Posts
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]
