Pastor Nate Prazuch, lead pastor at Christ the Word Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, exposits the Scriptures of the Bible verse by verse. Expository teaching and preaching sermons and classes are available here at the Exposit podcast.
Christ the Word Church's content can also be found on YouTube, Facebook, and online at ChristTheWordChurch.net
The Scholar Series is a battery of multi-week Bible classes focused on a deeper dive into Scripture using an expository approach.
info@ChristTheWordChurch.net
ChristTheWordChurch.net
[00:00:02] Alright, well like I said we're going to do Romans 14 tonight and then next time we'll finish up the book Romans
[00:00:11] As you get toward the end Paul just really tells the Christian how we should be living
[00:00:19] and so and then there's some greetings toward the end but we'll go through that when we get to it in chapter 16 right now
[00:00:28] in 14 and so last week we talked about how the Christian should interact with the governing authorities and we know that every authority
[00:00:37] comes from heaven and so that we should because of that we should obey all our authorities even if they're not doing things that aren't
[00:00:46] in lockstep with what we do believe because God has put the authorities in place and sometimes he puts authorities in place as a judgment also
[00:00:55] he's used unbelievers in scripture as a judgment over Israel for example like we talked about or to bless Israel even we talk about King Cyrus
[00:01:06] He was not a believer and not a Jew but the people of Israel were blessed because of his actions and so God uses whoever he wants how he wants to get his will done
[00:01:15] And so but we are charged to as much as we can obey our authorities now if they do something and they're commanding you to do something ungodly
[00:01:22] Well, then we defer to who's ruler over the authorities which is God Almighty
[00:01:28] If they command you to not do something that God commands you to do then we we default to what God has for us and the example there one of them was
[00:01:38] Daniel when the king said that he sounded degree for 30 days to only pray to the king
[00:01:44] He commanded Daniel to do something God would never command and he would command you not to do well
[00:01:49] Daniel there will pay God and he prayed only to God not the king
[00:01:53] So it is biblical there's biblical precedent there and God saw him through
[00:01:57] He was thrown into the lines down and he was saved from death
[00:02:01] So we'll be blessed but it does take some wisdom and judgment
[00:02:05] And it also takes some wisdom and judgment
[00:02:09] To kind of walk those lines between friends and family that are believers that believe maybe one way politically and then another way politically
[00:02:16] And so how do you deal with all that if we're all brothers and sisters in Christ and we know we're all believers and Christians
[00:02:23] But one person is on the left the one person's on the right. How do you walk that out?
[00:02:27] And so that naturally flows into chapter 14
[00:02:31] Which the topical heading in my ESP says do not pass judgment on one another
[00:02:38] But I like to think of chapter 14 here as
[00:02:42] Paul's
[00:02:43] chapter on
[00:02:45] We've heard this term before personal convictions
[00:02:48] Because there are Christian Republicans believe it or not and there's Christian Democrats believe it or not
[00:02:53] No, I don't know what the percentages of each hour don't ask me but
[00:02:57] Political views differ you know some people a few years ago were big on wearing masks
[00:03:03] Everybody has to wear masks and get vaccinated and other people were very much saying don't wear masks don't go vaccinated
[00:03:08] Well, there's Christians on both sides. So how do you deal with that? How do you do what what would God say? What would Jesus do right?
[00:03:15] chapter 14
[00:03:17] Touch us on some of that in some way and he gives us examples and I'll give you a few more
[00:03:22] Because this is one of those chapters where we really can apply a lot of this to our everyday life
[00:03:28] Some chapters are more teaching about
[00:03:31] Other things historical events that happened and some
[00:03:35] Chapters or even some whole epistles are about how to live
[00:03:39] Take for example the book of Ephesians the first three chapters the first half of Ephesians is
[00:03:44] Really doctrine here's the doctrine here's teaching and then the second half kind of like Romans later on
[00:03:50] Here's how we should live now. This is how how we live now we know of this teaching now what okay? Here's how it should affect our daily lives
[00:03:57] So here in Romans 14
[00:03:59] Paul gives us examples that we can use any any person can use any point in our life throughout all eternity
[00:04:05] And so it's really applicable
[00:04:07] So I'll read from verse one
[00:04:10] Romans chapter 11
[00:04:12] Chapter talks about
[00:04:15] Believers but that may have different views
[00:04:18] How do we deal with that and get along in peace so verse one
[00:04:22] Says as for the one who is weak and faith
[00:04:26] Welcome him
[00:04:27] But they're not quarrel over opinions
[00:04:30] I'm gonna stop myself right there and we're gonna pray
[00:04:33] We didn't pray yet. I just been blown a lot of how they're for good me Lord. Okay, let's pray. Do you have any father?
[00:04:40] We're so excited to get into your word
[00:04:42] But we're gonna stop and pause and just thank you for bringing us all here tonight
[00:04:46] So we pray as always that we stay humble before you as you teach us
[00:04:51] Give us teachable hearts
[00:04:53] Help us to be coachable in the faith and as we just read in this first verse
[00:04:57] It speaks about those who are weak in the faith. We want to be strong in the faith Jesus so help us to do that
[00:05:03] But always glorify you never to bring shame to your name or to your word
[00:05:08] But how we act calling ourselves Christians help us to learn how to do that
[00:05:11] And I think this chapter will do that for us. We pray that you help us tonight in Jesus name amen
[00:05:19] All right, we'll start again verse one Paul says as for the one who is weak in faith
[00:05:23] Welcome him
[00:05:25] But did not but not to quarrel over opinions
[00:05:28] One person believes he may eat anything
[00:05:31] While the weak person eats only vegetables
[00:05:35] Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains and let not the one who abstains past judgment on the one who eats
[00:05:42] For God has welcomed him
[00:05:44] Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?
[00:05:48] It is before his own master that he stands or falls and he will be upheld for the Lord is able to make him stand
[00:05:57] So he Paul
[00:05:59] offers one verse and then he goes right into an example
[00:06:04] So the example here is talking about eating habits
[00:06:08] So one way to think about this would be and he's talking Paul was a Jew and he's talking to Gentiles
[00:06:14] Well he brings up food and for the Jews they had a particular way they ate
[00:06:19] That was one of the ways that separated them from the Gentiles they ate
[00:06:23] According to the Torah
[00:06:25] Today we would call it kosher probably
[00:06:28] But there's things that they were not supposed to eat as Jews and Paul comes along and even in verse or in chapter 14 here
[00:06:35] He'll make a distinction about
[00:06:38] How were supposed to do with people like that?
