notes by Rhyne Putman

We've Got To Come Together
Romans 14:1-15:13

Give Grace Where Needed…

The Romans were disputing over food.  Two theories:

1)      Some believers were buying food in the markets which had been offered as sacrifices to idols, and that offended many of the stern Jews.

2)    The Gentiles and the Jews argued over Kosher and Non-Kosher food.  Some Jews still followed strict OT Dietary laws, while others ate freely what they pleased. 

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.”

Romans 14:1 (NIV)

“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.  The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.”

Romans 14:1-3 (NASB Update)

·        Paul separates the members of the dispute into those who are “weak” and those who are “strong” in the faith.

·        “Faith” here does not refer to the saving faith in Jesus, nor does it imply that those who are “weak in faith” aren’t as spiritually mature as the “strong.”

·        Faith refers to the confidence we have in a daily walk with God.  Here, some who are “strong in faith” have confidence that they can eat non-kosher foods. 

·        Paul is insisting that we accept, and show love, to those who don’t share the same confidence in the freedoms found in Christ. 

What are some disputable matters in churches today?

·        “Disputable matters” (v. 1) Opinions on practices may vary, such as style of worship, choice of food, holidays, day of worship, dating and marriage rituals, eschatology[1]—there are many gray areas that the Bible doesn’t clearly define.  

What are irrefutable matters that we cannot tolerate?

·        Matters that are NOT DISPUTABLE are what the Bible clearly defines as contradicting the perfect will of God, or Sin.

NON-DISPUTABLE MATTERS:

·        Salvation can be obtained through Jesus Christ alone on the basis of faith and trust in His sacrifice, not works.[2] 

·        The Nature of God. (The Trinity, His Omnipresence [He’s everywhere], Omniscience [He’s all-knowing], Omnipotence [He’s all-powerful])

·        The Nature of Jesus.  (His Deity, the Virgin Birth, His Sacrificial Death, The Resurrection, His Rule and Reign over the believer as Lord.)

·        The Inerrancy and Authority of Scripture[3]

“Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person regards one day above another; another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Romans 14:4-9 (NASB Update)

·        God alone is judge.

·        Jesus died to make us one. 

·        Don’t let these minor details bring division in Christ’s body. 

King Jesus Has The Last Word

“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.’ So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Romans 14:10-12 (NASB Update) 

·        We are accountable to God. 

·        The same way we judge others, God will judge us.  (Matthew 7:1-2)

Be The Better Man

“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.”

Romans 14:13-15 (NASB Update) 

·        Paul believed that nothing (food in this context) was unclean.

“The question Christians need to ask is not, ‘Do I have freedom to do this?’ but ‘If I do this, will offend another brother or sister?’”[4]

--Gib Martin 

·        Have your brother or sister in Christ’s best interests in mind. 

·        Determination to seek your pleasures isn’t worth hindering the Spirit of God. 

·        Remember our “debt of love,” which can never be paid off!

“Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

Romans 14:16-18 (NASB Update) 

·        Seek to please God first.  Seek first righteousness, and everything else will fall in place (Matthew 6:33). 

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Romans 14:19-23 (NASB Update)

·        Build each other up.  Seek first to edify one another.  That’s how God gets the most glory!

·        We’re “happy” in God when we are free from a guilty conscience.

Be Like Jesus

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.’”

Romans 15:1-3 (NASB Update) 

·        Wanna be like Jesus?  Seek other’s edification above your own.

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 15:4-6 (NASB Update)

·        We all share the same hope found in Jesus.

·        Seeking unity in the body of Jesus glorifies God the Father! 

“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”

Romans 15:7 (NASB Update)

·        Jesus accepted us.  Because of His example, we should accept others. 

“For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, ‘THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.’

         Again He says, ‘REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.’

     And again, ‘PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.’

    Again Isaiah says, ‘THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.’”

Romans 15:8-12 (NASB Update)

·        Salvation was a gift from the Jews through Jesus.

·        Paul wanted the Gentiles to come together with the Jews.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 (NASB Update)

·        Our hope in Jesus will give us peace together.

·        This won’t happen by our power, but the power of the Holy Spirit.