Love One Another

Introduction:

If we have spent any amount of time within the church it is easy to see how divided we become over little things that are not important. Today we are going to continue to study through chapter 14 dealing with how we are to treat one another when we disagree on minor issues. We cannot stress this enough that we are to love one another and that is something no one can compromise on.

Recap:

So far in Romans we have studied through the fundamentals of our faith realizing that all have fallen short of the glory of God. chapter 1 was the pagan, chapter 2 was the moralist, and chapter 3 was the religious person.

We have spent some time learning that salvation comes through faith alone. Sola Fide. That not only does faith save us but it also gives us a promise of peace.

In chapter 5 we were introduced to this concept of imputed unrighteousness through Adam, but through the second man (Christ), we have been given imputed righteousness.

In this great salvation through Jesus Christ we are no longer to continue in sin. Speaking of both habitual and occasional sin. We are not slaves to the old nature, completely given to sin, we are slaves to righteousness.

Also because of the death and resurrection of Christ we are also freed from the law. After all the law could not save us only reveal how terribly we needed a savior.

By chapter 8 we see that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We have been given the Spirit and that He intercedes on our behalf, and we have been adopted as sons and daughter of the Most High King. And because of that adoption into the family of God there is nothing good or bad that could separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord .

The second section of the letter chapters 9-11 deal with God’s people Israel. Remember, Paul’s audience would have looked at the Jews and wondered what happened to God’s promised people. And if they could be cut off from God what hope is there for the gentiles.

This is where we talked about God’s sovereign and man’s responsibility. Somehow this seemingly contradictory doctrines work together in perfect harmony. God chooses and men have free will.

Paul would also explain here, that Israel would always have a remnant and that they still had a future time of restoration once the time of the Gentiles was complete.

In the final section of Romans we have moved from the deeper doctrines of the Christian faith into the more practical portion of the letter.

Chapter 12 taught us how we are to live our lives, as living sacrifices. Serving the body of Christ with the gifts of grace given to us by the Holy Spirit. Loving people in our lives and sphere of influence genuinely. Yes even our enemies.

Chapter 13 dealt with submitting to the authorities that God has placed over us. Verse 7 sums it up pretty neatly:

Romans 13:7 ESV

7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Family if we are not loving one another we are not being obedient to God. If we are disobedient to His commandments do we really love Him?

Last week we talked through not wanting our slight disagreements on minor issues to divide us. We are to welcome the weaker brother or sister, at that time they were arguing over eating meat. We often will try and place our personal convictions onto other people but we need to quickly understand that we are not the masters. We did not die for those who have opposing views Jesus did. He is the master and if He finds no fault why should we?

I’m convinced that God doesn’t care about a lot of things we get all bent out of shape over. Fight over. The Father’s agenda is a whole is a whole different deal than the things we endlessly fight over.

One preacher got his point across quite powerfully when he said, “In the hour that it takes me to preach this sermon 7,000 people in our country will have died not knowing Jesus Christ and go to eternal destruction.” And he said, “Most of you people don’t give a damn.” And then he said, “And you are shocked because I said the word damn. Not shocked because of 7,000 people are going to hell.”

There are more important things going on in our world then our minor differences.

v 13) Judging and liberties

Instead of sitting in judgement on our fellow Christians in these matters of moral indifference we should decide that we will never do anything to hinder a brother in his spiritual progress. None of these nonessential matters is important enough for us to cause a brother or sister to stumble or be a hindrance to them.

Jesus was pretty clear with the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 7:1 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

Jesus helped us to understand what this means- it means judging others according to a standard that we would not want to have applied to our selves.

But this doesn not take away the need and the responsibility for admonishment:

Romans 15:14 ESV

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

or rebuke:

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

When we admonish or rebuke, we do it over clear Scriptural principles, not over doubtful things. We may offer advice to others about doubtful things, but should never judge them.

We might stumble or cause our family to fall in two ways. By discouraging them or beating them down through legalism, or we can do it by enticing them to sin through an unwise use of our liberty.

vv 14-15) Destroying family makes a liberty wrong

[14] Paul knew, and we know, that no foods are ceremonially unclean any longer, as they were for a Jew living under the law. The food we eat is sanctified by the world of God and prayer:

1 Timothy 4:4–5 ESV

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

It is sanctified by the word in the sense that the Bible distinctly sets it apart as being good. It is sanctified by prayer when we ask God to bless it for His glory and for the strengthening of our bodies in service to Him.

Yet, if a weak family member thinks it is wrong for them to eat pork, for example, then it is wrong. To eat it would be a violation of his God-given conscience.

When Paul says here that there is nothing unclean in itself, we must realize that he is speaking only of these indifferent matters. Giving us his opinion.

There are plenty of things in life that are unclean. We cannot try to claim we have the freedom to do those things. Murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting are all unacceptable because the bible tells us so.

We must understand this statement from Paul in light of the context. Christians do not contact ceremonial defilement by eating food which the Law branded as unclean.

It would be interesting to see Paul eat his first ham sandwich.

