Losing Debates without Right Division

Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry was made under the Law (Gal 4:4) and was “a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (Rom 15:8).  He was sent “unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 15:24).  Therefore, as a Jew under the Mosaic Law, He never ate pork.  That is correct.

The dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 applied to Israel under the Law program.  That is not the program we are under today.  To understand that properly, one must rightly divide the word of truth.  

The risen, glorified Christ revealed a new dispensation (Eph 3:2) to the apostle Paul, the dispensation of the grace of God (Col 1:25-27).  In this present dispensation the body of Christ is not under the Law:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 6:14  

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Gal 5:18

Paul, our apostle (Rom 11:13; 1 Tim 2:7), is crystal clear about meats (food we consume):

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.

1 Tim 4:4-5

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself…

Rom 14:14

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Col 2:16-17

The Law (including the pork prohibition) was a schoolmaster to bring Israel to Christ (Gal 3:24-25).  That same schoolmaster works upon unbelievers today also.  Once faith is come, we are no longer under that schoolmaster.  The handwriting of ordinances was blotted out and nailed to His cross (Col 2:14).  We are not under the Law.

The issue that Muslims following “the laws of the prophets” encounter is that they are still attempting to operate under a Law system and they have no understanding of Right Division, or Dispensationalism for that matter.  That is consistent for them.  But Bible-believing Christians who rightly divide are not trying to imitate the earthly ministry of Jesus to Israel.  We follow the doctrine of the risen Christ given through Paul for the body of Christ in this present age of grace:

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1 Tim 1:16

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Cor 4:16

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

1 Cor 11:1

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Phil 4:9

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

1 Cor 14:37

Jesus never ate pork because He was under the Law provided to Israel.  We eat pork (or don’t) because we are under grace, and every creature of God is good when received with thanksgiving.  That is the difference between Israel’s prophetic program and the mystery revealed to the apostle Paul.  That is the difference between Law and grace.  That is the difference between Peter’s ministry and Paul’s ministry.  Those who will not stand ashamed at the Judgment Seat of Christ understand the difference.