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]

Romans 13:8-14: The Believer’s Love and Strategy for Godliness (part 3)

 Part 3

Paul has moved on from our responsibility to the government (vs. 1-7) to how we relate to individuals around us in the world. Then he lays out steps for the believer to win in the fight against indwelling sin and outside temptations. We must lay things aside and replace them with God’s better things.

III.  God has given the duty and responsibility to believers to stop owing anyone any late debts. vs. 8a

A.     This does not forbid loans for a house. It forbids not making payments according to your contract on your house.

B.     This does not forbid a business loan. The baker and the banker can share the profits. But the baker needs to continue to pay back the bank the money he borrowed on time.

C.     Light bills and phone bills are sent after the use of the service. After the grace period is up, this becomes a “debt.” When paid on time, it is only a bill and not a biblical debt. This is called an ‘Open Account.’

IV.  God has given the duty and responsibility to the believer to start loving each other. vs. 8b-10

A.     Love the LORD God with all your being and possessions (Deut 6:5)

B.     Love your neighbor vs. 9

1. For unbelievers — love as much as you love yourself.

2. For believers — love others better than you love yourself. John 13:34-35

3. The believers’ common life together is seen in the “one another” commands.

C.     Biblical love automatically fulfills the moral law.

1. Paul applies commandments 6, 7, 8, and 10 of the Ten Commandments to Gentile Christians after Pentecost (5 & 9 are in Luke 18:20; Eph 6:1-3; Col 3:9).

2. Paul quotes Jesus applying two great laws that cover the Ten Commandments, but focuses on the second great commandment, which deals with commandments 5-10.

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Mat 22:37-40 HCSB)

3. Paul notes Jesus did not annul or replace the moral law. He clarified and expanded it. He did fulfill the ceremonial law (the purity and worship regulations). The civil law was for the theocratic nation Israel but has principles for Christians. The moral law is eternal.

D.     Biblical love does a lot of good for others. vs. 10

E.      Biblical love practiced fulfills God’s moral law naturally. vs. 10

V.  God has given the duty and responsibility to the believer to replace ungodliness with Christlikeness using God’s strategy. vs. 11-14

A.     The believer needs to be alert to the spiritual dangers around him/her. vs.11

1. The time for sleep is over. Be like a guard on duty—ready and awake.

2. Glorification, the completion of our salvation, is drawing closer each day.

3. The approaching day of the Lord calls on each of us to seize the opportunities for the kingdom that are before us.

B.     The believer has things he/she needs to lay aside—to take off (a command). vs. 12

1. Dark deeds, sinful, evil, and wicked works will not be on earth forever.

2. Take off and set aside your night garments and put on your work clothes.

C.     The believer has things he/she needs to put on to replace the old ways. vs. 12

1. Armor prepares one for battle. (put on = command) Fight sinful desires.

2. Light symbolizes holiness and truth. Obey God’s moral commands.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away (Col 3:5-8a ESV). You put on the new self; the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (Eph 4:24 HCSB)

D.     The believer is to choose to behave morally before God by replacing sin with good vs. 13

1. Put off (set aside) a life of extreme parties and the sin of drunkenness. [large group sins]

2. Put off all sexual immorality and obscene or promiscuous behavior. [two people’s sins]

3. Put off all fighting and being jealous.

E.      The believer is to surrender to Jesus the Messiah instead of sin. vs. 14 (Rom 6:12-18)

F.      The believer is not to make plans or provide ways for the gratification of his/her sinful desires. vs. 14

1. Instead of storing up what is necessary to commit the sin, flee from the scene.

2. Fight sin at the desire level so that it cannot provide the opportunity for your fall into the sinful act. It all starts in the inner man—in the heart.

[Outline modified from George W. Anderson class substitute lecture for Richard Belcher]

Romans 13:1-7 Every Christian must be a Good Citizen (part 2)

(part 2)

 In the Bible, we discover three institutions that God has ordained. These three are a) the home, b) the church, and c) the state or government. These three have separate areas of authority and operations under God on earth. Romans 13 is in the practical application section of the book of Romans. This section instructs genuine believers who understand the gospel of God and the doctrines of salvation on what their duties are now that they have embraced Jesus by faith, repentance, and surrender. The home, state, and church must only function in their proper spheres.

