Food and Drink (Part 2) – No NT Dietary Law, The Moderate Drinking of Alcohol

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I.       There is no dietary law under the New Testament.

1.      We are not under the law of Moses.

1. The law of Moses was given to Israel until the Messiah came (Gal 3:19).
2. It was never given to the Gentiles (Psa 147:19-20; Rom 3:1-2).
3. When Christ came He fulfilled the law of Moses (Mat 5:17).
4. He then abolished it when He died on the cross (2Co 3:11-13; Eph 2:15-16).
5. Therefore, we are not under the law of Moses, including the dietary law, any longer, and we should pay no attention to those who judge us for what we eat (Col 2:14-17).
6. For a whole sermon series proving that Christians are not under the Old Testament law, see: https://www.excelsiorspringschurch.com/old-testament.

2.      We are free to eat anything we want with a few exceptions.

1. We can eat anything we want as long as we thank God for it before eating (1Ti 4:4-5).
2. Every adj. – 1. Used to express distributively the sense that is expressed collectively by all.
3. Creature n. – 1. a. Anything created; a created being, animate or inanimate; a product of creative action; a creation. c. Applied, after 1 Tim. iv 4 (‘every creature of God is good’), to food and other things which minister to the material comfort of man

iii.    Nothing n. – A. n.  I. Not any (material or immaterial) thing; nought.

1. In other words, all animals and vegetation that God has created are good for us to eat, and we are not obliged to refuse any of it if we want to eat it.
2. The Pharisees had infiltrated the early churches and taught that the Gentiles had to keep the law of Moses (Act 15:5).
3. The apostles contended against this heresy (Act 15:1-2, 10).
4. They had a council about this matter and James concluded it by giving his sentence that the Gentile Christians only had to observe three restrictions in their diet, which were to keep themselves from:
5. Blood (Act 15:29)
6. Animals sacrificed to idols (Act 15:29)

iii.    Animals that were strangled and didn’t have the blood drained from them (Act 15:29)

1. The Gentiles were not to be under the law of Moses (Act 15:10).
2. If the Gentiles were under the OT dietary law, it would have made no sense to list only those three restrictions when they were already part of the law of Moses (Exo 34:15; Lev 17:13-14).
3. Those that command Christians to abstain from foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by us who believe and know the truth are preaching doctrines of devils (1Ti 4:1-3).

3.      We are also free to drink anything we want including:

1. Wine
2. Wine – 1. a. The fermented juice of the grape used as a beverage. It is essentially a dilute solution of alcohol, on the proportion of which in its composition depend its stimulating and intoxicating properties. Wines are classed as red or white, dry or sweet, still or sparkling.
3. Wine is a blessing (Isa 65:8).

iii.    New wine has alcohol in it (Act 2:13-15).

1. Wine cheers the heart of man (Psa 104:15; Ecc 9:7).
2. Wine cheers God too (Jdg 9:13).
3. Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake (1Ti 5:23).

vii.  Jesus drank wine (Luk 7:33-34).

viii.Jesus made wine for others to drink (Joh 2:1-10).

1. Beer
2. Beer is not mentioned in the Bible.
3. Since it has less alcohol in it than wine, it is therefore permissible for a Christian to enjoy in moderation.
4. Liquor
5. God even permits us to enjoy liquor which the Bible calls “strong drink” (Deut 14:26).
6. Strong drink – Intoxicating liquor, alcoholic liquors generally. Also, drink of more than ordinary alcoholic strength.

iii.    Liquor was used to help numb the pain of those that were dying (Pro 31:6-7).

1. Since liquor has a high alcohol content, and a small amount could make one drunk, Christians must be very careful when drinking it.
2. For a two part Bible study series on Alcohol, see: https://www.excelsiorspringschurch.com/food.

4.      We must never drink in excess to the point of drunkenness though (Eph 5:18).

1. Drunk – 1. a. That has drunk intoxicating liquor to an extent which affects steady self-control; intoxicated, inebriated; overcome by alcoholic liquor. The degree of inebriation is expressed by various adjs. and advs., as beastly, blind, dead, half, etc.
2. Drunkenness n. – The state of being drunk; intoxication; the habit of being drunken or addicted to excessive drinking.
3. Drunkenness is a sin that will get a person excluded from the church (Gal 5:21).
4. Alcoholic drinks can be deceptive to a foolish person who doesn’t exercise moderation, so beware! (Pro 20:1)
5. Preachers must not be given to wine (1Ti 3:3).
6. Deacons and other Christians must not be given to much wine (1Ti 3:8; Tit 2:3).
7. Given adj. – 1. a. Bestowed as a gift. Used predicatively: Inclined, disposed, addicted, prone.

iii.    Addicted ppl. – 1. Delivered over by, or as if by, judicial sentence; devoted, destined, bound.  3. a. Self-addicted (to a practice); given, devoted or inclined; attached, prone.

1. Therefore, Christians are not to be addicted to alcohol, even if they don’t get drunk on it.
2. If you can’t give up drinking alcohol at any time without feeling it’s pull on you, you are an alcoholic.
3. If you make excuses as to why you can’t, or don’t want to, quit drinking regularly, you’re probably an alcoholic.

vii.  If you drink alcohol daily, there’s a good chance you’re given to it.

1. If so, I strongly recommend stopping drinking for a month to see if you can do so without having withdrawal symptoms.
2. If you have withdrawal symptoms, you better cut back now or stop drinking altogether.

viii.Alcohol is lawful, but we must never be brought under the power of it (1Co 6:12).

1. If you drink in the morning, chances are you drink too much and you need to quit (Isa 5:11).

5.      Drunkenness will lead to other sins and harmful effects such as:

1. Sorrow, contention, acting stupidly, and wounds (Pro 23:29-32).
2. Fornication (Pro 23:33).
3. Sickness and dizziness (Pro 23:34).
4. Bodily injury that is not recognized until the next morning (Pro 23:35).
5. Loss of judgment (Isa 28:7).
6. Vomiting (Isa 28:8).