, Paul says that it is not unclean, but if you think it is unclean,
and you still go ahead and eat it, it is unclean, and it's a sin.
Verse 15, "For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love."
Now, remember what I said at the beginning of this video,
that I'm tired of churches fighting with each other all the time,
and forgetting to build each other up in love.
Now, listen to the next few verses.
Verse 17, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
In the Holy Spirit.
Remember, we are not under the old law of sin anymore.
This is the law of sin and death. We are now under the law of the Spirit.
Romans 8:2, For the law of the Spirit, has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."
Now, let me read Romans 14:7 to you again.
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Verse 18, "Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God.
Everything is indeed clean.
Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats."
So, it's not just about eating pork or other meat.
It's about everything you do. All your actions should not be a stumbling block for someone else.
Verse 21, "It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble."
The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God.
blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves
Now, listen to this.
"But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats because the eating is not from faith."
"For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."
Well, did you get that?
Everything you do must come from faith.
If you want to do something and you doubt, you wonder, man is this right?
Is this wrong? I'm not sure.
If you then still go ahead and do it. It counts as sin. Everything you do must come from faith.
James 4:17 also says, "So whoever knows the right thing to do, and fails to do it for Him, it is sin."
Now, when we look at the Old Testament, the law forbids the people of Israel, specifically,
from eating unclean foods, and yes, pork is one of them.
Leviticus 11:7, "And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven footed but does not chew the cud,
is unclean to you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses.
They are unclean to you."
So, these were one of the laws.
The old laws that God gave specifically to the people of Israel.
And if you feel that you need to follow this rule, then you probably need to follow all of them.
Which is around 613 Old Testament laws.
For example, Leviticus 19:27 says,
"You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard."
Now, the Old Testament law was very focused on the outward things.
Actions that people had to do and much of it is still the same.
In the New Testament today it's still wrong to lie, to steal and to kill is still wrong.
But now in the New Testament, Jesus comes and He shows us that it's not just about our actions,
but more importantly, it's also about what's going on in our hearts, minds.
He said in Luke 6:45, "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good,
and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil,
for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
So, Jesus shows us that is not just our actions that can be sinful but also what's going on in our mind.
For example, Exodus 20:13 says, "You shall not murder.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:21, "You have heard that it was said to those of old you shall not murder;
and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment."
Then in verse 27 He talks about lust.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery
but I say to you, That everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent,
has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Now, when it comes to pork, clean and unclean foods, Jesus again points us to the heart.
Mark 7:15, "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.
And when He had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked Him about the parable.
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, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?'
Thus He declared all foods clean.
And He said, 'What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
For from within out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts.
Sexual, immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride,
foolishness, all these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.'"
I did not say it. Jesus said it.
Food. All foods are clean but what defiles you are the things that are going on in your heart.
God also gave Peter a vision showing him that the formerly unclean foods are now clean.
Acts 10:10, "And he became hungry and wanted something to eat.
But while they were preparing it,
he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending.
Being led down by its four corners upon the earth.
In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air, and there came a voice to him.
'Rise, Peter. Kill and eat',
but Peter said, 'By no means Lord: for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.'
And the voice came to him again a second time, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'"
When Jesus died on the cross, He saved all of us.
All of us can now be saved through faith by His grace.
And He also fulfilled the Old Testament law. That includes the law about clean and unclean food.
1 Timothy 4 says, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith
by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons
through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
who forbid marriage and require [listen to this]
and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving
by those who believe and know the truth.
For everything created by God is good,
and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
for it is made Holy by the Word of God and prayer."
So, now you know what Scripture says about eating pork.
Now personally, I don't like pork that much, I think there are a lot more healthier options to eat.
But if I had to eat it to survive, I probably will,
but I will not eat it as a stumbling block for other people, and you should not do it either.
But if you feel convinced in your heart that you should not eat pork, then don't do it.
And even if you doubt if you should or should not, then don't do it.
Because if you do it then it will be sin.
This is between you and God.
I'm not going to argue about this, and I'm not going to come between you and God.
Titus 3:9 says, "Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions,
and quarrels about the law for they are unprofitable and worthless."
Now, the more important question that you should ask yourself is not, 'is it right or wrong to eat pork?'
But the question you should ask yourself is, 'Why are we not under the old law anymore?'
What does it mean that we're under a new covenant?
If you don't understand this, then you need to understand this because this is the gospel.
Everything that Jesus came and did and He taught us, this is the gospel.
And if you don't know, then you need to know.
So, please watch this video here, and I'll see you there.
And always remember, God loves you, and I love you too.
Bye!