I.       God has given duties and responsibilities to the state/government. vs. 1, 3-4, 6

    A. The state’s authority was established and granted by God. vs. 1

    B. The state was ordained by God vs. 2

    C. The state is not to be resisted when it is functioning biblically. vs. 2

    D. The state functions as a substitute for God in certain areas; thus, to rebel against biblically lawful mandates is a sin punishable on earth and at the judgment. vs. 2

    E. The state is to punish evildoers and praise those who do good works. vs. 3-4

1. This punishment includes death for certain crimes (Gen 9:4-6; Exod 21; Deut 17).

2. Swift justice serves as a fearful deterrent to crime (Eccl 8:11).

3. When the state is operating properly, only evil men will be afraid of its actions.

    F. The state is to serve God by providing certain things for its citizens’ welfare. vs. 4, 6

1. It is to protect its citizens against unwarranted harm.

2. It is to punish those who practice evil.

    G. The state is to preserve law and order. vs. 4

    H. The state is to provide for its services by taxation. vs. 6

 

II.      God has given duties and responsibilities to the believer concerning the state. vs. 2, 5 -7

    A. We are normally to submit to the state/government. vs. 2

1. The federal government on interstate matters.

2. The state and local governments on local matters.

3. The institutions and employers we contract to join or serve (colleges, Wal-Mart).

    B. We must realize that opposing biblically lawful mandates of the state is to oppose God. vs. 2

    C. We must submit to lawful orders to maintain a clear conscience. vs. 5

1. Lawful orders are laws, or rules that do not contradict God’s righteous standards in the Bible.

2. Unlawful orders are ones that contradict the Bible’s clear commands.

    D. We must realize that God asks us to be the best citizens in the land. vs. 5

    E. We must not evade our tax obligations (taking legitimate exemptions is wise). vs. 6-7

    F. Application.

1. Are we submitting to God by believing on His Son, Jesus the Messiah for salvation? Are we submitting to God by obeying the lawful orders of those in authority over us?

2. Are we submitting to the state in every area required, including traffic laws?

3. Are we willing to obey in the little things as well as the big things?

4. Are we willing to adjust our attitudes towards God, other believers, our enemies, and the state (Romans 12 and 13)?

    G. We must disobey the state (or church or home), however, when they mandate in areas in which they are not ordained to serve and when a law or order is clearly not biblical.

1. If the state forbids what God requires (Daniel 6 prayer; Acts 5:29 witnessing).

2. If the state requires what God forbids (Exod 1:15-21 murder; Daniel 3 idolatry).

3. The same disobedience is required for the church and the home if they do (1. or 2.).

    H. Test cases.

1. A pastor calling a sitting president by a pejorative term (Paul and the High Priest)

2. A disruptive person in a church service—they are throwing things, using profanity, endangering the welfare of the church body. Three deacons approach this person. What should they do and not do?

3. A well-liked lawyer who is a Sunday School teacher gets caught in the act of molesting a 9-year-old girl during Sunday School. He is 48 yrs. old, married with children, a deacon, and a respected leader in the community. Only a few church leaders know about this act, which is a felony. What should they do? Can they just choose to forgive him and look the other way?

4. You work for a lawyer, and he tells you a government inspector is coming, so you must start shredding documents that he hands you to cover up the firm’s illegal activities. Should you obey your employer?

5. A teenager witnesses a parent commit a felony. The parents ordered them to tell no one, as their authority in the home. What should they do?

I. The magisterial reformers (Luther, Calvin) operated in a state church that blended two of God’s separate institutions too closely, so that the state wrongly executed heretics.

J. The Anabaptist doctrine of two worlds/kingdoms also contradicts Rom 13:1-7:

III.    God has given the duty and responsibility to believers to stop owing anyone any late debts. vs. 8a

IV.   God has given the duty and responsibility to believers to start loving each other. vs. 8b-10

V.     God has given the duty and responsibility to the believer to replace ungodliness with Christlikeness using God’s strategy. vs. 11-14

[Outline modified from George W. Anderson, class substitute lecture for Richard Belcher]

 

Romans 13:1-14: Christian duties to the state, humanity, and godliness (part 1)

 Romans 13 (part 1)

This chapter must be studied along with Exodus 1:17, 2:3; Joshua 2:3-17; Daniel (1:1-21, 3:1-30, 6:1-28; Acts 4:1-23, 5:17-42, 12:1-19; Matthew 5:44, 21:23-27, 22:21; Titus 3:1; and 1 Peter 2:13-17 to not be mis-applied. The state is to be obeyed when it requires biblical ethics (do not murder) and biblical principles (provide safety for your neighbor on your property) and on indifferent matters (release a caught flounder under 14”). Taxes are to be paid, and respect is to be given. However, whenever the state orders a believer to disobey the Bible, the state is to be humbly resisted with no compromise (Exd 10:24-26). We must obey God over man every time (Acts 4:19-20, 5:29, Matt 22:21) when the two are in conflict (e.g., do not sacrifice, do not pray, do not share Jesus, do not sing, do not meet). God is the higher authority; the government only has delegated authority from God that is to be resisted when it defies the God who delegated the authority to it.

