Red red wine...

1 Timothy 5:23
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

I guess the Baptists didn’t read this scripture. Nah, I’m just kidding. But seriously, did you know that just a little red wine on a daily basis is good for you? Doctors say that it can reduce your risk of heart disease. It’s true. Red wine is full of antioxidants (anti-aging and cancer fighting properties). Red wine helps your brain function and counteracts the onset effects of Alzheimer's disease. It can lower your cholesterol, help prevent cancer, aid with inflammatory pain caused by joint diseases like Arthritis, and it help prevent colds. Red wine is pretty cool. But I’ll pose the question: are we to think that Paul is speaking purely on the physical properties of red wine or could he be writing to Timothy on a spiritual level?

Have you ever done something wrong, sinned, and had your conscience wreak havoc on your stomach? A guilty conscience can be a debilitating disease. Not only can it make you anxious and worried, but physically, it can cause serious digestive problems. But why are we talking about sin when Paul is talking about “frequent infirmities”? Because, I believe that Paul is writing to Timothy about sin, recurring sin.

Timothy, though a devout believer, is no different from the rest of us in that he still has his sin nature. Just because you and I are Christian doesn’t mean we have stopped sinning. Sin is our collective “frequent infirmity”. It flares up when we least expect it and at the most inopportune times to causes us great stress.

In the Old Testament water was used in the purification process for those people who were declared unclean in order to make them clean (Leviticus 14:8). Water was used to wash Aaron and his sons before the rest of the priestly anointing could take place (Leviticus 8:6). Water was used by God Himself to purify the earth in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:17). But with all of these things, the flood included, there was also bloodshed. Sacrifices were made for sanctification and purity. So the water, in and of itself, was not enough.

So it’s possible that Paul is making the connection with Timothy, and with us, that though water is good, blood is also necessary. He doesn’t tell Timothy to no longer drink water, he just tells him to add a little wine to his diet. This is of the utmost importance because it is the wine that aids with the frequent infirmities, not the water.

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Christ said on the night of His betrayal that the wine in the cup was a symbol of the New Covenant, His blood shed for all mankind. I see two things in this writing by Paul: the Holy Spirit poured out like water for the help and comfort of mankind and the blood of Christ shed for the remission of sins.

It’s important that we don’t forget the Lord’s Supper. The healing power of the blood of Christ is to be remembered, and added to our diet in order to continually remind us of our forgiveness through the cross. That’s not to say that new sins haven’t already been forgiven, but rather that partaking in the Lord’s Supper is a physical reminder to the believer that they are forgiven and through the remembrance of Christ once and for all sacrifice, the anxiety and worries disappear. The “frequent infirmities” no longer trouble the stomach because when you’re reminded of the grace imparted through the cross, you can’t help but feel good!