The Liberty to Love One Another
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The subject of Romans 14 is Christian liberty. I want you to note this, that there are three ways in which people live the Christian life and only one of them is right.
Legalism
Christian legalism is so damaging. What legalism does is it traps people in this impossible religious situation where they are never accepted, never maturing, never growing in the faith. The reason this happens is because legalism is all about the law of man being added to the statues of God.
You get into this vicious cycle where there is safeguard after safeguard, and, before long, you are looking up, and the things that you are doing have everything to do with religion and nothing to do with God’s word…and the worst part about legalism is that they use God’s word as their club to beat people over the head and force them to submit to their false religion…or else.
Liberalism
Christian liberalism is also damaging. Christian liberalism is summarized like this, all the benefits of grace, without any of the sacrifice of holiness.
Here is the kind of logic the theological liberal hides behind. They’ll say, “I know that this is blatant sin and against God’s word, but I have grace in my life and I know that God loves me anyways.” Basically what they do is they abuse God’s unlimited grace and make it seem like their personal sin is no big deal.
Liberty
This is the focus of Romans 14, and this should be the focus of your life. What we are going to do tonight is we are going to talk about this liberty that we have in Jesus Christ.
We are not bound by a legalism that says, “if you don’t do these certain things then you will never be accepted.” We are also not bound by a liberalism that says, “you can do whatever you want and its ok.” Instead, we are called to liberty that is found only in Jesus, and makes a way for us to live righteously, and to be accepting of others.
Legalism says, “follow these rules.” Liberalism says, “there are no rules.” Liberty says, “Follow Jesus Christ.”
I. Christian Liberty is Welcoming
I. Christian Liberty is Welcoming
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
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.
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.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
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.
The Issue of Diets v.1-3
The Issue of Diets v.1-3
In these opening three verses, Paul is handling a dispute in Rome that he handled in the Corinthian church. Now, I think that it’s interesting that Paul has never been to Rome, and yet he is still able to understand that the Roman church is struggling with this issue of diet. The point is, that every church is struggling with issues that are common in theme. Whether thats disunity, legalism, liberalism, a refusal to change, you name it, the problems of churches are generally the same.
But here is talking about a dispute of meat offered to idols:
Some in the church are feeling guilty because others are eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. Their intention and their concern is sincere, but their worry and their judgement of their brother is sinful. Why? Here is what Paul says to the church at Corinth - 1 Cor 10:29-30 - on the subject of eating meat sacrificed to idols
For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
He’s saying, “Guys, God has made all things and He has declared all things His. The idols are nothing more than stone and wood, the meat that has been offered comes from God, if I receive it with thanks then I am giving glory to God, not to these idols.”
He follows up this thought with a popular verse 1Cor 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Now Paul is not talking about blatant sin. He is talking about a matter of the conscience.
The Issue of Days v. 5
The Issue of Days v. 5
In v. 5 , Paul is addressing the issue of certain days some felt needed to be celebrated, and others didn’t see the need to celebrate. There was this division and this argument over celebrations.
In the context of the Roman church, it is an argument about the Jewish feasts. Basically, these Jews wanted to observe their feasts, the other believers would say, “I’m not under the Old Testament, I don’t have to.” And there was an argument over these days. Paul is saying, don’t fight about food, and don’t fight about days. Those things are the matter of a conscience…they are incidentals, not gospel issues, and they don’t have anything to do with righteousness, except on a personal level, which will be explained in a minute.
Modern Day Incidentals
Here are some of our modern day squabbles that people like to argue about.
Sunday Conduct
There are some who think that we ought not eat out on Sunday, work on Sunday, shop on Sunday, etc. Then, there are others that do eat out on Sunday, do work on Sunday, and do shop on Sunday.
One group says, “we need to rest on Sunday because God rested.” Another group says, “I find my rest in Jesus everyday.” Romans 14:5
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
There’s that issue of Sunday conduct…who is right? It is a matter of conscience.
Christmas and Easter.
Some families do Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, and others think that’s totally inappropriate.
This again is a matter of conscience. Yes, I know that Christmas has pagan ties, I know Easter has pagan ties, but that’s not how I celebrate it. I celebrate these two days in glory and in honor of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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.
In both instances, whether you celebrate it in your home or not, if it is to the Lord then you’re good. If you don’t celebrate in honor of God, God bless you. If you do celebrate it to honor God, God bless you. It is a matter of conscience.
Sunday Dress and Worship
Is someone in shorts and a t-shirt less spiritual than a man in a suit and tie? Hardly…it depends on what’s in his heart.
Is it ok for people to shout and to clap during worship? Sure! Is a man who doesn’t less spiritual? Again, it depends on the heart.
I know a man, and if you were to watch him during the worship service, you would think that he is the most spiritual man on the face of this planet. Hands raised, singing loudly, amens ringing out…you talk to him in the real world, and you’re thinking, you need to go back to church.
Still, others are dead and don’t clap or worship, and they wouldn’t know spirituality if hit them in the face. Some are so dead in worship you wonder if they’re ever getting anything out of it.
What about the type of worship?
Some people think the music needs to flow and that it should have good rhythm, and it should attract the community…others think it should be more liturgical and have nothing to do with flow or style. It’s just a matter of opinion, its a conscience thing.
So, Paul is dealing with theses matters of the conscience regarding things like what to eat and what days to celebrate.
The reason that Christian Liberty is welcoming is because we aren’t supposed to be divided over these types of issues, but we are supposed to be united in Jesus Christ. That is, if a person has recieved Jesus Christ, we should be welcoming them with open arms.
