Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”
The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 14:14-23)
This
week we will conclude our reading of chapter 14,
verses 14-23 as we consider Edifying
One Another Without Offense…
As
we’ve already discussed, there are a lot of “things”
that have nothing to do with the morality clearly delineated in “Scripture” as related to “sin.” These “non-moral preferences”
are the neutral “things” of
which Christian “liberty” is
made!
We
must “understand” that there
are “strong” believers who
fully understand their “freedom”
to “enjoy” all the “good gifts” that God has given – without
abusing them in a “sinful”
way. On the other hand, there are some “weak”
believers who – because of their religious background or traditions – bring
into their Christian “walk”
various “scruples” that may
cause them to be “convinced”
that certain “things” are not
“permissible.” Therefore, we
can often experience great conflict in the church!
In
order to better “understand”
how “we” must relate to the
vast environment of available “things”
that in themselves are not “unclean”
or “evil,” we must “consider” wise “counsel” and “instruction” from the Word of God…
The Law of Love
The
Apostle Paul's great “concern”
here in these passages is that “conflict”
in the church can disrupt the “unity” of the church. And
so he uses this powerful opportunity to further address the matter of church “unity” and the Biblical expression of “love” as it regards these “things” – our “non-moral preferences.”
These
personal preferences must be “considered”
in an “attitude” of “love” that solidifies and strengthens
the “body” rather than
alienating and dividing it. In verses 1-13
Paul addressed the major point of “edifying”
and “building up one another”
in Jesus Christ. “We” are not
to receive “each other” in the
sense that simply tolerates our “differences,”
but “we” are to do that which
constructively “edifies,” “strengthens” and “builds” up “each
other” – In Jesus Christ!
Here
Paul is “convinced by the
Lord” regarding these poignant truths of “walking in love”
with the following thoughts:
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died – Romans 14:14-15
IMPORTANT QUESTION: Is it necessary for “us” to “do”
what we “believe” we are “free” to “do”
in order to somehow prove ourselves as “strong” believers? – Absolutely NOT!
It
is not at all “loving”
for a “brother” who is “strong” and “understands” his “liberty”
in Jesus Christ to “flaunt”
his spiritual “strength.” To
the contrary! In fact, the “strong”
and “mature” “brother” will actually demonstrate a greater
amount of “love” if he
does not exercise his “liberty.”
We must “not destroy”
– apollumi – “to suffer loss of reward” the “weaker”
and “grieved”
immature “brother” in the Lord
for “whom Christ died.”
No
true “believer” need prove
their “strength” nor be pressed
into exercising “freedom.”
This is true for both the “weaker
brother” who “abstains”
out of “unbelief” and
the “stronger brother” who “abstains” out of “love” for the Lord.
The Limits of Liberty
Our
“liberty” in Jesus Christ is
not for self-deception – To hide our “sin” from God.
Our
“liberty” in Jesus Christ is
not for self-destruction – To destroy our “effectiveness” for God.
Our
“liberty” in Jesus Christ is
not for self-bondage – To be controlled by any “thing” given by God.
Paul
stated this same truth about the “lawful
things” to the Corinthian church as well. Here are a couple of
those passages for our further consideration:
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything – 1 Corinthians 6:15
All things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient – 1 Corinthians 10:23
Obviously
Paul doesn't mean “unlawful things”
are “lawful.” He means “all things” that aren't “unlawful” are “lawful” – but may not be “profitable” or “expedient” for him. Paul certainly
wouldn't say “sin” is “lawful.” In other words, “All things” are “lawful” but it isn't “wise” to do “all things…” Right? – Yes!
And
it is very important to “understand”
our Christian “liberty”
because it affects the entire church. We've got to
get close enough to “each other”
to “know” where we “stand” in the Lord. We've got to “know” the “hearts”
of the “believers” around “us” so that “we” will “walk in
love” toward “each other”
in selfless & self-denying agape “love…”
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? – 1 Corinthians 8:10
Paul's
main concern is how “we” are
to “build up” other “Christians” in “love” without “grieving” them or “causing” them to “stumble” into “sin” before “God” or for their “conscience”
sake!
“Therefore” Paul continues along these
important thoughts:
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another – Romans 14:16-19
It
is possible to so abuse our “liberty”
that our “good” is “spoken of as evil” in the lost “world” around us. After all, the “kingdom of God”
is NOT a legalistic religion of “eating and drinking.” Therefore,
instead of unbelieving “men”
seeing “Christians” as “approved” by God, the conflict of abusive
“liberty” often found in the
church will cause the “world”
to disapprove of “he” who “serves Christ in these things.”