I. The believer’s duty to the state and those in authority. vs. 1-7

A. The government’s authority in certain limited areas is from God. vs. 1-7

1.       All human authority is delegated by the Creator, the God of the Bible.

2.       God ordained three institutions: the family, the government, and the church. God alone is over all three. Each has a limited sphere of influence.

3.       Each institution must submit to God and remain only in its allotted domain.

4.       The Christian is to submit to leaders in all three institutions when they can.

5.       There is a difference between blind obedience and submission. Subordinates only submit to lawful orders and humbly accept the consequences of refusing to obey unlawful ones.

6.       The concepts of government, law and order, and natural order are all God’s ideas. He ordained these things (in general) for the earth.

a.    There is no divine right of kings here.

b.    Allowing bad rulers is part of God’s wrath on a sinful people. God allowed Saul to be king, but actively chose David to be king.

c.     A Christian who follows the Bible is the best ruler.

7.       The state is responsible for warning and punishing evildoers and promoting the well-being of all its citizens, keeping order and peace.

8.       The state is to be the servant of humanity, not its master. “The moment, therefore, the state turns itself into a master and into a tyrant, it is disobeying the law of God that brought it into being and it must itself be punished; and the form the punishment takes is that the Government is thrown out and replaced by one that is prepared to abide by the teaching of Romans 13:1-7.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans 13: Life in two Kingdoms (2021: Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth), 46.

B. The taxes and tolls are to be paid on time by the believer. vs.6-7

C. Appropriate honor and respect are to be paid to those in positions of authority.   vs. 7

D. When the state contradicts God’s word, we must always obey God instead and take the punishment humbly in faith. vs. 4

1.       “It is quite clear in the Scriptures that if the state ever comes between me and my relationship to God, then I must not obey it.” (Lloyd-Jones 2021: 52)

2.       A fiery furnace and a den of lions for obeying God (Daniel chapters 3 and 6)

3.       Beatings and a command not to preach (Acts chapters 4 and 5) “We must obey God rather than men.”

4.       Love and pray for your enemies who persecute you. (Matt 5:44)

5.       The early Christians would not say, ‘Caesar is Lord’ and worship him. Jesus was their Lord, and they were martyred obeying King Jesus.

6.       The Particular Baptist John Bunyan was put in jail for 12 years because he obeyed his call to preach when he did not have a license to preach from the state church. He wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress in jail.

E. When the state orders us to violate our consciences, we must obey God’s word and maintain our fellowship with God, accepting the punishment for keeping our consciences pure. (Luther at the Diet of Worms)

F. The state and the church are not one. The church is not above the state. The state is not over the church. The two institutions are separate realms, and both are to be equally under God with different domains and duties. Jesus is Lord of the church, not Caesar.

II. The believer’s duty to love other individual humans. vs. 8-10

A. Avoid being in debt to others. It changes the relationship. vs. 8

B. The primary Christian duty is to love. vs. 8, 9 (Matt 5:43-48)

C. Biblical neighbor love fulfills the moral law concerning humans. These are repeated for Gentile Christians. vs. 9

1.       Do not commit adultery. (Exd 20:14; Deu 5:18; Matt 5:27-30)

2.       Do not murder. (Exd 20:13; Deu 5:17; Matt 5:21-22; Jam 2:11)

3.       Do not steal. (Exd 20:15; Deu 5:19; Luke 18:20)

4.       Do not covet. (Exd 20:17; Deu 5:21; Rom 7:7-8)

5.       All the additional (commandments, mitsvah) moral laws.

III. The believer’s duty to live a godly life. vs. 11-14

A. Be alert, awake, and vigilant vs.11

B. Stop living in the dark; rather, put on the armor of light. vs.12

C. Live a holy life, forsaking wild parties (orgies), drunkenness, sexual impurity, promiscuity (lustful indulgence), quarreling (arguing), and jealousy. vs. 13

D. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no plans to satisfy these fleshly desires. vs. 13