Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Conscience is the, “Human capacity to reflect upon the degree to which one’s behavior has conformed to moral norms.

For the believer these norms should be those established by God.”

According to the Lexham Theological Workbook, “Conscience is not a clear-cut indicator of morality—whether something actually is right or wrong—but an indicator of one’s personal conviction about whether behavior is right or wrong.”

So what we need is to understand this part of us that is so integral in our walk with God, yet so difficult to fully understand.

This study has really changed how I view many things and promises to shape how I think about things I encounter in the future.

This study has also served to convict me in many ways throughout and understand what it is that God requires.

For background to this study, I read the book Conscience: What it is, How to Train It, and Loving Those who Differ by Andrew David Naselli and J.D. Crowley.

There was a very helpful chapter which walked the reader through .

So, this is where I chose to focus my study.

Let’s jump in shall we?

(The Weak and the Strong Sin by Judging)

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.

This section begins our study with a warning on judging those with consciences differing from your own.

Some observations can be made on these four verses.

First, there is a difference between what God commands in His Word and our opinions and preferences.

Second, Paul distinguishes two groups by using the example of the choice to eat meat or not.

Some took the position that they were morally responsible to engage in a vegetarian lifestyle.

These are the individuals that Paul designates as the weak brother.

Some understood that they were able to eat and enjoy anything.

These are the strong brothers.

Third, both the weak and the strong are warned not to judge the others.

Both parties would be tempted in different ways to judge the others.

In verse four, Paul makes his argument for why it is wrong for either party to judge the other’s conscience.

Paul states that we are not in a position to pass judgement on a brother because they are not ours to judge.

They are God’s servants and they belong to Him.

As an example, think of another parent correcting your child.

On top of that think of that other parent contradicting your own judgement of your child’s behavior.

An important principle to remember is that all Christians are the Lord’s because He purchased them.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price.

So glorify God in your body.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price.

So glorify God in your body.

Cf.

Furthermore, as it is the Lord who judges, the Lord assures that both the strong and the weak brother will be upheld.

Neither is favored by God.

This upholding under the Lord’s judgement is solely based on the grace of God.

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.

In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted.

It is the Lord who judges me. 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.

Cf.

When reading this whole section should be kept in mind.

For a moment we need to focus in on the groups of weak and strong.

According to Andrew Naselli and J.D. Crowley, “The designations weak conscience and strong conscience apply not to groups of persons across the board but to how each individual approaches specific issues.”

“The designations weak conscience and strong conscience apply not to groups of persons across the board but to how each individual approaches specific issues.”

Furthermore, “in most issues, you are probably both weak and strong at the same time in comparison to other people.

Think of a spectrum: there is almost always someone to your left and right on any given disputable issue.”

Lastly, it is worth noting that neither a weak nor a strong conscience makes one more pleasing to God.

As Naselli and Crowley point out, “We believe that the more you understand what faith in Christ means, the more you will be set free from unnecessary regulations in your life.

But we must stress again that those with a strong conscience do not necessarily please God anymore than those with a weak conscience.

Both can glorify God, and both can sin against God.”

(Service to God is the Motivation of both We and Strong)

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.

The reason that neither weak nor strong consciences are more pleasing to God is that both are acting out of the motivation of serving and bringing glory to God.

The key here is in verse six.

Both parties are giving thanks to God.

This is even more important when is taken into account.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Cf.

Nothing is to be rejected or seen as unclean if it can be honestly and biblically engaged in and result in giving thanks to God.

Nothing is to be rejected or seen as unclean if it can be honestly and biblically engaged in and result in giving thanks to God.

Discernment must be used here.

Another consideration to take into account is will this permissible thing bring the most glory to God.

As GotQuestions.org

so poignantly points out, we are to seek not only what is permissible but what is praiseworthy!

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Cf.

Conscience cannot be separated from biblical discernment, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, and a proper understanding of Christian liberty.

This passage highlights the motivation behind the action as the most important consideration when looking at the gray areas of conscience.

If our motivation is against God, even if the action or thing is not inherently sinful, we sin against God.

The motivation behind it makes it sinful.

Verse five also begins the principle that we should not sin against our conscience.

We need to be fully convinced and sure of our position.

Naselli and Crowley say, “You must be fully convinced of your present position on food or drink or special days - or whatever the issue - and then live consistently by that decision until God may lead you by His Word and Spirit to adjust your conscience.”

However, conscience needs to be trained as it, like all parts of our humanity, was tainted by sin.

Naselli and Crowley explain Paul, saying, “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 is wise to calibrate your conscience to better fit God’s will.”

Furthermore, “As you come to understand God’s will more and more, you must do the hard work of continually adding rules to your conscience that God’s Word says should be there and continually weeding out rules from your conscience that should not be there.

This will take your entire life, but you have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to help you.

God is the only Lord of your conscience.”

The proper motivation in all of this is the glory of God and greater Christlikeness.

(Both the Weak and the Strong Belong to and Serve the Lord)

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?