WELCOME
PRAYER
SONG
SILENCE
MEAT Romans 13.10 to 14:12
November 21st 2021
We left off with Paul writing at verse 10
that “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law,” (Now verse 11)
11 (“And that” – Or “in the presence of this information about love then”), knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off ( . . .) the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But . . . put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Alright, back to verse 11. He has said to them/then, “love” and now adds
1 (“And that,” meaning “in the presence of this information about love” then), “knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
To reiterate, Paul is writing to actual believers in that day and age. They made up the Church/Bride whom Paul has clearly stated in Ephesians MUST be pure, unblemished, and undefiled for Christ to take her.
This taking of her was promised by the Lord and by every apostle who wrote – wherever her members would be, those who were true and endured to the end would be taken up to the New Jerusalem above at His coming.
And so Paul writes to that extension of the Bride in there in Rome and says:
In the presence of this information about love then” knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The TCNT puts it this way, “This I say, because you know the crisis that we have reached, for the time has already come for you to rouse yourselves from sleep; our Salvation is nearer now than when we accepted the Faith.”
The WNT says “Carry out these injunctions because you know the critical period at which we are living, and that it is now high time, to rouse yourselves from sleep; for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first became believers.”
What do we note about this right off that bat? That to them/then, salvation was not certain when they first believed. They were anticipating a salvation that was different from “being saved upon belief.”
Don’t overlook this biblical reality that when they first believed, salvation (for them) was not secure. Why? They had to endure to the end. Endure what? The unfolding of horrors around them while waiting patiently to be saved. By what? They already had faith? To be saved by Christ who would take those whose faith endured.
Simple as that, folks. It is the definitive apostolic message. To add to this Paul says in verse 12
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
To them Paul says – “The night is faaaar spent. The DAY (what day? The day scripture speaks about consistently as THE DAY of the Lord, which Malachi called the Great and Dreadful day) THE DAY is at hand. In the Greek – its approaching.
And what does this cause Paul the Apostle to tell them? He says
let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness
and let us put on the armor of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day
not in rioting and drunkenness
not in chambering and wantonness
not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ
and make not provision for the flesh
to fulfil the lusts thereof.
This instruction, to the end of the chapter, can be captured in the lines pertaining to “casting off” and “putting on.”
“Cast off the works of darkness”
“Put on the armor of light”
So, when he speaks then of “walking honestly, as in the day,” he is speaking of putting on the armor of light, and when he follows that up with the specifics of “not rioting, drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying,” all these things refer to the works of darkness.
And then when we returns with
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof,” it’s a reiteration, but in reverse of his advice to “put off darkness and put on the armor of light” but this time he says, “to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and then not make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
This imagery of taking off and putting on was pictured for us in many places in the Old Testament narrative.
Recall that when Moses first went to Sinai the Lord said to him in Exodus 3:5:
“Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
All eastern religious groups remove their shoes in worship – the Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Brahmins, Parsees (or Zoroastrians) and it is always a symbol that they are removing the pollutions they picked up in their contact with the sinful world before entering into the holy realms of God.
It is not without meaning that God demanded that those who performed work in His temple to endure constant changes of clothing as an outward indication of purity.
Leviticus 6:11 “And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.”
Of course, there was (and is) for our cousins the Jews the putting on sackcloth and ashes as an outward indication of inward sorrow, suffering, and humility.
All of these things picture believers “putting off” the former man or woman and putting on “the new” (which is truly Christ).
We are familiar with the significance of this as Paul makes reference to the putting off and on throughout his epistles.
Recall Ephesians 4: 17-24 where he writes:
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But . . . ye have not so learned Christ; (again, pointing out that it is by and through Christ and His life we put Him on)
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Turning to Colossians 3, we again read some tremendous passages from which we cannot escape where Paul says:
Colossians 3:1-17 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {affection: or, mind}
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
So, having generally instructed them BECAUSE THE NIGHT WAS FAR SPENT to “cast off” works of darkness and to “put on” the armor of light, he says:
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Paul says, “Hey, don’t pursue, don’t “build a life” on these former fashions,” verse 14
14 But . . . BUT BUT! . . . (he says) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Again, this takes us back to the Old Testament premise of putting on something new and holy as a means to replace former filthy garments worn as members of a fallen world.
