As to our brethren, it is peaceto live in peace and love, and charity with them, following peace with all men: Christ came into the world to be the great peace-maker. Did he think it worth while to deny himself so much for them as to die for them, and shall not we think it worth while to deny ourselves so little for them as abstaining from flesh comes to?with thy meat. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. THESE two verses are full , 5001 North Oak Trafficway Legalism has a way of making us think that we are strong and those who dont keep the rules the way we do are weak. Romans 14 Romans 14 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. a. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself: Paul knew that there was nothing intrinsically unclean about meat that was not kosher or sacrificed to an idol. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point 1. I QUESTION whether any man understands himself, and I am quite certain that no Christian does so. But why do you judge your brother? I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 2. Observe here. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth, 1 Cor 8 1-3. Daniel and his fellows were in better liking with pulse and water than those were who ate the portion of the king's meat. 23. 15, 16. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. He argues against both these jointly: we must not despise nor judge our brethren. Me apollye. is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans xiii. See this case explained, 1 Cor 8 9-11. You think that he who eateth will fall by his presumption, or that he who eateth not will sink under the weight of his own fears and scruples; but if they have true faith, and an eye to God, the one in the intelligent use of his Christian liberty and the other in the conscientious forbearance of it, they shall be held upthe one in his integrity, and the other in his comfort. If we do that, then it could rightly be spoken of as evil. 11. 2. John 14:19 . We are not our own masters, nor our own proprietorswe are not at our own disposal. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. b. Romans 4:4. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Observe his description of true Christians, taken from their end and aim (v. 7, 8), and the ground of it, v. 9. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. [2.] All things indeed are pure: Paul will concede the point that there is nothing impure in the food itself; but he likewise insists that there is nothing pure in causing a brother to stumble. Every saint is God's workmanship, his husbandry, his building, Eph 2 10; 1 Cor 3 9. Romans 8:1. Where he cannot be beneficent he is benevolent. [3.] CHILDREN are expected to bear some likeness to their parent. Christ is the centre, in which all the lines of life and death do meet. Let not the reproach arise from any default of ours; as 1 Tim 4 12, Let no man despise thee, that is, do not make thyself despicable. Paul warns us to not make spiritual maturity a requirement for fellowship. a. Wake Up! All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way. b. This arises from that unchangeable law of our creation, which is, that our wills, in all their choices, motions, and directions, should follow the dictates of our understandings. 4. (11-14) The urgency to love . But the rules are general, and of standing use in the church, for the preservation of that Christian love which he had so earnestly pressed in the foregoing chapter as the fulfilling of the law. Each of us must ask: God what is there in my life hindering a closer walk with You? I have broken away from its thralldom; the new law, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, the law of grace has set me free from the domination of the law of sin and death. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible The ground of this, v. 9. A strong emphasis in Spurgeon's preaching was God's grace and sovereignty over man's helpless state. And why dost thou that art strong set at nought thy brother that is weak? How happy were it for the church if those that have a clearness in disputable things would be satisfied to have it to themselves before God, and not impose those things upon others, and make them terms of communions, than which nothing is more opposite to Christian liberty, nor more destructive both to the peace of churches and the peace of consciences. The case was this: The members of the Christian church at Rome were some of them originally Gentiles, and others of them Jews. c. He who is weak eats only vegetables: In Pauls mind, the weak brother is the stricter one. Do not censure the practice of others; let them enjoy their own opinion; if they be persuaded in their own mind that they ought to do so and so, do not condemn them, but, if your sober sentiments be otherwise, do not make their practice a rule to you, any more than you must prescribe yours as a rule to them. For example, when some Christians from a Jewish background were offended that Gentile believers were not circumcised, Paul didnt cater to their legalistic demands. He took the most trying place in the whole field of battle; he stood where the fray' was hottest. All his friends do it freely, are made willing in the day of his power. If a weak Christian doubts whether it be lawful to eat flesh, while he remains under that doubt he had best forbear, till he be fully persuaded in his own mind. I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman Paul had faith in these things: I am persuaded that there is nothing unclean of itself; but he had it to himself, so as not to use his liberty to the offence of others. As the particular end specifies the action, so the general scope and tendency specify the state. