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Romans 14:1-23

In many ways, the Christian is a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth.

Like the patriarch Abraham, this world is not our home, and we are looking for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Yes, we are citizens of heaven.

But at the same time, we are citizens of the country we live in.

And as such, our actions and reactions, concerning government, and the neighbourhood we live in, must be appropriate for a child of God.

That's what Romans chapter 13 is all about.

First of all, even though we need to be salt, we must be law-abiding citizens. 

As, Rom. 13:1-2 admonishes us, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
²   Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:"

And then, for the love of Christ, we should have a good testimony in our neighbourhood.

V10 "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

So then, chapter 13 was all about our interaction with the world around us.

On the other hand, chapter 14, that we will be studying today, is all about our interaction with our fellow believers.

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In this particular case, Paul was dealing with the local assembly at Rome , who were going through a transitionary period in church history. 

The believers were pretty much equally divided between Jews and Gentiles, and consequently, had come some very different backgrounds; which of course, would generate some very different opinions.

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Actually, this chapter doesn't give any specifics, concerning the exact nature of the problem, apart from the fact that it involved holy days and food.

However, considering the diverse nature of the congregation, I think we can safely assume that it would involve, sacrifices made to pagan gods, and Jewish observances.

We will be looking at the Gentile ramifications of this problem in next week's lesson, but for the moment, we will be dealing exclusively with the Jewish issue.

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It would seem reasonable to assume, that some of the Jewish Christians were still clinging to the old ways.

Oh, they were true believers, all right, but their Old Testament observances were deeply rooted in their culture.

So, what should the church's reaction be?

Well, Paul left no doubt, as to what it should be.

His instructions are recorded in Romans chapter 14.

V1-3 "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."

Now, Paul wasn't advocating the theory, that everything is relative.

Today, there are those who are convinced that there’s no absolute right or wrong.

Everyone should be allowed to live according to his own ideas, and we shouldn’t interfere.

I think the decaying society that we now find ourselves in, should convince, even the most casual observer; that this worldly theory simply doesn't work.

There must be rules, and standards of conduct, to govern our actions and reactions.

For the Christian, the Word of God is that absolute standard.

And yet, even within the Church of Jesus Christ, there are some things that are relative.

In the case of the church in Rome , it was personal convictions.

And even today, there will be Christians with personal convictions which do not necessarily reflect our own.

However, unless their beliefs conflict with fundamental doctrines, we should leave it up to God to judge His servants.

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So then, some of the Jewish Christians probably xxxx felt duty-bound to continue the observance of certain holy days, such as Passover, Pentecost, and the feast of Tabernacles, etc.

And some, who were weak in the faith, still felt it necessary to observe a kosher diet.

Apparently, some of them were so troubled by this issue, that they were now eating herbs.

However, there were others, realizing these observances were no longer valid, who had no such inhibitions.

 Of course, Paul would belong to this latter group, but his instructions were not quite as predictable as some might imagine.

Did he tell the weaker Jewish Christians to shape up, and not cause this confusion?

Did he say, "You must get up to date"?

No, he didn’t.

And why didn't he?

Wasn't this old carry over kind of silly?

Well no, it really wasn't, at least not in that particular time in church history.

For instance, just look at Peter’s beliefs at that time.

He was a mature believer, but he still hung onto the old ways.

We can see that in Acts. 10:9-16 "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
¹⁰   And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
¹¹   And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
¹²   Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
¹³   And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
¹⁴   But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. (So at that point in time, Peter, who was definitely a believer, still held onto the old dietary laws.)
¹⁵   And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
¹⁶   This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."

Why was this repeated three times?

Probably because Peter didn't give in to dropping his dietary laws right away.

We don't even know if he gave in the third time.

Even though God Himself had been speaking to him, he had said, "Not so, Lord".

That's how ingrained these dietary laws were, in his life, and he had not been a rabbi either; no he had just been a fisherman.

So, even in this Jewish fisherman's life, these laws had been firmly embedded, and they should have been; they were God's laws.

