Unity does not Mean Identical

Introduction:

Take your Bibles and be finding Romans chapter 14. Over the past several weeks we have been studying the Book of Romans. As we have discussed through the book of Romans, Paul, was building his most complete theology. Also we have noticed how Paul changes gears in Romans 12 from a theological disortation to a practical application of the theology he has presented. In his application, Paul is speaking to the first century church, as well as to the modern believer. He is speaking to those who have placed their faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.

As I was preparing for today, I came across a phrase that has often been attritubed to St. Augustine (354-430AD). “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” However the research nerd in me, caused me to research deeper and found the quote to be originally attributed to Marco Antonio De Dominis, an early Catholic Archbishop of Spalato somewhere around 1616 AD, almost 1200 years after Augustine’s death. The quote speaks volumes and ties into Romans 14.

Read: Romans 14:1–12 (ESV): 14 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

I. In Essentials, Unity

A. The first century church in Rome was made up of two types of believers.

a. Many were Jewish converts that began to believe because of the teachings of Jesus, His disciples, or from disciples of the disciples.

b. The second group would have been Gentile converts, who for the most part would have been coming from polytheist, or paganistic religions.

c. Both cases listed above would have had strict dietary rules, along with being strictly legalistic by nature. Being moved from this setting into faithfully following Christ was a drastic change and freeing of one’s ritualistic requirements.

A. What is an essential of faith?

a. The Bible as a whole and the New Testament in particular tells us that an essential, actually the essential, aspect of faith is to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Christ taught to leave everything behind and follow Him.

Salvation is from God, through the actions of His Son Jesus Christ. (Birth, life, death, and resurrection) John 3:16

Salvation is a free gift, not earned through our own efforts. Is 64:6, Rom 3:23-24, Rom 5:8, Rom 6:23, Rom 10:9-10

Salvation is God’s adoption policy. Rom 6:5-8,