The
Christians in Rome couldn’t agree whether they should be obeying the Jewish
laws. Paul told them in Romans 3 that the law could not make
people righteous and that the purpose of the law was to show people that everyone
sins. No one can become righteous by
their own efforts. Only Christ, by His
death, can people be righteous.
God
didn’t give the law so people could obey lots of rules. He wanted them to trust Him completely and
have faith in Him. Paul wanted the
Christians in Rome to love each other without arguing about rules. He knew some had little faith so he asked
those with stronger faith to
encourage them.
In Romans 14 Paul tells Christians to
accept those whose faith is weak without passing judgment on disputable
matters. He uses the illustrations of
whether to eat meat or not and whether to consider 1 day more sacred than
another. We should be careful not to
restrict our thinking to these examples.
They are only examples.
The Christians who though it necessary to obey
certain food laws were considered “weak in faith”, because they had not yet
discovered the meaning of Christian freedom.
“Weak in faith” doesn’t mean the person doesn’t trust in Jesus as Savior
or that he is confused about the gospel.
If he is a Christian, God has accepted him. Paul is saying that a Christian should not
pass judgment on one who thinks differently about matters that the Bible speaks
nothing about. Those matters are
non-essential and don’t determine whether a person is save or not. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions that a
person who does these things is not saved.
Those
“stronger in faith” are those who have the freedom that God’s Holy Spirits
gives. Paul was among the “strong”
Christians but was careful about how he used this freedom. He chose to obey the Jewish law so he
wouldn’t offend the Jewish people. He
didn’t want to use his freedom that might cause another Christian to sin.
1st
Example:
The
first example Paul gives is whether a Christian should eat meat or be a vegetarian. In the Old Testament the Jewish people had
dietary restrictions. They could not eat
unclean animals. Paul describes them as
being regarded as weak in faith by those who eat meat. He warns about attitudes. These believers called “weak in faith” do not
answer to anyone but God. We are not to
be their judge. If they are believers, God
has accepted them.
2nd
Example:
The
second example is the observance of certain days making them special and holy
or treating them all alike. Again the
problem was attitude. Paul says to let
everyone do what he feels is right. If
the Bible doesn’t specifically speak on matters, we have the responsibly settle
these matters for ourselves. He also
says we should give thanks to God in all matters.
Christ
died for all and we must not be judgmental about the conduct of others. God is the judge and everyone will stand
before Him and be judged on their own merits.
Believers will not be judged for sins, because Jesus already atoned for
them. We will however, have to give an
accounting for our words and deeds. So
stop blaming and worrying about the behaviors of others. Don’t you have enough to be concerned about
for yourself?
Where
are you judging others on matters that the Bible does not give specific
commands?
Believers
must stop passing judgment on one another.
Paul is talking to the weak believer as well as the strong
believer. The weaker believer can only
abstain from what he thinks is wrong, so the stronger believer should take into
consideration the beliefs of the weaker so as to not cause him to be confused
and stumble in his faith. The stronger has
a responsibility to the weaker and can abstain or not abstain. The stronger and the weaker believer, both
are to do what is pleasing to God.
Principle: We must stop passing judgment on matters that
the Bible does not give specific commands.
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and
mutual edification.” – Rom.
14:19. Paul tells us that no food is
unclean because nothing God created is unclean, but it’s better to not eat or
drink or do anything that will cause someone to stumble. Whatever you believe about these types of
things is between you and God.
Paul
concludes that Christians should keep what you believe to yourself and
God. Believers must do everything
possible to make others stronger in their faith. Believers must not do anything that may cause
another believer to sin. They should
obey their own conscience and always act in faith.
How
might you be causing someone to stumble?
Principle: Believers are to make every effort to do what
leads to peace and mutual edification.
Next time
we will study Romans 15. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my
site. Hope to see you here again. -- I
encourage you to trust in Jesus.
__________________________________________
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