Loving His Breathren

How to receive the weaker believer, :1-9

To welcome or quarrel over opinions?

Romans 14:1 ESV

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

What is the illustration Paul uses?

Romans 14:2–3 ESV

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.

Discussion of 1st difference and adjustment:

Discussion:

The setting: All the meat in a pagan city would have been offered to a god. First Adjustment is that the stronger brother was not to hold it against the weaker brother because he would not eat, and the weaker brother was not to judge the stronger brother for eating the meat.

The adjustment is that the stronger brother was not to hold it against the weaker brother because he would not eat, and the weaker brother was not to judge the stronger brother for eating the meat.

The strong believer knows no gods exist. So ...

The weaker believer (not weak) believes a god does exist. So ...

Explain the 2 thoughts that show how the 1st adjustments are made when we differ in our scruples, disputes, or differences of opinions.

Clarification: First adjustment is that the stronger brother was not to hold it against the weaker brother because he would not eat, and the weaker brother was not to judge the stronger brother for eating the meat.

Do not pass j___________

Because God has w________ him.

Why judgment in opinions is completely unacceptable

Romans 14:4 ESV

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.

2nd Different & Adjustment,

The adjustment is that the stronger brother was not to hold it against the weaker brother because he would not eat, and the weaker brother was not to judge the stronger brother for eating the meat.

Second Adjustment,

Romans 14:5 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.

What is the opinion being discussed?

Explain what should be the mental attitude?

Mental attitude amplified,

Romans 14:6 ESV

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.

Lets say I believed “Good Friday”, March 30th, was holy and needed to be observed as a Holy Day.

Would it be right or wrong to convince someone who held a different opinion?

Whether it is done or left undone, it is in service of the Lord — t/f?

The Lordship of Christ is the fundamental reason,

Romans 14:7–9 ESV

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.

What is the Consequences of Not Accepting the Brother,

Romans 14:10–12 ESV

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.

My attitude should be judgement or holy fear?

I am judged everyday not just at the final judgment, t/f?

Will daily holy fear before God highlight my own weaknesses or those of my brother?

Edify One Another: Do Not Grieve the Weaker Brother,

Romans 14:13–18 ESV

13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Satan sets snares. According to :13 how can we partner with Satan?

:14 What does a strong believer know? What does a weaker brother think?

:15 What is the love principle?

:16 How can a strong believer live so as to not be thought of as evil? Why is this important in influencing a weaker believer?

:17-18 So, what is the conclusion?

Do Not Destroy God’s Work In the Weaker Brother,

Romans 14:19–23 ESV

19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 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. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 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. 23 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.

Two essentials

What should we strive for?

Why should we curb our appetites?

What is added to the food and drink category?

Coffman Commentaries: Besides that, the wine of Paul's day bore little resemblance to the burning liquors which today are sold under such a label.

Please One Another: In Imitation of Jesus,

Romans 15:1–4 ESV

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

What are the 2 qualities listed in pleasing our neighbor?

It must be for their good (to bear with)

It must be for their edification (to build up)

What is the urgent request,

Romans 15:5–6 ESV

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the application, ?

Romans 15:7–8 ESV

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 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,

How did Paul amplify his application, ?

Romans 15:9–13 ESV

9 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.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 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.

; ;

Psalm 18:49 ESV

49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.

Deuteronomy 32:43 ESV

43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people’s land.”

Isaiah 11:10 ESV

10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Conclusion:

The stronger brother is responsible for bearing the burdens of the weaker brother. God is responsible to see that the stronger brother has the power to do so, and He is responsible for working in that action to bring joy, peace, and hope into the hearts of both the strong and weak brother. All that is left now is Paul’s grand conclusion as he greets, praises, and warns the Romans. God give you peace in believing in Jesus.