Romans Chapter 14: Understanding and Acceptance

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November 28th 2021

Announcements

Three quick things:

Excuse the mess – revamping whole place in preparation for changes coming! We will be closed AFTER December 26th and will reopen on Sunday Feb 7th.

Secondly, Zarra and Mayson recently wed gorgeous event of love.

Now before we get into our chapter today I would like to say something that I believe is really important:

The Lord could have provided to us His word in a much easier to understand form. He could have literally made His will and revelations known in a bullet pointed numerical order. I mean the very first Man Adam could have written out all God wanted us to know relative to every important subject in a numerical form.

Why didn’t God do this? Why are so many things hard to completely understand leaving all who seek Him to at times, differ on matters?

Last week’s teaching is a prime example of this as I taught what I believe but other very strong believers discount. Why so difficult, God?

Let’s think about this for a second.

The Nature of God's Word

First of all, had the LORD laid everything out in unequivocal bullet points we would have . . . the law, wouldn’t we? Not laws written on our hearts to love, but law. Everything would have been answered by written facts and there would be no freedom to apply what is written in individual and respective lives. And instead of a dynamic living word we would hold a laundry lists of dos and don’ts. This was the outcome of the Old Testament Law, right?

Perhaps the most deleterious result of this would be followers would become apathetic and faith would take a back seat to absolute certainty, which is the deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. nell to human growth – certainty.

But perhaps even more importantly is that in this environment wisely provided by Him all of our differences give us a living opportunity to love as He commands. I am convinced that God has allowed for a great deal of wonderment on many Christian topics as a means to test (which I mean as a means to prove and strengthen) our love for Him and one another in spite of the fact that we do not always agree.

Love Over Differences

Obviously, there are denominations and individuals who love the Lord who differ greatly on matters. But the choice remains – will we divide over “this or that non-essential” or will I choose to love in spite of the fact that differences will always exist?

So . . . by all means, the “essentials” to the faith ought to be discussed and contended for . . . in love, of course, but in the non-essentials (baptism method, church governance, eschatologyStudy of “last things”—TGNN teaches all biblical eschatology was fulfilled in 70 A.D. More, etc) let peace and love reign.

We are NOT going to be correct in everything we say, do and teach. We will believe things that will be repugnant to other believers. But we strive to do our best BY loving God and others along the way.

This has been Paul’s point here in Romans chapter 14. Differences will exist. Love!

Last week we read the first 12 verses of the chapter where Paul talked about supporting those who are weak in their faith (those walking by the aspects of the law), that our choices as believers are a personal decision and that they would all – all – stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Now I have heard all sorts of views on this passage, everything from:

“Nobody at the judgment seat of Christ will be condemned – that is a judgment of our labors as believers who are NOT under condemnation.”

(I would remind such a person who says this that Romans 8:1 agrees that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus for them who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.)

And I’ve talked with people who say that the Great White throne judgment is only applicable to those in hell.

I’ve also talked with people who said that the description of the Judgment seat in Matthew 24 is applicable to the Jews only.

And I’ve talked with some who say bema seat judgment is the same as the Great White throne – that there is only one judgment for all at one time.

I’m going to say something here I hope you will take in the spirit of which it is given . . . who cares!

Because every one of these insights are proffered by people who (from what I can tell) LOVE the LORD . . . and serve Him and others.

Encouraging Peace Among Believers

Paul is talking about this very attitude here (albeit relative to lifestyle choices) but we cannot forget that some unanswerable theological differences are just as divisive and destructive to peace as choices of meat, drink and lifestyle. So, after telling his audience last week that they would all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account before God, Paul continues at verse 13, saying

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace..

Maintaining Accountability and Unity

What a power pack of direction for believers! I mean this instruction is really clear (compared to some other passages we’ve covered in Romans, and they are so easy to understand). We are all going to be accountable before God, so . . . (verse 13)

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

In other words, let’s take the judgments that once thrived in the presence of the Law of Moses (for example, don’t eat, don’t drink) and let’s employ a “better form of judging,” or as he puts it, “but judge this rather . . .” “that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” Instead of looking at other believers and judging them for what they have chosen to do, how about we let followers of the King (who realize they will someday stand before) Jesus make sure that what they choose to do will not cause another believer to stumble or fall. Now that there’s love amidst liberty, right?

