Romans 14:18-23

 

Romans 14:18-23

Food Will Not Stop the Church

 

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 

Rom 14:21  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. 

Rom 14:22  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 

      1.      A Believer Filled with the Holy Spirit is Pleasing to God and Man – vs. 18

a.       A Servant of Christ produces the fruits of the Holy Spirit because he is walking in the Spirit

                                                              i.      Galatians 5:22-23 

b.      A servant of Christ is pleasing to God

                                                              i.      Ephesians 5:9-10 

c.       A servant of Christ is pleasing to man

                                                              i.      1 Timothy 1:8-11 

          2.      A Believer is to be Dedicated to Building of the Church – vs. 19

a.       Are you a peacemaker in the church or does controversy seem to follow you around?

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:3-6 

b.      Are you filled with a desire to see others grow in their maturity in Christ?

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:11-16 

             3.      A Believer Must Understand both Sides of a Divisive Controversy and Yet Know Their Own                    Position – vs. 20-21

a.       Some things to remember from Romans 14:

                                                              i.      Food will not stop the church – vs. 20a

1.      Matthew 16:18 

                                                            ii.      A Christian is not contaminated by the external – vs. 20b

1.      Matthew 15:11   

                                                          iii.      If something offends your conscience than you must renew your commitment to stay away from it – vs. 20c

1.      1 Corinthians 8:9-12 

                                                          iv.      Be cautious that the exercise of your liberty does not offend others – vs. 21

1.      1Corinthains 8:13 

           4.      Advice for the Stronger Brother – vs. 22

a.       Feel free to enjoy your Christian liberty privately

                                                              i.      1 John 3:21 

b.      Be sure that your freedom never becomes and obstacle to your growth or the growth of others

                                                              i.      1 Peter 2:16 

          5.      Advice for the Weaker Brother – vs. 23

a.       If you are unsure about an issue that is commonly viewed as a Christian liberty, err on the side of caution, and do not participate

b.      Remember whatever you do should be honoring to God

c.       If you feel that something you are doing is not honoring to the Lord, do not sin against God and your conscience

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 2:1-6

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Romans 14:17

 

Romans 14:17

The Kingdom of God

 

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

        1.      The Kingdom of God is not a Physical Kingdom

a.       What is the Kingdom of God?

                                                              i.      If the Kingdom of God were physical in its nature Christianity would be no different than any other religion – simply a new ethic, in a new package.

1.      The Kingdom of God is:

a.       Not comprehendible by the world

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 1:10 

b.      Is only attainable by a new birth

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 3:5 

c.       Is not accessible by the unsaved

                                                                                                                                      i.      Matthew 5:20 

d.      Has no connection to the kingdoms of the earth

                                                                                                                                      i.      John 18:36 

e.       Is advanced by the proclamation of the truth

                                                                                                                                      i.      Mark 1:14-15 

f.        Is only for the humble

                                                                                                                                      i.      Matthew 5:3 

b.      Your entrance into the Kingdom of God is not dependent on your dietary habits.

                                                              i.      While I am not going to tell what you should decide regarding wine, here are some things to think about

1.      Jesus turned water into wine

a.       John 2:10 

2.      Jesus served wine for communion

a.       Matthew 26:27 

3.      Wine is a picture of our salvation

a.       Isaiah 55:1 

4.      Wine is a picture of God blessings

a.       Joel 3:18 

5.      Wine will be served at the marriage supper of the Lamb

a.       Matthew 26:29 

                                                            ii.      Does this mean you should partake?

1.      Drunkenness is forbidden

a.       Ephesians 5:18 

2.      Elders should practice moderation

a.       1 Timothy 3:3 

3.      Deacons should practice moderation

a.       1 Timothy 3:8 

4.      Abstinence is a personal conviction

a.       The Nazarite Vow

                                                                                                                                      i.      Luke 1:15 

b.      Daniel

                                                                                                                                      i.      Daniel 1:8 

           2.      The Kingdom of God is Spiritual Kingdom

a.       Righteousness

                                                              i.      Righteousness is a gift from God

1.      Romans 3:22 

                                                            ii.      Which should create a pursuit of righteousness in the life of the believer

1.      You must flee youthful lust

a.       2 Timothy 2:22 

2.      You must yield to the fruit of righteousness

a.       Hebrews 12:11 

3.      You must sow righteousness

a.       Galatians 6:8 

4.      You must be filled with Christ

a.       Philippians 1:11 

b.      Peace

                                                              i.      You have been given peace with God

1.      Romans 5:1 

                                                            ii.      Which produces the peace of God

1.      Philippians 4:6-7 

c.       Joy      

                                                              i.      Does your salvation move you? If there is no emotion when you think of what Christ did for you, one must wonder if you truly understand what He has done.

1.      1 Peter 1:8 

d.      In the power of the Holy Spirit

                                                              i.      Galatians 5:22-25 

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Romans 14:13-16

 

Romans 14:13-16

Take Care that You Do Not Become a Stumbling Block to Others

 

Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 

Rom 14:14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 

Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 

Rom 14:16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 

 

          1.      Let Us No Longer Judge Our Christian Brother – vs. 13

a.       In this passage Paul is speaking to the Christian who chooses to exercise their Christian liberty on a debatable issue. If you find yourself in this position Paul gives you some practical guidelines on how to deal with your brother in Christ.

                                                              i.      Stop judging him for what you think is legalism

1.      Standards and convictions are not legalism. You brother must believe the following otherwise he is not saved at all.

a.       His convictions do not save him

                                                                                                                                      i.      Romans 3:24 

b.      His convictions do not make him holy

                                                                                                                                      i.      Romans 8:11 

c.       Rather that his convictions aide him in his singular focus

                                                                                                                                      i.      1 Corinthians 9:27 

                                                            ii.      Instead of judging him, use your skills in critical thinking to answer the following questions:

1.      Is there something I have done that has caused my brother to stumble?

a.       Matthew 18:1-6 

2.      Is there a behavior I engage in that is causing my brother to fall?

a.       1 Thessalonians 5:14 

          2.      Be Sure of Your Position – vs. 14

a.       In the examples that Paul has sighted in this passage concerning food and days, Paul agrees with the position of Christians Liberty

                                                              i.      Acts 10:13-17 

b.      Paul’s position comes from the Lord Jesus and a fully persuaded mind

                                                              i.      Romans 14:5   

c.       Paul still wants to be sensitive to the struggles of others and realizes he needs to be patient with those he disagrees with

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 10:23 

             3.      Walk In Love – vs, 15

a.       If you offend your brother in Christ with your Christian Liberty you are not walking in love

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 8:12-13 

b.      How dare we destroy a brother in Christ for something so trivial as food

                                                              i.      Mark 7:14-23 

           4.      Be Sure Your Actions Do Not Bring Slander to the Name of Christ – vs. 16

a.       Be careful your Christian Liberty is not taken to such extremes that it makes it easy for others to talk badly of your behavior.

                                                              i.      Galatians 5:13 

                                                            ii.      1 Thessalonians 5:21-23