Romans 14:22-23 & 15:1-3: Christian-to-Christian Forbearance (part 3)

 Part 3

Paul’s exhortations in Romans 14-15 do not concern doctrinal matters. These admonitions are for when believers disagree over ethical lifestyle issues. We have a different method of handling disagreements over doctrines (including women pastors and the salvation of children who die in infancy) than we do over how we exercise our liberty in Christ over ethical issues on which there are no biblical commands for Christians.

            I. A Christian must refrain from doing things that will result in self-condemnation, doubt, and guilt which lead to misery rather than joyful liberty. vs. 14:22

A. If you cannot do or partake of something without guilt, then do not do it. Others may be able to do this, but you cannot at this time. If your future understanding of the Bible changes your ethical convictions on this matter after careful study, then you may be able to do or partake in the future.

B. You must live the Christian life with the best of others in view to be Christ-like; to live for yourself only is unchristian and contradictory (2 Cor 5:15).

C. Seek to build up (edify) others spiritually in the body of Christ. Do not tear them down by tempting them to fall by intentionally violating their conscience.

·        A Christian must be able to do and use everything they do in faith. 14:23

D. What I believe to be sinful, or if I doubt it is correct and do it anyway, it is a sin for me, even though I may have misunderstood the Bible on this matter.

E. If I develop the conviction that something is sinful and thus is against God, and then I choose to do that thing, then I have done something I am convinced is against God. This is always sin, even though I may have completely misunderstood the Bible on this neutral matter.

F. Sin hinders my fellowship with God, even when I have mislabeled something as sin and have done it even though believers are free in Christ to do or use it.

G. Thus, I must not tempt those with convictions against something to copy me and do it while they believe it is wrong. Love and instruct them instead.

·        The stronger Christian is to show love to the weaker Christian on each ethical issue as they patiently address their ethical convictions. vs. 15:1

H. They are to please the weaker Christians.

I. They are to stop living to please only themselves.

J. The stronger believer is to be patient with the incapable one’s doubts.

1. Both stronger and weaker Christians, when it comes to gray ethical issues, are to seek to please each other for our mutual benefit and to edify each other. vs. 15:2

2. Questions to ask about ethical matters affecting body life in the church

K. Will this behavior or thing block the flow of the gospel?

L. Is this behavior or thing connected to a major doctrine?

M. Is this behavior or thing connected with something immoral?

N. Is this behavior or thing clearly declared to be wrong in the Bible?

O. Does this ethical area fit the stronger/weaker brother situation?

P. Which choice will allow me to best demonstrate love for another believer with whom I am in close contact that has different ethical convictions?

Q. Additional questions in determining God’s will about what to do or use (ethical issues).

1.      Is this lawful? (Not forbidden for Christians in the Word of God)

2.      Is it beneficial for me? (Do I gain something from this?)

3.      Is it enslaving? (Will this take control of me, a habit I cannot quit?)

4.      Is it consistent with Christ’s Lordship? (Will it bring shame to the Lord?)

5.      Is it helpful to others? (One another and weaker brother issues)

6.      Is it consistent with positive biblical examples? (Jesus, the Apostles of Christ)

7.      Is it something that will bring glory to God?

R. Christian liberty and freedom as they relate to weak and strong Christians in the body of Christ should be informed by Jesus’ example. vs. 15:3

1. Jesus the Messiah did not live on earth to please Himself.

2. Jesus bore the attacks of those angry with God the Father (John 15:24).

3. Psalm 69:9 predicted that the Messiah would suffer under these insults from men.

4. All Christians are to follow Jesus’ example of self-denial and humility (Psa 89:50-51).

5. In light of the Messiah’s example of accepting abuse and not claiming His rights in order to redeem us, how can we demand our Christian liberty if it damages others?

6. Where self-denial and humility are present, one will also find unity and harmony over gray ethical issues and the use of Christian liberty.

[Modified from Richard P. Belcher, Sr. class notes]

Romans 14:13-23: Serving Christians with Different Ethical Convictions (part 2)

 Part 2

Christian liberty and freedom are granted to and enjoyed by believers who are living by faith and not violating their consciences by bad choices. They, likewise, out of love and for unity, limit their freedom while in contact with those who do not have the same freedom on issues not clearly declared as sin in the Bible. The moral laws show us continually how to please God, and they are fairly clear, especially as summarized in the Ten Commandments. God requires us to study, think, and work out other issues in each age and each culture. This requires work on our part. Choices must also include loving other Christians well by considering their spiritual welfare and the unity of the church.

