Paul teaches us, in what consist the essence of the kingdom of God: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit", Romans 14:17.
In the early church some believers and followers did not distinguish the law of Moses from the doctrine of the kingdom of God. The introduction of the Moses law generated discussions and disagreements. For example, can we eat everything?
The book of Deuteronomy lists a set of animals that should not be eaten, because they are impure: "The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales. But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean." Deuteronomy 14:8-9
Some among the early Christians believed that impure animals should not be eaten according to the Law.
![Scriptures on faith, for the kingdom of god is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy..jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWcDeDxToQLqmVQC6U7j6WnveapCoEkwTfqg2jMzC5kvS/Scriptures%20on%20faith,%20for%20the%20kingdom%20of%20god%20is%20not%20a%20matter%20of%20eating%20and%20drinking,%20but%20of%20righteousness,%20peace%20and%20joy..jpg)
Paul in his letter to the Romans clarifies that the kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink, but of living according to the spirit: the kingdom of God is about mercy, perseverance, continuous improvement, joy, peace, that is, the perfections or qualities of God.
To live according to the spirit is to search the correct and the best, the correct by the spiritual gift of counsel and the best for the mercy (compassion, amability, kindness, benevolence, benedicence), the piety (constancy, firmness, devotion, ecuanimity, stability), and abandon all heresy (teaching of the error) that leads us away from the path of wisdom (knowledge of the correct means of living). Living the spiritual gifts is living ethically, all gifts are good by definition.
Paul expresses this idea in another way: "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall", Romans 14:19-21.
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