[00:06:40] That have I don't want to say hangups because we all have hangups, but maybe you don't have my hangups and I don't have your hangups
[00:06:48] But we're still brothers and sisters in Christ. So do I say then to somebody while I'm right in your wrong
[00:06:53] And you got to live like me you've got to live your Christian life like I do or you're not really a believer
[00:06:58] And so Paul's gonna address that question he says
[00:07:01] And it's really interesting how he starts up
[00:07:04] The chapter of verse one. He says as for the one who is weak in faith
[00:07:09] So he's gonna be talking about certain people here and he mentions that they're weak in faith
[00:07:17] They have more to grow more to learn he says welcome him
[00:07:22] But not the quarrel over opinions, okay, so you can welcome new believers weaker in the faith
[00:07:27] But don't quarrel with them over and he says opinions
[00:07:32] Sometimes we have our own opinions and we think they're
[00:07:38] The truth or the adoption
[00:07:40] But if I say well, I mean my favorite color is blue so that's the favorite that's the best color. That's an opinion
[00:07:48] So there's a difference here
[00:07:50] If you say well, I think that we shouldn't eat pork like the the kosher laws would say
[00:07:55] And that's the rule and that's the truth for some maybe it was but for the Roman people it wasn't
[00:08:01] So there's a difference between opinions and truth and he says
[00:08:04] It's for the one who's weak in faith the younger believer the younger Christian who says a lot to learn
[00:08:08] Hey welcome him in don't wait don't keep him shut out until he knows all that you know
[00:08:13] Because you're weak in the faith to someone else who's a scholar too
[00:08:17] So welcome him in
[00:08:20] But when you welcome him in don't fight about what he doesn't know and how ignorant he is just welcome him in
[00:08:25] Okay, that's the first one so he gives us an example here one person believes he may eat anything like the Gentiles
[00:08:32] They didn't have any rules about eating is like the Jews did one person he may believe he may eat anything
[00:08:39] While the weak person
[00:08:41] It's only vegetables
[00:08:43] Again he distinguishes the person who has put this limitation on his freedom in Christ
[00:08:50] He calls him a weak person
[00:08:53] He says the weak person eats only vegetables. He's limited his freedom
[00:08:59] Verse three let not the one who eats
[00:09:01] The spies the one who abstains so even though that may be the case
[00:09:05] Don't argue about it
[00:09:07] Don't fight about these things
[00:09:11] Let not the one who eats and things he can eat whatever
[00:09:13] Look down upon or despise the one who is saying no thank you to the meat or whatever it might be
[00:09:19] And he says and let not the one who abstains goes the same way past judgment on the one who eats
[00:09:25] And then he gives us the reason for God has welcomed him well, if God has welcomed him and and welcome them both then we should too
[00:09:34] And he goes on a verse four who are you to past judgment on the serving of another see they're not serving you
[00:09:40] They're serving God and so I
[00:09:43] Can't come up to someone and say hey, you're not serving God correctly because they're not serving you
[00:09:47] They're serving the Lord and so they can't come to you and say hey, I don't like how you're serving the Lord and you could say them well go pound sand because it doesn't matter
[00:09:55] You know, I answer the Lord not to you and so see where those things start starting kind of hairy
[00:10:02] And Paul makes that pretty clear right away in the first few verses who are you to past judgment on the servant of another
[00:10:08] We're all servants should be of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes
[00:10:19] For example of vegetarian because that have to be could be the person that's eating meat and everything be
[00:10:25] For the weak person. Yeah, it could go both ways either way. Yeah
[00:10:30] Yep anyway you slice it if you put up these kind of or make these
[00:10:35] Or adhere to these rules because of God or something like that
[00:10:40] You're just putting up
[00:10:42] Bombries where maybe God hadn't even put that up for you and but you think it's kind of a religious thing
[00:10:48] And that God is pleased when you do this thing
[00:10:52] Or maybe he says I never even said that and so that might be a tripping
[00:10:57] Stumbling block for people who say well, I have to eat this way because you know
[00:11:02] Of whatever reason they give now back in the Old Testament under the Torah
[00:11:05] There was kosher died but here in the New Testament in many places, but here's one of them
[00:11:11] In fact, I'll just read I'll just
[00:11:13] Spoiler alert. We're gonna go up down to
[00:11:16] Verse 20 or is it 14 no in verse 14 so at verse 14 and then we'll go back
[00:11:26] Paul says I know and and persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself
[00:11:34] And then he goes on and he says
[00:11:38] I find it well, we'll get to it because I can't see it right now, but
[00:11:49] But he mentioned his later after getting through this example or two
[00:11:53] About how he knows from the Lord and he's of not possible Jesus Christ
[00:11:57] That all food is good to eat
[00:11:59] But the younger believer may still be kind of stuck in the old way
[00:12:03] And he just needs to understand the freedom and Christ and he'll get there
[00:12:07] But you got to welcome him in and not keep him out for the you know until he learns all of it that doesn't
[00:12:12] Please, the Lord
[00:12:14] Because I want to read the second part of verse 4 again who are you to pass judgment the servant of another
[00:12:19] It is before his own master that he stands or falls meaning he doesn't answer to you and you don't answer to him
[00:12:25] So if you have a personal conviction about not eating meat because
[00:12:29] Remember Paul was also talking to the people of the New Testament that would not eat meat sacrifice to idols
[00:12:35] And there are other people that didn't care. Oh, yeah, I'll eat meat sacrifice to idols. It's just just just meat and that idols just a piece of wood
[00:12:42] Yeah, I'll buy them eaten all eat it, but for some people they didn't want to touch it. They didn't want to eat it
[00:12:47] And he's and this is a bigger deal. I guess in the first century here at least that he was seeing and so you wanted to say something about it
[00:12:55] He says
[00:12:56] It's before his own master that he stands or falls
[00:13:00] And he will be upheld
[00:13:02] For the Lord is able to make him stand so either
[00:13:05] Person the one who eats vegetables and his younger in the faith or the one who eats meat and is more senior in the faith
[00:13:12] We'll get to we'll fill in this a little bit more, but he says
[00:13:17] It's before his own master that he stands or falls and he will be upheld
[00:13:21] The Lord will uphold him because God knows in his heart
[00:13:24] Where why he's doing that? He's doing it out of a good place in his heart if he's doing it for righteous reasons to see
[00:13:30] I
[00:13:31] Believe in my heart that I need to do this thing to worship God
[00:13:34] So it's not coming from an evil place. He's doing his best and God knows that and so he's gonna honor that
[00:13:41] We all have things we can learn and grow
[00:13:44] We're not all there yet and we never will be on this side of glory
