Receiving One Another with Understanding

It’s a brand new year and we are turning our attention today to Romans 14:1-12. We are diving into a deeply practical portion of Paul’s letter that deals with how we as believers should relate to one another—especially in areas of personal conviction and differences. This passage addresses the tension between the strong and the weak in faith, showing us the profound need for grace, unity, and spiritual leadership in the Church. What is critical for us to glean is the need for mature believers to show tremendous grace and gentle love and leadership to others of the faith.

There’s more at play here than just personal disagreements or preferences. The enemy of our souls is always at work, attempting to divide us through temporal things like food, drink, and other fleshly matters. We, as spiritual leaders, must be aware of his schemes and rise above the temporal distractions to keep our focus on the eternal. It should also be known that we are to bear in mind the difference in understanding between those who are new believer, those who are weak, those who are mature, and those who are unbelievers. This applies to the nearly every aspect of the Christian life.

With that, lets read this section of Romans together:

Romans 14:1–12 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.

1. Grace to the Weak (Romans 14:1-2)

We need to remember that Romans 14 is a continuation of what we studied in December in Romans 13. As a reminder let me read to you the closing verses of Romans 13:12-14

Romans 13:12–14 ESV

12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 14:1–2 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.

1. Grace to the Weak (Romans 14:1-2)

Chapters and verses were not originally in Paul’s letter; they were added later for reference. This means that the thoughts Paul shared at the end of Romans 13 flow seamlessly into the opening verses of chapter 14. In Romans 13, Paul calls us to live in light of the return of Christ, urging us to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Our lives, as believers, are to reflect the urgency of living for Christ, living in love, and living in unity. But now, as we enter Romans 14, Paul’s focus shifts to a very practical and necessary application of that unity—how we, as believers, should treat one another, especially in areas where we may have differences of opinion and personal conviction.

The call to love and walk in the light doesn’t just stop with how we relate to the world, but it also extends into how we handle disagreements and weaknesses within the body of Christ. Paul begins Romans 14 by addressing this very issue: how to maintain unity and grace even when there are differences, particularly with the “weak” in faith.

1. Grace to the Weak (Romans 14:1-2)

Paul begins by instructing us to accept the weak in faith—those who may still have doubts over certain things, like food or days of worship. This is a call to mature believers to show grace and patience, rather than condemnation.

For the mature believer, showing grace isn’t a passive act—it’s a deliberate choice to nurture and encourage others, even in their immaturity. It’s vital that we understand the role of grace in the Christian community. Grace is not only about forgiveness, but it’s also about being willing to walk alongside others as they grow in the knowledge of God, helping them see that their worth is found in Christ, not in their external practices or rituals.

1. Grace to the Weak (Romans 14:1-2)

This is where spiritual warfare comes in. The enemy loves to exploit divisions within the church, using personal convictions like food and other issues to create strife. When we, as leaders, fail to extend grace and understanding, we’re giving the enemy an open door to stir up dissension. As mature believers, we are called to rise above the temporal issues, offering encouragement, compassion, and support.

1. “As a mature believer, how can you effectively balance showing grace to those who are weaker in faith without compromising your own convictions? What are some practical ways you can help others grow in their faith without causing division?”

2. “In what areas of life, including things like food, entertainment, or personal freedoms, do you see the enemy potentially using your actions or words to divide the body of Christ? How can you be more intentional about rising above these temporal issues and leading others in love and unity?”

2. Unity in the Body (Romans 14:3-4)

Romans 14:3–4 ESV

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.

Paul reminds us that each believer belongs to the Lord and that it’s not our place to judge or despise others. Whether someone chooses to eat meat or abstain, or whether they observe certain days, each one is accountable to God.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The spiritual maturity of the believer is shown in their ability to let God be the judge. Our role is not to stand in judgment but to encourage and edify. We need to be wary of pride creeping in when we feel that we are more mature in some areas. If we use our knowledge to belittle others, we play right into the enemy’s hand.

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Corinthians 8:9–13 ESV

9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

This calls us to a higher standard of leadership. As spiritual leaders, we are called to lead with grace, understanding, and love, not with a heavy hand or judgment. Our leadership should empower others to grow in their faith, rather than making them feel lesser because of their weaknesses.

1. “When disagreements arise how can mature believers serve as peacemakers and keep the focus on unity in Christ?

2. How can the mature believer model this behavior in a way that helps younger believers grow in their faith?”

3. Spiritual Warfare in Unity (Romans 14:5-8)

Romans 14:5–8 ESV

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.

Paul draws our attention to the deeper reality: we live for the Lord. Everything we do, from eating to the way we conduct our lives, should reflect that we belong to Christ. Even in our differences, we should have one goal—to honor the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Colossians 3:23 ESV

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

This passage provides a stark reminder that every aspect of our lives—whether we eat or drink, or do anything else—is ultimately for the Lord. When we understand this, we see that the enemy cannot have a foothold in our relationships. The battle is not about who is right or wrong over trivial issues, but about maintaining the unity of the body in Christ.

Romans 12:9–10 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

3. Spiritual Warfare in Unity (Romans 14:5-8)

The enemy loves to turn us inward, making us focus on the temporary things—like food, personal preferences, or lifestyle choices. But as spiritual leaders, we must rise above these distractions and remember the bigger picture: We are united in Christ, and that unity is our greatest weapon in spiritual warfare. Every believer, regardless of where they are in their walk, is part of Christ’s body, and we must show them respect, grace, and love.

In what ways can we be more aware of the enemy’s schemes that seek to cause division within the Church, and what are some practical steps we can take to protect unity and encourage others in their faith during times of disagreement or spiritual tension?

4. Living for Christ (Romans 14:9-12)

Romans 14:9–12 ESV

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.

4. Living for Christ (Romans 14:9-12)

Paul concludes by reminding us that Christ is the one who died and rose again for us. Because of His sacrifice, we live to honor Him, not to please ourselves. Ultimately, all of us will give an account to God.

As believers, we are not living for ourselves but for Christ. This is a foundational principle for understanding how to navigate difficult issues. We must never forget that our lives, choices, and actions are ultimately in response to the love Christ has shown us. This perspective shifts our focus away from the temporal and points us toward the eternal.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

4. Living for Christ (Romans 14:9-12)

In spiritual leadership, this means that we are not here to please people or build our own kingdoms but to advance the Kingdom of God. Our role is to encourage others to live for Christ and to help them see that every choice—big or small—should be made with Him in mind. When we lead with this mindset, we become powerful instruments in God’s hands, and we safeguard the unity of the Church.

How can the awareness of God’s future judgment influence the way we approach disagreements and the care we take in accepting weaker believers in the Church?

4. Living for Christ (Romans 14:9-12)

I want to give an invitation today for anyone who may be struggling with division or weakness in their faith. If you’ve been hurt by judgment or if you’ve felt like you’ve failed in showing grace to others, today is the day for healing and restoration. Let’s rise above the enemy’s schemes and stand firm in our unity in Christ.

Whether you need deliverance, healing, or simply a fresh commitment to lead with grace, I invite you to come forward. Let’s pray together, and let’s allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, to make us more like Christ.