{"id":983,"date":"2025-08-11T16:06:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T16:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/?p=983"},"modified":"2025-08-11T16:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T16:06:11","slug":"pork-the-law-and-the-gospel-from-abrahams-covenant-to-christian-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/?p=983","title":{"rendered":"Pork, the Law, and the Gospel: From Abraham\u2019s Covenant to Christian Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. The Gospel Story in Brief<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From Genesis to Revelation, God\u2019s plan of salvation has never changed \u2014 it has always been by <strong>His grace through faith<\/strong>, not by human effort or rituals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>God\u2019s Covenant with Abraham<\/strong> \u2013 In <strong>Genesis 15<\/strong>, God made His covenant with Abraham <em>while Abraham was asleep<\/em>. This shows the covenant depended entirely on God\u2019s promise, not man\u2019s performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Promise<\/strong> \u2013 Through Abraham\u2019s seed \u2014 Christ \u2014 all nations would be blessed (<strong>Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Law<\/strong> \u2013 Given later through Moses, not to save but to reveal sin and point to the need for a Saviour (<strong>Galatians 3:19\u201324<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Christ\u2019s Fulfilment<\/strong> \u2013 Jesus perfectly kept the Law, died for our sins, and rose again so we can be justified by faith alone (<strong>Romans 5:1<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Core Gospel<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cThat Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 15:3\u20134<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> God saves by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone \u2014 nothing we do or keep can earn His favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. The Law About Pork in Its Place<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Old Covenant, <strong>Leviticus 11:7<\/strong> forbade Israel to eat pork. This was part of the ceremonial laws meant to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set Israel apart from pagan nations (<strong>Leviticus 20:25\u201326<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teach holiness and separation from sin (symbolically)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foreshadow the complete purity found in Christ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These food laws were <strong>never the basis of salvation<\/strong> \u2014 they were temporary shadows pointing forward to Christ (<strong>Colossians 2:16\u201317<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Jesus and the Apostles on Food Laws<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Jesus<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cThere is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man\u2026 This he said, making all meats clean\u201d (<strong>Mark 7:15, 19<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peter\u2019s Vision<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWhat God hath cleansed, that call not thou common\u201d (<strong>Acts 10:15<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Paul<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cI know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself\u201d (<strong>Romans 14:14<\/strong>). He also says all food \u201cis sanctified by the word of God and prayer\u201d (<strong>1 Timothy 4:3\u20135<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong> Under the New Covenant, eating pork is not sin \u2014 but how we use this freedom matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Freedom Governed by Love \u2013 1 Corinthians 10:23\u201333<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paul applies this principle when speaking about food that had been offered to idols, but the truth applies equally to any \u201cclean\/unclean\u201d food debate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Freedom in Christ<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cAll things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 10:23<\/strong>).<br>In Christ, we are free to eat all foods, including pork \u2014 <strong>but Christian love asks a further question: Will my choice strengthen others and honour Christ, or could it cause someone to stumble?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seek others\u2019 good<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cLet no man seek his own, but every man another\u2019s wealth\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 10:24<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eat with thanksgiving<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWhatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord\u2019s, and the fulness thereof\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 10:25\u201326<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avoid causing offense<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cIf any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 10:28<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do all for God\u2019s glory<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWhether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 10:31<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Gospel first<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cEven as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved\u201d (<strong>1 Corinthians 10:33<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. The Unchanging Center: The Gospel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever the topic \u2014 pork, feast days, or other outward practices \u2014 the key question is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Does this point people to faith in Christ\u2019s finished work alone, or does it add human rules as a condition for being right with God?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anything that adds to the cross <strong>distorts the Gospel<\/strong> (<strong>Galatians 1:6\u20139<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Final Thought<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The covenant with Abraham shows salvation is <strong>God\u2019s work alone<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Law reveals our inability to achieve righteousness by ourselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christ\u2019s death and resurrection provide complete righteousness for all who believe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food laws \u2014 including the prohibition on pork \u2014 are fulfilled in Christ.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our freedom is real, but love and the Gospel govern how we use it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.\u201d \u2013 <strong>1 Corinthians 10:31<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. The Gospel Story in Brief From Genesis to Revelation, God\u2019s plan of salvation has never changed \u2014 it has always been by His grace through faith, not by human effort or rituals. Bottom line: God saves by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone \u2014 nothing we do or keep can earn His favour. 2. The Law About Pork in Its Place In the Old Covenant, Leviticus 11:7 forbade Israel to eat pork. This was part of the ceremonial laws meant to: These food laws were never the basis of salvation \u2014 they were temporary shadows pointing forward to Christ (Colossians 2:16\u201317). 3. Jesus and the Apostles on Food Laws Conclusion: Under the New Covenant, eating pork is not sin \u2014 but how we use this freedom matters. 4. Freedom Governed by Love \u2013 1 Corinthians 10:23\u201333 Paul applies this principle when speaking about food that had been offered to idols, but the truth applies equally to any \u201cclean\/unclean\u201d food debate: 5. The Unchanging Center: The Gospel Whatever the topic \u2014 pork, feast days, or other outward practices \u2014 the key question is: Does this point people to faith in Christ\u2019s finished work alone, or does it add human rules as a condition for being right with God? Anything that adds to the cross distorts the Gospel (Galatians 1:6\u20139). 6. Final Thought \u201cWhether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.\u201d \u2013 1 Corinthians 10:31<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-religion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=983"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":984,"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983\/revisions\/984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enslin.vanblerk.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}