Romans 14-15: The Gospel of Grace & Christian Liberty
Application: The student will assess his activities so as not to offend and destroy the faith of a weaker brother.
PAUL BEGINS ROMANS 14 WITH A COMMAND THAT BELIEVERS SHOULD WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE WEAK OR IMMATURE IN THE FAITH.
MATURE CHRISTIANS IN A CHURCH BEAR THE REPONSIBILITY TO WELCOME NEW BELIEVERS INTO THE FOLD.
A WISE CHURCH MEMBER WILL UNDERSTAND THAT HIS CHURCH WILL HAVE MEMBERS WITH DIFFERING OPINIONS REGARDING SOME MATTERS.
IT IS A TEST OF FELLOWSHIP IF A MEMBER DOES NOT ENDORSE THE DOCTRINE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH.
IF A NEW CHRISTIAN FAILS TO GRASP SALVATON BY GRACE OR THE VIRGIN BIRTH, OR THE BODILY RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST, MATURE BELIEVERS MUST COUNSEL THEM TOWARD BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT PRISCILLA & AQUILA DID FOR APPOLOS.
SECONDLY MATURE MEMBERS SHOULD RESIST ANY URGE TO LOOK DOWN OF THOSE LESS MATURE IN FAITH.
UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE SHOULD BE DEMONSTRATED.
IN MATTERS OF PERSONAL CONVICTION, GOD UNDERSTANDS THE PERSONAL GROWTH OF NEW BELIEVERS AND GUIDES THEM INTO FULLER MATURITY, BOTH BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND BY HELPFUL CHURCH MEMBERS.
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS THAT IT CAN BE FILLED WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY DIFFERENT, YET THE ASSEMBLY THRIVES IN UNITY.
AS LONG AS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF FELLOWSHIP, A CHURCH’S DIVERSE MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO UNITE FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL AND ENJOY THE HARMONY OF ONE BODY.
INSTEAD OF SEEING THESE DIFFERENCES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE DIVISION, PAUL REMINDED HIS READERS THAT WE ALL BELONG TO THE LORD.
GROWTH IN FAITH WILL HAPPEN AMONG LESS MATURE MEMBERS BUT IT MAY NOT HAPPEN QUICKLY.
AGAIN, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE IMPORTANT WATCHWORDS NEEDED TO HELP THOSE AS THEY GROW.
THE SURE IMPLICATION HERE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE LITTLE TIME TO FIND FAULT WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IF WE ARE HELPFUL TO THEM AND CONCENTRATE OURSELVES ON OUR OWN NEED FOR HOLINESS.
PAUL KNEW THAT CHRISTIANS IN ROME WERE GOING BEYOND ACCOUNTABILITY AND WERE ACTUALLY DESPISING WEAKER BROTHERS.
HE COMMANDS THEM TO STOP FINDING FAULT AND DETERMINE NEVER TO PUT A STUMBLINGBLOCK IN THE SPIRITUAL PATH OF FELLOW MEMBERS.
INSTEAD OF TREATING LESS MATURE MEMBERS WITH CONTEMPT, THEY SHOULD TREAT THEM WITH LOVE THAT HELPS FAITH TO GROW.
HERE PAUL IS EXPRESSING THE BASIC IDEAS OF BOTH CONVICTION AND CONSCIENCE THAT ARE EQUALLY NEEDED TO ARRANGE A HEALTHY CHURCH.
THE SCOFIELD REFERENCE BIBLE HAS A VERY HELPFUL THOUGHT ON THIS MATTER WHEN IT SAYS THAT THE CHURCH HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DECIDE QUESTIONS OF PERSONAL LIBERTY IN THINGS NOT SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE.
THE MATTERS THAT CAUSE DIVISION MUST BE ADDRESSED.
IMMEDIATELY IN THE FIRST VERSES OF ROMANS 14 PAUL ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF EATING MEAT THAT HAD BEEN OFFERED TO IDOLS.
MATURE BELIEVERS KNEW SUCH MEAT WAS NOT MEANT TO SHOW WEAKER FAITH.
JESUS HAD MADE ALL MEATS CLEAN IN MARK 7:19.
GOD HAD INDICATED THE SAME THING IN GENESIS 9:3 AFTER THE FLOOD SAYING ALL MOVING THINGS ARE TO BE MEAT JUST AS ALL GREEN HERBS ARE APPROVED.
