Welcome, Everyone! (Part 1)

Romans 14:1 CSB

Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.

INTRO—

[**— “Welcome, Everyone, to this gathering of Claycomo Baptist Church...”]

Unity is hard work!

Ephesians 4:1 CSB

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,

...

Ephesians 4:3 CSB

making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

…making every effort - quick & eagerly devoted diligent effort

God-honoring unity is harmony, not uniformity!

Paul addresses the challenge the Roman Christians faced in ‘keeping the unity’ in Romans 14.1-15.13.

Today, we’ll be reminded that this unity involves liberty (Romans 14.1-12)…

Welcome the Weak. [Romans 14.1-6]

Romans 14:1 CSB

Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.

This is the ‘bottom-line’ imperative of this paragraph in Paul’s letter.

“Welcome” - Hospitality; Include; Open Up To; Accept

“Weak” - Limited; Stumbling; Without Strength(; Unsure)

Welcome 'one another’…(but…)

Not to argue disputed matters

[Paul’s Examples: eating/not meat offered to idols & observing /not Jewish festival/holidays]

You MUST NOT Look Down On. (Better Than)

You MUST NOT Judge. (Critical Opinion...Consigning Consequences)

[But…But…wait!…] A word concerning ‘weak’ v. ‘hardened/obstinate’ v. ‘divisive’

Weak…

Romans 15:1 CSB

Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.

Obstinate… warn others— “Don’t you do that.”

Hebrews 3:12–15 CSB

12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. 15 As it is said: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

[Esp. 3.15]

Divisive… warn and reject!

Titus 3:10 CSB

Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.

Welcome: Jesus Does [Romans 14.7-9]

Jesus died & rose again to be Our LORD…always!

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 CSB

19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 CSB

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Jesus only extends the blessed position in life to those who trust & follow him.

Matthew 16:24–25 CSB

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Welcome: Live Free, Righteously. [Romans 14.10-12]

In our Family…& family impacted…Relationships!

1 Peter 2:17 CSB

Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

In our Personal Holiness.

1 Peter 1:15–16 CSB

15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

2 Corinthians 5:10 CSB

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

CONCL—

Just being honest here…this sections, and ones like it, are difficult for me as a pastor. I fully understand and enjoy the freedom of the reminder that we are all not called to the sole (primary) position in life to be another brother’s or sister’s conscience/ “holy spirit.” —specifically pertaining to younger, weaker Christians.

I also know the responsibility we have to each other to help keep one another from destructive sinful behaviour.

I especially feel the weight of teaching, pastoring my brothers and sisters as one who will give account for what I have said…and done…in discipling you to grow in your faith.

I make you a deal…with our Christian liberty…let’s agree to pray for each other…as we seek to faithfully live out our calling to care for each other…in every way our Lord commands us to do through his word.

Romans 14:12 CSB

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.