In other words, the wicked “world”
is watching! As we “pursue
the things” of “peace” which will “edify another”
believer in Jesus Christ, we will silence the critics of our “faith” by the “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”
which is most of all “acceptable
to God” – This is essential
to our testimony in Jesus Christ!
Paul
also teaches that when “we”
cause a “brother” to “stumble” or become “offended” it can actually “destroy the work of God”:
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak – Romans 14:20-21
“Food” is symbolic of any “non-moral
preference” or discretionary “thing”
that we have the “liberty” to
“choose” as a “Christian.” Here Paul used “eat meat nor drink wine”
with the idea of the “offending”
the Jewish “brother” with “food” that wasn't kosher or “offending” a Gentile “brother” with “food” that had been offered to idols. “All things indeed are pure”
but this point speaks of anything that might cause a “brother” to “stumble,” become “offended”
or “made weak”
by our actions. God is at “work”
in the “weak” believer and
the “strong” believer – Don’t destroy the work of God!
And
Paul’s final point is posed in the form of a question with a very important warning:
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin – Romans 14:22-23
In
other words, are you a “strong”
believer? Then have your freedom “before God”
and enjoy it “in” Him! Because
“happy” is “he” that is not “condemning” himself in the “thing” which he “approves” of in “faith.” On the other hand, a “weak” believer "who doubts" is “condemned if he eats" because his “conscience” is going to “condemn” him. Why? Because
he doesn't “understand” that
he is “free” to “eat!” And whatever is not
of “faith” to him is “sin." Therefore, the “weak” Christian must not attempt to
emulate the “strong” Christian
until they are able to “approve”
of the “thing” in their “heart” or they'll be “condemned” by their own “conscience” – A very crucial warning!
IMPORTANT! We must NOT “flaunt” our “liberty” in Jesus Christ and “we” must NEVER “train” ourselves to “violate” our “conscience” – Under any circumstance!
The
ultimate goal of “unity”
between the “strong” and the “weak” believer should be a profound “testimony” to the lost “world” which brings about Salvation in “Jesus Christ” – There is MUCH at stake here!
In
closing:
It's
quite obvious from the “Scriptures”
that Jesus Christ has “granted”
to “us” through the “New Covenant” great “liberty” and “freedom” in Him – Praise the Lord!
We
are “free” from all
encumbrances of Old Testament ceremonial “law,”
any “dietary” restrictions or
any other “religious”
obligations. “We” are “free” to “enjoy”
all of the good “gifts” that
God has “created” for “us!” There are no limits to what we may “enjoy” of God! Of course that does not
include the “freedom” to “sin” by the “flesh” but only to “enjoy”
all the “good things” that God
has provided for our benefit and His glory. This is the foundation of Christian
“liberty” and the “freedom” that is found in “Jesus Christ” – Alone!
For
further thought on this subject, John Brown commented on the Apostle Peter’s
first epistle:
"There's a great difference between Christian liberty and the use of Christian liberty. Christian liberty is an internal thing. It belongs to the mind and the conscience and has a direct reference to God. The issue of Christian liberty is an external thing when it belongs to conduct and has reference to man. No consideration should prevail on us for a moment to give up our liberty. Since our liberty grows out of the teaching of the Word of God and the God who alone is Lord of the conscience, we should be willing to die for the maintenance of our liberty, but many a consideration should induce us to forego the practical assertion or the display of our liberty."
There
are some “people” today who
would tell us that we're not “free”
to eat certain kinds of “food.” For
example: we're not “free” to “eat” pork or “meat” of any kind. These “people” might be considered religious
“vegetarians” of sorts. Some “people”
would tell us that our “drink”
is limited because of some scriptural “scruples”
– other than the “sin” of “drunkenness.” Other “people” would tell us that we're limited
in such “things” as our recreation
– cannot watch television or movies of any kind. Some “people” would tell us that certain
activities on Sunday are in and of themselves” evil.”
Some “people” would tell us
that a man who chooses to grow his hair over his ears is “ungodly.” Some “people” would even go so far as to say
that growing a beard is unspiritual. And yet other “people” would tell us that not
growing a beard is unspiritual…
WHEW! Aren’t you glad “we” are “free”
in Jesus Christ to “live” a “holy” and “obedient”
life of “righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” without endless
man-made, self-righteous, “religious”
restrictions and obligations? – AMEN TO THAT!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
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