PAUL STRONGLY ADDRESSES THIS MATTER ALSO IN 1ST COR 8:8 SAYING ONE IS NEITHER BETTER OR WORSE FOR EATING SUCH MEAT.
PAUL COULD EAT THIS MEAT WITHOUT HIS CONSCIENCE BOTHERING HIM BUT SOME NEWER MEMBERS CONSIDERED SUCH MEAT AS IMPROPER TO CONSUME.
PAUL SAYS THOSE WHO HELD THAT THOUGHT ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED NOR JUDGED. FOR GOD HAD RECEIVED THEM AS HIS OWN.
SUCH JUDGMENT IS VAIN AS PAUL EXPLAINS IN VERSE 4.
IN VERSES 5-6 PAUL SHOWS THE LIBERTY FOR THE BRETHREN AS ALL ARE TO SERVE THE LORD WITHOUT THE LEGALISMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
JESUS TOLD THE WOMAN AT THE WELL THAT WORSHIP WAS FOREVER CHANGED FROM RULES TO WORSHIP IN SPIRIT & TRUTH.
HERE WE SEE PAUL DISCUSS THE DAY OF WORSHIP IN THESE VERSES. 1ST COR 16:2 TEACHES EARLY CHURCHES WORSHIPPED IN THE 1ST DAY OF THE WEEK. ACTS 2:46-47 TEACHES DAILY WORSHIP.
THERE IS TO BE NO DESPISING OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS OF NON DOCTRINE ISSUES.
IN VERSES 7-12 PAUL BRINGS ONWARD HIS TEACHING ON LIBERTIES UNDER JUDGMENT.
NO MAN IS FREE FROM THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST AND PSALM 23 TEACHES US HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD.
LUKE 13 TEACHES US OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD OF THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE AND LUKE 16 TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO DO ARE MOVED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH.
SO WE ARE SHOW REVERENCE TO HIS AUTHORITY AND LEAVE ALL JUDGING TO HIM, NOT US.
OUR ROLE IS TO HELP IN LOVE ALL WHO NEED TO GROW IN FAITH OR TO ASSIST UNBELIEVERS TO FIND THE PERFECTION OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, NOTHING MORE.
VERSE 9 STRONGLY SAYS JESUS IS WORTHY TO JUDGE, AND OF COURSE, WE ARE NOT.
ULTIMATELY ALL WHO LIVE ON THE EARTH ARE UNDER JUDGMENT AND PAUL REMINDS HIS READERS OF THIS FACT AS FIRST TAUGHT BY ISAIAH 45:23.
“EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW & EVERY TOUGUE CONFESS”
PAUL WILL LATER TEACH IN PHIL 2 THAT GOD HAS EXALTED JESUS TO A THRONE OF SUCH JUDGING.
THE ACCOUNTING OF THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS WILL BE A PURE REWARD TIME CONSIDERING HOW WELL WE HAVE SERVED THE LORD AFTER OUR SALVATION.
IN VERSE 13-23 PAUL OPENS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TEACHING ON THE USE OF LIBERTIES WITH CAUTION.
HARMFUL JUDGING OF NEWER MEMBERS HARMS THE CHURCH AND ROBS GOD OF HIS PROPER GLORY AS SHOWN IN EPHESIANS 3:21.
THESE JUDGINGS SHOULD END ABSOLUTELY AND QUICKLY.
THE MATTERS OF MEAT AND WORSHIP DAYS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FURTHER CREATE DIVISION OR A STUMBLINGBLOCK FOR THESE ARE NOT BIBLICAL COMMANDS.
PAUL EVEN SAYS THAT IF EATING MEAT DESCRIBED HERE OFFENDS A BROTHER, THEN HE WILL REFRAIN SIMPLY TO AVOID ANY CONFLICT.
HE HAS THE LIBERTY BUT CHOOSES TO USE IT IF IT OFFENDS, THEREBY HE PRACTICES CAUTION AND SO SHOULD WE.
JESUS HAD FULFILLED THE LAW AND THEREBY REMOVED IT AS A LAW OVER CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS. (COL 2:14)
IN ACTS 10 GOD TOLD PETER NOT TO ANY LONGER CALL UNCLEAN THAT WHICH GOD HAD CLEANSED.
