Who is the Weaker?

What binds followers of Christ together? Are all believers in Jesus Christ truly joined together, and if so, how does this unity happen? Is it automatic, or are we called to take action? Jesus prayed for our unity (John 17:21), indicating that both divine initiative and our response matter. God’s love is the initiator, and we are the recipients of His love who are called to reflect that love in our treatment of others.  In reading Romans 14 and the start of chapter 15, the Word of God provides guidance for believers with both weak and strong faith about how to live out this unity practically. Since Christ has freed us from the old covenant, we have ‘the liberty’ to be led by God’s Word through the Holy Spirit. The main assertion here is this: our unity as believers isn’t automatic but requires active cooperation with God and one another, grounded in love and expressed notably in the way we daily relate to each other.  But how does that translate into our relationships? How do we gauge our level of cooperation with the Godhead in our sanctification? Are we evaluating our Christian walk by the right standards?

The authoritative instruction found in Romans 14 provides (A) two strategies for navigating the liberty of God’s grace without falling into pitfalls we are warned about, and (B) three ‘code of conduct’ principles for walking by God’s standards.

Let’s first review my outline from this study before delving into the details on how to apply these concepts practically in our daily lives.

Segment 1: The Law of Liberty By the Spirit – Romans 14:1-4

One thing that has been impressed on me is how important it is to Christ that we treat fellow believers with agápē (love). For someone to live out this love, one would have a preference for the other, wish well for them, and regard the welfare of all that concerns them. In 1 Peter 1:22, we are told to sincerely love fellow believers fervently with a pure heart (without hypocrisy) in obedience to the truth through the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 13:8, Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote:

• “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

By chapter 14, Paul outlined the mindset believers are to maintain for fellowship (an exercised intimate bond), specifically since we are all at different stages of sanctification in our Christian journey.

At the time of writing to these home churches in Rome, there were two groups of people coming together in Christ.  This was very much God’s desire (Ephesians 2:11-22). There would have been Jewish believers still adhering to Old Testament ceremonial requirements, and Gentile believers would be very concerned with anything that had been part of their pagan past. If left unchecked, there could have been much legalism.

Can you imagine the various strong opinions that existed back then? If today’s believers are anything like the ancient followers of Christ, we can see why Paul addressed this with home churches. Today, we currently have approximately 33,000 Christian denominations, many of which not only have distinctions from each other but also hold such strong views against their brothers and sisters in Christ.

With this in mind, please read Romans 14:1-4.  I’d like to highlight verse 4, which states:

• Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

The point is that if the person with whom you disagree is a regenerated (or spiritually born again) child of God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, then God has accepted that person and that person is God’s workmanship. Christ said:

• “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

Earlier in Romans, Paul wrote:

• “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one – for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. … And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:33-34, 38-39 NLT)

Paul also stated:

• “But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

If we are to maintain agápē (love), there are a few do’s and don’ts that have nothing to do with feelings or personality.

Notice there were times when Christ was stern in His approach.  Consider that Christ strongly rebuked Peter even though He loved him (He even called Peter Satan – Matthew 16:23).

Christ’s example above does not give permission to purposely offend another human being, but it does demonstrate that the love Christ spoke of requires sincere honesty and directness while doing what God says is morally and socially beneficial for the other (Micah 6:8). In the example provided, Christ rebuked Peter to help Peter direct his thinking towards Christ’s purpose which was to lay His life down as the payment of sin for humanity. Without the stern rebuke, bold Peter would have been allowed the opportunity to become a stumbling block to Christ’s mission (as a discouragement or distraction). The most loving thing Christ could do was to accomplish the Father’s will (John 3:16-17).

In the context of Romans 14:1-4, loving your fellow Christian involves accepting the person while actively refraining from judging how they apply the Word of God in non-essential matters (Paul gave the example of diet). Clearly, we all grow in our understanding, and Christ saved us before we could fully grasp all that His love truly accomplished. Paul acknowledged there will be believers who have opinions that constrain them more than you, but when you fellowship, you ought not to scrutinize their thoughts to opine on which opinion is more correct. In fact, Christ’s teachings frequently brought reformative thinking to how knowledgeable interpreters of the Old Testament applied the Scriptures!

