Romans 14

2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3Let 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.

14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

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.

1 Timothy 4:4
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Many people believe that God only created the law of clean and unclean for Israel, and it did not exist before. They also believe that when Christ died for us that this changed. I'd like to add a few points for further clarity.

1. God changes not, and Christ is the same yesterday and forever. Further Christ said:

God created some animals to be fit for food, and others to be bottom feeders, and God's clean up crew. Others may not be eaten because of the way their bodies process food, or simply because of their nature--such as vultures.

These have always existed from the time of creation. Thus God said to Noah:

Gen 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.

Do these distinctions still apply today? Christ said:

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Thus, that which He created for us to eat has not changed.

2. When Peter saw the vision of unclean animals in Acts 10, he knew better than to eat. He actually refused God knowing that is not what He meant. Then later, he came to realize what the purpose of the vision was. It was not to say that meat that was not created to be eaten was now able to be eaten. It was regarding Christ calling the first Gentile into the Church. They were regarded as unclean by the Jewish people, and Peter said:

Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

3. When Christ said that it was not what went into the stomach that made a person unclean it was regarding dirt in a Jewish ceremonial washing of hands up to the elbow.

Mat 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Thus, they were eating food-not unclean meat when Christ said this, and the subject was washing, not what can be eaten or not. Think about this one. It is our tradition that is used to justify eating food God forbids, not His commandment.

4. Does it only matter what we think, and not what God has commanded? Some quote Rom 14:14 thinking they can eat food declared to be unclean just because they don't personally believe it is unclean. They quote Paul to say:

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

However, this was not about eating unclean meat, but whether a person should eat no meat and only be a vegetarian. Notice the context of the verse. Paul starts this section saying:

Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

It is about being a vegetarian or not. It has nothing to do with unclean meat. Paul would not eat unclean meat. He said:

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

5. Did God Cleans unclean meat? Some translations have an added part that was put in by the translators and which is not a legitimate part of the text. For that reason in the actual rendition it will be in italics or brackets, meaning it was added. For example:

Mar 7:19 because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? THIS HE SAID MAKING ALL MEATS CLEAN.

These words in capitals are not in the original manuscripts. They were added by men who put their traditions and thoughts above God's word. This we don't want to do.

6. Is every creature good for us to eat today? Some think so by reading Paul's words to Timothy. He said:

1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

What people seem to skip over is the clear statement Paul makes about the meat be3ing sanctified by God. Sanctified means set apart. Well then, what foods are set apart by the word of God? Those in Leviticus 11 of course. So, this verse is saying we can eat anything set apart as food in the word of God. Thus, we can eat those things, but not those which are not listed as appropriate.

7. When Christ returns and rules the earth for a thousand years, what will be His opinion on this subject? When he returns, He actually punishes those eating things like swine's flesh.

Isa 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

After His return, and during the millennial reign of Christ, He builds a beautiful temple in Jerusalem and appoints priests and a prince over the temple. This is all written in Ezek chapter 40-48. What is the job of the priests during this time when Christ actually rules the earth?

Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Thus we see that God changes not. He was the same in Noah's day as He was in Israel's time, as when Christ was on earth, and as when Paul taught. Further, He is the same in the future when the Savior returns to the earth.

So, what is the point? The point is that we are not to eat these foods because God is holy and we are to be holy like He is. It is an object lesson for life. We are to make a difference between what we allow ourselves to eat to continually teach us the lesson that we are to put a difference in what we allow ourselves to do in our lives. As Paul writes the church about who is actually accepted by God:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Will we do what God says or not? What was written for Israel was written for us at the end of the age (I Cor 10:11). All Scripture is of God, (2 Tim 3:16), and there was no New Testament then. So, the point is will we eat what God says or not? Will we do what He says or not? If we don't, it is we who are the unclean. That is the object lesson of clean and unclean foods.

Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Art

Can I ask what you mean by "but again...that is in the Old Testament"? Are you implying we need not follow The Lord's commandments?

Rabbits don't actually chew their cud, but the scripture doesn't say "chew their cud", it's just translated that way.

What Rabbits do is...well, they have a very inefficient digestive system and so they eat their droppings to be re-digested.

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Pig is an animal that is unclean and said not to eat in the bible.

i wouldnt take the bible seriously for types of food to eat and not eat, thats how they ate in the past, its alot different now.

and if u still want to follow by what the bible says about food - might aswell put on some robes and go to israel