Holiness

[Christ4Ever]

God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

To be holy means to be set aside for special use, to be dedicated and blessed. It’s a big deal. Holy is a term that easily applies to God, but it’s a bit harder to embrace it for yourself. After all, you sin, go your own way, and are easily distracted (see Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 7:35).

When the term God’s will is applied to biblical thought, it’s part of His plan. In this case, God wants you to be holy. It’s the next part of the verse that can seem troubling. How does sexual purity connect with God’s will for personal holiness?

If you’re set apart for God’s use, then your greatest relationship will need to be with God. While God established sexual relationships within marriage, men sometimes take what He meant for their benefit and turn it into something that taints and subverts His plan. It doesn’t show genuine love to the other person because it’s mere physical desire. And it doesn’t honor God’s plan because it substitutes an enduring expression of intimacy and love for momentary satisfaction of lust.

It’s not always easy to resist sexual temptation. But it’s well worth the coast of refraining from sin to enjoy an unbroken spiritual relationship with God and a truly intimate, faithful relationship with your spouse.

 

[bibleguy]

God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

To be holy means to be set aside for special use, to be dedicated and blessed. It’s a big deal. Holy is a term that easily applies to God, but it’s a bit harder to embrace it for yourself. After all, you sin, go your own way, and are easily distracted (see Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 7:35).

When the term God’s will is applied to biblical thought, it’s part of His plan. In this case, God wants you to be holy. It’s the next part of the verse that can seem troubling. How does sexual purity connect with God’s will for personal holiness?

If you’re set apart for God’s use, then your greatest relationship will need to be with God. While God established sexual relationships within marriage, men sometimes take what He meant for their benefit and turn it into something that taints and subverts His plan. It doesn’t show genuine love to the other person because it’s mere physical desire. And it doesn’t honor God’s plan because it substitutes an enduring expression of intimacy and love for momentary satisfaction of lust.

It’s not always easy to resist sexual temptation. But it’s well worth the coast of refraining from sin to enjoy an unbroken spiritual relationship with God and a truly intimate, faithful relationship with your spouse.

Yes, we should be holy (1 Pe. 1:16 applies Lev. 11 to us).

Lev. 11 confirms that we express holiness through our obedience to Torah.

Thus, we should be holy in what we eat (Lev. 11) as well as how we express physical intimacy (Lev. 18).

 

[Christ4Ever]

Yes, we should be holy (1 Pe. 1:16 applies Lev. 11 to us).

Lev. 11 confirms that we express holiness through our obedience to Torah.

Thus, we should be holy in what we eat (Lev. 11) as well as how we express physical intimacy (Lev. 18).

Dear Bibleguy
Agree with 2 out of 3 Brother

Keeping in mind that the eating habits are not what make us unclean.
I think Peter's vision in Acts 10 was quite clear in this regard, and not the only place this is spoken of. Paul speaks of this in Romans 14 as well and even more importantly if you will, look to our Lord in Mark 7.

I'd be more specific in this, but I'm at work/lunch break and it's almost over!

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

 

[bibleguy]

Dear Bibleguy
Agree with 2 out of 3 Brother :smile:

Keeping in mind that the eating habits are not what make us unclean.
I think Peter's vision in Acts 10 was quite clear in this regard, and not the only place this is spoken of. Paul speaks of this in Romans 14 as well and even more importantly if you will, look to our Lord in Mark 7.

I'd be more specific in this, but I'm at work/lunch break and it's almost over!

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

I appreciate your comments!

And I formerly would have agreed with you.

But now, having examined more closely and carefully the Scriptures, I see that your viewpoint (which I formerly shared) is incorrect.