But this time, instead of putting on literal Old Testament temple apparel, he instructs us to literally “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 3:27 makes it clear, saying
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
As a means to put off the former man of the flesh, and to walk in newness of the Christian life, believers, Paul says, “ought to put on Christ.”
Appealing to biblical pictures of spiritual transformation and growth, we know that when fallen human beings come to Christ He gives them “a new heart.”
The prophet Ezekiel, who was big on talking about the new heart, quotes the Lord as saying in Ezekiel 11:19
“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.”
In chapter 18 the Lord said through Ezekiel:
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
And then in Ezekiel 36:26 the Lord says,
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
This is exactly what Paul was saying in Ephesians 4:22 when he wrote to us Gentile converts:
“That we put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of our mind (which we’ve pointed out is NOT in the head but in the heart); and that we put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
And this brings us to chapter 14 where Paul now writes some interesting things relative to Christian liberty – even in that day.
It is a remarkable wonderful chapter and reiterates the LIBERTY all Christians have in Christ. So Paul says:
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Now, it seems the contents of what we call the fourteenth chapter is designed to settle some difficult and delicate questions that could not help but pop up between the Jews and Gentiles believers in Rome.
These types of questions CONSTANTLY rise up when two or more people of faith find themselves in association with each other. Here the specific issues are respecting food and the observance of particular or special days.
Throughout the Apostolic Record we find evidence that Jewish converts were inclined to try and bind the Gentile converts to their own customs, especially relative to the specified laws of Moses.
Circumcision was a big one. In Acts 15:1-2 Luke speaks of this division and says:
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
In Galatians 2:3-4 Paul writes:
“But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: and that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
Fasting
Circumcision
Dietary concerns
Observance of certain days then . . .
R rated movies
Diet Colas and alcohol
Types of Restaurants, smoking, modest dress, and hobbies and interests today
Chapter 14 mentions meat, herbs, drink, and observance of days as Paul covered circumcision earlier in chapters 3-4. In the end, it seems Paul desires to set all these issues aside and contend for . . . a state of peace.
Soooooo . . . in chapter 13 – don’t live your lives like you used to, chambering and in wontoness, in drunkedness and riot, but in honesty, putting on Christ. And now verse 1 of 14
“And Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”
Now what is really interesting about this part of Romans (did you catch it) is when Paul refers to those “weak in the flesh” he is speaking of those who need laws to govern them. And he says:
“Him that is weak in the faith (we might describe them as legalistic) receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”
Admit them into your society or fellowship, but . . .
“Not to doubtful disputations.”
In other words, receive or invite him in but don’t use his or her presence as a time to debate with each other.
If someone has scruples about this thing or that, let them have them – you’re a mature Christian and as such you know that you are answerable to your own master Jesus Christ. Now listen to how he phrases verse 2 when he says
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, (who is weak), eateth herbs.
One believer is free from all the worries of the Law and in liberty eats every kind of animal meat under the sun but “another,” Paul says, “who is weak will only eat herbs.”
I LOVE this part of Romans because whether we realize it or not, Paul is supporting the notion that the Law and those who live by elements of the Law, are weaker than those who live by faith and allow all things in their lives.
Show me a true believer who clings to external conformities as a means to “please God” and I will show you someone who is not as strong in the faith (or as Paul says, is weak) as someone who clings to nothing but Him and Him alone and in this faith walks freely – not frivolously, but freely.
Not licentiously, but in complete liberty to be!
Such words can be terrifying for those who are weak in the faith.
To them it sounds like allowances for rebellion, irreverence, or sin. Not so. But those strong in the faith know that believers CANNOT get around the fact that everything we they choose to do as Christians relates and reflects upon their faith.