The key thing in this segment is that the believer is God’s servant by His doing. God gave the believer His favour, knowing their past and future entirely. So, you can be assured that the Lord holds the believer’s security. That is so comforting for each of us!

This Concept comes from Romans 14:4 and Romans 8:1, 28-30, 38-39

Jesus said,

• “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5)
• “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12-15)

Paul addressed the Galatians in a corrective way by saying, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth… ” (Galatians 3:1a). He went on to encourage them to rely on God’s grace for salvation rather than trying to earn it (which is utterly impossible). He said, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4). So, trying to keep your right standing with God by justifying yourself by the law estranges you from Christ.

• “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage…. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:1, 13)
• “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. … And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:14, 18)
• “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

So, in Paul’s letters to the Romans, Galatians, and Corinthians, he encouraged living with liberty from the law so that they would be free to be led by the Holy Spirit (because justification is only through faith in Christ alone).

Concerning sanctification (being made holy or set apart), Paul also warned about abusing this freedom, just as Peter did. In Peter’s letters, he warned that false teachers would infiltrate the church and convince some that they could live however they wanted without any constraints. Living this way is contrary to being transformed into the image of Christ. He said:

• “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:18-22)

The New Testament has no requirements for a believer’s diet except against excessiveness in food or drink that can lead a person into bondage or demise (Romans 6:12-16, 2 Peter 2:19, 1 Peter 4:3). For those who would like more study in this area of dietary freedom, please consider the following passages: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Ephesians 5:18, 1 Timothy 4:4, Titus 1:15. Praise God!

Jesus was concerned with the heart and confirmed that food does not defile a person. (Mark 7:15)

Segment 2: The Law of Conviction – Romans 14:5 – 9

After addressing Old Testament dietary laws found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, Paul turned his attention to the Sabbath. Please read Romans 14:5-9.

Did you notice Paul’s admonishment to individuals about rest and holy days? He said, “be fully convinced in one’s own mind.”

Before we address the context of this passage, I’d like to talk about conviction. A Christians conviction is tied to (1) their knowledge and (2) sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Since the Lord is the One who is working in the believer both (1) to will and (2) to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), He works in them to mature those who follow Him.

He may allow someone to have convictions about something to protect them. He may choose to refrain from convicting someone who quickly course-corrects at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In both of these cases, the Scripture you understand and your will affect the limitations and freedoms you have. This is why we are taught by the Word of God to grow in understanding.

The word used for the phrase “be fully convinced” is the Greek word plérophoreó (Strong’s G4135), which Paul used in the following manner: to be persuaded (Romans 14:5);  fully convinced or assured (Romans 4:21;  Colossians 4:12). A contemporary phrase is personal conviction.

The goal here is to ensure that you live by what you know is right and show grace to other believers. In doing so, I am practicing the following principle Christ taught:

• to live by the light you have, to live by your convictions while growing in understanding by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said:

• “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48)
• “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.“ (John 15:22)

Now, as we consider the context of this passage (Romans 14:5-9), let’s remember Paul was addressing a Gentile home church. Earlier in the letter, Paul addressed Jews within their gathering (refer to Romans 2:17) concerning the presumption of having a ‘special relationship’ based on the Covenant signified by circumcision.

After addressing saving faith (Romans 3:21-31, Romans 4:3-8), obedience (Romans 6:15-23), and full assurance of salvation (Romans 8:31-39), the role of Jews and Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan (Romans 9, 10 & 11), Paul included allowance for liberty and conviction in Christian living that is led by the Spirit (Romans 12, 13 and 14).

You see, Paul was teaching about the diversity within the body of Christ expressed in various cultural backgrounds and stages of maturity.

Believers are to be unified by the Spirit because of Christ’s love and understanding of God’s workmanship within.

With this in mind, let’s continue digesting Paul’s exhortation concerning diversity in the observance of Sabbaths and Holy Days.