Here are a few reasons why:

1. Peter APPLIED Lev. 11 to us (1 Pe. 1:16). Thus, we can not disobey Lev. 11.
2. NOTHING in Acts 10 (or Ac. 11) states that Peter's vision was to have been interpreted LITERALLY.
3. We have Biblical precedent for SYMBOLIC (not LITERAL) visions/dreams which (if taken literally) would be IMPROPERLY interpreted (e.g., Joseph's dream and Daniel's vision, both of which were SYMBOLIC, not literal). Thus, we should not presume that a vision is necessarily intended to be literally interpreted.
4. Peter himself gives the meaning for his vision: "God has shown me that I should not call any MAN unholy or unclean" (Ac. 10:28). CONCLUSION: It's about the DUDE, not the FOOD.
5. Peter NEVER states that the meaning of the vision is that Lev. 11 can now be disobeyed (after all, Peter CONTINUES to later apply Lev. 11 to believers in 1 Pe. 1:16).
6. Mark 7 has Jesus ANGRY that the Pharisees disobeyed Torah (Mk. 7:8-9,13). So Mark 7 can NOT be properly interpreted as having Jesus oppose the Torah of Lev. 11.
7. In Mark 7, Jesus never stated that Lev. 11 can be disobeyed.
8. In Mark 7, Jesus stated that all foods are clean. However, "all foods are clean" does not entail "all things are food". Thus, "all foods are clean" does not entail that we can eat in disobedience to Lev. 11.
9. In Mark 7, the context is not addressing whether Torah in general (or Lev. 11 and Dt. 14, in particular) should be obeyed or disobeyed. Rather, the context is debating the question of whether foods should be considered "unclean" in cases where people have not washed their hands according to the traditions of the elders, Mk. 7:3. Thus, "all foods are clean", properly interpreted within the context of Mark 7, means that all foods are clean REGARDLESS of whether people have washed their hands in accordance with the traditions of the elders.
10. Jesus was not mad at the Pharisees for obeying Torah! He was made that they invented unbiblical anti-Torah traditions (Mk. 7:3,8-9,13) to contradict Torah. Thus, for Jesus, all Torah-compliant foods are clean REGARDLESS of whether unbiblical hand-washing traditions are observed. THAT is the proper contextualized interpretation of Mark 7. That's why Mark 7 does not terminate our obligation to obey Lev. 11 in any way.
11. Jesus told us to keep even the smallest of Torah commands (Mt. 5:19). So, Jesus would obviously not oppose Torah in Mark 7 (or anywhere else).
12. Rom. 14 does NOT state that Lev. 11 can be disobeyed.
13. Rom. 14 addresses the case of a brother with weak faith who eats only vegetables (Rom. 14:2). Does Torah require that we only eat vegetables? Of course not! Thus, Rom 14 is NOT addressing the question of whether Torah should be obeyed by believers.
14. OF COURSE no food is unclean (Rom. 14:14-15), but that doesn't prove that all things are food. Thus, it doesn't prove that all things placed in one's mouth are clean.
15. Paul obeyed Torah (Ac. 21) and we should imitate Paul (1 Cor. 11:1; Php. 4:9) and likewise obey Torah.

So, I hope you reconsider your viewpoint and obey the Scriptures, as I have.

blessings...

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hello Brother @bibleguy
So, much to write and so little time to pray and make sure it is correctly communicated to you. I don't know how long it may take, but I will attempt to do my best to not leave it sitting around too long!

As to your last line. All I would ask of you once you receive my reply, is not to reconsider Scripture as it applies to you as a Messianic Jew (Assumption), but how it applies me a Gentile and understanding that there is a difference how the NT part of the Torah discusses them.

However, I will leave you with a perspective verses that you can look at. Galatians 2:7-8 and if you continue reading from there. You might find it most enlightening as it pertains to Peter, Paul and Gentiles.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

 

[bibleguy]

Hello Brother @bibleguy
So, much to write and so little time to pray and make sure it is correctly communicated to you. I don't know how long it may take, but I will attempt to do my best to not leave it sitting around too long!

As to your last line. All I would ask of you once you receive my reply, is not to reconsider Scripture as it applies to you as a Messianic Jew (Assumption), but how it applies me a Gentile and understanding that there is a difference how the NT part of the Torah discusses them.

However, I will leave you with a perspective verses that you can look at. Galatians 2:7-8 and if you continue reading from there. You might find it most enlightening as it pertains to Peter, Paul and Gentiles.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

Sure! Would be happy to chat about this with you.

And yes, Peter evidently focused more on Jews, and Paul more on Gentiles.

I do respectfully suggest, however, that all of us (in Christ) should be growing in faithful obedience to the same Torah.

But yes, feel free to lead this discussion in whatever direction you like.

blessings....