Avoiding Hypocrisy

Instead of forming a judgment about others look at your own conduct and make sure you are not causing another to stumble by putting a stumblingblock in their path – with a stumbling-block literally being anything laid in a person’s path which might cause them to trip. In Scriptures, the imagery is used to figuratively mean cause someone to sin, or fall back into a lifestyle that does not lift them up spiritually and move them closer to God. So instead of judging each other look and what they are all up to, look in the mirror and determine if we are using our respective liberty in Christ to contribute to bringing another down.

There’s a word that comes to mind with this approach that has to be considered – hypocrisy. Are we being hypocritical if we choose to not drink alcohol in public (so as to not stumble another believer who may come upon us and have a personal problem with it (even though we will drink at home) or or . . . is such behavior loving? I would call it the latter – loving. Hypocrisy would be to ridicule or judge those who are drinking and then to go behind closed doors and do the same. But in the presence of the weak or struggling, to quietly refrain from doing something that would harm them that we personally have no problem doing is a loving and not a hypocritical act. Let me give you a tough one, folks, one full of supposition and

Christian Liberty and Personal Beliefs

Smoking pot is illegal in most countries throughout the world but there are a growing number of places where it has been decriminalized. In places where the drug can be legally used does this mean Christians are free to use it and free from condemnation both of man and God? Careful now. The better or best question might be, would it ever be right for a Christian who has liberty to smoke pot to try and sway or influence another believer to do the same?

This is Paul’s point. We all are going to stand before our maker so the best thing to do is make sure our liberty does not become a license used before weaker brothers and sisters. Listen to what Paul says next:

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Perspectives on Cleanliness and Personal Conscience

That passage is amazing to me. Now, we could take it contextually and suggest that when Paul says that there is nothing unclean of itself he is only talking about eating of meats and the observance of holy days – especially relative to the Gentile converts who were willing to chomp down on just about anything. But in this case the context produces a principle about the personal choice of believers and in the face of this I believe that when he writes, “I know, AND am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself” he is referring to anything and everything on this earth.

Uncleanliness lies not in the material or substance or food or drink of a thing but in an individual’s view, understanding and use of the thing relative to themselves and others. How could the literal substance of alcohol, or marijuana, or anything else be unclean? It couldn’t – it is inanimate and incapable of cognition which is necessary for evil to exist. But how individuals relate to and see and use such things lies whether the thing is problematic (wrong) or not.

Let me give you a personal example, which I hope I do not cause any of you to stumble over. I personally (for me and my house) view certain things “as evil” that most believers consider non-issues. These things might surprise you. I believe that self-indulgent birthday celebrations for adults are contrary to how I want to understand life, and that Facebook, the Simpsons, MTV and other music videos play an undue influence over many souls – so I try and void them altogether.

In and of themselves birthdays, Facebook, the Simpson’s and MTV are not unclean – they are events and digital presentations of entertainment, but in my life and opinion they have no place. I would never judge a believer who has no problem with any of these things and will sing happy birthday or remain in the room where the Simpson’s is playing, but I just find them highly objectionable. Relative to what Paul is saying here, however, I am intrigued by believers who think it is their duty to get me to appreciate (or indulge) in MTV, Facebook and adult indulgent birthday celebrations.

Respecting Others' Beliefs

Paradoxically, there are other things many of believe find highly objectionable that I am completely ambivalent toward. I won’t mention them as a means to avoid stumbling anyone. But it is in this vein that Paul is saying Christian caution is needed. It is really all a matter of the Christian conscience. And so Paul says:

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus,(wow) that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But (Or, And) if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

In other words, there is no unclean thing but if your brother is grieved over your consumption of it, you are not walking in love for him or her. In other words, if you are watching the Simpsons and you know I consider the program unfit for consumption, turn it off, out of love for me, even though you have no problem with it. Be considerate of what our actions may do to the minds and lives of others who, like me, place certain restrictions upon themselves and don’t use it as an opportunity to get them to change for the worse.

