Do you have a list of forbidden things in your life? - things that you know would have a bad influence on you, or maybe things that would make you ill. Often competitors in sport would have a list of forbidden things - things they voluntarily avoid eating and doing, so as to be at their best. “They do it to get a crown that will NOT last.” So, it is not surprising to find out that the true Christian voluntarily avoids certain things, because they “do it to get a crown that WILL last forever.” (1stCorinthians 9:25.)
Here we discover a few of the things that are forbidden for Christians.
At first, the true Christian Church had been slow to accept that ANYONE could trust in Jesus Christ as their Priest and Saviour, and become a true child of God. (John 1:11-13. Galatians 3:25-28.) Once they realised that, they now wanted to help and encourage new believers, whoever or wherever they were.
“The apostles and the elders, with the whole Church” prepared a very important letter to send out to new Christians. (verses 22f.) Judas and Silas, two highly respected men among the believers in Jerusalem, along with Barnabas and Paul, who had risked their lives in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, were sent off with the letter. (see verses 25-27.)
In the letter it said, “… It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” (verses 28-29.)
Jesus’ “rules” are not burdensome for the person who wants to be at his/her best for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1stJohn 5:3.) The things God has forbidden for Christians are gladly rejected.
So, the true Christian rejects anything related to idolatry because he/she knows God is NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED USING ANY OBJECT OR IMAGE. (Deuteronomy 4:15-19. Exodus 20:4-6.)
And, Christians refuse to eat blood - this “rule” proves that Christians, from the very beginning, never believed that the bread and wine of the Last Supper changed into the body and blood of Jesus. They knew it was only, and always, BREAD and WINE, to be eaten IN REMEMBERANCE OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS, made once and for all at the cross. (1stCorinthians 11:23-26. Hebrews 7:24-27. 10:11-14.)
Also, sexual immorality is forbidden for Christians. All sexual relationships outside of the marriage of one man with one woman, are rejected by the true Christian. (Romans 1:18-32. 1stCorinthians 6:9-20.)
A person who truly loves God will delight in obeying His commands. (John 14:15. Psalm 19:7-14.)
Are YOU a true Christian, having faith in Jesus Christ as your only Priest? Are you living as an obedient, God-loving person, avoiding those things forbidden for Christians?
Read about them for yourself in Acts chapter 15, verses 19-35.
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