So Paul says here in verse two:
2 “For one believeth that he may eat all things (that would be me . . . obviously): and another, who is weak, eateth herbs.”
I would suggest that Paul here, when he says, “and another, who is weak, eateth herbs,” is speaking of the Jewish converts to Christianity.
In this we are faced with some irony (in my opinion). It was the Jews who lived outwardly reserved live and the gentiles who spent their time chambering and in drunkedness. And yet in the presence of salvation by grace through faith, it was the Jewish converts who found themselves taking what Paul is calling the “weaker” approach to living the Gospel.
Coming out from centuries under the yoke of the law, they were weakened by its rule upon their lives, not strengthened.
We see a similar phenomenon when people come out of Mormonism and into a saving relationship with the Lord.
They often remain timid on how to live as they have not learned to walk unencumbered by restrictions.
In this weakened state, one where little faith in the finished work of Jesus reigns, they often cling to (or revert back) to elements and strictures of the LDS Law as a means to bolster an almost non-existent faith that Christ affords liberty.
I’ve met former LDS people who left Mormonism twenty years ago who still feel evil for going out to dinner on Sunday or for taking a taste of coffee on the sleigh.
This is because the law cannot empower but only weaken the faithless. And in this it serves NOT as a source of empowerment in the lives of those coming out from it but actually as a detriment . . . sort of like a man who has relied on crutches his whole life to walk – and then suddenly has them taken away.
When a person REALLY begins to comprehend WHO Jesus was and is, WHAT He accomplished on their behalf, HOW He has (He has, He has) reconciled us to God, and HOW (in the face of all of this) we are made free it is akin to taking a person reliant on crutches and giving him the legs of an Olympic ice skater.
The power and liberty to soar is almost incomprehensible!
This is one reason why it was the pagan gentiles who responded to the call of Christ were far stronger than the law abiding Jews.
I mean these poor Jewish converts were all twisted up about everything from what to do with the foreskin of their newborn males, to the meat they were offered at Christian pot-lucks, to what the heck to do with themselves when the sun began to set every Friday night.
Bottom line? (and this might take some of you a minute to digest) but bottom line, the law made many of them weak in faith and strong in the flesh.
Now, there was a circumstance that I am not going to go into here and that was eating meat that was once sacrificed to pagan idols. Paul addressed this in 1st Corinthians 8 and 10.
So, what about those who in liberty eat everything and their relationship to those who only eat herbs? (Paul says at verse 3)
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; (“gentile converts, don’t despise, don’t get angry with those who refuse to eat meats”) and let not him which eateth not judge (not condemn ) him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Wow.
In the best Greek and Aramaic translations, this verse gives the following advice to both those who eat and those who don’t, “Just back off, sucka-fish.” (For those of you who are literal minded, I was kidding about this translation).
But in my opinion, the key to understanding Paul’s advice here is located in the last line of verse three where he says:
“For God hath received him.”
If someone believes it is important to wear a dress or tie to church OR if someone wants to wear shorts, LEAVE EM ALONE – “For God has received him.”
If someone likes beer or someone likes water, leave them alone (and just receive them!) Why? Because God has received them!.
If one brother makes Sunday a special day for service toward God and another uses it as a day to water ski, God has received them – leave them alone.
And since God has NOT received anyone based on their personal conformity or holiness NOBODY is under obligation to now try and qualify or maintain their relationship with Him by such external factors.
Love each other and when division occurs over these types of things peace is lost.
Paul now provides some a really sound reasoning in the face of this, saying (verse 4):
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Look in the mirror and ask, who gave you this right to sit in judgment? I mean, even the Lord, when in the flesh, refused to make Himself judge over issues on life.
Remember the story in Luke 12:13? A man came to the Lord and said:
“Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And He said unto him, “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?”
It is probable that the Jewish converts in Rome were looking down their noses at the great unwashed Gentiles in their midst, but that attitude runs both directions and those liberated by Christ have the tendency to mock those who have not experienced a totally loosened load.
