Grace Over Judgment

Embracing Our Differences in Christ

Bible Passage: Romans 14:1-15:14

Introduction

You all know that I am a big fan of college basketball. It’s been changing the last few years with the ability to pay college athletes and switch schools through the transfer portal. It’s honestly brought a lot of individuality into the game and destroyed some of the sense of cohesiveness and commitment to represent the school as a member of the team. It survives in pockets here and there. Individual athletes decide to stick with a school and not accept large cash windfalls. Individuals choose to stay in school another year when they could leave and join the NBA and start their professional careers. If you’ve ever been part of a team, sports or otherwise, you know that the success of the team will always depend on the relationships of the members to one another. If people see the vision for the success of the team as a whole and aren’t focused solely on their own success, then the team has a chance of growing together and doing great things. But when some of the team members are concerned only with their own success then it becomes very hard for the team to work together to begin to do great things. You’ve maybe heard a coach or leader at sometime say there is no I in team. When we focus on ourselves, the impact on the team is easy to predict and never good. When team members are more concerned with the success of the group and begin to unify around the goals of the team, then great things can begin to happen.

Romans 14:1–3 “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 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.”

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have become a part of team with a mission. Our mission is to carry the Good News of Jesus to a lost and dying world. Paul addresses in this passage the necessity of grace in the face of differences among believers. Christians today are called to cultivate a spirit of acceptance and love towards one another. We’re called to focus on unity in the body of Christ as we prioritize building one another up in spite of differences in our personal preferences and beliefs.

1. Welcome Without Wavering

Romans 14:1–5 “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 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. 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. 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.”

Welcome One Another

Conflicts over acceptable eating - Likely related to Jewish traditions on dietary restrictions

Don’t judge each other on practice - Both believers determined to honor the Lord

Honor the Lord and each other - Be careful about offending each other

Practice Whatever You Preach

Make up your mind what is right - Then live it out as your spiritual worship

Don’t despise others who choose differently - We’re all trying to honor the Lord

No room for judgement - Both groups honor the Lord

2. Honoring in Harmony

Romans 14:6–9 “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. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 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. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Honor Christ in Peace

All seek to honor Christ - Believers choice should be for show

Don’t put on a show - Follow your convictions don’t display them

Live in Harmony - Seek peace with other believers

Unity Found in Submission

All submit to Christ - Practice is spiritual worship not for show

Unity result of our mutual submission - Christ is honored and Church unified by our submission

Shared worship results - As we worship Christ we unite in spite of our practices

3. Judgment: God's Domain

Romans 14:10–12 “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; 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 will give an account of himself to God.”

Why Pass Judgment

Pause before you pass - Think about what you’re doing

Self-examination is essential - Paramount to know what we’re doing

Extend the grace you’ve received - Give others what you’ve received from Christ

We All Stand Before Him

Judgment Day is coming - We will be forgiven

Allow Christ to guide your growth - He will guide you to unity

Grace covers us all - He will forgive our errant ways

4. Love Over Legalism

Romans 14:13–18 “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. 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. 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. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

Call to Open Pathways

Avoid stumbling blocks - Don’t trip others by your choices

Be sensitive to weakness - Don’t flaunt your freedom

Let love guide you - Spirit will lead you to righteousness, peace and joy

Serve Christ and Not Yourself

Flaunting freedom destroys others - Christ lifted burdens rather than loading people

Encourage supportive living - Work to encourage one another

Differences should help us grow - Uplift each other don’t drop off your load

I remember being in Florida where our church owned basically about an entire city block. There was the main building with seating for 1500 people, plus Sunday School rooms. There was a converted fire station that was the youth groups building. There was a school with cafeteria, gym, class rooms and bowling alley. There was also an area with small bungalows where visitors and missionaries on leave could stay. We were cleaning the grounds or something and I remember passing a bungalow where some missionaries from Europe were staying and I saw a carton of beer inside the building. I was shocked being in the midst of my seminary studies as one of Jerry’s kids (Falwell that is the “fighting fundamentalists”). It forced me to think, pray and do a little research (very little to be honest). Turns out the tradition that alcohol of any kind is wrong is mostly an American idea and so naturally only from the last few centuries. That experience brought me to this and other similar passages. It taught me to be very careful how I view the behavior of other believers and to be equal careful about the way I live my own life. Our freedom should never be someone else’s downfall.

5. Unity With Understanding

Romans 14:19–15:7 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 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. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 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. 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. We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the…”

Pursue Peace

Build each other up - Our behavior should edify other believers

Serve as one body - Spirit of acceptance and uplifting

United by Christ’s mission - We have work to do saving the lost

Welcome One Another

Church is one body - True of all Christian denominations

Seek ways to serve together - Look for opportunities for unity (Mercy Outreach)

Let grace abound - Learn to forgive and uplift other believers

6. Global Grace for God’s Glory

Romans 15:8–14 “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”

Gospel Goes to All (Jews and Gentiles)

Embody God’s faithfulness and mercy - Be Christ’s presence to others

Prophet points to unity - “It is written …” points to the future

Celebrate God’s faithfulness - Gospel is good news for all

Share the Gospel with Love and Joy

Christ’s love fosters reconciliation - Open’s doors between enemies

Unite the Church in His grace - God’s capacity to give unearned favor

Christ’s love reconciles - Uniting us all under grace

We’re all called upon to give mercy and grace to one another. We’re expected to give forgiveness even though retribution is deserved. We’re called to give unearned favor even though punishment is deserved. Mercy drives us to not give each other what is deserved. Grace compels us to give others what they do not deserve. We have been forgiven and we need to forgive others. Paul’s message throughout this passage is the call of the church is to unity. We don’t have time and room for judging other believers. We also shouldn’t abuse others by flaunting the freedom we’ve found from bondage to sin. Instead we’re called to love each other and unite together for the purpose of sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world around us.

Do you believe Jesus lived, was crucified, died and was buried, then resurrected on the third day to pay the penalty for your sins? Having believed, have you been baptized and acknowledged this step of faith at some point in your life? Will you give your life to Jesus now? Will you join us in moving toward obedience? If you want to give your life to Jesus, come talk to me now or after the service. Let’s get this settled. Don’t let another day pass.

Prayer, 168 – Softly and Tenderly