SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 14
MEMORY VERSE:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'” (Romans 14:11)
THE WEAK AND THE STRONG (vs. 1-23)
We should accept those whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable matters such as: what food is prohibited, or judging someone else’s servant, or what day is more sacred. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Christ died and returned to life so that he is the Lord of both the dead and the living. So you are not to judge nor to look down on your brother. For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat and give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on others. Instead, make up your minds not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
According to Paul he was convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him, it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. (vs. 14-18)
Teachings of Paul:
- Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (v. 19)
- Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. (v. 20a)
- All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. (v. 20b)
- It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. (v. 21)
- Whatever you believe, keep it between yourself and God. (v. 22)
- Do not condemn yourself by what you approve. (v. 22)
- A man is condemned if he eats things that he doubts because his eating is not from faith. (v. 23)
THOUGHTS:
PAUL’S INSTRUCTION TO BELIEVERS:
- We must accept people in love for the Lord’s sake.
- We have no right to judge and condemn others.
- We must pursue peace and not cause others to stumble.
- We must help others to mature in Christ.
There will always be differences of opinion in the church about what is right or wrong. Paul told us not to quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion. Differences should be accepted and handled with love. Don’t expect everyone to agree on every subject. Instead, we must share ideas to come to a fuller understanding of what the Bible teaches. Learn to accept, listen and respect others. Do not let differences of opinion cause church division. Christians should not base their moral judgment on opinion, personal dislikes or cultural bias but on the Word of God. Our principle should be in essentials – unity; in nonessentials – liberty, in everything – love, patience and self-restraint.