Paul says, “to our own master we stand or fall.”
I love this about being a Christian. Not only do I not have the obligation to anyone but God, it is NOT my duty to try and legislate the activities and lifestyles of those who claim to believe like me!
We are FREE to love and have been gifted with the liberty to leave all condemnation up to God all the while TRUSTING – BELIEVING He will do act justly.
Paul says it is not our place to condemn the servant of another – it’s the job of the servants master. And then he adds something interesting, saying:
“Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”
In relation to the servant, a master has no power to keep him obedient except through fear, love or the hope of reward.
But this is not the case with a believer and God as we are not kept right by our righteousness but by faith and love.
It is God who makes each of us stand so there is no room to criticize others (AS IF)
they have fallen short and been disapproved of by God.
At verse 5 Paul goes on with more examples, saying:
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
The Greek word here for esteemeth is krinei – which really means “judges.”
One person may set a higher value on a day of the week (the Jews) than on another and another might see all days alike (the Gentiles) Here’s the key:
“Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
This does NOT mean stick to convictions based on traditions of man or the opinions of others but study the matter out and in light of all the evidences be fully convinced and or assured in your own mind. LOVE THIS liberty in Christ, friends. In 2nd Timothy 2:15, Paul adds:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Again, in light of the Word and workings of the Holy Spirit within each of us, as we study we need not be ashamed –whether we choose to observe this day or that or eat this meat or not.
But having become fully persuaded in our own minds – whose minds – our pastors mind? Or friends mind? No, fully persuaded in “our own minds” we walk according to our convictions!
In verses six through nine Paul presents a general thought that relates to who we are in Christ, that we are His, and all we do is by, for and through Him. So let’s read them together:
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. (it’s all okay! It’s all permissible because we are His. Having been fully persuaded in our own minds, those who do not eat fast food do not eat it as unto the Lord and those who do, so do as unto Him!)
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. (We were all bought with a price, our lives are not our own)
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. (this is the point)
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
And even more to the point – we all have one master. To Him we act, choose, live, die and will answer to . . . to Him and Him alone. He is Lord of us when we are alive and dead!
Alone we will face our Master who saved us from certain death and hell. And alone we will answer for how we loved. Why will we answer to Him (verse 9)
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Paul now adds a question to drive the point home (verse 10)
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
In light of all this why, Paul asks, do we condemn (a better word) and/or why do we set at nought (or despise, a better word) our brother?
I think he uses the word brother here especially to remind both Jew and Gentile that in Christ they are family.
He adds, “for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
The idea Paul is presenting to us here is that as believers, all have been saved by grace through faith in the same King who is our master and we are all brothers and sisters.
With this being the case WHY would we spend time condemning and/or despising them, knowing that
“we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
(Beat)
And then Paul adds (at verses 11 and 12)
11 For it is written, “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one “of us” shall give account of himself to God.
Now, I have to wrap today up with an explanation that is in harmony with fulfillment.
I am convinced that what Paul writes here certainly occurred in that age as it was about to be wrapped up.
For this reason Paul says, “so the everyone OF US shall give account of himself to God.” Scripture describes this accounting in the following way, saying in 2nd Corinthians 5:8-11:
“We are confident, (Paul says) and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
This is the “giving account of ourselves” Paul talks about in verse 12 of Romans 14. What were they giving an account of? All that they did in Jesus name in that age.
Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 3:11-15:
12 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
I suggest that all of this took place at the Great White Throne judgment as described by John in Revelation which depicts the final judgement of everyone from that age.
Thereafter, it appears that the world, having been the recipients of the sacrifices of both Christ and the Church/Bride to restore everyone back to the place of Eden and free choice, is immediately judged not at a Great White Throne but somehow or another at their death. And while the things by which we are judged may include all the things that those in the former age were judged by at the Great White Throne, it happens more immediately, more personally, with the results of that judgement being the resurrected bodies all people receive before entering the heavenly realm.
Somethings to consider. We will wrap our time up here.
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