Romans 14-15

Intro

Series - Studies On The Book Of Romans

This Part - Romans 14.1 - 15.13

Review - Romans 12-13

The goal of Christian living is worship and service of God. This is the will of God for our lives as Christians.

The means of our service is through -

spiritual gifts

Christian virtues - the fruit of the Spirit

submission to authority

The two guiding principles of Christian living are -

the obligation to love one another

the anticipation of our salvation - the Lord’s return

This Part

Paul addresses the relationship between the strong and the weak Christians -

their differences in practices and lifestyle

the principles that should guide their relationship as brethren in Christ

The issues on hand -

the food they eat

the days they observe

Paul’s Admonitions

Receive the one who is weak in the faith

Pursue things that bring peace and edification

Be of the same mind toward one another

Receive the one who is weak in the faith.

Romans 14:1 (NKJV)

1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Do not question the faith of the weak Christian!

Who is strong, and who is weak?

Romans 14:2–6 NKJV

2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

weak because of their conscience - they cannot get past the idea that their diet is no longer restricted by regulations of the law

they are mostly Jews

Why not? (question the weak one’s faith)

we are all servants of God

all of us stands and falls to our Master

some things (like food and days) can be decided based on personal conviction

these are not doctrines

The Lordship of Christ is the common ground of both Jews and Gentiles

Romans 14:7–13 NKJV

7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 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 shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

The church must make space for the weak ones who, despite their scruples, come to church and participate in worship

the church how much we can tolerate the weakness of the weak ones

Pursue things that bring peace and edification.

Romans 14:19 (NKJV)

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

On the other hand, the strong ones must carefully consider their actions

Romans 14:14–18 NKJV

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Paul’s conviction is - food is neither clean nor unclean of itself

those who eat all meat should not do so without regard to the weak ones

not eating certain food for the sake of the weak is also an act of service

Romans 14:20–21 NKJV

20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Eating and drinking is also an act of faith

Romans 14:22–23 NKJV

22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

The strong should bear with the weakness of the weak ones

Romans 15:1–4 NKJV

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Peace and edification in the church depend on the strong ones - how they receive and bear with the weak ones.

Be of the same mind toward one another

Romans 15:5–6 NKJV

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

like-minded = to think the same way

like-mindedness takes effort

be patient

be comforted in the promises of God

Receive one another

Romans 15:7 NKJV

7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Christ ministered both to the Jews and Gentiles

Romans 15:8–13 NKJV

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” 10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” 11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” 12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.” 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Arriving at like-mindedness wampng the strong and the weak can do many things

Lessen the problems in the ministry

unite everyone to achieve goals

glorify God

Conclusion

Paul‘s admonitions bring to light one of the most important characteristics of the Gospel -

that it is for both the Jews and Gentiles

that it’s purpose is to make one new human race from Jews and Gentiles together

Ephesians 2:14–16 NKJV

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

the new creation is most important in the gospel

Galatians 6:15 NKJV

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

that the gospel treats Jews and Gentiles alike - none is lesser or greater in the kingdom of God!