[00:13:48] And that's why I was good to stay humble as we learn
[00:13:51] Because there are people that there's always somebody
[00:13:54] This is a funny side note
[00:14:00] I saw some clip recently about a biker a group of bikers and
[00:14:06] They were about to get into a scuffle and it was kind of a documentary thing. It was just like a two minute clip
[00:14:11] And they kind of started bumping chest and getting all worked up and
[00:14:15] Somebody
[00:14:17] Said to the to the big guy
[00:14:19] Because there's a big guy in a little guy
[00:14:22] Somebody walks in and says it's a big guy. Hey, just so you know, there's always someone bigger
[00:14:27] And he just made them think you know like because he was outnumbered and all of sudden people more people were gathering around
[00:14:32] And yeah in that moment the bigger guy had the upper hand
[00:14:35] But maybe once he takes a swing
[00:14:37] The little guy's bigger friend is gonna come in
[00:14:40] Okay, so there's always somebody bigger just like here when we're thinking about well, I'm
[00:14:44] More senior in my faith and this week brother of mine. Well, guess what there's some more senior than you two
[00:14:49] So don't think we all have to work dog right yet to have a humble heart no matter who you are even Paul had a humble heart
[00:14:55] And he was
[00:14:57] He stands tall among all the apostles and
[00:15:00] Road more than any of them and but he calls himself the chiefist of sinners
[00:15:05] so
[00:15:06] along with
[00:15:07] Knowledge comes
[00:15:10] Responsibility to be humble otherwise people are gonna look at you and they're not gonna listen to you because they think you're proud and
[00:15:14] Eric and a know it all my dad always said I don't have much respect for no adults
[00:15:21] He says I have respect for no I don't have much respect for people who think they know it all
[00:15:27] But I do have respect for people who know it all something like that because there's a lot of people who think they know it all
[00:15:33] But the ones that do quote unquote know it all which no one does
[00:15:37] But are humble about it well, but I mean
[00:15:40] That's that's almost a gift to be
[00:15:42] Have that humility
[00:15:44] Alongside of all the knowledge and so Paul gives us a good
[00:15:48] Representation of how we should do that keep growing continue to grow in your faith
[00:15:52] But always still really just someone there's there's more growth than I need to
[00:15:56] Experience and bring up the ones that are younger coming up
[00:16:01] We'll need to teach them bringing them along okay
[00:16:05] Through the first few verses here in in 14
[00:16:09] Runs 14
[00:16:11] I didn't want to hit the notes here because I don't think you'll have them so
[00:16:15] He touches on here in verse one unity within the body Paul does
[00:16:21] One of them comments here is don't get hung up on dog banic debates because they divide and when I say dogmatic
[00:16:27] What I mean by dogmatic is sometimes people
[00:16:30] pick a topic and they make it
[00:16:34] Or they pick an opinion and they make it a truth, you know and
[00:16:38] You be dogmatic about or let's just say the end times there's many different ways to view how the end times I'll shake out
[00:16:43] Well if you pick one of those and you say this is it and there's nothing else that's being dogmatic
[00:16:48] Because there's actually a couple other
[00:16:50] ways to view it and they're all biblical. It's just well it hasn't shaken out yet, so we're not exactly sure
[00:16:56] So we don't want to be dogmatic about things because they do divide
[00:17:00] Now if you can be you can have healthy conversations with differences in the word and that's healthy
[00:17:05] That's it's actually good because it should point both people back to the word and then they sharpen each other
[00:17:11] But when you do this with people who are as Paul says we can the faith they might shake their faith and they might shake their faith
[00:17:18] More than they were expecting it to be shaken
[00:17:21] And you might harm their walk so we want to be careful
[00:17:25] How deep our discussions go over these types of things
[00:17:30] but I've seen some really
[00:17:33] Great not heated but spirited a bit debates by mature Christian people, but they don't their faith isn't shaken
[00:17:40] So it just depends
[00:17:42] Where they are and just we have to be careful for the younger believers
[00:17:46] We don't want to stand before our Lord one day and he asked us why did you
[00:17:50] argue with that one guy who's a Christian for two weeks and you really got into the hypostatic union with him about Christophe on earth
[00:17:57] You scared him away from me. Why'd you do that
[00:18:01] Showing how smart you are and everything
[00:18:03] So I don't want to answer for that. Welcome them in love them in and let the Lord do his work in their heart
[00:18:10] Let's see here
[00:18:12] There are some examples over there
[00:18:15] Let's see different forms of baptism. That's one
[00:18:19] You know some people dunk or immerse that's what we believe in some people sprinkle or you know little
[00:18:24] Baptized babies don't baptize babies these are places where people can really get
[00:18:29] Upset over if you really want to divide over but it you can also have a good health the conversation and leave perfectly fine good friends
[00:18:38] But these are still strong convictions people hold
[00:18:42] Some
[00:18:43] Divide over worship which day the the week you worship on Saturday or Sunday
[00:18:48] couple big ones we see you know all the time is
[00:18:51] drinking alcohol or abstaining from alcohol or
[00:18:55] Here's one
[00:18:57] What about addictions to shopping or breaking traffic loss
[00:19:02] These are just things I don't know if anybody can really have a personal conviction of a break in a traffic law
[00:19:06] Okay, that was not a good example but
[00:19:09] Like alcohol if some people and we talked about this was a last week
[00:19:14] Some Christians believe should never have a drop of alcohol other Christians don't mind if they and they don't see anything wrong with you know having a glass of wine or a beer or whatever
[00:19:24] Not that and they're not getting drunk you mean drunk and this is a sin
[00:19:28] But just to you know enjoy a glass of whatever
[00:19:31] There's no conviction there for them others it's a big conviction
[00:19:34] So what's right, you know and here is where chapter 14 is gonna kind of hash this up for us
[00:19:42] And so let's read on in verse five
[00:19:46] Paul continues here
[00:19:50] With another example he just talked about food now he goes into
[00:19:55] The days of the week
[00:19:57] And he says in verse five one person is steams one day as better than another
[00:20:02] Well on others a steams all days alike
[00:20:05] Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind
[00:20:08] The one who observes the day
[00:20:11] Observes it in honor of the Lord
[00:20:13] The one who eats eats in honor of the Lord since he gives thanks to God while the one who abstains
[00:20:20] Obstains in honor of the Lord and he gives thanks to God
[00:20:24] So here he's again making the point if one person abstains from let's just say alcohol even
[00:20:30] Tag my alcohol and one doesn't abstain from alcohol, but they're both praying before the meal
[00:20:36] And they're and they're let's just say they're both true believers
[00:20:40] Is there a wrong or a right?