Now of course, God change Peter's mind, but only because He was teaching him that the gospel was also for the Gentiles.

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On the other hand Paul, even though he had been a Pharisee in the past, now accepted the fact that the old ways were past.

And also, some enlightened Jewish Christians knew that they no longer were bound by the Old Testament ordinances.

However at the same time, other believer's, just like Peter, felt conscience bound to keep these laws.

So what should the church do?

Let's look at Rom. 14:1-3 again "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."

So, Paul was faced with two very different groups, in the Roman church.

Did Paul favour the one and condemn the other?

No, he did not take sides.

What then were his instructions?

His instructions were; that the enlightened Christians should not despise the abstainers.

And likewise, those that held to the old ways, were not to judge those that felt free to eat.

So there was to be tolerance for personal religious convictions.

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Let's stop for a moment to examine these Jewish dietary laws that were causing so many problems.

Turn with me, to Leviticus 11:1-3 --- "And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
²   Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
³   Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat."

All these conditions must apply, in order that the animal could be eaten.

For instance, they could not eat the camel, the badger, or the swine, because they did not fulfill all these conditions.

V9-10 "These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

¹⁰   And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:"

So they could not eat things like shellfish, or eels, or squid.

Personally I wouldn't have too much problem with that part of the dietary laws.

V13-16 "And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
¹⁴   And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
¹⁵   Every raven after his kind;
¹⁶   And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,"--- and the list goes on.

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Also, some of the holy days that they were still hanging onto, were Passover, Pentecost, new moons, and the feast of tabernacles.

By the way, these feasts were valid in Old Testament times, and were types of Christ, and the birth of the church, etc.

However, now the type had been fulfilled by the anti-type, and so they were no longer needed.

Also, in Old Testament times, the dietary laws served a very useful purpose.

They were to keep God's Chosen People separated from the Gentile nations around them, and so prevent the temptation of idol worship, etc.

But now, in the church of Jesus Christ , it was necessary that they be one, not separated.

And so these laws had served their purpose.

Of course, some enlightened believers realized this, at least to some extent, and so with a good conscience, they ate whatever foods they wanted.

Also, they felt that they should only observe the Lord's Day, or Sunday, as we now call it.

So, I am sure the remedy seemed quite straightforward to them.

Just instruct the weaker brothers, and bring them up to date.

Tell them to shape up, and the problem would be solved.

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But it was not actually that easy.

You see, meats and holy days were not the real problems here.

Remember the instructions in chapter 13, concerning our brothers and sisters?

The bottom line was love.

So, in love, the weaker brothers must be given time, to be convinced in their own consciences, that these old ordinances were not necessary.

They should not be forced to go against their beliefs.

After all, their convictions were not causing doctrinal heresy.

For, as V20 says, "For meat destroy not the work of God."

No, food and holy days, would not destroy the work of God, but on the other hand fighting among the brethren, would.

So Paul's instructions to the strong, were that they not despise the weak, and that the weak were not to judge the strong.

Actually, what Paul was asking for, was an application of the Royal Law --- "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

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Now today, the problem of meats and Jewish holy days, are no longer a concern in the church.

However, Paul's instructions about love, is right up to date.

So many church assemblies have been destroyed because of disagreements, concerning personal convictions.

And these personal convictions were not really a threat to the essential framework of doctrinal truth.

So, even though we do not all have the same personal convictions, we don’t have to shun our fellow believers on that basis.

We have much more to draw us together than to drive us apart.

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And there is also the matter of judging.

V4 "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."

We all know, it is improper to meddle with other people's servants, or employees.

If you are invited to a rich man's house for dinner and his servant makes a bad job of serving the meal, you can roll your eyes at your wife, but you don't tell the servant to shape up.

It's not your place to do so.

In like manner, our fellow believer is not our servant.

No, he is God's servant, and "to his own master he standeth or falleth."

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A couple of lessons back, we learned that personal vengeance is an area that doesn't belong to us, right?

Well, this is another area where we do not belong.

It is true, that we should judge areas of doctrine and sin.

Open sin should not be tolerated in the church of God .

