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I might not be typing to you if I had not had a blood transfusion in 2008. I started hemoraging three weeks after a hysterectomy and lost a lot of blood had 3 or 4 pints put back in and felt like death warmed over for several days. I lost so much blood I kept wondering why I wasn't passing out but stayed awake until they put me under in the operating room.. Not something I would like to go through again but was sure thankful they had the blood to give me.
What the apostles were teaching the new gentile converts was those laws from the Old Testament.
Lev 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
The Law was adamant that one should not eat or drink blood and any thing unclean is cut off from others. Perhaps in the natural or science scheme of things, blood carries diseases and if eaten or drank would make you sick unto death. It is a merciful God full of Grace who warns us to keep us safe and well. If you contracted a disease from blood, you could then pass it on to others, thus a great need to isolate or quarantine. There are many other examples of being "cut off" from others to protect the majority of others who are not infected.
Perhaps the moral of the story is be wise and understanding and put your trust in God even when you don't fully understand.
Lev 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
The Law was adamant that one should not eat or drink blood and any thing unclean is cut off from others. Perhaps in the natural or science scheme of things, blood carries diseases and if eaten or drank would make you sick unto death. It is a merciful God full of Grace who warns us to keep us safe and well. If you contracted a disease from blood, you could then pass it on to others, thus a great need to isolate or quarantine. There are many other examples of being "cut off" from others to protect the majority of others who are not infected.
Perhaps the moral of the story is be wise and understanding and put your trust in God even when you don't fully understand.
What we need to learn from this is to never, ever, read any scripture without putting it into the context of all other scripture.
First, we must look at the book of Acts, telling of the transition for both Jews and gentiles to their world that Christ made, To do that we need to know a lot about the world as it was when Christ changed it. Jews were under the sacrificial system needing to learn to use the blood of Christ when their parents had always trained them in a different way. Gentiles had idols and superstitions, and were just beginning to see the true God, but scornful of living a life with a strange diet, and strange ways that made no sense. Jews were afraid of letting heathen gentiles into their world.
Then we need to study what and why gentiles and Jews needed to do to make the one true God their God, and sift out the legalistic demands from the true demands of spirit and truth. How was this done? What of the instructions was truth and what was only legalistic?
Without any of this background of understanding what led to this verse, you cannot decide just what the Lord wants us to know by this one verse.
First, we must look at the book of Acts, telling of the transition for both Jews and gentiles to their world that Christ made, To do that we need to know a lot about the world as it was when Christ changed it. Jews were under the sacrificial system needing to learn to use the blood of Christ when their parents had always trained them in a different way. Gentiles had idols and superstitions, and were just beginning to see the true God, but scornful of living a life with a strange diet, and strange ways that made no sense. Jews were afraid of letting heathen gentiles into their world.
Then we need to study what and why gentiles and Jews needed to do to make the one true God their God, and sift out the legalistic demands from the true demands of spirit and truth. How was this done? What of the instructions was truth and what was only legalistic?
Without any of this background of understanding what led to this verse, you cannot decide just what the Lord wants us to know by this one verse.
How true! That pivotal meeting of believers sought to get the word out concerning commission of what Jews considered abomination according to the scriptures. They were right to believe that. Later the apostle Paul came penning not to eat meat with someone seeing you do that, believing you eat meat offered to idols, whether he be Jew or gentile, pagan or believer. Christians ought not take the eternal life of another into their hands, separating an unbeliever from whatever God he learns you serve. To do such a thing even to an atheist or outright satanist is forbidden. To none at all. Period. We must not offend anyone especially if an act has been declared unclean by God. Christians ought to present strength and truth, not weakness and cruelty. Christ gives us strength to decline eating some ham on the table when that's the only meat, and we are hungry, but there's a weak believer offended at that.
By example I knew a relative had many ponds on his farm where he graciously let me hunt deer, one in particular full of always hungry catfish. He told me the law forbids eating scale-less fish, so he would not want anyone eating catfish from his property. Well, that is true, for people still living under the law (Armstrongism). When he went to a hospital for extended illness I was tempted to slip in there and fish out some of those cats. I came under conviction and cast that thought out, not because of what I thought about any duty to that law, but out of respect for the man. Those were his catfish under his stewardship. I am not captive to those laws, but to Christ who fulfilled the law, to which I too died, arising a free man. We also knew never to invite them to a fish fry since most such gatherings include catfish with other species around here, and it's difficult to discern without tasting when deep dried.
By example I knew a relative had many ponds on his farm where he graciously let me hunt deer, one in particular full of always hungry catfish. He told me the law forbids eating scale-less fish, so he would not want anyone eating catfish from his property. Well, that is true, for people still living under the law (Armstrongism). When he went to a hospital for extended illness I was tempted to slip in there and fish out some of those cats. I came under conviction and cast that thought out, not because of what I thought about any duty to that law, but out of respect for the man. Those were his catfish under his stewardship. I am not captive to those laws, but to Christ who fulfilled the law, to which I too died, arising a free man. We also knew never to invite them to a fish fry since most such gatherings include catfish with other species around here, and it's difficult to discern without tasting when deep dried.
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Couldn't have said it better myself. Life is in the blood, so the LORD has forbidden us to consume the blood of the animals. Always remember what Hebrews 9 says, especially verse 22:
Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law [ceremonial] purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness of sin]."
God Bless
Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law [ceremonial] purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness of sin]."
God Bless
`For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things: to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!'
(Act 15:28-29)
This directive was given so that the gentile believers would not be an offense to their Jewish brethren in Christ.
(Act 15:28-29)
This directive was given so that the gentile believers would not be an offense to their Jewish brethren in Christ.
Lev 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
The life of a creature is in it's blood. When you eat or drink the blood of others, you take on the life of that creature, which makes you impure.
However, it's awesome to think how we are told to consume Jesus' blood.
John 6:53
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
Why? Because then we take on His life, which is pure.
As an aside, this is why I eat all of my meat medium-well, or with no pink in it.
The life of a creature is in it's blood. When you eat or drink the blood of others, you take on the life of that creature, which makes you impure.
However, it's awesome to think how we are told to consume Jesus' blood.
John 6:53
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
Why? Because then we take on His life, which is pure.
As an aside, this is why I eat all of my meat medium-well, or with no pink in it.