Romans 14: Christian Love & Unity

Romans 14 ESV

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 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. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 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; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 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. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

1) Somebody once said that a man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package. There are millions of tiny packages out there, people all wrapped up in themselves, in their own world, in their own rights. What's in it for me? Don't you recognize who I am?

When it comes to the Church, the body of Christ, a group of not perfect, but redeemed people, and when it comes to dealing with one another, we ought to be willing to give up our rights, give up our status to be able to provide unity in the Church.

Parable :

by Karen Mains called "The Brawling Bride." It was a parable, "The Brawling Bride." And in this parable, it's at the most climactic part of the wedding ceremony.

Everybody is in place, the families are all seated.

The groom and the attendants are all waiting up in the front. The bridesmaids have come down the aisle.

The minister's up front, Bible in hand.

And then the song starts, And everybody stands.

All the eyes look toward the back of the room where the bride is coming down the aisle.

And when they see her, everyone lets out a gasp. [GASP] everyone in the crowd says.

Because the bride is limping.

Her gown is ripped, it's covered with mud.

One of her eyes is purple and swollen.

Her hair's all messed up.

And in this parable, the groom is Christ. The bride is the Church. And Karen Mains, who writes this parable, says toward the end of that, doesn't He deserve better than this? His bride, the Church has been fighting again.

2)In chapter 14, the apostle Paul addresses how we get along with each other by preferring one another even though we have our personal opinions and preferences that are not necessary about scripture or secondary issues. Paul in this chapter tackles

Days to worship.

It has to do with dietary regulations.

And somebody might say, well, I know better and I have knowledge. I'm more educated. That's not a big deal. But not everybody has that knowledge.

Not everybody is as bright as you are.

So what you need to do, being so awesome and mature, and so far along in your faith,

and so highly educated in spiritual things,

knowing that you need to mix that, temper that with love. Because you're dealing with the Bride-- the Bride of Christ. There was on poll taken that said 61% of the American public-- that's about 3 out of 5-- says that the chief purpose of life is enjoyment and personal satisfaction.

That's the chief end of life.

That's why I'm here, that I might enjoy myself and find personal pleasure.

50% of those who said they were born again Christians said the chief end of life is personal enjoyment and satisfaction.

So how do we do that practically? Well, Paul will say, the law of love. It is love that balances out your liberty in Christ and your knowledge of what you can and cannot do.

You say, well, I have the freedom to do this or that, or listen to that kind of music, or get involved in these activities. I'm glad you have that knowledge. I'm glad you are persuaded. But keep in mind-- people who do not share your value system. Keep in mind there are, what he calls, the weaker brother, the weaker sister.

They have their own scruples, their own sensitivities toward things. We have to watch out for that. Music Example: So if you have the freedom to listen to a certain kind of music, you appreciate it. You love the chord changes. You love the complications and the intricacies. And yet somebody else is over at your house and doesn't share the same appreciation for it, but even thinks that it's wrong for them as a believer to listen to that certain type of music, whatever it could be, if you go to your stereo and say, really, well, listen to this. Turn it all the way up to 10. Well, is that love? No, that's love for yourself. That's a man wrapped up in himself, making himself a very small package.

These are about differences of opinion (disputable matters, scruples). These kind of disputes are not about doctrines essential to salvation, but are discussions about differences of life-style. Paul says we are not to quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion. Differences should not be feared or avoided, but accepted and handled with love. We shouldn’t expect everyone, even in the best church, to agree on every subject. Through sharing ideas we can come to a fuller understanding of what the Bible teaches. Our basic approach should be to accept, listen to, and respect others. Differences of opinion need not cause division. They can be a source of learning and richness in our relationships.

In things necessary, unity; in things not necessary, liberty; in all things grace.

—Peter Meiderlen

Romans Weak and Strong Believers / 14:1-23

Our principle should be: In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in everything, love.

Holy Days

What meat meant to those back then

Today's issues - Music - Wine -

(views on the end times)

Church government

Tongues

Woman in Ministry

Color of the Carpet

There are no dietary restrictions for us New Testament believers as there were for the Jewish people in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant, under the law of Moses. Eating or not eating won't make you closer to God. It can give you heartburn if you eat it. It can make you fatter if you eat it. It can make you unhealthy or healthy depending on what it is you eat. But it won't make you closer to God.

3) With that being said, let me also say there is a place for separation. The Bible clearly teaches separation (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) from the non-believing and the apostate. There are going to be times where it is unprofitable (and even damaging) to align ourselves with those who reject Biblical truth and the gospel of Christ. So how do we know when to separate? When is it OK to extend the right hand of fellowship and when is it not? This takes us back to In essentials unity, non-essentials liberty, in all things charity. We all long for unity, but what are the non-negotiables of the Christian faith that when violated would force separation?

“a Triune God, deity of Christ, deity of the Holy Spirit, deity of God the Father, the virgin birth, the sinless life of Christ, substitutionary atonement, literal resurrection, salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.”

These essentials, along with a belief and supreme confidence in the Bible as the Word of God, have formed the core of historic Christian doctrine. Where there is a denial of these core doctrinal elements, there can be no cooperation. If there is anything we should be rallying around which can serve as a basis for our unity, it is these foundational biblical truths.

16 Fundamentals of the truth.

Paul is bringing up gray areas and areas that are not spelled out as black and white sin.

ALSO what is plain as far as sin.