I see it is still unsettled. That ought not to be since it was settled in Jerusalem in Acts 15, and before that in Acts 10:11-16 (KJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
[SUP]13 [/SUP] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
[SUP]14 [/SUP] But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Will God tempt a man? No, God will never suggest or order you to sin so you can learn a lesson, or for any reason at all.
James 1:12-15 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[SUP]14 [/SUP] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
God offered to Peter defiled and unclean meat, told him to rise, kill and eat. How could God command a person to deliberately violate the law unless there was a big change allowing God to do that and not be found a tempter to sin?
Would a preacher be safe with the Lord to use lies and unseemly examples to preach righteousness? No. One uses truth delivered from the Spirit to preach and teach. No Christian should even think of a way to tempt someone with sin to "win" an unbeliever over to Christ, either. A book could be written of tragic errors of ministers who based their teachings on tolerance of any sin.
Many major changes were ushered in through Jesus, particularly putting aside extended interpretations of the law of Moses, especially grievous rules of the Pharisees. The Law prohibited strangers and Gentiles from approaching the tabernacle, eating anything holy, or marrying non-Jews. From that, and Torah warnings of the great sins of the heathen, the commands to utterly destroy them without mercy in Canaan, Jews came to be taught not to associate personally with Gentiles. It became unlawful to enter their home, eat with them. That became a national rule of order, in Israel a law to obey. Gentiles were declared by the Jews to be unclean, common, defiled unless circumcised and converted.
So here comes Peter directly breaking a national law, though not a law of Moses by merely associating with Gentiles. Acts 10:28 (KJV) [SUP]28 [/SUP] 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.
How did Peter come to realize God is no respecter of persons, always was, and always will be? By application of the holiness of God's word to him by commanding him to eat that which the Law of Moses called unclean. Why? The New Covenant abolished Jewish laws that don't apply to Gentiles in Christ. All Jews that convert are released too.
If God had not made unclean things clean to followers of Christ, then why use a false statement? "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" means God cleaned that which was unclean to the Jews, making the unclean not common.
That had to include both meats and men, else the lesson was in error to achieve a desired belief.
Eventually the apostles caught on, especially Paul, making it clear there is no longer any prohibition of meat except as forbidden in Acts 15:28-29 (KJV)
[SUP]28 [/SUP] For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
[SUP]29 [/SUP] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
That stopped circumcision and keeping the law of Moses, other than not eating any meat, whether considered clean or unclean by Jews, blood, or had been strangled, or offered to idols, and fornication. Beyond that the commandments of Christ became law to Christians.
It is unChristian to once again put upon believers that original demand of the Jews in that meeting Acts 15:5 (KJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
The law of sin and death (Moses) is still in existence, won't go away, but has been abolished and replaced by the law of life and liberty of Jesus Christ.
Be not deceived. Judaizers will come along denying this message, insisting that Christians observe the law of Moses and the New Testament. Christian commandments are in the New Testament. The Jew's commandments are in the Old Testament. The two don't mix. But for those that live under the old law, the law applies to them, requiring them to observe every jot and tittle of it all their lives. If they fail in one thing, they are not keeping the law, but remain sinners.
Receive deliverance from all that by following Jesus the Christ. Obey his commandments. The old law reigned from Moses to John the Baptist. The law of Christ was preached from John's ministry on through Revelation. It is sufficient to save all who believe, regardless of claimed "uncleanness", the heathen welcomed to hear and believe the gospel of Christ and to be saved.
