Young People's Group

Defending Against False Doctrines

by Mitchell Tan
November 11, 2016

THE QUESTION OF SUBJECTING GENTILE BELIEVERS TO THE LAW OF MOSES

False teachings need to be carefully dealt with. They cannot be allowed to spread and to cause people to depart from the faith. One of the false teachings that Paul had to deal with was the problem of subjecting Gentile believers to keeping the Mosaic law, which were meant only for the nation of Israel. In 1 Timothy 4:2, this outstanding apostle wrote of how some were commanding people to abstain from food forbidden by the dietary laws of Moses. The context of this issue is best understood in the light of Acts 15. Some insisted that “it was necessary to circumcise (Gentiles) and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5), which included the dietary laws that were mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:3-21. At the Jerusalem council, Peter questioned the attempt to put this “yoke” on Gentiles disciples (which they and their forefathers were not able to bear) (Acts 15:10). After some discussion, it was decided that they should not trouble the believing Gentiles by imposing on them the laws of Moses. However, this was not the end of it. This problem persisted and Paul had to deal with such false ideas as they came up. These were the truths he established for Timothy.

1. ALL FOOD COMES FROM GOD

“Food which God created”
1 Timothy 4:3

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused”
1 Timothy 4:4

Initially, Adam and Eve only ate vegetables and fruits (Genesis 2:16). Of every tree in the Garden of Eden, they were free to eat except the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The matter of eating meat was a later concession after the flood (Genesis 9:1-3). Every living thing that moves would be food for mankind. Every creature is good in God’s sight and nothing is to be refused.

2. ALL FOOD TO BE RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING

“Received with thanksgiving”
1 Timothy 4:3

“If it is received with thanksgiving”
1 Timothy 4:4

Since God created all the animals for food, we are to partake of them with thanksgiving. The word “thanksgiving” in Greek is the word “eucharistia”. It has the idea of being full of gratitude for the grace of the Lord. It is through His grace that we have food to eat at all Our part is to be thankful to God for the food that has been provided abundantly and graciously.

3. ALL FOOD SANCTIFIED BY GOD AND PRAYER

“For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer”
1 Timothy 4:5

The food provided by the Lord is also sanctified. It is sanctified by the word of God. In Acts 10, the Lord God gave Peter a vision of all the animals and creeping things that the Jews were not allowed to eat. And the Lord said to Peter to rise up, kill and eat (Acts 10:12) Initially, Peter refused to do so because he had not eaten anything that was common and unclean since young. The Lord spoke further to Peter these words.

“What God has cleansed, you must not call common”
Acts 10:15

Whatever the Lord had made clean, should not be considered as unclean. They have been sanctified by the word. When we pray and say grace, the Lord also sanctifies the food. Let’s learn to receive all food with the assurance that they are all sanctified by God’s word and prayer.

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