The leadership and I just had a discussion about this. That when someone who accepts Christ comes to us, we need to accept them and build them up. That’s what Paul is saying here in v. 1-9, that Christian Liberty is welcoming, because we are united in Jesus Christ, not divided over opinions
The Issue of Unity v. 7-9
The Issue of Unity v. 7-9
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
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.
For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
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.
For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
What is it that unites us? It’s Jesus. Everything we do in this life we are to do it to God and for God.
Adrian Rogers said this, “Christian maturity is learning how to be brothers without being twins”
When God saves us, the Bible says that we are adopted into His family. It doesn’t really give us any room to judge our brothers.
You say, “Dylan, doesn’t the Bible say that we are supposed to be accountable to one another?”
First of all, not in the matter of conscience.
Second, it’s to be done in love not in judgement.
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.
Paul is saying, they don’t answer to you, they answer to Jesus, and He will give them their judgement. Your job is to love them and accept them, and to be sensitive to their conscience and freedom in Jesus. Don’t impose your legalism on them.
This is a prime example of Christian liberty and acceptance regarding trivial matters.
There’s four pastors gathered together for a conference, they have some free time so they are walking around in the city and pass a cigar shop. One pastor said, “I want to go in here and buy a cigar.” One said, “I’d like one too.” The other said, “I’ll go in, but I don’t think smoking is ok.” The last pastor said, “I’m not going in, I’ll be out here on the sidewalk when you guys get done.”
One liked cigars, one was indifferent, one was compliant, one was convicted by conscience, all four were brothers in Christ and loved one another.
The church cannot afford to be divided over incidentals, but the church must be united by their love for Jesus Christ.
Christian Liberty brings Freedom
Christian Liberty brings Freedom
Now to some people, they’d call be a liberal. To others, they’d call me a legalist. Well, my goal is to be neither, but to embrace the freedom that I have in Jesus.
The Freedom to Choose
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.
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.
What the Bible is instructing us to do here is to examine in our conscience what is right for us and what is wrong for us.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
That’s saying, if I do something that violates my conscience, for me its sin.
Typically, if someone asks me if something is wrong for them, I usually say, “if you have to think about it, its probably wrong.” or, “if you have to hide it because you are ashamed of it, even if its not sinful, its wrong.” That’s because the Spirit that’s in you is making you uncomfortable, in your conscience you feel uneasy about what is taking place.
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.
Traits of Legalism
Now, what the legalist would do in situations like this, when its a matter of the conscience, they will always add to the Bible to prove their point.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Then they’ll say, “see there! When you come into church, you better have on a suit and tie. You hair better not touch your ears, and your beard can’t be longer than 1/3”, because not dressing like that is to have on an improper wedding garment, and it disrespects the glory of God to come in any less than that.
The legalist will take the word of God and then prescribe some kind of man-made law to it.
Traits of Liberalism
Liberalism on the other hand will always deny the Word of God and take things away from it to justify their blatant sin.
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.
Then they’ll say, “Pornography doesn’t bother me. I can watch it in movies or whatever. It’s not like I am physically committing adultery. The Bible says that my sin is a matter of conscience, and I don’t consider it to be unclean, so it’s not unclean.”
If you say, “What about where the Bible says that sexual immorality is wrong?” They’ll reply again and say, “It’s a matter of conscience, you live your life and let me live mine.”
Traits of Liberty
Christian Liberty is able to, through God’s word and the Holy Spirit, make an informed choice on their relationship with God.
The Christian that lives in liberty understands that it’s not about how well you are dressed when you come to church, but its about how prepared your heart is to receive the things of God.
The Christian that lives in liberty understands what sin is according to the Bible and that they have victory and freedom from sin. The Christian that embraces liberty embraces freedom from the bondage of sinful desires and the bondage of man.
Christian Liberty Promotes Love
Christian Liberty Promotes Love
So, in gospel issues, we have to have unity. That Jesus is King, that He is our redeemer, that His word is truth and the authority in our lives.
In non-gospel issues (how to worship, how to dress for church, anything that falls into that category), we have Christian liberty.
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.
The principle is this, that there are certain things you leave alone because they might harm someone else.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
How to Promote Love
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.
Be hard on yourself, be easy with others.
A lot of how I dress, how I live, the places I go, is because I, as a pastor, don’t want to cause anyone else to stumble and fall into sin.
The big issue that always comes up in this discussion is drinking alcohol. Are there godly people that drink alcohol? Yes, there are.
One reason I don’t drink alcohol is because I don’t want someone to think, “I don’t think he’s really a godly man. I’ll never go to any church he pastors.”
Another reason I don’t drink alcohol is because I don’t want someone to see me drinking, and then justify it. When they come home to mama and daddy and say, “well brother Dylan does it!” It would cut me to the heart. If they were to see me drinkin, justify it, and then become alcoholics or commit manslaughter because they were DUI, I believe I’d have to answer for that when I stand before God.
Selfishness asks, “Will this hurt me?” Love asks, “Will this hurt someone else?”
Do not create divisions over non-gospel issues
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Your job in the church is not to be the judge, but your job in the church is to be the encourager. Some people think, “Yeah, it’s not their job, it’s mine.”
No, it’s God’s job to judge. It is our job to encourage.
“But Dylan, what happens when we have someone in here that isn’t making the cut?”
First, we recognize that none of us are making the cut.
Two, we work to build up that brother or sister into Christian maturity.
The last thing we do is start a division over and incidental. Hymns vs Modern music. Chairs vs Pews. ties vs. no ties. Tattoos vs. no tattoos, and the list goes on and on…churches will split faster over business and opinion than they will over following Jesus…let it not be so here in Providence, but let us live our lives in Christian liberty.
