Romans 14
Romans 14
Romans 14:1-23 (KJV)
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
“Doubtful disputations: not for the purpose of passing judgement on their opinions – It’s easy go into a discussion looking for places we can prove the other person wrong and get them to see things our way.
Romans 15:1 (KJV)
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
We do not need the emotional gratification of proving we are right. Instead, we can meet others where they are. We do not speak to young children the same way we speak to our peers. Neither do we speak to those much older than we in the way we speak with those our own age.
Romans 15:7 (KJV)
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Jesus received us graciously and without condemnation. Though He is the God of the universe, there is no shaming, no haughtiness, with Him.
Romans 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Although I like to joke that this is proof that vegetarians have it wrong and that not eating meat makes them weak, that’s not what this verse is talking about.
Paul is dealing with the fact that some of the believers in Rome came from pagan backgrounds and when they became new creatures in Christ, they felt that eating meat was a bad idea because it may have been sacrificed to idols. They wanted no part of that, so their approach was to eat no meat at all.
This is a great example of setting the fence far back from the cliff, which is what the Pharisees did with their traditions. We see in the church today with rules of behavior, often unspoken, that are sometimes placed on members.
We don’t deal with the meat problem today, but there are similar issues with which we do have to contend. For example, when I was a kid, some believers felt playing cards and dancing were wrong. Some churches want women to wear head covering, no slacks, dresses below the knee and so on. Some people believe that alcohol consumption (and sometimes even just being in a place where alcohol is served) is wrong. Others have no problem with this at all.
This cuts both ways. Some may feel they should not take part in certain things or eat certain things with which we have no problem at all. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 8:7-9 (KJV)
7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
Here’s Paul’s way of handling the problem: 1 Corinthians 9:22 (KJV)
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Back to Romans 14:
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.
4 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.
The phrase “holden up” means that He shall stand.
James 4:12 (KJV) tells us, “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”
For those who are not yet fully settled about their freedom in Christ, the same sort of consideration is to be given to those who express the freedom they have in Him. Father is able to keep us where we need to be. He raises each of His children in the way that best fits them. While we can encourage and build one another up, we need not try to parent one another.
Indeed, neither are we to be swayed in our belief by others. Colossians 2:16 (KJV) clarifies this in saying, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:”
Christ-life is not about rules, rites, and rituals. It is about depending on Him to lead us in ways that cause our faith to be worked out in love.
That segues us nicely from the topic of eating into a discussion of religious observances.
Romans 14
5 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.
In Galatians we see Paul talking to the saints and encouraging them to grow up in the grace of God. In Galatians 4:9-10 he says, “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? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.” (KJV)
To the Colossians he wrote similarly, and we just read this, but I’ll repeat it here. Colossians 2:16-17 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (or reality) is of Christ.” (KJV)
There are two main points I want us to take from this.
First, it is freedom in Christ that is the standard under the New Covenant. The freedom has been provided, and we can and should live in it, but at the same time, we are not to judge those who don’t yet understand the freedom they have.
Second, our consideration for others isn’t just about the specific examples Paul is giving here.
Can you see how this helps us live at peace with others? How it engenders unity rather than division?
Picking up in Romans 14 now at verse 7 we read, “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.”
We are children of God. We are His people. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 illuminates this. There we find, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (KJV)
Then in Galatians 2:20 we read, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (KJV)
We are His and He cares for us. We are so profoundly His that He has made His home in us and placed us in Jesus. We have been joined with Him in spirit in a way we cannot understand on this side of the eternal veil.
Moving on to Romans 14:9 “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”
1 Thessalonians 5:10 “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (KJV)
There is nowhere we can go where He is not. There is nothing that can change our union with Him. Romans 8:38–39 reassures us with these words. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (KJV)
Given all this, we live for Him. As He works within us changing our heart’s desires to align with His desires, we grow to more naturally express Him in everything. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 puts it this way, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (KJV)
Father is able to mature His children—even those about whom we are most worried.
Romans 14:10 “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.”
Matthew 25:31-34 tells us about this judgement.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (KJV)
We will be placed on His right hand, which is the place of blessing. Psalm 95:7 tells us that “he is our God; And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (KJV) and Psalm 100:3 echoes this saysing, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (KJV)
John 3:18 gives us comfort saying, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (KJV) This is the separation. Those who are in Christ and those who remain in Adam are separated.