However, when it comes to the area of a believer’s personal service to his Master, we should not interfere.

That is God's job.

And the Lord is well able to judge His servants in a just manner, because "the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

Not only does God have the right to judge, He is also uniquely equipped to do so, because He can see His servant’s heart.

We can’t, so we do not have the qualifications for the job.

V5-7 "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."

The answer then, in this area of questionable things, is not necessarily complete agreement or oneness.

Yes, it should be oneness in the area of doctrinal matters, but the bottom line here is, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."

That sounds a little different, then "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."  (We see that, over in Philippians 2:2)

Well, it should sound a little different, because these verses refer to a different area completely.

Philippians 2:2 refers to fundamental doctrine, whereas "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind", refers to personal convictions.

I think many of our problems today, and the problems in the Roman church, were cause by mixing up these areas.

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Let me give you a modern-day example of this.

I remember hearing about one of our Trans World Radio’s staff members that ran into problems, while on furlough in the States.

His supporting churches were mainly Southern Baptist.

When he came home from the field, he had to be very careful not to wear a coloured shirt in meetings, as it was considered worldly.

He also got into trouble because of his moustache.

I don't know if that was the situation in all Southern Baptist churches, but in his area, it was.

We can smile a bit about that, but for him it was a real problem.

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I would like to look more closely at Paul's method of dealing with this problem in the Roman church, because he did not always act in this way.

Concerning the Jewish Christians, he was content to let the ceremonial Law die out slowly, and so have an honourable burial.

He was not willing to force the issue.

However, in the church at Galatia , the same type of thing was happening.

That is, the Gentile believers had been convinced by Judaizing teachers, that they should practice the old ordinances, as part of the means of salvation.

That was a much different story, and Paul would not tolerate it for a minute.

Listen to his statement.

Gal. 4:8-11 "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
⁹   But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
¹⁰   Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
¹¹   I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."

Where foundational truths were at stake, where the finished work of Christ was being added to, Paul struck out against heresy.

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So, Paul's actions clearly state, that there is a big difference between fundamental truth and personal convictions.

We should be careful to discern the difference also.

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However, even personal convictions will be judged someday.

There will be a time when we will all give an account to our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning our actions.

Back to chapter 14:7-12 "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."

 At the judgment seat of Christ, our true motives will be judged, and our reward or lack of reward, determined.

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In verse 20, it says, "For meat destroy not the work of God."

This problem, in the Roman church, did not threaten gospel truth, but it could have destroyed believers.

And V15 says, "Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died."

You might say, "I know it's all right to eat all kinds of meat, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

How can I destroy my brother with that practice?"

Well, you could destroy his conscience, because even though it is all right for you, it is a sin for him.

That seems like a double standard doesn't it?

Well, in fact it is, and that's OK.

V13-16 "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:"

If you're brother believes something is sin, and he does it because of your example, he has gone against the dictates of his conscience.

In his heart he has willingly disobeyed God.

And that disobedience will be brought out at the Judgment seat of Christ.

So, "Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
¹⁶   Let not then your good be evil spoken of:"

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Let me give you an example.

Granted, it might not fit these verses exactly, but it will give you an idea.

Suppose a Mennonite girl, who believes in her heart that she should dress in black, is persuaded by a Christian to sneak out to a gathering, dressed as we would ordinarily dress.

Now, we do not believe that you need to dress in black; but if we persuaded her to do so, even while she holds those convictions, then we have caused her to do wrong.

It would be wrong for her, because in her heart, she is disobeying God.

And it would be wrong for us to persuade her to do so.

V20 "For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence."

V23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

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So, what are the important things in the Christian’s life?

V17-22 "For the kingdom of God 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.

--- V18 "For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."

Righteousness, and peace and joy, these are the things that we should be concerned about.

At the judgment seat of Christ, it will not be asked, who ate flesh and who ate herbs?

It will not be asked, who kept the holy days and who did not.

It will not even be asked, who wore coloured shirts, and who wore white ones?

But it will be asked, who feared God and worked righteousness, and who did not?

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."