What Does It Mean That “Food Does Not Bring Us Near to God”? 1 Corinthians 8:8

1. Understanding the Verse

1 Corinthians 8:8 (NIV):
“But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Paul is addressing a common issue in the early Church—whether eating certain foods (especially those offered to idols) affected one’s spiritual standing before God. His answer is clear: Food is morally neutral. It has no power to commend us to God or distance us from Him.

2. What Actually Affects Our Relationship with God?

The real barrier between God and humanity is sin, not dietary habits.

Isaiah 59:1–2 (NIV):
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

God is always able and willing to draw near to us. However, sin breaks fellowship with Him. That’s why righteousness—not rituals like eating or abstaining from certain foods—is what brings us close to God.

3. Food vs. Intoxicants: Is Everything Permissible?

Some might ask: If food doesn’t matter spiritually, can we then consume alcohol, drugs, or even poison without spiritual consequences?

The answer lies in understanding what defiles a person.

Matthew 15:18–20 (NIV):
“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person.”

Jesus clarifies that defilement comes from within, not from external things like food. Substances like alcohol or marijuana can impair judgment and stir sinful behavior—thus, they are not comparable to food.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV):
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

The Greek word for “debauchery” (asōtia) refers to reckless, immoral living. The Holy Spirit should govern our hearts—not substances that alter our thinking and behavior.

4. Is All Food Clean Now?

Mark 7:18–19 (NIV):
“Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
…In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.”

Jesus removed the Old Covenant dietary restrictions. Under the New Covenant, no food is inherently unclean. What matters is the condition of the heart.

This is reaffirmed by Paul in:

Romans 14:17 (NIV):
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

5. What About the Lord’s Supper? Isn’t That Food?

Yes, but it’s not just food—it’s a sacrament.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (NIV):
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread… and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’…
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

The bread and cup in Communion are spiritually significant only within the context of faith and worship. Outside of this context, they are just ordinary elements. It is the act of remembrance and proclamation—not the food itself—that carries spiritual weight.

6. Final Reflection: Have You Drawn Near to God?

If food doesn’t bring us near to God, then how do we draw near?

Hebrews 10:22 (NIV):
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience…”

James 4:8 (NIV):
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

The way to draw near to God is through:

Repentance from sin (Acts 3:19)
Faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Baptism in His name (Acts 2:38)
Receiving the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9)
Daily obedience and walking in holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16)

7. An Invitation to Respond

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NIV):
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…”

You have an opportunity now—while your heart is open—to turn to Christ. Don’t delay. The world cannot give you peace. Only Jesus can.

Romans 10:9 (NIV):
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How to begin:

Repent sincerely
Be baptized in the name of Jesus
Receive the Holy Spirit
Live faithfully

Maranatha – The Lord is coming soon.

What Does It Mean That “Food Does Not Bring Us Near to God”? 1 Corinthians 8:8