Our text today is about Christians and how they ought to live together in unity and love
Romans 14:1-13
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
Overview:
Do what you do ‘for the Lord’ - 14:6,8
seeking to please God - 14:18
remember you will give an account - 14:10-12
therefore accept one another - 14:1 & 15:7
without despising or judging - 14:3, 13
Unity in the Church:
Ephesians 4:2,3,13,16
John 13:34-35
John 17:21-22
1 John 4:21
Romans 14:1
“Welcome the one who is weak in faith…” means to
show them hospitality, including them in your life
give them acceptance and not exclude them .
The Situation in Rome -
a. Jewish Christians who were accustomed to eating kosher and follow Mosaic purity laws
b. Gentile Christians who came out of pagan idolatry
Both groups are experiencing challenges of conscience in regards to certain liberties believers enjoy in Christ. The text gives the examples of eating meat, drinking wine, and the observance of certain special days like feasts and Sabbath days.
Paul Talks about Christians -
Based on Paul’s gentle approach these are not salvation issues.
Compare Paul’s strong response to the perversion of the pure Gospel in other books (e.g. Galatians, Colossians)
Galatians 1:8-9
Galatians 5:2,4,12
Colossians 2:16
Paul talks about Christian Liberties -
A matter of conscience, an area of life scripture does not explicitly speak to, where we need to apply biblical, Gospel-principles to decide what is right or wrong.”
Our Conscience is not infallible:
Our conscience may permit what the Bible forbids —> a seared or hardened conscience (c.f. 1 Tim. 4:2)
Our conscience may forbid what the Bible permits —> an overly sensitive conscience often trained by tradition
We must train our conscience based on biblical truth.
We must be cautious not to hurt others by exercising our freedoms or cause them to violate their conscience. (1 Corinthians 8:9-13)
Application:
-Realize how unified we are in Christ!
-Our Unity is not based on nationality, ethnicity, race, gender or political affiliation; BUT on God’s saving grace in Christ!
-Honor God & Love People!