[00:20:43] He says each one should be convinced in his own mind
[00:20:49] In verse five second part of verse five
[00:20:54] If one person that steams one day over another, you know these to have well today
[00:20:58] We have the seventh day Adventist churches only worship on Saturday. They don't worship on Sunday and
[00:21:03] The traditional Orthodox Christian Church is worship on Sunday
[00:21:07] I mean some of them worship on Saturday nights or whatever but it's not like we're dividing
[00:21:13] Our fellowship over which day we worship but some people like to save the Adventists
[00:21:17] Say it's a sin basically to worship on Sunday
[00:21:20] So I have a different view strong view about not worshiping on Sunday. They will say in their literature and even from their pulpits that
[00:21:30] That it's the mark of the beast if you worship on Sunday have you all heard of that
[00:21:36] And so that's the one of the telltale signs of the beast system they say and so we as
[00:21:42] Protestant Christians don't believe that what they do and they're really strong about it now
[00:21:48] How do you wait through waters there? You know
[00:21:51] Well hopefully with grace and you pray if you come across some seventh day Adventist friends
[00:21:58] First thing I would do is air on the side of love
[00:22:01] And just try to pray about how to deal with that so
[00:22:05] But that is one of those strong convictions that is out there and so he says
[00:22:10] The one who observes the day
[00:22:13] Observes in honor of the Lord. They're saying well, they're doing that because they believe they're honoring God
[00:22:17] And God's gonna work that out with them and if you're doing the other thing
[00:22:21] Whether it's drinking alcohol or abstaining that's between you and God these types of things are he says
[00:22:28] He's gonna deal with them in their hearts and then he says in verse seven
[00:22:34] For none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself for if we live we live to the Lord
[00:22:40] And if we die we die to the Lord
[00:22:43] So then whether we live or whether we die we are the Lord's
[00:22:47] For this end Christ died and lived again that he might be Lord both of the dead and a living
[00:22:53] When you go to I always talk about going before the Lord in judgment day you don't go before our mirror in judgment day
[00:23:00] And you have to say well, how do I think I did and you think back pretty good pretty bad yeah
[00:23:04] Give myself about a C plus and then you get into the early gates
[00:23:09] You go before the almighty perfect God of the universe
[00:23:12] So we live and die
[00:23:14] To the Lord and he gets to the side so again can't come down to heart on a brother or sister if they're
[00:23:20] Had they have different
[00:23:22] Convictions than you do
[00:23:24] Now if their conviction is that Jesus Christ is not
[00:23:27] Saviour of the world
[00:23:28] That's that's a doctrinal issue
[00:23:30] Okay, we can go to scripture and and really point to where now now you're getting into this is not just an opinion anymore
[00:23:36] You know, we we have to stand on the truth
[00:23:39] But there is freedom in the Christian life in Christ which falls talking on here so when he he goes on in verse 10
[00:23:48] He says why do you pass judgment on your brother or you?
[00:23:51] Why do you despise your brother for we will all stand before the judgment seat of God
[00:23:56] For it is written as I live says the Lord every knee shall bow to me and
[00:24:01] Every tongue shall confess confess to God
[00:24:03] So then each of us will give an account of himself to God
[00:24:09] He's saying remember who these people are living for and who they have to answer to not you and
[00:24:14] And just like you would be encouraged if I told you you don't have to answer to them
[00:24:20] Somebody's bugging you about how you're living your Christian life and it's not necessarily sinful. It's just not how they why you to live it
[00:24:27] You want to be able to say hey can you back off because I don't have to answer to you on judgment day
[00:24:32] Answered to the Lord Jesus
[00:24:34] So that's it's actually a good thing and that protects each other from harming ourselves in our
[00:24:40] Relationships with other believers
[00:24:42] Which goes back to Paul's first point of having unity in the body if we can get along with each other
[00:24:47] When we have some differences of opinion, you know how we view different things in scripture
[00:24:53] And still keep going forward and love
[00:24:55] I'm embracing for the gospel the sake of the gospel. That's what God wants
[00:24:59] He doesn't all want us to think exactly the same either
[00:25:02] But when we have differences we have to have grace so we can restore or retain unity among his body
[00:25:11] Okay, on the verse
[00:25:14] 13 a second half of chapter 14 here
[00:25:18] My topical heading here says I look at the screen is nothing there do not cause another distumble
[00:25:22] So now that we know this okay. I can't really come down too hard on my
[00:25:27] Younger brother in the faith or a person that thinks differently about some opinions and I have it
[00:25:32] And they can't really tell me to do something that I don't really feel right about doing either
[00:25:37] So now what happens here Paul says in verse 13
[00:25:40] Therefore
[00:25:41] Let us not pass judgment. I want another any longer but rather
[00:25:45] Decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother
[00:25:50] And then I call it puts it because sometimes you think well, I'm just trying to help him
[00:25:54] And I'm just trying to teach him he doesn't know enough yet and I'm really showing him all the the facts and the theology and my position