We know that “on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” (Acts 20:7). Also, in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, we read that Paul gave instructions to the Corinthians and the Galatians to gather financial donations so that they would not gather collenction when he came to visit. From these passages, we can see that the Gentiles were meeting on Sundays, just as the disciples. This New Testament meeting (on the remembrance of the Lord’s day of resurrection) was never referred to as the Sabbath.

In Acts 16:13, Paul went outside the city on the Sabbath (the seventh day of each week, which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work) because it was customary to pray then and there.

In Colossians 2:16-23, Paul reminded his readers that food, drink, festivals, new moons, and sabbaths are a shadow of things to come – they are dress rehearsals of things to come, that is, Jesus Christ. Now Christ fulfilled the prophecies concerning His life, death, burial, and resurrection. And at the restoration of all things, the remaining prophecies will have been fulfilled. Whether the first or second advent of Christ, the substance of all of these things is Jesus Christ, the promise of the Father.

The way I understand Romans 14:5 is whether one sees one day as holy (set apart to God) or every day as holy (set apart to God), one should be fully convinced in their conscience that this is what God approves of for them. Some may read that there isn’t a day set apart unto God.

What of Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Communion, Jewish Feast Days, or whatever day you celebrate (birthdays and anniversaries)? Why do you celebrate these? Are they for you, the Lord, or both?

My convictions tell me: (1) that I need to meet regularly with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25) and (2) that every day is to be devoted to God in my mind and actions (Psalms 91:1, John 12:46, John 15:4, 9, Revelation 4:8). Perhaps your convictions are different. The Holy Spirit is well able to lead you through His Word on how to define the moral standard of being holy unto the Lord (1 Peter 1:13-21).

What does set apart unto God mean?

• “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
• “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
• “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:2)

Please consider one of Christ’s teachings about the Sabbath:

• “Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went, His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28)

So the question is not which day you observe. The question is, do you observe the Lord of the Sabbath?

What behaviours make the Lord’s victory over sin appear ineffective? How do you live to do the will of God, that which is pleasing to Him? How do you live for Christ?

The key thing to remember in this segment is that the believer has been set free to live for God. So, since the Holy Spirit is indwelling you, do not grieve Him.

Instead, live in a way that your conscience is at peace with Him
and quickly correct whatever He convicts you of.

This Concept comes from Ephesians 4:29-32, 1 John 3:21, 1 John 5:2-4, Acts 24:16, Romans 9:1, 1 Corinthians 8:12, Titus 1:15, Hebrews 10:22, and Hebrews 13:18

Segment 3: The Lord is Judge – Romans 14:10-12

Please read Romans 14:10-12. What stands out to you? Is it the fact that believers who now have no condemnation or separation penalty (Romans 8:1) still stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to give an account of how they lived (to receive or lose rewards)? Or, maybe the mention of ‘judging” being associated with showing contempt for your believing sibling. Something else?

Let’s review the word used for judging in the original language and see how it is used contextually.

Statistical Use:

• The Greek word is krinō (Strong’s G2919) and it is used 114 times in the King James New Testament in the following manner: judge (88x), determine (7x), condemn (5x), go to law (2x), call in question (2x), esteem (2x), miscellaneous (8x).
• In Romans, the verb “krinō“ (Strong’s G2919) occurs 18 times in 15 verses, with 9 instances in Chapter 14 (see Romans 2:1, 3, 12, 16, 27; Romans 3:4, 6-7; Romans 14:3-5, 10, 13, 22).

Definitions:

• To judge krinō (Strong’s G2919) means to distinguish, i.e., decide (mentally or judicially); and by implication, it is to try for the purpose of bringing about an outcome:
  1. a positive outcome: esteeming, regarding, ordaining (1x in Romans 14:5) 
  2. a negative outcome: condemning, punishing, avenging, damming, finding fault with this or that in others (7x in Romans 2:1, 3, 27, Romans 14:3, 10, 13, 22)
  3. a leading action: concluding, decreeing, determining, going to the law for their determination, calling in question, sentencing, thinking. Leading actions will result in either a negative or a positive outcome.
     • Note: I found both a leading (the word resolve) and a negative (the word condemn or judge) use of the word (1x in Romans 14:13. I did find it used for the idea of thinking in Luke 7:43, Acts 13:46, Acts 15:19, Acts 16:15, Acts 26:8, 1 Corinthians 11:13, 2 Corinthians 5:14

Fulsome Scriptural Considerations:

There are times the Lord has told us to discern (judge) and other times the Lord has told us to avoid conclusively judging.