We do not need to worry ourselves with judging others. He is able to judge justly because He knows the heart of every person.
Romans 14:11 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
This is taken from Isaiah 45:22-23 which reads, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (KJV)
We see this thought expressed again in Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (KJV)
Romans 14:12 “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
1 Peter 4:3-6 discusses this in a way that I think is particularly poignant in the world in which we find ourselves today. Peter wrote, “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:”
(We spent enough time in the past living like everyone else in the world.)
Peter continues, “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
(Those in Christ are living, those in Adam are dead in their trespasses and sins)
Finally Peter adds, “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead,
(the unsaved)
that they might be judged according to men in the flesh,
(because that’s what they are as long as they remain in unbelief)
but live according to God in the spirit
(Because that’s what would become if they change their minds and believe). (KJV)
The world thinks everyone should follow after its distorted view of truth and its perversions of righteousness. They think we are strange for living upright and godly lives, being gentle, humble, and meek.
But since everyone will ultimately face God, Romans 14:13 urges “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
1 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV) echoes this saying, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.”
We can love freely and urge, even implore, people to consider changing their minds about Jesus. We can worship God and freely fellowship with others who claim Him as their own.
Since we can count on Father to judge, we are free to err on the side of mercy, peace, kindness, and tolerance.
Romans 14:14-15 “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”
1 Corinthians 10:23-33 provides some detail that may help us understand what Paul was driving at in these two verses in Romans.
There He said, “23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, (the butcher’s shop or meat market) that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (KJV)
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
We are called to live at peace and in love with those around us, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. We cannot know where they are on the path Father has laid out for them, but we can be kind and compassionate toward them. Such things characterize us. James put it well in James 2:12 “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” (KJV)
Romans 14:16-17 “Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
The righteousness of God is what we are in our spirit. Peace and joy are the fruit of His Spirit in us. This chapter promotes peace, but it also promotes the joy of living in the freedom Jesus has given us. He set us free from the prison of worldly rules and regulations that appeal to the flesh and into His kingdom. Now we live by the law of liberty as slaves of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 highlights a condition of the Jews that we find in many churches today. Let’s look in on that.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (KJV)
You may have lived under the bondage of legalistic teaching that mixes salvation by grace through faith with rule-keeping as your hope of ongoing abundant life. Those of us who have, know that it doesn’t work. It makes us miserable. It’s frustrating. We are constantly focused on ourselves. Our attention is on whether we are sinning and how egregiously. Our view of Father is warped until we see Him as a great Scrooge in the sky pointing a bony finger at our failures, continually disappointed with us, upset and angry.
Then Galatians 5:1 tells us how we should respond to this pressure to mix the grace of Jesus with the rules and regulations of Moses. It guides us to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (KJV)
Now we pick up with Romans 14:18-19 “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Romans 12:18 guides us “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (KJV)
Living peaceably with others is characteristic of us because as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (KJV)
You’ve noticed this, I’m certain. If you’ve been in Christ very long, I’m sure you have found yourself more prone to comforting others and to building them up. That’s because Jesus overflows from us to those around us. His love that fills our heart and the fruit Holy Spirit produces in us has to go somewhere.
Finally let’s look quickly at Romans 14:20-23
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.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Galatians 3:11-12 explains the difference between living under grace and living under law. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” (KJV)
Did you catch that? In Romans 14:23 we are told that whatever is not of faith is sin. Here in Galatians we find that the law is not of faith. This is the reason we read elsewhere that the power of sin is the law. As soon as there is a law people want to find a way to violate it. Righteousness according to the law lies in doing right. Righteousness according to grace lies in trusting that Jesus has made us right.
Titus 1:15 expounds on this in telling us that “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (KJV) The reason is that any understanding of righteousness falls short that does not recognize that only God is righteous and therefore only God can make one righteous.
1 John 3:23 relates that, “this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (KJV)
Belief is obedience. Belief is changing our minds about the idea that we are right and resting in the rightness of God. From the peace of that restful place, we can see others as Father sees them and treat them as He does. We can overlook faults. We can build people up and encourage them. We can gently introduce them to our lovely Lord Jesus. We can share things we’ve learned about Him and the freedom He has given us, and we can leave the results to Him. We no longer need to convince people. We no longer need to be right. We no longer have to have our way. We can “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3–4 (KJV)
That’s the way of grace. Father supplies us with an abundance of grace and it naturally overflows to everyone around us.
