SF529 - HOW NOT TO HAVE A CHURCH SPLIT (Romans 14 1-15 7)
SF529
HOW NOT TO HAVE A CHURCH SPLIT
Romans 14:1-15:7 Key 14:7-8
INTRODUCTION
Church Splits are not new...
Corinth - over leaders
Galatia - infighting, “...biting and devouring each other...” (Galatians 5:15)
Philippi - two women at odds with each other
(Psalms 133:1) A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
Rome’s problems...
Different religious backgrounds
Jews - legalism
Gentiles - liberalism
Different cultural backgrounds
Gentiles - sin to eat meat offered to idols
Jews - sin not observe holy days.
Our problem...
What to do with grey areas?
Areas not clearly defined in scripture.
God’s solution - Three admonitions...
1A. ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER (14:1-12)
“Strong” = understood their spiritual liberty in Christ and were not bound to diets or holy days.
“Weak” = immature believers who felt obligated to obey legalistic rules concerning what they ate and when they worshiped.
God’s word is that we are to accept one another... Why?
1B. Because God has Accepted Us (1-3)
God’s Word is our standard
We cannot reject anyone God has accepted!
2B. Because God Sustains His Own (4)
God is the only judge that matters and He can make us stand!
3B. Because Jesus Christ is Lord of All (5-9)
Submission to the Lordship of Christ puts us under His control.
If He is able to tell you what is right he can also tell other Christians.
Key here is lordship and submission.
4B. Because Jesus Christ is the Judge of All (10-12)
Exclusively
Inclusively
Personally (12)
2A. EDIFY ONE ANOTHER (14:13-23)
Based on our love for one another...
1B. Remember Christians Affect One Another (13-15)
We can cause each other to...
Stumble (13)
Become Distressed (15)
Be Destroyed (15)
(1 Corinthians 8:1) Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
We must have knowledge balance with love!
If I do this how will it affect my brother?
2B. Christians must have Priorities (16-18)
We must learn to major on the majors!
3B. Christians must help each other Grow (19-21)
“Strong” = in love
“Weak” = in knowledge
4B. Christians must not force our Opinions on Others (22-23)
We must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to change our brothers and sisters - and us!
3A. PLEASE ONE ANOTHER (15:1-7)
1B. By Taking the Hard Road (1-4)
Of putting others first! (1-2)
Of being like Christ (3)
Of obeying the Word (4)
2B. By Taking the High Road (5-7)
Of unity in spirit (5)
Of unity in purpose (6)
Of unity in praise (7)
APPLICATION
(Romans 14:12) So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Resist the temptation of judging your neighbor - judge yourself!
(1 Corinthians 11:27‑29) Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. {28} A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. {29} For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.