Sermon for September 13, 2020 20 Minutes

This morning I'll be reading Romans 14 verses 1 through 12.

I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Romans 14:1-12

In the verses that we look at this morning,,, Paul is trying to teach the Romans some things that we will do well to remember,,, especially considering everything that is going on today,,, and what we remembered,,, this past Friday.

Romans 14:1-12

1 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living. 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God. 11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God. 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen.

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This week has been a week that has flown by.

I've been getting everything together for my classes that I have to finish to keep my Licensed Local Pastor's certificate and before I knew it,,, it was Friday!

And with Friday,,, came the memories that we all have of that day on September 11, 2001,,, that I'm sure those of us that lived through that day,,, will never forget!

I know that for me,,, and I imagine for each of you,,, we can all remember exactly where we were,,, and,,, what we were doing that morning as soon as we found out what was going on.

It seems like many have forgotten,,, or don't see the significance since they didn't experience it first hand or weren't even alive then,,, and that's a shame.

Then on top of that,,, we have all of the problems facing our nation today that are continuing to "further" divide our country.

Hopefully,,, after looking at these scriptures this morning,,, they will help us walk better together as a country,,, and in our walk with God!

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Verse 1 says: 1 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues.

We get started this morning with words from John Wesley on this subject.

He says: "The answer to diversity is not in compromise. It is in love. The Church is strong enough to permit many elements of diversity if only the people are united firmly enough in a faith that works by love".

Now,,, we will see when we look at the next verse that John Wesley,,, along with all of the other commentaries that you read on this subject,,, are all talking about food that was being eaten at that time.

Food that might have been prepared in worship of idols and other things.

But,,, these same principals apply when you begin to talk about people that have different outlooks than we have too!

And "love" will cure any problem that we might have,,, whether it's a division in the way that we think,,, or in our actions.

So lets continue as we look at verses 2 and 3.

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Verses 2 and 3 say: 2 One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.

Paul’s intention in this part of the chapter is not to downplay,,, or make light of,,, the keeping of these food customs,,, but to keep those who viewed themselves as “strong” from looking down on the “weak,,, and vice versa.”

Paul does not want stumbling blocks placed before those who continue to eat as they feel led to eat,,, no matter which way that is.

My Bible Knowledge Commentary says that,,, although Paul spent much of his time explaining that God welcomed Gentiles into the covenant,,, he is now explaining to the Gentile majority,,, that they should not look down on the Jews,,, or on those who keep the laws.

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Verse 4 says: 4 Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able to make him stand.

Paul uses this as an illustration to explain the way that we just need to mind our own business,,, since you would never criticize someone else's slave.

Whether we like to admit it or not,,, slavery was written about,,, and allowed,,, even though we realize that this is something that God would not have approved of.

Just because it's written down in the Bible doesn't mean that God approved of it.

There are many things that man did,,, that God doesn't approve of,,, and the writers of the Old Testament and the New Testament wrote about the bad and the good.

The main thing that he was trying to do was explain that when it comes to matters that can go either way,,, then we shouldn't worry about them.

That's his objective in all of this part of scripture.

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Verses 5 and 6 say: 5 One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God.

Paul is continuing his argument about not looking down on others.

During this time in Rome,,, there were many Jews living there that still observed the Sabbath,,, and other days that they were taught,,, while they were growing up.

The Gentile believer's,,, most of the time,,, didn't observe these days like they did.

The early church at that time was meeting and coming together on the day that Jesus arose,,, which was the first day of the week,,, which is what many of us consider our last day of the week.

The Jewish Christians would still go to the synagogue on Saturday,,, then meet again on Sunday in observance of the day that Jesus arose.

The Sabbath did not change,,, it's still Saturday,,, but the Sabbath applied to the Israelites,,, not the Gentiles.

Paul talked about this in Colossians 2:14–17 (HCSB)

14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him. 16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah.

So,,, again like earlier,,, Paul is saying that these are not matters of importance and you shouldn't be worried about them.

Each should seek wisdom and make up his own mind about these matters and then let it be settled in their own heart,,, but not to let it bother them if someone else thinks differently.

John Wesley said,,, that the most important thing to remember when it comes to matters of non-essentials,,, is one's attitude toward God.

He asked the question,,, "Is all of life, including the matter in question, dedicated to God, done to His glory, and with a spirit of gratitude"?

Then he said,,, "If so, be assured of the smile from Him who looks on the heart".

The privacy and individuality of conscience is not license to sin or be worldly.

It is freedom to serve God with reverence and godly fear.

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Verses 7 through 9 say: 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.

Once we become Christians,,, we do not belong to ourselves.

We belong to Jesus Christ.

This is what brings us together: the fact that we are fellow servants of Him,,, not enforced rules and regulations.

The purpose of good deeds is not to glorify self or even to give self-satisfaction.

It is to please the Lord.

Our true happiness depends on this fact.

Whether we realize it or not,,, this is what every human being is searching for in their life,,, and the only thing that can bring true joy!

That's why Jesus came,,, and just as He said in John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Without Jesus,,, you will never have peace,,, because you will always be searching for something better than what you have found!

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Verse 10 says: 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God.

The day will come when we must stand before Jesus and answer for the things that we have done.

Our faith in Jesus Christ assures us of a place in heaven,,, but we will still be judged for what we've done or haven't done in Jesus' name.

You can read more of this in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

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Verses 11 and 12 say: 11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God. 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

God had given this declaration in Isaiah 45:23 which says,,, 23 By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

That is something that everyone needs to hear because this day is coming,,, and we must all be ready for that day!

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Paul spent several verses trying to get the Roman people to understand that they needed to quit fighting over things that weren't important.

But the part that got my attention,,, as we looked at these verses,,, was the beginning where John Wesley said,,, "The answer to diversity is not in compromise. It is in love. The Church is strong enough to permit many elements of diversity if only the people are united firmly enough in a faith that works by love".

"Love" is the word that "really" got my attention!

You see,,, Jesus used that same word when He reduced the 10 commandments down into two commandments when He answered the lawyer in Matthew 22:36-37 - 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The word "Love" is a strong word,,, but it's the answer to all of our problems!

There would never be another day like September 11th, 2001.

All of the fighting,,, all of the arguing,,, all of the protest,,, it would all magically disappear if we showed "Love" the way that we need to.

And it's the churches responsibility to spread that love,,, because if we don't show that love when we leave here and go forth out into our communities,,, who will?

So we must do better,,, and we will show them by our example,,, by the way that we live our life each and every day!

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This week remember these verses and what Paul was trying to teach the people in Rome.

Remember to do our best to not fight over the things that don't matter and that we don't lead others down the wrong road by fighting over something trivial.

Remember the words of Jesus and John Wesley,,, that "Love" fulfills all the commandments,,, and along with Jesus,,, is everything that we need,,, to get along in this world!

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