24-Questions Regarding Health - KJV

1. Didn't Jesus Say, "It Is Not What Goes into a Man But It's What Goes Out Which Defiles Him?".

Mark 7:18-20 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; [19] Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? [20] And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

2. The New Testament Plainly Tells Us to Keep Our Bodies Undefiled As Temples of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods.

1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

3. The Scriptures Are Consistent in Their Teaching.

They do not tell us to carefully consider what to eat and Drink in one place, and then in another place tell us it doesn't matter what we Drink and eat.

4. The Pharisees Had Very Strict Laws Regarding Ceremonial Cleanliness.

Mark 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

Mark 7:2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Mark 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

5. Jesus' Remarks in Mark 7:18-20 Are to Refute This Missunderstanding of the Teachers of That Day.

The object of the discussion in Mark 7 was not the Levitical health laws of Leviticus 11 which were given by a loving God to preserve the health of His people. The discussion was about the Jewish "tradition of the elders" (mark 7:5). The Pharisees believed that to eat with unwashed hands, a person absorbed or took in defilement from the Gentiles. Jesus was not repudiating the health laws which our Lord Himself gave. Instead He was rejecting the idea that a person was ceremonially defiled by touching a Gentile.

In the context of Mark 7, Jesus is saying that "nothing from outside you can produce defilement or sin. " All sin begins in the mind. The Jews rejected God's commandments, to maintain their tradition of exclusiveness (mark 7:9).

The expression "purging all meats" (k. J. V. ) in verse 19 is better translated "purging all foods. " The word is "broma. " No food is ceremonially unclean. No food carries sin within it. Not from without, but from within sin arises (mark 7:21).

Jesus did not promote unclean animals as food. They were scavengers never to be eaten. The issue in Mark 7 is not health as to whether or not to eat unclean animals, but rather ceremonial defilement which the Jews believed came from touching Gentiles, transferring their defilement into themselves through foods into the body.

6. Didn't Paul Say, "Meat Doesn't Commend Us to God, We Are No Better Or Worse If We Eat It. ".".

1 Corinthians 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

7. Didn't He Also Say That We Should Eat Whatever Is Sold in the Market Place?

1 Corinthians 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

8. Paul Answers the Questions at the Beginning of 1 Corinthians 8.

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

9. So That No One Will Misunderstand Paul Emphasizes the Same Reason in Verse 4.

1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

10. Concerning the Quote From 1 Corinthians 10, Verse 25, Paul Ends His Discussion About Meat Offered to Idols in Verse 28.

1 Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof:

11. Portions of the Meat Which Were Used in Idol Worship at Pagan Temples in Corinth Were Then Sold in the Market Places.

This led some very strict Jews to become vegetarians.

12. Note What Paul Said to the Romans.

Romans 14:2-4 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. [3] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. [4] Who art thou that judgest another mans servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

13. The Issue at Stake Here, Both in Corinth and in Rome, Is Whether It Is Morally Wrong to Eat Meat Offered to Idols.

In the eating of this meat, is a person actually participating in idol worship?

14. Paul's Response Is That Idols Are Nothing at All.

15. However, Paul Does Go on to Address the Idea That Our Liberty May Become a Stumbling Block for Someone Else.

1 Corinthians 8:11-13 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? [12] But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. [13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

16. At Stake Here Is Not Unclean Foods But Food Offered to Idols.

Jesus did not come to cleanse pigs. Unclean animals which were unhealthful in the Old Testament are still unhealthful in the New Testament.

17. The Lord Will Not Withhold Any Good Thing From Us.

Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

18. Unclean Animals Do Not Fall in the Category of Good Things.

They are scavengers and unfit for food.

19. Aren't the Health Laws in the Bible Just Jewish Old Testament Rituals Which Christ Did Away with at the Cross?

When Jesus died, He gave His life to redeem mankind. His death did not affect in anyway what was healthy and what was not healthy. It only makes sense that if pork, for example, was unhealthy because it was a scavenger before the cross, it is unhealthy because it is a scavenger after the cross.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Biblical health laws are not for the Jews alone.
When Noah entered the ark, he was instructed to bring the unclean in by twos. Since the clean animals would be eaten due to the shortage of vegetation after the flood, they were brought in by sevens.
In Leviticus 11, God distinguishes between clean and unclean animals for all mankind.

20. Isaiah Describes Those Who Rebel Against God As Worshipping Idols and Eating Swines Flesh.

Isaiah 65:2-4 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; [3] A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; [4] Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swines flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

The prophet Isaiah reveals the results of rebellion as destroying those who eat unclean animals.

God knows best. He wants for us to be in good health. He invites us to give up anything that will harm our body temple in which He want to dwell.

21. Since God Told Noah, "Every Moving Thing Which Liveth Shall Be Meat for You," Isn't It Permissible to Eat Whatever We Want?

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

We might ask, "was God giving Noah permission to eat snakes, rats, alligators, lizards, worms, and cockroaches? Certainly not! Noah already knew the difference between clean and unclean foods.

God was simply making a statement. Noah, you may now eat flesh foods.

The evidence is that God clearly forbade unclean animals later in both Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

22. God Does Not Change.

Psalms 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

23. Since God Does Not Change, Would He Give Permission to Noah to Do Something He Forbade Moses to Do?

All of God's Laws Including Those Relating to Health Were Given in Love to Reduce Disease and Increase Happiness.

Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Many in the scientific community recognize that the health principles of the Bible can significantly assist in reducing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. God's ways are best.

24. Doesn't the Bible Say to Beware of Those Who Command You to Abstain From Meat?

1 Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

This passage describes a group who depart from the Biblical faith in the last days. According To Timothy 4:3, they teach twin errors. This group forbids marriage and commands to abstain from meats (k. J. V. ) or foods (greek: broma) which God has created to be received with thanksgiving. The word meat (k. J. V. ) refers not to animals in particular, but food in general. The same word is used in the Greek version of the Old Testament in Genesis 1:29.

The Greek word broma, could as well be translated as food, rather than meat. Meat was an old English term that was used for food.

Throughout the centuries, certain ascetics, monks, and priests have declared the world as evil. Both marriage and food are created by God. They are both part of God's good plan for the human race.

According to 1 Timothy 4:4, 5, those creatures sanctified by the word of God are good and not to be refused when received with thanksgiving. Paul here is arguing against the fanaticism which declares all physical pleasure as evil.

God desires that His creatures heartily enjoy the food He has created for them. The issue here is not clean or unclean foods, but whether food itself is part of the material world and to be rejected through a monastic life. Paul says no! God's creation is good.

25. What Difference Does It Make As to What We Eat and Drink? Isn't God Interested Only in Our Spirituality?

Human beings are a unit. Whatever affects the physical also affects the mental and the spiritual faculties. Our physical habits affect the quality of blood which passes through the brain. A poor quality of blood supplied to the brain makes one less capable of comprehending spiritual truth.

26. Paul Says This About Body and the Spirit:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

27. John Adds This:

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Next Bible Study: 25-State of the Dead

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