Romans 14:1-13

14:1 | Love and fellowship in Christ should be the basis for Christian acceptance of one another.

14:2-9 | Believers saved out of Judaism were in the church at Rome. Rather than run the risk of eating non-kosher meats, they did not eat meat at all.

14:3 | Apparently some in the church who felt free to eat meat passed judgment on those who did not. When Paul suggests vegetarians also judged those who ate meat, he is saying the sin of despising and disgracing brothers and sisters can work both ways. Neither behavior is acceptable to the Lord; both must be avoided in the body of Christ (James 4:11-12).

14:4 | God is pleased with the individual Christian because of Christ, not because of his or her views on peripheral matters. Christians are to have the same attitude, striving toward unity, not unnecessary dissension.

14:5 | Every believer should make sure their conscience does not condemn them and then act on what they believe, being responsible to make judgments about things now specifically covered in Scripture (Col. 2:16-17). The center of the Christian life is faithfulness and love toward God – whether in obeying Scripture or seeking to apply scriptural principles.

14:10-12 | Christians will stand one day before Christ’s judgment seat (Grk., bema), not to determine their salvation, but to have their works examined for the purpose of rewards (1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).

14:13 | Stumbling block refers to an object one simply does not see in their path. Cause to fall refers to purposefully placing an object where it will make someone trip and fall. A stumbling block is not an intentional hinderance but causing someone to fall is. Believers do not act in Christian love if they force their freedoms on others, causing them to sin against their consciences (1 Cor. 8:9).