Paul adds (verse 16)

16 Let not

Understanding Christian Liberty

then “your good” be evil spoken of:

I love the way this reads in the King James. Don’t let the thing you have been freed from feeling guilty and condemned over (your good) be evil spoken of. Don’t let the liberty you have to consume wine be used to speak evil of you by those who will not drink wine because you chose to drink a glass at a party full of Mormons. Don’t let “your good” (your liberty) be spoken evil of, but instead consider the other person's perspective as a means to either uplift them in their respective walk OR to bring them to Christ.

Recall what Paul said in 1st Corinthians 9:19-23:

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

Relating to Others

Interestingly, many Christian brothers and sisters have written us over the years using these very passages to condemn my physical appearance on the program, suggesting that if I was truly interested in being “most effective” in reaching the LDS I would dress, speak, and act more like one. This might be true if it was ever our intention to reach the upright LDS community. But our purposes were to appeal to those who are LDS by religion but are “rebel, and reprobate, and without God in lifestyle.”

Having said not to let our freedom from yokes of bondage be spoken of as evil, Paul adds:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The peculiarities of the church of Christ here on earth, he says, do not consist or thrive in observing distinctions between consuming (or not consuming) meats and drinks (and I believe most other things) but (in) righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Exploring Righteousness

I have to admit that the first word Paul uses in describing the church has always plagued me – especially as an active Mormon. Righteousness. The church is not in meat and drink but in . . . “righteousness.” How do YOU hear and interpret this word when you come across it in scripture?

I think the major issue I had with the term when I was LDS was I was constantly told I needed to be righteous, that my righteousness was required for salvation, and I had better toe the line. Even as a believer saved by grace through faith, I would cringe at passages like Romans 14:17 because I knew within me I was only righteous insofar as I walked by the regenerated Spirit and not by my flesh.

When we came to our study of Romans chapter 3 Paul, in verse 10, quotes Psalms saying:

Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one,” so I started to research the term righteous which before had caused me such consternation. Dikayos – This term is used five times in the New Testament and it means, with justice. But there is another related Greek word used throughout the New Testament for the English “Righteousness” “Dikosune.” It is used 1700 times more in the New Testament and it means “justification” or to be justified.

This is the meaning of the word here in Romans 14:17 which allows us to understand the meaning of the word in new and totally liberating light: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but (LISTEN) in His Justification of those who believe), and then or therefore, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In other words, when we come across the word “righteousness” translated from the Greek “dikosune” we ought to read it as the presence of His righteousness (which is our justification) and not our own. And when the Kingdom of God thrives in the knowledge of such justification (righteousness) there is no need for judging others. Because HE is the source of righteousness and not

Righteousness, Peace, and Joy

In righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Want to live in peace as a church? Realize that our righteousness is by Christ not ourselves and then remove the items that serve to create war, judgments, condemnation, compulsion, manipulation and the like. Forget what goes into the mouth, dress codes, holy days, and the like and relax in peace, and he adds, “and in the joy of the Holy Spirit,” remembering that the fruit of this Holy Spirit is manifest in agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty..

Paul adds:

18 For he that in these things (justification, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit) serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Those who honor Christ by serving Him in and through these things is acceptable to God and approved of men. We know them when we meet them don’t we. They are FULL of love, attempts at peace among the brethren, and joy in the Holy Spirit. They’re this way because they know (they seem to ooze the fact that they have been forgiven – justified, sanctified) – and serve Christ with these peaceful attitudes of peace and joy. (And so Paul says (verse 19)

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Pursue Peace and Edification

“Back offeth, sucker-fisheth” and just encourage and edify each other. Live in harmony, make for peace by removing your propensities for making war. And he adds

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

ALL THINGS ARE INDEED PURE, BUT . . . it IS evil if you eat such things as a means to offend those of a weaker Christian constitution. So he adds:

21 It is good (include a “therefore” here for clarifications sake) neither (or NOT) to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Ready for a biggie?