[00:26:01] And you think you're helping
[00:26:03] But you might actually be here hurting
[00:26:05] He says okay, let's not pass judgment
[00:26:08] But decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother
[00:26:13] We have to have
[00:26:15] It's the responsibility of the the more senior believer or more seasoned to believe or
[00:26:20] More mature spiritually person and you should probably know
[00:26:24] Not that you have a big head, but you need to you have a responsibility to be careful with the
[00:26:28] The kids of your home, right and so if there's young believers we have to have we have the responsibility to be careful and to bring them up
[00:26:37] Not to scare him off or to injure them by our words or our deeds and so he's saying
[00:26:43] In verse 14 he goes on I know and emperesuated in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean and itself
[00:26:50] So he's saying I know nothing's unclean
[00:26:52] I do how Paul he says but it is unclean
[00:26:56] For anyone who thinks it's unclean
[00:27:01] Jim
[00:27:03] The question on this stumbling
[00:27:06] I've never really drank in life
[00:27:08] never and
[00:27:11] Somebody that is a Christian and thanks. I always feel
[00:27:16] You can
[00:27:18] Another non-brother
[00:27:21] Stumble and that's why she I don't you know, I don't want to anybody to see me drinking right because I could cause
[00:27:28] Other people to stumble or Christian can do that or you know, there's different ways looking at now how
[00:27:35] How is that effect it you know as alcohol is different than food food? You just over eat or whatever
[00:27:41] circle
[00:27:43] You're not supposed to be drunk
[00:27:44] But alcohol right and one of the guy gets a little bit tipsy and he's Christian
[00:27:50] who says drunk or anything but
[00:27:53] I
[00:27:54] Believe
[00:27:55] You know that that's a poor example of a Christian
[00:27:58] Right it affects your that person's witness and testimony
[00:28:02] If he's been trying to and we talked about this last week about
[00:28:06] Even if what you're not doing is wrong or bad or sinful it might look like it is
[00:28:12] And if people will see something and they see you sitting there at the end of the bar and there's a can of
[00:28:17] Budweiser next to you maybe you're not even touching it. It's just next to you and you stopped over
[00:28:22] For 30 seconds and someone that you've been witnessing to
[00:28:27] Walks through the bar or the restaurant looks over and sees you
[00:28:30] Stay on next to the
[00:28:32] Bar with the Budweiser there and he just keeps walking never says anything to you never
[00:28:37] Calls y'all it on it. He may think in his mind well, I thought Jim was a good guy but I guess he's a drunk
[00:28:42] Well, he doesn't have the full story maybe you just walked up the as for directions
[00:28:46] To the bartender. I'm lost where do I go for this?
[00:28:49] But you know how that that's the it'll affect your
[00:28:53] Witness your testimony next time you talk to him. You've been trying to win him over he might not listen
[00:28:56] You know and in some of that you can't help okay
[00:28:59] I'm not gonna leave it up to but you can put yourselves in the positions where there's more of a chance that you might be seen
[00:29:05] Near something your guilty by association and then then what we're supposed to live above reproach as Christians
[00:29:12] Mike well, I was gonna say polls position. I think
[00:29:15] This is accurate
[00:29:17] Is that he
[00:29:19] Was careful not to offend the weaker
[00:29:23] Always in other words he asserted that he had all kinds of rights
[00:29:26] Yeah, every right
[00:29:28] He had a lot of rights so he could be he could have been showing those but he always took into account
[00:29:35] Who he was with the crowd he was with and he recognized the presence of say weaker brothers and sisters
[00:29:43] Who could maybe be affected or offended by it and he would always
[00:29:48] Lean towards doing nothing to offend the conscience of anyone you know even though he had the right to know
[00:29:56] He had the right even yeah, yeah, yeah, that's empathy and that's that comes with wisdom and maturity
[00:30:02] Because you know harder to tell someone
[00:30:06] That they're wrong in love
[00:30:08] You know not not everybody can do that well, you know, so and we learned from Paul a lot of good things and that's one of them
[00:30:17] But the one quick example I gave last week was
[00:30:21] My dad passed her to a few churches as I was growing up in one of them after the sunny service
[00:30:26] A gentleman came up to him and and looked at him and said
[00:30:29] I know where you were last night at one thirty in the morning
[00:30:33] And my dad knew where he was too because he was he was there
[00:30:37] And so my dad let him go and he says oh, okay?
[00:30:40] He said something about you were at at the bar down the so and so walkin out
[00:30:46] At bar close
[00:30:48] And he says okay
[00:30:49] He says you can't deny because I know I saw you there. He says I'm not gonna deny it. I was there
[00:30:54] And he said you want to know why was there or are you just gonna
[00:30:58] Wanna come talk to me about this and so my dad said well yeah, you're right. I was there
[00:31:03] Whatever time was one thirty two o'clock in the morning. I got a call and
[00:31:07] They told me to come get my brother because he was he couldn't drive home. It was standing around and so I went down there picked up my brother
[00:31:12] Who was drunk and brought him home? And maybe you saw me? Well, come up
[00:31:15] But I got a question for you. How do you know I was there?
