Living in light of eternity

The Scripture is quite clear on matters of morality and conduct.  There are many things that we are to DO.  Likewise, there are many things that we are NOT TO DO. But there are some things that are questionable.  We usually call these things DOUBTFUL THINGS.  In these areas, well-meaning and sincere Christians sometimes disagree.   Now I'm not primarily talking about doctrinal disagreements, but rather lifestyle issues.  Paul addresses this problem in two famous passages, Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. In 1 Cor 8 Paul addresses one doubtful thing- eating food offered to idols. In Romans 14 he addresses this as well as the observance of special days.  In both cases there were well-meaning Christians at the time who felt strongly that you should not eat food that had been previously used in idol worship.  They felt defiled when they would partake.  They also would be concerned when they saw others eating this so-called contaminated food....

  1 John 3:1–3 (NET): 3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children—and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. 3:2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. 3:3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).    How incredible. The infinite creator calls us His children. And not only calls us such, but we  actually are  His children. He has made us so. Not by creating us, but by recreating us in Christ. It’s more than a title, but an absolute reality.  He literally “fathered us”. And we have His seed within us (1 Jn 3:9). I assume this refers to the indwell Holy Spirit. How could we have a more special relationship than that? And this privileged...