II.  [The instructions given to the weaker and stronger Christians. vs. 1-10]

A.     [General instructions to weak and strong Christians concerning food and days. vs. 4-13]

B.     Christian liberty and freedom as it relates to weak and strong Christians in the body of Christ. vs. 13-23

1. Every Christian must stop judging other Christians concerning gray moral areas. vs. 13

2. Most created things are not intrinsically impure or defiling by themselves. vs. 14

a.  The strong understand this truth.

b. Because the weak think a thing is impure, for them it is impure (unclean).

3. Believer-to-believer love and unity are more important than an individual practicing their Christian liberty. vs. 15

a.  The law of love dictates that a person cannot use their Christian liberty to harm another Christian for whom Christ died.

b. The need for unity in the body requires the use of great discretion when exercising Christian liberty concerning gray ethical issues.

4. A Christian living in love and church unity will not demand to use or do what they believe is a good thing if it brings reproach on the Christian faith. vs. 16

5. The Christian faith and the kingdom of God are not based on physical things or actions, but on a life based on internal things (righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit) in service of the Messiah, pleasing God and an example to humans. vs. 17-18

6. Each Christian should pursue the most important things first: making peace believer-to-believer and edifying one another. vs. 19

7. A Christian must not destroy the work of God and cause another believer to fall into willful defiance of their conscience concerning indifferent things. vs. 20-21

a.  Another believer’s spiritual well-being is much more important than food, meat, or wine, or my desire to enjoy these created things.

b. In the new covenant, all created things are declared clean and pure.

c.  The weak do not understand this and are convinced that to partake of these foods is a serious sin against God.

d. When they believe this action is a sin, but copy you and intentionally choose to sin against God and violate their conscience, they are sinning against God.

e.  Food is not the issue; the sinful heart and conscience are the issue.

f.   It is good never to do things that will cause others to fall into sinful activity.

8.  A Christian should keep his beliefs and convictions about gray ethical standards between himself/herself and God. vs. 22

a.  You can share your convictions and why you hold them when asked.

b. You may not lay them as a burden around another Christian’s neck.

c.  Through Bible study and godly counsel, work through issues for yourself on matters on which there are no explicit commands for Christians.

d. Make sure you understand the difference between the eternal moral laws of God, the temporary ceremonial laws (purity and OT worship regulations), and the time frozen civil laws (case laws with penalties) of the nation Israel [principles behind these are moral and apply to us].

e.  Because you dislike something, that does not make it a sin for others.

f.   Once you determine something is not forbidden by God, you must still use discernment on how this thing or action will affect other believers with whom you are in contact. Don’t tempt them to violate their conscience.

9. A Christian must refrain from doing things that will cause self-condemnation, doubt, and guilt, which lead to misery rather than liberty. vs. 22

a.  If you cannot do or partake of something without guilt, then do not do it.

b. You must live the Christian life with the best of others in view to be Christ-like; to live for yourself is unchristian and contradictory. (2 Cor 5:15).

c.  Seek to build up (edify) others spiritually in the body of Christ.

10. A Christian must be able to do and use everything they do in faith. vs. 23

a.  What I believe to be sinful, or if I doubt that it is correct and do it anyway, it is a sin for me, even though I may have misunderstood the Bible on this matter.

b. If I develop the conviction that something is sinful and thus is against God, and then I choose to do that thing, then I have done something I am convinced is against God. This is always a sin.

c.  Sin hinders my fellowship with God, even when I have mislabeled something as sin and have done it even though believers are free in Christ to do or use it.

d. Thus, I must not tempt those with convictions against something to copy me and do it while they believe it is wrong.

11. Questions to ask:

a.  Will this behavior or thing block the flow of the gospel?

b. Is this behavior or thing connected to a major doctrine?

c.  Is this behavior or thing connected with something immoral?

d. Is this behavior or thing clearly declared to be wrong in the Bible?

e.  Does this ethical area fit the stronger/weaker brother situation?