[00:31:18] You know
[00:31:19] Right because he was there yeah
[00:31:20] And he saw so you just go at least he went to my dad and said something
[00:31:25] Got the truth the full story here
[00:31:27] But for some person like he said or I was you same if they see you and they don't know the full story
[00:31:33] They may never ask and now what you'll never know that you have actually been a stumbling block to their faith
[00:31:40] You know
[00:31:54] Yes, I can have the best of all the world's hills say right I can do whatever I want and
[00:32:01] Yeah, so we want to always preserve the witness that we have the testimony
[00:32:05] We have about Jesus because if you're out there
[00:32:08] You know doing drugs
[00:32:10] And then proclaiming Jesus is the way well people are gonna think all this is what a Christian is then
[00:32:16] You know I can put myself in a dangerous positions and and that's not accurate
[00:32:21] And that's not loving and you're gonna have to answer for that
[00:32:24] And you probably lead that person away from Christ more than
[00:32:27] Toward him if they ever see a true Christian
[00:32:31] Given the gospel. They're gonna see that's not the gospel already got the gospel and I can you know, I don't know
[00:32:37] So we gotta remember as Christians people are watching us
[00:32:41] Because we claimed to have the truth and we do have the truth, but to them
[00:32:46] They want to see some you know show me I want that they're gonna
[00:32:50] Judges by how we live
[00:32:52] And we're not perfect. I mean, no, we can't be so it's a challenge, but
[00:32:58] But as much as we can help it we shouldn't cause another disdumble so we should always make sure we're
[00:33:03] What we're doing if it's impeding on someone else
[00:33:06] He gave this another a couple examples here
[00:33:08] So Paul says in Fort in verse 14, I know and and persuaded the in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself
[00:33:14] But it is unclean for anyone who thinks it's unclean
[00:33:18] So if the person
[00:33:19] Believes they should not be drinking at all
[00:33:22] Then for that person, they shouldn't be drinking at all
[00:33:25] until they either grow or
[00:33:29] Or maybe just for them god will say I never want you drink and I don't always gonna give you a check in your heart
[00:33:34] To just stay awake because I know if once you get on
[00:33:37] I'll call you will never come back and it's gonna be bad news
[00:33:40] So maybe they'll always have that. I just can't do it so honor that
[00:33:43] That's really not our business between them and in the Lord
[00:33:47] We shouldn't be saying oh come on come on you can it's okay, you know
[00:33:51] I mean we're stuck on still the alcohol thing but this can be for anything
[00:33:56] So then he goes on in verse 15 four here's the reason
[00:34:00] For if your brother is grieved by what you eat
[00:34:04] You are no longer walking in love if you know he is a vegetarian because he thinks that's just safe for example sake
[00:34:10] He believes that
[00:34:12] Christian shouldn't eat meat and you're sitting there and you're having a big ol steak in front of them and you know he has those convictions
[00:34:18] And you're rubbing it in his face and you're saying oh look at this barbecue sauce isn't that great
[00:34:23] That's gonna be that's gonna injure his faith
[00:34:26] He's not gonna like you very much
[00:34:28] And he might link that dislike to Jesus also
[00:34:31] So he says you're not no longer walking in love when you do that if he's grieved by what you eat and you know it
[00:34:38] And you keep doing it now you may not know it until he tells you well the how you gonna react?
[00:34:42] You know I didn't realize
[00:34:45] We've done that before we've got some family that has some
[00:34:49] Different convictions and we do and so we just our mindful of it
[00:34:53] But until we know well, then we don't we don't know
[00:34:56] and then he says
[00:34:58] Continuing on in verse 15 by what you eat
[00:35:01] Do not destroy the one for whom Christ died
[00:35:04] So he's saying you know Jesus may say to us I
[00:35:08] Came to seek and say the loss and I'm saving this person right here in front of you
[00:35:12] Don't ruin my work because you want to have a big ol steak in front of him
[00:35:16] Don't destroy the one for whom Christ died
[00:35:21] Just because of what you're eating it's such a petty thing
[00:35:24] For a 16 so do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil and this so here is kind of the same thing
[00:35:32] Remember we talked a while back about in this way in the same way
[00:35:37] Do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil so someone comes you and says hey you're sitting by eating that meat
[00:35:43] You can say hey brother listen I love you, but I don't I don't believe that that's true
[00:35:48] It's okay to do that too if they're gonna attack you for something you don't believe it's nothing wrong with it at all
[00:35:53] You can stand up for that and say this is between me and the Lord and I ask you on that
[00:36:03] Verse 17 for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
[00:36:08] I love that part of the of 17 the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
[00:36:15] But of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
[00:36:19] When you make the kingdom of God and and you measure how holy someone is by their diet
[00:36:24] God's Paul saying something about that
[00:36:27] It's really not about that
[00:36:30] When Jesus said it's not what goes into the mouth of man at the file symbol what comes out at the files man
[00:36:36] He says it doesn't matter what's goes in your mouth
[00:36:39] You can tell a person's heart by what comes out now what goes in so don't base
[00:36:43] Your Christian life on how
[00:36:47] You eat or how bad other people eat
[00:36:50] It's about other things spiritual things righteousness peace joy in the Holy Spirit
[00:36:58] In verse 18 whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men
[00:37:03] So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding
[00:37:07] First 18 whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men if what you're doing you're doing
[00:37:14] Honestly
[00:37:16] The best way you know how to serve the Lord then that's gonna be lauded and that's gonna be approved of
[00:37:22] Because of your motives they're good as far as you know and it might have a ways to go on
[00:37:26] Understanding more but as far as you know with what little knowledge you do have now of the truth
[00:37:30] You're doing your best God's gonna honor that
[00:37:35] Okay, and last part here first well let me go to my notes quickly here
[00:37:40] back in
[00:37:41] verse 13
[00:37:44] We each given a count of individually to the Lord's not other people and no one gives an account to you
[00:37:49] Or me so remember that
[00:37:52] And just be really cautious about other people's convictions
[00:37:57] Don't tell them the wrong or they're sinful they just you know understand them we might even be able to learn from them
[00:38:04] Verse 14 through 16 here
[00:38:10] My notes says Christians have a certain freedom in Christ
[00:38:14] But it may be detrimental to some others if they see us doing these things like you mentioned Jim
[00:38:19] We have to temper our freedom quote unquote in love for the sake of others in the faith so we do have freedom in Christ
[00:38:26] There's no law that says
[00:38:28] You can't have two pieces of chocolate cake after dinner
[00:38:31] But for some people they really feel guilty if they have any
[00:38:34] Can really really struggling with their way through in terrible lives or maybe somebody
[00:38:39] You know can watch like my kids
[00:38:42] We don't let our kids watch certain movies and my sisters or my relatives
[00:38:48] They're different about those things and
[00:38:51] We're still I mean there's still my sisters and I love them when we're all Christians
[00:38:54] We just have different preferences and it's conviction for us
[00:38:58] To have things like for us
[00:39:00] We don't like things with like witches in it and in a witchcraft and all that kind of stuff even if it's a funny movie
[00:39:06] We just don't want to have that
[00:39:08] Our kids watch that stuff
[00:39:10] But for the people there's not just a just a fun movie so for us that's where we stand on those things