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Now those that had been Jews were trained up in the observance of the ceremonial appointments touching meats and days. Consider the design of Christ's death: Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died, v. 15. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves: Not every Christian knows this happiness. They may be malnourished (by lack of good teaching). Have it to thyself before God, v. 22. Whatever we do in religion, it will not turn to any good account, except we do it from a principle of faith, with a believing regard to the will of Christ as our rule, to the glory of Christ as our end, and to the righteousness of Christ as our plea. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth unto God. a. These words are not spoken to those who are dead in sin, but , Concern for Other Men's Souls Because both the one and the other, if they be true believers, and are right in the main, have an eye to God, and do approve themselves to God in what they do, v. 6. Wisdom Literature THIS passage is a piece of holy teaching set forth under the parable of rising in the morning and preparing for the work of the day. Romans 14 - God Likes it When We Think About Others A. Don't judge each other in doubtful things. Pentateuch 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. a. (Romans 14:13) Summary: dont make it an issue of judging, but dont use your liberty to stumble another brother. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Take heed of acting contrary to the dictates of a doubting conscience. Might I limit the sense of them, it should be thus:As to God, our great concern is righteousnessto appear before him justified by the merit of Christ's death, sanctified by the Spirit of his grace; for the righteous Lord loveth righteousness. (5.) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. Romans vii. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. Christianity gives no rule in that case, either in one way or another. . If he be a good Christian, he does not, he dares not, do it from such a principle; and therefore we charitably conclude that to the Lord he does not regard it. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. By shaking his faith, provoking his passion, and tempting him to act against the light of his own conscience, thou dost, as much as in thee lies, destroy him, giving him an occasion to return to Judaism. In the Epistle to the Hebrews our apostle tells us of the marvellous exploits which it has wrought in subduing kingdoms and obtaining promises, in quenching the , The Dual Nature and the Duel Within Prophets Romans 5:1. The Old Testament The apostle having, in the former chapter, directed our conduct one towards another in civil things, and prescribed the sacred laws of justice, peaceableness, and order, to be observed by us as members of the commonwealth, comes in this and part of the following chapter in like manner to direct our demeanour one towards another in sacred things, which pertain more immediately to conscience and religion, and which we observe as members of the church. The doctrines of the book are considered and discussed under four main propositions: (1) All men are guilty before God (Jews and Gentiles alike). "Who kept holy days, and who did not?" He argues against both these jointly: we must not despise nor judge our brethren. To clear this argument against rash judging and despising, he shows how essential it is to true Christianity to have a regard to God and not to ourselves, which therefore, unless the contrary do manifestly appear, we must presume concerning those that in minor things differ from us. If a man were verily persuaded (it is Dr. Sanderson's instance, sermon on ch. An account of the unhappy contention which had broken out in the Christian church. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Take this for a general rule; spend your zeal in those things wherein you and all the people of God are agreed, and do not dispute about matters that are doubtful. (2.) THIS exhortation, as you will readily perceive, is not addressed to the ungodly. (2) All men need a Savior. Of guilt to our brother. See to what degrees of mortification and self-denial a tender conscience will submit. Poetical Books Strong believers and weak believers, those that eat and those that eat not, if they be true believers, are accepted of God. Wake Up! Have it to thyselfa rule to thyself (not to be imposed upon others, or made a rule to them), or a rejoicing to thyself. of Scripture. Not one that hath given up his name to Christ is allowedly a self-seeker; it is contrary to the foundation of true Christianity. as a Christian by seeking the welfare of his wife and family only, for these are only a sort of greater self." (Spurgeon) . We must not pin our faith upon any one's sleeve, nor make the practice of others our rule; but follow the dictates of our own understanding. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. Undoubtedly these weak ones did not see themselves as weaker. Johannine Writings We can discourage or beat them down through our legalism against them, or we can do it by enticing them to sin through an unwise use of our liberty. a. Cookie Notice: i. To his own master he stands or falls. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point He grants that all things indeed are pure. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat: It would be easy for a Christian who felt free to eat meat to despise others as hopeless legalists. 11 14. Luke-Acts We may offer advice to others about doubtful things, but should never judge them. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself: We must understand that from beginning to end our life is connected to other lives. 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