[Modified from Richard P. Belcher, Sr. class notes, Columbia Bible College]

Romans 14:1-13: Loving Christians with Different Ethical Standards or Convictions (part 1)

 Romans 14 (part 1)

The church at Rome had Jewish converts, Jewish proselyte converts, Gentile God-fearers, and Gentile pagan converts. The Jewish converts at Rome only ate kosher foods (Deut 14, Lev 11) that were declared clean by Jesus, and they participated in the Jewish feast days (the ceremonial purity laws and worship rules). The NT was not complete yet but would reveal that all foods were declared clean in the new covenant (Mark 7:15-19; Acts 10; Gal 2:11-18; 1 Tim 4:3-5) and that the ceremonial law has been fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah (Gal 3:21-29, 5:2-14). However, in pagan idol worship of demons and Satanic worship, the mixing of drinking blood (the cup of demons) with all forms of sexual immorality was and is practiced. The NT continued the prohibition of these practices (Mat 4:10; Luke 4:8, 10:27; Acts 15:20, 29, 17:16-33; 1 Cor 5:10-11, 6:9, 10:7, 20-21, 28; Gal 5:20; Eph 5:5; 1 Thes 1:9; 1 Pet 4:3; 1 John 5:21; Rev 2:14, 20, 21:8, 22:15). Thus, the use of meat sacrificed to idols also became an issue for Christian table fellowship between those with Jewish backgrounds versus those with a pagan background. In this one area of Christian standards, the “strong” are those who believe all foods are clean and the “weak” hold to unclean vs. clean foods, feast days, and the purity laws. In other ethical areas, these same people labeled here as “weak” may be the “strong” ones, and those here called “strong” may be “weak” in some other area of Christian ethical standards.

Principles to remember in Romans 14-15

·        Paul considers both the “strong” and “weak” people as true believers

·        Paul considers both groups to be practicing the unbiblical pattern of criticizing each other instead of showing love and concern

·        Paul agrees with the “strong” group doctrinally on this matter

·        Paul in practice lives like the “weak” group, but for different reasons than they do

·        Paul rebukes both groups for their improper handling of this issue

I. The description of the weaker and stronger Christians. vs.1-10

A. The “weaker” person is more rigid and rules-centered. vs.1-10

1. The weak one doubts in their faith and is uncertain about their Christian liberty.

2. The one who is weak in the faith eats only vegetables to prevent idolatry.

3. The weak one is judging the one eating meat.

a. He cannot be saved and eat meat.

b. He cannot be a committed believer and eat meat.

4. The weak one is observing the Jewish ceremonial feasts.

5. The weak one despises his brother because of his freedom.

B. The “stronger” person understands his/her liberty in Christ. vs. 1-10

1. The strong one is not kindly receiving the weak Christian.

2. The strong one seeks out the weak person to argue about ethics.

3. The strong one sees no restrictions on eating food of any kind.

4. The strong one is mocking the weak Christian.

5. The strong one does not observe the Jewish feasts.

6. The strong one despises the weak Christian because of his legalism.

7. The strong one theoretically understands Christian liberty.

C. Both the weak and strong Christians are behaving sinfully.

II.  The instructions given to the weaker and stronger Christians. vs. 1-10

A. The initial instructions to the “strong” Christians. vs. 1-3

1. You must change your attitude toward these other Christians.

2. You must replace mean rejection with kind reception.

3. You must not argue with weak Christians over their convictions.

4. You must not mock the weak Christians.

B. The initial instructions to the “weak” Christians. vs. 1-3

1. You must change your attitude toward these other Christians.

2. You must stop judging strong Christians for exercising their liberty.

3. You must stop avoiding and criticizing strong Christians.

C. General instructions to weak and strong Christians concerning food and days. vs. 4-13

1. Understand that every Christian answers to God alone (not you) for actions and attitudes regarding gray ethical areas. vs. 4

2. Every Christian is responsible to study, think, and develop personal biblical convictions for themselves and not for others. vs. 5

3. Every Christian is to make lifestyle choices in gray areas in ways they are sure will please the Lord and be part of their daily worship. vs. 6

4. Every Christian must understand that Jesus the Messiah rules over everything in our lives. He is Lord over all. vs. 7-9

5. Every Christian must acknowledge that God is the final judge over non-revealed issues (where there is no biblical command) and not man. vs. 10-12

6. Every Christian must stop judging other Christians concerning gray moral areas. vs. 13

a. Be concerned with edifying other Christians so that they can grow.

b. Do not be divisive over non-essentials (Bible is the authority).

c. Be concerned about your own attitudes and actions.

d. Do not cause another Christian to stumble and fall into a practice they consider sin by copying you. Your brother’s (or sister’s) spiritual welfare is more important than your Christian liberty.

[Modified from Richard P. Belcher, Sr. class notes, CBC 1985]