But Not to Doubtful Disputations

Text: Romans 14:1-5

Intro: The grey area issue is not a new issue. As we began our study last week with more of an overview, tonight we are going to begin a deeper dive into the issues of the New Testament Church. If you do a study of the word unity in your Bible you come across some simple truths that if we would life them out and live according to them then many issues would never become issues.

The believer’s at the Church of Rome were united by their faith in Christ, but they lacked division in these areas that we are going to see are not actually anything to be divided over. The issues stems here from a church mixed with Jews and Gentiles, and the issues were not doctrinal issues, they were religious standards and ordinances.

First let’s look at God’s plan for unity:

Philippians 2:2 KJV 1900

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Colossians 3:14 KJV 1900

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Ephesians 4:1–6 KJV 1900

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Romans 15:5 KJV 1900

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

God’s plan for the local church is to be unified by the love, that is through the bond of Christ.

The issues in Rome stemmed from these doubtful disputations. The disputable matter was over food, and over a day, but let’s be clear, it could have been over anything… Think of the hot button issues that have come over over the years. Think of the division that has resulted from it…

And this is not the first time… Acts 15, after Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey, they ended up in Jerusalem. Again in Galatians 2, and throughout 1 Corinthians.

Paul’s solution - Stop judging one another… (vs. 4)

Do we realize that in judging the brethren we are judging someone else’s servant? Are you the master over your brother? NO, them answer to their master. In judging someone we rob God of the opportunity to work in someones heart. We rob Him of the opportunity to help someone stand in Him.

Besides

Letting God do the work, rather than you and me. When God convicts the heart of a believer, it is then up to that believer to respond to that correctly. Here is another thing, when God convicts you, that doesn’t mean that God has convicted me about the same thing. Stop forcing that conviction on others and let God work…

Closing: It has said that opinions are what we hold to, and his or her more mature brothers and sisters for their liberty. God has received both in Jesus Christ, so we should receive each other. Our lives are to be directed by Him, not by people’s ideas or judgments. Mature Christians know why they behave as they do, and these convictions control their lives.