Romans CH 14

Recap CH:13

Ben Taught us Last Wednesday out of Ch 13

And In ch 13 we learned what it was Like to Submit to the Governing Authorities that are placed over us in the first 7 verses

- For example Local Government

and in that Chapter we Learned that all authority placed in our life , not just government , Is from God

God has allowed authority to be in our life to check sin and to limit chaos (AS BEN SAID)

Laws are placed in our life for our safety , there is a reason why back 40 years ago you didn’t need to wear a helmet and now you do

the laws change to keep us safe

As believers we are called to be obedient examples to any authority placed in our life

when we are not obedient to those Laws and authority , we are being disobedient to God

Romans 13:2 “2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

— Then starting in vs 8 of CH 13

Paul tells us we need to Love one another to fulfill the requirements of Gods Law

then he goes on and he gives us examples of the commandments

he says

New Living Translation (Chapter 13)

9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

All these commandments matter but if you Walk in Love you don’t need to worry about braking the Law of God

there is nothing wrong and no law that can be broken when we are Loving !!

Share the example of a conversation you had with someone regarding the Law ; On Monday w ( Russell)

Love fulfills the Law

— Then in vs 11-14 Paul is telling us to wake up , salvation is near

- We are to put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of Light

Staying away from the things of the world and the things of our flesh

do not give in to the lust of the flesh !

Put on Christ

Now He’s telling us all these things to the Believers

if you guys remember at the end of CH 12 Paul tells us what its like to behave Like a christian

CH 13 re enforces that in the form of submission to government and to each-other in Love

this is important because in chapter 14 we are going to read what its Like to not be a critical Christian

A critical heart is Not Love

a Judgmental Heart is not Love

Now this Is where we get into Ch 14

The Law of Liberty or Some bibles Might Say The Danger of criticism

The first 13 Verses were going to read about the things that the Early church dealt with amongst the Jews and the Greeks

they each had different sets of convictions and would try to cast them on each other

So we can apply this to ourselves as believers in the church today

Lets Start

Romans 14:1 “1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.”

a weak person in faith is someone who has all the answers regarding convictions

the person with crazy convictions is going to be the one who is weak in faith

Paul is saying not to argue over the things that they may think is right or wrong

don’t make a big deal out of small things

and then there are going to be many reasons why a believer may be weak in their faith

but again it all goes back to their convictions

and we will brake that down further later

Romans 14:2 “2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.”

the church in Rome at the time had a lot of controversy over eating meat

the people who didn’t eat meat were mad at the people who chose to eat the meat

the meat would have been meat that was used at the alter to offer as a sacrifice

then they would take it if it was still good and they would sell it at a market for cheap and for consumption

some believers had a real problem with this and some didn’t

Specifically it was the Jews that were upset with the Gentiles

the Jews had all kinds of Laws regarding diet

it gave them a critical heart towards the gentiles. The ones that would consume the meat

today we can also relate this to certain church’s that practice the dietary Laws of the Old testament

which there are some church’s that make a big deal about diet

but it gives us a picture here

a picture of a critical person who is consumed with casting their convictions on others and being critical ( The JEWS)

the more Legalistic and uptight a person is , the weaker he is and Paul is going to brake this down for us

just because someone is convicted about something Like meat , doesn’t mean someone else is going to be

nor should a person cast those convictions onto others

Romans 14:3 “3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.”

the convictions that we have and or develop are personal convictions

not everyone can conform to your relationship with God in those areas

God is the one who receives us regardless of our convictions

we all kind of have this nature about us that wants others to conform to the way we think

thats not how this works

we don’t conform others into our Image , God conforms us into His image

Romans 8:29 “29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 12:2 “2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

1 Corinthians 15:49 “49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

we shouldn’t be judgmental towards other peoples convictions

we should learn to rise above each others convictions and live with

Now lets talk about another thing

lack of conviction is not a free pass to sin

it doesn’t mean if your not convicted about murder that its okay (Explain)

the world itself lacks conviction

this is talking about things that aren’t specifically laid out in the bible

Romans 14:4 “4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

Gods grace and His mercy extend even to those that we judge with our convictions

God is the one who Holds people up and he is the Ultimate Judge

We are the servants of God and he keeps each of us going

it doesn’t matter what our convictions are , we don’t judge others based on what our relationship is with the Lord

we can look back at Romans ch 7 and understand that Law created by Man is not what saves us

Religion is Law and that comes from Mans convictions being pressed onto others

Again its easy to be critical but Paul is telling us to rise above that

Romans 14:5 “5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”

we have to be careful about our opinions and perspectives

these are what get us as believers in trouble

we can be convinced in our own mind without biblical reinforcement about certain things but we need to be careful not to push that on others