[00:39:15] so
[00:39:18] Let's see
[00:39:20] There's freedom
[00:39:22] For those people who don't mind to watch those shows
[00:39:25] You know, but for us
[00:39:27] There's also freedom to just
[00:39:29] refrain
[00:39:31] Neither ones necessarily
[00:39:32] Right or wrong it's just a preference
[00:39:36] And it's not about legalism
[00:39:38] But about
[00:39:39] Righteousness and peace if someone serving Christ is besting know how don't disparage them for it
[00:39:44] They're doing their best if they really have good motives
[00:39:46] But just seek to edify them and and build them up and again we might also learn something from them too
[00:39:54] Okay the last three verses here in chapter 14 say
[00:39:58] Verse 20 do not for the sake of food
[00:40:01] Destroy the work of that
[00:40:03] He says it everything is indeed clean
[00:40:07] But it is wrong for anyone to make another stumbled by what he eats
[00:40:12] So Paul in a parcel of Jesus Christ taught by the risen Christ himself. He says
[00:40:18] Everything is indeed clean
[00:40:21] But it's wrong for anyone to make another stumbled by what he eats
[00:40:25] So if there's convictions out there even though I know
[00:40:28] It's okay, it really is if they don't think it's okay. I'll honor them for now
[00:40:33] I don't want to make them stumble as a time for it
[00:40:38] Verse 21
[00:40:39] It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble
[00:40:46] It is good
[00:40:46] I missed a word
[00:40:48] It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble
[00:40:53] So if you say it yourself well, I know everything's good
[00:40:56] But it's not good if it's gonna make your brother stumble
[00:41:00] You know what I mean if you're gonna use it if you're gonna use a good thing to make your brother stumble then it's not good
[00:41:04] First twenty two of the faith that you have keep between yourself and God again
[00:41:14] You we all have a unique
[00:41:16] relationship with God because we're all unique people
[00:41:20] If we were
[00:41:22] All the same we'd have the exact same relationship, but I have different struggles and you have different struggles
[00:41:26] And so our relationship with our savior it's unique and it's
[00:41:31] It's a
[00:41:32] modified to my what he thinks I need and and
[00:41:36] It's you know, I can't metal between another person's heart and God that's that's only for God to do and them
[00:41:42] So when you get too close to home we have to know where our boundaries are and just to back off and let the Lord deal with that
[00:41:49] That's what it means when he says here
[00:41:53] In verse 22
[00:41:56] The faith that you have keep between yourself and God
[00:41:59] So don't impose your faith on someone else's not the Christian faith you're particular personal way you express your faith
[00:42:09] Verse 22 blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves
[00:42:16] But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats
[00:42:21] Because the eating is not from faith for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin
[00:42:27] these last verse or two here
[00:42:29] It's talking about
[00:42:31] Well, you know how do I know if it's a sin or not or you know well, you know what it might be
[00:42:36] a sin for someone to have a drink of
[00:42:39] alcohol and it might not be for someone else. How's that possible because this person might be recovering alcoholic
[00:42:46] You might have serious issues with some people even if they drink alcohol too much they could die because they have issues with
[00:42:53] I don't know what it deliver or some
[00:42:55] reactions that people have with conditions
[00:42:57] They might literally die
[00:43:00] So for them they might God might say I do not want you drinking alcohol, you know and you just I'm gonna give you a strong conviction about this
[00:43:07] Or whenever they drink they have to sneak away in drink well that's you know your sneak in out and you're lying about it
[00:43:13] And I'm just gonna lead in the difference sin and you're hiding it and you just leave some
[00:43:17] A path where you don't want to go to other people no problem with it whatsoever
[00:43:24] It comes down to
[00:43:26] The relationship you have with God for certain things
[00:43:30] But he says here whatever it does not proceed from faith is sin
[00:43:35] What does that mean? It means if you if you're getting that check in your heart about man
[00:43:39] I don't think I should be here
[00:43:41] I don't think I should be doing this thing or I'm about to do this thing and and I really don't think I should do that well then this
[00:43:46] God's probably telling you I don't want you to do it
[00:43:50] And if you go ahead and disillbey that
[00:43:52] From the Lord you're probably gonna be walking into some sin here and
[00:43:56] And other people may not not have those convictions that's between you and the Lord ultimately
[00:44:02] Now these are for things like personal convictions and you know opinions and ways to look at
[00:44:08] Movies in that type of thing. This is not relating to chord doctrines of the Christian faith
[00:44:14] Those are clear in scripture
[00:44:16] I just mean about those things where hey, we have a little different
[00:44:19] opinion on certain things here but I can't condemn anybody for my opinions
[00:44:23] Neither can they for mine
[00:44:26] In college we used to have a sign on the floor and those are Bible college and it said
[00:44:32] It said if in doubt
[00:44:33] Don't and
[00:44:35] That relates to this passage here if you're thinking about doing something this weekend and you're like
[00:44:40] I don't know I've got a woman to do that or not well if you have a dose don't do it
[00:44:44] You probably know you know in your conscience. I shouldn't be doing this
[00:44:47] It's not about can I get away with it? It's is the right thing to do or not
[00:44:52] So if you're about to do that thing and it's not proceeding from faith your faith your good Christian faith is probably sin
[00:44:59] And you know the difference
[00:45:02] You know what's the last time that you
[00:45:05] Committed a sin that you didn't know was a sin now that we're all Christians, you know at this point we should know I shouldn't do that thing or
[00:45:13] You know, I'm tempted I really or you it's one thing to have a little outbursts and I lost my temper again
[00:45:19] You know
[00:45:20] But if it's if it's something that you have to kind of think about doing before you do it
[00:45:26] We just somehow know he puts his law within our hearts and we know in our conscience bears witness to spirit within us
[00:45:32] Bears witness to say hey I want to keep you as my sheep
[00:45:35] In safety toward the flock come on back
[00:45:38] So whatever person does not proceed from faith is sin and we all know that it might be a stronger conviction here or there for
[00:45:46] Different people
[00:45:47] Last note here says
[00:45:50] Paul says everything is clean but beware that you make
[00:45:54] Less you make someone else stumble with a clean thing. You can use a good tool in a bad way
[00:46:01] Put certain things away for the sake of love
[00:46:05] And I put here if and don't so put certain
[00:46:08] Things
[00:46:10] arguments
[00:46:10] Hills to die and put some that stuff in the river mirror if you see that every time you go there
[00:46:15] It's hurting somebody or
[00:46:17] Effecting somebody in a bad way just let it go for a while. Maybe they'll come along or maybe you have to learn how to get more
[00:46:24] Delivery skills about
[00:46:28] Articulating your point in love, you know, we love places to grow
[00:46:33] Because they don't answer to you or me the answer to God and he says he'll uphold them if you know
[00:46:37] Those are hard as peers that can be in their worship
[00:46:40] He'll help hold their worship
[00:46:43] Even if they're ignorant because we're all to some degree ignorant
[00:46:47] So with that that's ruins 14 any last thoughts
[00:46:54] It's
[00:46:55] 13
[00:46:57] Or as 12 so then each of us will give an account of himself to God
[00:47:02] Yeah
[00:47:03] Really good verse really important and good to think about once in a while
[00:47:08] We'll each give an account to God of our life and I just wonder sometimes looking back in my life
[00:47:15] How he's gonna ask how he will ask me you know, and what were you thinking over there?
