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Practicals of Christian Living, Part 4

Romans 14:1-23

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. [2] One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. [3] Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. [4] Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. [5] One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. [6] He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. [7] For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; [8] for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. [10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. [11] For it is written,

"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,

And every tongue shall GIVE PRAISE TO God."

[12] So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

[13] Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. [14] I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. [16] Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; [17] for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. [20] Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. [21] It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. [22] The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. [23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

I. What a person eats vs. 1-4

a. Jews came from a very strict dietary background

i. Jews would seldom eat meat

1. Most of it was from the markets that used meat sacrificed to idols

2. They usually settled for veggies

b. Gentiles had a very wide-open structure that allowed for almost anything.

i. They believed that meat offered to idols had no bearing on their purchase of meat

c. But the strong are to bear with the weak.

i. The mature in faith nurture those who are “babes” in Christ.

II. What days a person observes vs. 5-6

a. Both the Jewish and Gentile cultures had a variety of festive and religious days that each would observe.

b. The important thing was for each to live each day for the Lord.

III. We all live not for what we eat or how we observe holidays, but we live for the glory of the Lord. vs.7-9

a. Paul expressed this in Col. 3:17 differently… “whatever you do…do it as unto the Lord.”

b. Paul also made another expression of this in 2 Cor. 5:15, “and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

IV. We must not judge vs. 10-13

a. We will all be judged by the words we speak, and, yes, by our attitudes toward others, as well.

b. Therefore, judgmental attitudes in matters of which there is no clear directive from the Lord will be accounted for. (Luke 6:37,38; Matt. 12:36,37)

V. The kingdom of God is not such things as food and drink vs. 14-17

a. If a person feels strongly about a position, he should live by that commitment.

i. He must not judge another who does not take that position.

ii. He must, also, be aware that he may do things that others do not do.

iii. Where the Scripture is silent, we move in accordance with our own consciences.

b. We must not only judge others, but we must not impose our values on another.

c. The Kingdom of God is not about food and drink, but righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

VI. Kingdom-of-God-living will not cause another to stumble. Vs. 18-21

a. The only time that which is not a clear commandment in scripture is wrong is when we know that it would cause another to stumble (those weak in faith).

b. Paul said that all things are pure.

i. But where one has a problem with something, don’t destroy the work of God for the sake of food (dancing, going to movies, eating food in a place where they serve alcohol, etc.)

ii. Each believer must be will to put aside that which is freedom for him, if in doing so it would be offensive to a brother.

iii. Unity is more important than freedom

VII. Whatever a person does should be done from a clear conscience that is ruled by faith vs. 22-23

a. The teaching here is that we must all live in such a way that we allow for differences, but at the same time avoiding division. This is done by recognizing that God is the one who has brought together the diversity of the body, not for upheaval, but for each to commit to unity.