Romans 14:6 “6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.”

wether you worship on a Sunday or a Saturday , it doesn’t matter

The Lord doesn’t care about these small things that we like to make such a big deal about

what ever your conviction is , follow it

If church for you is on Saturday so be it, it doesn’t mean it is for everyone else

If eating certain foods is good for you, it might be bad for others

Either way as long as as we do it unto the Lord and not as an excuse to sin than we are okay

There is a simplicity to the word of God that we love to make difficult

there are full on cults and other denominations that make these things like meat and church deal breakers for the Kingdom of God

the only thing we should be worried about is wether or not other people have heard the Gospel

not what the Pastor wears on a Sunday morning on the Pulpit

If you are convinced that what you are doing is for the Lord than that is between you two

but again we just need to be careful that we are not Justifying sin

Romans 14:7 “7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”

Romans 14:8 “8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

Romans 14:9 “9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”

we are not our own we belong to the Lord

So now Paul is telling us that as believers , the life that we have is connected to other lives

our lives are dedicated to the Lord and what ever we do is going to be dedicated to him because we are His !

Romans 14:10 “10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

don’t write off people for not seeing things the way you do

its okay to disagree

Romans 14:11 “11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.””

Romans 14:12 “12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Romans 14:13 “13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

One day everyone of us is going to be Judged by God

its not our Job to Judge those that we think aren’t spiritual

and for those that are Free who aren’t up tight , its not our Job to Judge those that are uptight and legalistic

we can get so caught up in the little details that we don’t realize that we could be causing others to stumble

How we treat others when it comes to how they walk their walk is something that should always be done in Love

wether your a strict believer or a believer thats not so strict don’t be a stumbling block to one another

we are all responsible for ourselves

— Expound WALKING IN LOVE

- Romans 14:14 “14 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.”

Because of the Authority of God , there is no food that is unclean to eat

but if someone is convinced that they shouldn’t eat it and that it is wrong , then for them it is wrong

Romans 14:15 “15 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.”

it is not our Job as believers , specifically mature believers to ruin or violate the conscience of another believer

if what i am doing is causing someone else to stumble, I probably shouldn’t do it

that is Love

if giving up something you love is for someone else , possibly for their salvation then you should do it

Jesus Gave us His life , so we can give up what ever it is that causes us to stumble others

Give the Example of (Alcohol)

Is it really worth is ?

Romans 14:16 “16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;”

the freedom we have In christ is something that we should only use for good

it should never be used to bring another believer down

Romans 14:17 “17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Love should be what governs us.

If love is not governing us than our walk and the christian name will develop a bad name

Romans 14:18 “18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

Now we can Look here from vs 18 at the Life of David back in

1 Samuel 18:30 “30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.”

David was a model Christian

His Life when he was around Saul was a life that was righteous and Peaceful , full of Joy and Filled with the Holy Spirit

He gained favor not only from the Lord for His conduct but even from His enemies servants

and he became wise !!

David didn’t focus on who Saul should of been , he focused on who He needed to be for the Kingdom of God

Just Like vs 18 says for he who serves christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men

David gained favor and he was Highly esteemed

Romans 14:19 “19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

Our actions as believers should be the type of actions that build one another up , and help each other grow

peace is another thing that needs to be a priority in our walk

without peace there is no growth

How can you come to church and build each other up if your mad at someone and not at peace ?

you cant

Romans 14:20 “20 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.”

Romans 14:21 “21 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.”

All food all things are Clean

if it is created by God, it is clean

1 Timothy 4:4 “4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;”

Don’t focus on the little things that cause division

focus on the heavenly thing and share the Gospel

Romans 14:22 “22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”

certain things should be between you and God and not in public

especially if it will cause another person to stumble

( Share the drinking Story at Angel Stadium with Anthony and what Kelci Said vs what i Thought )

Romans 14:23 “23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Now if your doubting if what you are doing is right or wrong , maybe you shouldn’t do it

If you cant do it with a clean conscience and unto the Lord don’t do it at all

SO with that being Said , the hole idea with this Chapter is to not get Caught up in our own convictions and Placing those convictions on others

It causes us to become Judgmental and critical to others

Lets turn our bibles to Matthew 7 and Ill close with this

Matthew 7:1–6 “1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

God will Judge us the same as we judge others and just as Harshly

Judging others can become easy

casting our convictions on others and creating expectations for others is easy

but walking in Love with other believers is what we are called to do

we are to meet each other where we are

some people will do things different and that is okay

Remember God calls us to conform into His image , not to conform others into our Image , so be careful

remember Gods mercy, his grace and his love is for everyone !!!

Lets Pray