[00:47:19] What did one thing you did back in 1982
[00:47:23] Why'd you do that?
[00:47:25] You know I thought I taught you up. You know the art of Lord our our shepherd is gonna be telling us
[00:47:29] And I know he'll be gracious, but to not have him
[00:47:33] pay for our sin and to not have crisis our Savior we imagine having to answer for all the things you've done with thought of Savior to
[00:47:40] Advocate for you and then you have to just sit there and take because there's no one to talk for you you just have to explain yourself
[00:47:47] That would be pretty
[00:47:50] Devastating
[00:47:51] To say at least but thankfully Christ is our advocate
[00:47:56] Unjudgment day
[00:48:02] We have to explain themselves or are they like covered by the blood?
[00:48:07] Yeah, come through you don't have to go through the what were you the shame in the guilt and explanation
[00:48:13] Yeah, because I
[00:48:14] I think about that sometimes
[00:48:16] Yeah, throw myself at the course
[00:48:19] The mercy of the court. Yes, exactly
[00:48:22] Christ I got no defense
[00:48:24] Yeah, so
[00:48:27] Even believers will have to give some kind of a count you think yeah, we'll have to all given a count
[00:48:32] But like you said we're covered with the righteousness of Christ and my God looks at us
[00:48:36] He sees Christ and so will either I mean no one knows exactly
[00:48:40] But the way I view it is that we'll go and he'll say let's see what you have to explain yourself for
[00:48:46] Oh, there's nothing here
[00:48:48] Well done, but I'm going to faith my good with a little sir. You know could be that way or he might say well
[00:48:55] Here's what I wanted you to learn from that dumb thing you did back then
[00:48:58] You know and he'll be gentle with us
[00:49:00] But but we're covered with Christ and there's nothing left
[00:49:03] For us to be condemned for I mean the first verse of Romans 8
[00:49:07] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus not no condemnation
[00:49:12] So he's not going to be condemning us that day and all of our
[00:49:19] All of our
[00:49:21] Charges that were ever brought against us by our the enemy have been nailed to the cross
[00:49:25] There's no charge remaining who can bring a charge against God's elect nobody so there's no charges
[00:49:31] We have to explain away on judgment day so I think believers who are covered with the righteousness of Christ
[00:49:36] We'll have a definitely a different experience on judgment day than non-believers
[00:49:40] Right and yep, Jim
[00:49:46] When you were saying that okay, we got answered God
[00:49:49] He's maybe gonna save these things
[00:49:51] You have an abibilist says when you're asked for forgiveness of your sins your sins are gone
[00:49:56] There's no record of it. It's just like David and half
[00:49:58] Yeah, as far as Jesus from the West. Yeah, it's white as snow
[00:50:03] Yeah, yep, so how are they gonna be put in the book?
[00:50:07] Yeah, these are all hopeful messages from the scripture to say we as Christians look forward to judgment day
[00:50:13] Because then we receive our full glorification and we get rid of this perishable body put on imparish ability
[00:50:20] And we receive our crowns that we lay at Christ's feet immediately but
[00:50:24] That's what we're looking forward to that's our blessed hope
[00:50:27] But the unbelievers are fearing that day because that's when justice comes
[00:50:33] So we have a very different experience at day so I don't mind going and explaining myself before
[00:50:38] You know God the Father if Christ is my advocate in front of me
[00:50:42] Like he says he is and I'm we're all hidden in Christ in Christ's in God and so we are wrapped in his love seal by the spirit
[00:50:51] So thank goodness it isn't me up there
[00:50:54] Explaining myself to the Lord like right really do I have anything to say
[00:50:59] Like you said I'm just throw myself at the mercy of the court. That's all believe it comes to God
[00:51:04] Not okay, let me show you what I've done Lord
[00:51:09] Like you know some Pharisees and everything pride just normal for pride or man's glorification
[00:51:16] But good stuff good questions well
[00:51:18] We'll close it out and then next week we're not meeting but then the next week will finish Romans
[00:51:24] And then we're gonna take a break for the summer time
[00:51:27] We'll get together, but not not not on every Tuesday
[00:51:31] All right, let's pray dear Heavenly Father once again. We're
[00:51:34] Coming to the end of Romans here and learning a lot good questions good thoughts
[00:51:39] As we go forward continue I pray to bring those
[00:51:43] Those good thoughts up
[00:51:45] So we can have some thought experiments and kind of work through them as we go through the the last part of Romans because now we're getting to the application
[00:51:53] The hardest application in Romans just for a Christian's daily life
[00:51:57] Because we have these interactions almost every day with people that we love
[00:52:00] People who are Christians so give us wisdom and help us to be
[00:52:03] more mature
[00:52:04] spiritually as we go forward having gone through now Romans 14 here
[00:52:08] Next time it comes up in our life help us to think back on these things and maybe
[00:52:12] Treat them more gently with people that are still younger in the faith so that they can grow
[00:52:19] And that we can also grow and learn even from people who are newer in the faith
[00:52:23] But especially for those who are more seasoned so Lord take us in your safe hands until next time we pray in Jesus name amen