Principles for Unity
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#1. Welcome those who disagree with you. vs. 1-2
#1. Welcome those who disagree with you. vs. 1-2
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
#2. Those who have freedom of conscience must not look down on those who don’t. vs. 3-4
#2. Those who have freedom of conscience must not look down on those who don’t. vs. 3-4
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Despise = treat with contempt
Despise = treat with contempt
Judge = condemn
Judge = condemn
The strong, who have freedom to do what others cannot do, are tempted to look down on and despise those who are more strict. They may say, “Those people don’t understand the freedom we have in Christ. They’re not mature like us! They’re legalistic. All they think about are rules.” Paul condemns this attitude of superiority.
#3.Those whose conscience restricts them must not be judgmental toward those who have freedom. vs. 3-4
#3.Those whose conscience restricts them must not be judgmental toward those who have freedom. vs. 3-4
Those who have a weaker conscience on a particular issue are always tempted to pass judgment on those who are freer. They may say, “How can those people be Christians and do that? Don’t they know they’re hurting the testimony of Christ? Don’t they know that they are supposed to give up things like that for the sake of the gospel?” Paul gives two reasons that it’s such a serious sin to break these two principles, that is, for the strong to look down on those with a weaker conscience and for the weak to judge those with a stronger conscience:
1.“ God has welcomed him” (14: 3c). Do you have the right to reject someone whom God has welcomed? Are you holier than God? If God himself allows his people to hold different opinions on third-level matters, should you force everyone to agree with you?
2.“ Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?” (14: 4a). You are not the master of other believers. When you look down on someone with a weaker conscience or judge someone with a stronger conscience, you’re acting as though that person is your servant and you are his master. But God is his master. In matters of opinion, you must let God do his work. You just need to welcome your brother or sister. God is a better master than you are.
#4. Each believer must be fully convinced of their position in their own conscience v. 5
#4. Each believer must be fully convinced of their position in their own conscience v. 5
fully persuaded = be completely certain, be fully assured, convinced or persuaded
fully persuaded = be completely certain, be fully assured, convinced or persuaded
Should Christians celebrate Jewish holy days? This issue, which Paul is addressing here, illustrates the principle that on disputable matters, you should obey your conscience. This does not mean that your conscience is always right. It’s wise to calibrate your conscience to better fit God’s will.
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
You must respect the consciences of others and not make fun of their rules or freedoms. If you have an opportunity, you can slowly help them train their conscience to be more in line with God’s standards, but you must never compel someone to sin against their conscience.