Discernment	Passing Judgement (Conclusively)
Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. “And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?” (Luke 12:54-56)	“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. “I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” (Luke 12:57-59)
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. “You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. “You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:39-48)	“Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5) “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)
Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. “Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. “If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:21-24)	This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” … When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:6-7, 10-13)

Now, speaking about hypocrites and false teachers, our Lord said:

• “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘ (Matthew 7:15-23)

As I understand this, the disciples’ fruit acknowledgement was to watch for (1) the influence of the false prophets and hypocrites on the flock, and (2) whether the disciples needed to teach the narrow way of repentance (Matthew 7:13-14) to them. Earlier, Christ had told them not to pass judgment (Matthew 7:1-5) in terms of their hearts (right standing before God).

In the lexicon tool I have been using, under the section called Helps Studies, we read that J. Thayer (Bussey Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation, 1884-1901) commented that we only judge (G2919/krínō) accurately by intelligent comparison and contrast based on God’s Word, i.e., to approve (prefer) what is correct and reject what is inferior (or wrong).

I absolutely agree with Thayer’s comments. I also note that this intelligent analysis based on the Work of God should lead me to act correctly in holiness (which is the outcome of agápē/love and obedience to Christ). It should not result in a bad attitude towards a fellow Christian.

In Romans 14:8-9, we read that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all, and in Romans 14:11, Paul confirmed every knee will acknowledge the Sovereignty and Lordship of Christ over His creation.

“Now if Christ paid so dearly for his dominion over souls and consciences, and has such a just and undisputed right to exercise that dominion, we must not so much as seem to invade it, nor intrench upon it, by judging the consciences of our brethren, and arraigning them at our bar. “

Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Since Christ has been given all authority by the Father for His humble obedience (Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 2:13-14), and the Godhead paid the cost of redemption with Christ’s blood, with what poorly evaluated and prideful attitudes can we ignorantly despise and judge believers who disagree with our sinful selves?

I am so tired of self-righteous opinions (including my own)! Thank God for His precious Holy Spirit that convicts me of sin and leads me to agree with Him about it.

• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

I hope that on my judgment day, Christ will say something like: “Well done, good and faithful servant (like in Mathew 25:23). You have sinned much, loved me greatly, loved and forgiven others just like I have forgiven you for much. You were quick to repent and hungry to be led by My Word and Spirit. Welcome home, enter into the reward I have prepared for you.”

I hope when it’s my time, I can say:

• I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

The key thing to remember in this segment is that the righteous Judge and Lord is Christ, who wants people everywhere to look to HIM and be saved! For there is one Triune God who is Sovereign over all, and He has appointed a day to judge the world.

Stop looking at your fellow believer whom He has chosen.

This Concept comes from Isaiah 45:22, Acts 17:29-31, Hebrews 13:20-21, John 5:22-23, Romans 2:5, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Peter 3:7,

Segment 4: The Law of Love – Romans 14:13-15:1-3

This strategy helps us live like Christ as it relates to being selfless for the benefit of others. If you willingly forgo privileges afforded to you by God’s grace and provision as a demonstration of love, then you are humbling yourself under God’s will.

The goal here is to ensure we do not put obstacles in the path of a brother who has convictions that their faith requires of them. In doing so, we are practicing the following two principles:

• having a clear conscience before God concerning our behaviour with those who do not share the same degree of faith about a freedom that is not contrary to the Word (Romans 14:20-23), and
• maintaining the law of love through consideration for our Christian siblings (Romans 15:1-3).

If a believer is being hurt or offended because of a freedom you insist on exercising publicly, you are not walking in love toward them. To encourage a believer to do anything against their conscience is a serious and dangerous act that can cause spiritual wounds and even cause them to break fellowship with the body.

