It Tastes Good!
At the end of the 6th day of creation God made the statement that Moses recorded, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31 NIV) The goodness of our God’s creation is under attack and it is necessary that we understand our Father’s creation from the point of view of the new covenant era and the law of Christ. We were created with an sense of taste and an appreciation of beauty and texture. This is said to be “very good.” Yet, this truth has constantly been under attack throughout church history by the teaching of asceticism. This teaching seeks to pursue holiness through the denial of earthly and physical pleasures. This teaching is answered in the New Covenant era by the apostle Paul.
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do your submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 2:20-23 NIV)
Holiness comes from the work of the Spirit in the life of the believer (Romans 8:5-14). The Spirit causes the believer to be discontented with those things that are displeasing to him (Titus 2:11-12). Whatever we do that is not done for the glory of God must not be done. There was a time in my early walk with the Lord that I could not play tennis to the glory of God since I was so competitive. There was nothing wrong with the game of tennis. I just could not manage to play it with a God-honoring attitude. This applies to the television, movies, etc. There are no foods that are off limits to us today. It would do no good to quote 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV) where it is said that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore we should honor God with our bodies, the context is about avoiding the sin of sexual immorality, not certain foods.
It is true that during the Old Covenant era under the Mosaic Law there were holiness laws that restricted what you could eat (Leviticus 11). It was sin to eat something that was forbidden under the Mosaic Law. But this era was the time of the picture. Our God was illustrating through physical forms spiritual truths (Colossians 2:16-17). Now that we live this side of Pentecost in the New Covenant era we are no longer under the Mosaic law but under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-21). In the Law of Christ there are no longer any restrictions regarding what we should eat or what we should wear. Now, we are to do all things in such a way as to bring glory to our God. To bring glory is to do everything in a manner that does not go against the law of Christ (Romans 12:2).
Our Father in heaven has given to his children an amazing world that is to be enjoyed as long as we recognize our obligation to do all things for the glory of God. And in closing is should be noted that all believers have this work of the Spirit working in them that causes them to keep on loving their Lord which results in their having an ever increasing desire to do all things for his glory.
So enjoy certain foods and certain colors and appreciate the beauty that is around you, for you were created this way by the God of heaven and earth and he described his creation as VERY GOOD!
Category : 
Posts
Geoff,
What God created was meant to bring glory to Him and to benefit us.
There is nothing wrong with what He created but it is how we misuse it and mistreat what God has provided for us.
I do disagree that the Gentiles were ever under the Mosaic laws. I based this on what is found in Psalms 147:19,20. May I ask for your comments on the verse given? Does this not show that we were never under the Law, although I do believe that God created Adam with a moral conscience that was innocent of sin. But did have the capacity to sin or not to sin. Thank you.
Greg,
Much thanks for your email. I do believe that the Gentiles were NOT under the Mosaic Law. They are guilty of violating the law of the conscience (Romans 2:14-15). The Mosaic Law was only given to the nation of Israel. Please respond with any of your comments. Bye for now, Geoff
Hi, Geoff; I look forward to seeing you next week! I’ll ask now, though: Do you concur that just as the Old Covenant/”Mosaic Law was only given to the nation of Israel”, the New Covenant Law (“Law of Christ”) is the KANON (standard) against which will be measured only those “under the blood” of the New Covenant and that “the works of the law written on the heart” (“law of the conscience”) is the KANON wrt reprobate (non-elect) souls?
Jim, It was very good seeing you at the Bunyan Conference. I would not agree with your statement. I would say that the Mosaic Law was only for Israel while the Law of Christ is for all men. The Old Covenant era had an Israel focus while the New Covenant era has a world focus. Keep wrestling with the issue. Geoff
http://www.anchoredintruth.org/tcc is the website for the next conference — the True Church Conference, featuring Paul Washer and Voddie Baucham — I hope to attend and at which I hope to see you, Geoff, along with Mike as well as NCT folks from other regions.
I certainly haven’t finished “wrestling” with the issue and I fully concur that the Old Covenant was for ethnic/national Israel while the New Covenant is for “… a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages …” (Rev. 7:9). That said, my previous comment describes my “postion” wrt the instant issue. While I regret that we didn’t discuss such a month ago, I’m thankful that the reason for that is the fact that we discussed so many other fascinating issues! I do hope to have opportunity to attend an IDS conference soon, btw.
How was your side-trip to State College? My old school hosts yours two weeks from Saturday (5 p.m. P.S.T.); at a minimum, I hope that the Buckeyes demonstrate that they do indeed belong on the same field with the Nittany Lions and that the officials won’t ruin it this time (as an official, I exceedingly rarely negatively comment about officiating; 9/13 in the Coliseum is — unfortunately — an all-too-worthy exception).