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Are you a man or woman who truly walks by faith? Then have this faith that so liberates you (between you and God). We don’t need to recruit others to watching the Simpsons, or to drinking wine, or to using pot – it is between the individual and those who have abundant faith are free and at liberty to act as they see fit so long as the actions are to never stumble another.

Faith and Personal Liberty

Now, I have to say, the human make-up (coupled with the ELEMENTS OF THIS fallen world) does possess a tendency to try and rationalize dark behaviors. The point Paul is making is that in areas of gray, in things where for some evil lies and for others it’s a non-event, be satisfied with your own views and opinions and be happy to act on them in private, without bringing it forward to produce disturbance in the church or to stumble others. But notice that he adds:

“Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”

In the face and presence of the finished work of Jesus on the cross, and in the presence of the fact that we are in response to such work to just love on others, this line REALLY makes me smile. SUPREMELY blessed is He who condemns not Himself, whose conscience does not reprove him for that thing which he allows.

It is such a blessing to have met and worked with so many LDS people who come out from under the yoke and condemnation of religion AND . . . AND . . . AND into a true and living relationship with the King. And I thoroughly enjoy it when these folks realize all that He has done it all for them, that they are free and free indeed. And THEN to watch them become STRONG in faith (therefore no longer weakened by the Law) and then free and liberated. Supremely blessed are they as they describe the yoke, the burden, the heavy weight of religion falling off their shoulders. And then lightened of their load, they are also equipped with the ability to make peace with others by removing elements of war from their lives. Therefore, they no longer look critically at others who have also found liberation through the work of our Lord but instead rejoice with them in their supremely blessed state of a subjectively lived.

Christian Faith and Liberty

Unfortunately, there remains many who rewrite Paul’s words in the negative, making it read: “Happy is he that condemns himself in those things which he alloweth or even in those things which he will not allow.” Again, I would appeal to such a person increasing in faith . . . and again, I would strongly suggest that such faith comes by hearing and reading the Word of God because by and through learning more and more about God (from His Word), our understanding of His and His love, will always end up creating more liberty NOT more condemnation.

Finally, in the last verse of chapter 14, Paul firmly places the onus of choice on every individual, saying:

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

He that is not fully satisfied in her or his mind, who does that which they believe could be or “is sin” is damned – in this case guilty – because they are doing something they believe is sinful or wrong. Wow. That is really powerful and so important to the message of the faith being subjective in the lives of those who are His.

I suggest that this last verse was to the Jewish converts, who, not yet understanding the liberty afforded in Christ, still believed in the strictures of the dietary law. Paul tells them that until they are persuaded (by faith) that it is permissible to eat all things, and there is no thing evil of itself, but they had better not do it – because in that case they were committing sin.

Purity and Faith

It’s interesting. When Christ has cleansed the mind and heart, most things are quite innocuous. Religion makes all things more evil, but in Christ Jesus most things (that truly are non-events) are up to the individual. Touching on this point Paul wrote in Titus 1:15:

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

Faith is the key which if true and nurtured, always leads to greater love. And love lends to liberty. Unto those who are purified by and through their faith on Him, all things are pure, and nothing becomes an obstacle to loving others. This leaves no room for condemnation of others – we trust (have faith) that He will judge rightly. There is no need for contention – all things are indeed pure.

Chapter 14: A Treatise on Christian Faith

Whether you realize it or not, chapter fourteen is a wonderful treatise on Christian faith and Christian love – the two commandments by which we are constantly reminded to embrace as His own. It is a fantastic chapter on the liberty all believers have in Christ, but Paul wisely put that liberty in the hands of each individual. And he tells us to act according to our strength and/or weakness of faith. If there is a large amount of faith in Him and His finished work, the person will experience more liberty. And if there is a weak amount of faith, and therefore a reliance on the law, then the person, weak in faith, will be more restricted by the things around them. Truly, this is an amazing liberating supportive chapter for subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love. and liberty in Christ if I have ever read one.

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