Nothing prohibits a believer from doing things that the Word of God, their faith, and conscience permit in private or away from those whose consciences prohibit the specific liberty.

There are two components concerning exercising your liberty and constraints in this regard:

1. Conscience before God: If the one who has less liberty (Paul says weak in faith – Romans 14:1, Romans 15:1) places prohibitions on others that change the definition of the gospel, that person is to be corrected for the sake of the gospel that (1) glorifies God and (2) leads to salvation. Justification is by grace alone through faith in the sufficiency of Christ alone and not by our works.
   • An example of this can be read in Galatians 2:11-21, where Paul publicly rebuked Peter for separating himself from eating with the Gentiles to be with Jews who were insistent on the Old Testament laws (i.e., circumcision). The example Peter was showing the Gentiles was both hypocritical and worse, demonstrating to them that the Jewish traditions were either superior or necessary. Please pay attention to verse 14.
2. Love demonstrated through consideration: It may be required for the sake of the gospel to amend how you demonstrate your liberties from time to time, as situations warrant it (to avoid becoming a hindrance or to keep the bond of peace). This is not hypocrisy.
   • An example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-25, where Paul found common ground with different groups of people (without disobeying Christ’s teachings) in order to lead the willing to Christ. To the weak, he became weak. His aim was to spread the Good News and receive an eternal reward at the judgment seat of Christ.

Jesus provided a stern warning to those who cause offences.

• “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7)

The Greek word for ‘offences’ in this verse is skandalon (Strong’s G4625) and carries the meaning of a cause for stumbling or hindrance. The context of this verse is found in Matthew 18:1-14.  It addresses the question of who is the “greatest in the kingdom”. Jesus explained that whoever humbles himself like a child to be converted is great and should be welcomed into fellowship, just as Jesus did. Then He continued to warn His disciples that anyone who intentionally causes a believer to sin is despising and harming one whom Jesus sought out and died for. It would be better to inflict self-harm than to purposely injure Christ’s precious possession.

If you are redeemed, follow Christ’s teachings:

• “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
• “… You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

• “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)

As we look into the next few verses in Chapter 15, we see that Paul (who included himself in the passage) gives direction by the Holy Spirit to help us resolve how liberty and constraint can share spiritual intimacy rightly. He said,

• “Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves. Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbour for his good, to build him up spiritually. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written [in Scripture], “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU (the Father) FELL ON ME (the Son).” (Romans 15:1-3 AMP)

Because Christ died for us, we can (by the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to love and apply self-control) sacrifice for others to strengthen Christ’s body.

John said this:

• “If anyone claims, ‘I am living in the light,’ but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.” (1 John 2:9-10 NLT)

• This does not give permission to turn a blind eye to sin; on the contrary, (Galatians 6:1-2).
• These principles of liberty, conscience, and consideration bring increased love and unity (1 Peter 4:7-11; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7). It is not always easy, but it is always right.

Romans 14 gives us the liberty to be individuals with different scruples and opinions on debatable things while glorifying God through the bond of peace through love.

• “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Paul gave the examples of food, drinking wine, and holy days. I am sure there are other examples we can apply these principles to today, as he would have then. The whole point is to maintain Christian fellowship without having to separate over diversity of thought, WHILE following what you believe is right.

• “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:21-23)

So, who is the weaker brother? I’d say in one way or another, and at different times for different reasons, we have all been the weaker sibling. If I want to be strong in the Lord, I will humble myself under the Lord’s will and, when needed, surrender my rights to keep unity. May we all do this by God’s grace and forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us.

If you seek belonging and unconditional love, you will find it in Christ Jesus. God creates our souls and offers each person the choice to know Him, revealing Himself through creation, the Holy Scriptures, people, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. In Christ, you will find your true place and become part of His body. If you sense a tugging in your heart, it may be the Holy Spirit inviting you to see Christ as Saviour and Lord. With your own words, simply confess you truly believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son and Lord of all created things.  Ask Him to increase your faith in the knowledge of Him and to give you freedom from sin that He offers.

Then, find a local fellowship of believers where you can grow, love, and be loved!

All Scripture in this blog is from the New King James Version unless otherwise specified.