[15] So what happens if you sit down to dinner at a nice restaurant with a weaker brother or sister, should you insist on your legitimate right to have an alcoholic drink?

The Bible is very clear that drinking alcohol is not a sin. Being drunk is though. So what are we to do? Never have an alcoholic drink again? Tell the weaker brother or sister to get over themselves and grow up?

The key here is to love both. The one who has the liberty and the one who has that conviction. Love thinks of others, and not of self. For the mature Christian’s love would mean to forego your right in order to promote the welfare of the weaker.

Your drink is not as important as the spiritual wellbeing of one for whom Christ died.

[[example]] My oldest daughter like to roughhouse with me but we constantly have to teach her she cannot be so rough with her sister.

The mature Christians might ask why do I have to give something up, and that is because you should know better.

Because if we selfishly parade our rights in these matters, we can do irreparable damage in the life of a weak brother. It isn’t worth it when you remember that his soul was redeemed at such a towering cost- the precious blood of the Lamb.

vv 16-18)Pursuing the higher calling

[16] Continuing that same line of thought, we need to understand that our liberty in Jesus and freedom from the law is a great thing, but not if we use it to harm a sibling.

We do not want to give anyone an occasion for others to condemn us for our “lovelessness” towards others.

[17] What really counts in the kingdom of God is not dietary regulation or what day to worship for the Roman Christians, it is the spiritual realities.

The kingdom of God is the sphere where God is acknowledged as Supreme Ruler. In its widest sense, it includes all who even profess allegiance to God. but in its inward reality it includes only those who are born again. That is what Paul is talking about here.

The subjects of the kingdom are not intended to be food faddists or connoisseur of worldly things. They are to be characterized by lives of practical righteousness, by dispositions of peace and harmony, and by mind-sets of joy in the Holy Spirit.

Family if we place more emphasis on our liberties before righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, then we are hopelessly out of touch with God’s priorities and His heart.

[18] It isn’t what a man eats or doesn’t eat that ultimately matter. It is a holy life that wins God’s honor and man’s approval. Those who put the emphasis on righteousness, peace, and joy serve Christ by obeying His teachings.

John 14:15 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:23 ESV

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

vv 19-21) Liberty is designed to build up, not to tear down

[19] instead of bickering over inconsequential matters, we should make every effort to maintain peace and harmony in our fellowship. Instead of stumbling others by insisting on our rights, we need to strive to build up others in their faith.

[20] God is doing a work in the life of each one of His children. It is frightening to think of hindering that work in the life of a weaker brother or sister over such secondary matters as food, drink, or days. For the child of God, all foods are now clean. But it would be wrong for us to eat any specific food if, in doing so, would offend a brother or stumble him in his walk with Christ.

[21] It is a thousand times better to refrain from meat or wine or anything else than to offend a brother or cause them to decline spiritually. Giving up our legitimate rights is a small price to pay for the care of one who is weak.

We shouldn’t think that Paul would permit this kind of heart to cater to someone’s legalism. For example there were some Christian from a Jewish background that were offended that Gentile believers were not circumcised, Paul didn’t cater to their legalistic demands.

Enjoy your liberties but not at the expenses of the family of God.

vv 22-23) The principle of faith

[22] I may have complete liberty to partake of every kind of food, knowing that God gave it to be received with thanksgiving. But I should not needlessly flaunt that liberty before those who are weak. It is better to exercise that liberty in private.

It is good to walk in the full enjoyment of one’s Christian liberty, not being fettered by unwarranted qualms. I promise you the one who avoids stumbling others is the happy person.

Each of us must ask: “God what is there in my life hindering a closer walk with You? I want to know the happiness that comes from not condemning myself by what I approve in my life.”

Asking that takes faith, because we often cling to hindering things because we think they make us happy. Real happiness is found being closer and closer to Jesus, and by not being condemned by what we approve.

[23] As far as the weak is concerned, it is wrong for them to eat anything they have issue with. Their eating would not be an act of faith, that is , if they are going against their conscience. And it is sin to violate one’s conscience.

Now it is important to note that a person’s conscience is not an infallible guide; it must be educated by the word of God. I believe Paul lays down the law that a man should follow his conscience, even though it be weak; otherwise moral personality would be destroyed.

Paul concludes with another principle by which we can judge “gray areas” - if we cannot do it in faith, then it is sin.

This is a beautiful way to check on our tendency to justify ourselves in the things we permit. If we are troubled by something, it likely isn’t of faith and likely is sin for us.

In WWII the convoys that were traveling from the east coast of our country over to Europe, in the early day of the war found themselves being attacked by the German U-boats. They would travel in these large conveys. The interesting thing about this is that the convey would only go as fast as the slowest boat could go. They traveled together, there was safety and security in traveling and moving in unity.

The faster boats would slow down to the speed of the slowest boats. To avoid the sneaky underwater attacks of the U-boats. This applies to our spiritual life too doesn’t it.

Some of you might be freer and faster and stronger but keep in mind of who you are traveling with. Slow it down, don’t go off doing your own thing, if it is going to expose a slower boat to underwater attacks of the enemy. After all we are in it to win it together.

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.