THEREFORE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO USE CAUTION TOWARD OTHERS AND NOT TO OFFEND THEM OPENLY ON MATTERS OF NON DOCTRINE CONVICTION.
THIS TYPE OF LOVE PAUL IS EXPRESSING HERE IS AGAPE LOVE, MEANING LOVING THE BROTHERS & SISTERS COMPLETELY WITHOUT RESERVATION OR EXPECTATION OF LOVE IN RETURN.
THIS TEACHING HERE BY PAUL IS A CLEAR AND SURE EXTENSION OF THE LORD JESUS SHOWED AS HE MINISTERED DURING HIS EARTHLY TIME.
VERSE 16 TEACHES THAT OFFENDING SOMEONE BY NOT USING CAUTION IS NOT WISE.
HE SAID IN ROMANS 12:10 THAT IF POSSIBLE WE ARE TO LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN, AND THEREFORE THAT INCLUDES NEWER MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT YET MATURED IN FAITH.
NOW IN VERSES 17-22 PAUL SAYS THIS MANNER OF LOVE TOWARD OTHERS IS ACCEPTABLE SERVICE TO GOD, IS BENEFICIAL TO ALL BRETHREN, CREATES NO OFFENSE, AND SHOWS OUR CAUTION IN USING OUR GOD GIVEN LIBERTIES.
IN VERSE 22 PAUL ASKS A MEMBER A RHETORICAL QUESTION WHICH WAS “HAVE THOU FAITH?”
THIS WAS NOT A QUESTION OF SALVATION BUT RATHER A QUESTION TO REMIND THAT FAITH WILL COMMAND SERVICE TO GOD BY LOVING OTHER MEMBERS MORE.
USING RESTRAINT IN FAITH TO THE LORD SHOULD LEAD TO HAPPINESS IN THE HEART OF THE ONE WHO DOES SO.
THIS HAPPINESS INCLUDES A SENSE OF SATISFACTION AND GLADNESS AS GOD HAS BEEN SERVED AND NO OTHER MEMBER, NO MATTER HOW NEW HE MAY BE, IS OFFENDED.
WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT WHAT TO DO, A BELIEVER SHOULD TAKE NO CHANCE ON CAUSING HARM AND IT IS BETTER TO DENY SELF RATHER THAN CAUSING ANOTHER TO STUMBLE.
IN OUR FEW VERSES ASSIGNED FROM CHAPTER 15, PAUL TEACHES OF THE NEED TO BE UNSELFISH TOWARD OTHERS IN VERSE 1-4.
STRONGER BELIEVERS ARE TO SEEK TO HELP OTHERS RATHER THAN SELFISHLY PLEASING THEIR SELVES.
THEY ARE TO BUILD UP THOSE BELIEVERS OF LESS STRENGTH, HELPING THEM TO GROW IN THE LORD.
VERSES 5-7 TEACHES THAT TO DO SO, UNIFIES THE CHURCH TO PROPERLY REFLECT THE GLORY OF GOD.
GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL AND PATIENT AND LOVING TOWARD EACH OF US AS WE GREW, AND WE ARE TO REFLECT THOSE SAME ATTRIBUTES TO BE CHRISTLIKE AS WE SERVE THE LORD BY HELPING OTHERS.
IN VERSES 8-12 PAUL REMINDS THE ROMAN CHURCH THAT GOD HIMSELF WELCOMED OTHERS TO FURTHER HIS CHURCH AFTER TO HIS GLORY.
HE DID SO IN MERCY EVEN TO NON JEWS.
MANY SCRIPTURES PROVE THIS POINT MADE HERE BY PAUL:
ROMANS 15:9&10&11
PSALM 18:49
DEUT 32:43
PSALM 117:1
ISAIAH 11:1 & 10
PAUL WANTED THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AT ROME WHETHER JEW OR GENTILE TO PUT AWAY ANY SELF PRIDE AND HAVE HEARTS FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD EXTENDED TO ALL BELIEVERS.
ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE GOD AND ALL SHOULD HAVE NO DIVISIONS BETWEEN THEM AS ALL ARE TO SERVE THE LORD TOGETHER.
DOING SO WILL FILL THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WITH JOY & PEACE AND HARMONY WITH THE GOD GIVEN HOLY SPIRIT TO FULFILL THE WILL OF THE LORD.
