Romans Part IV Lesson 6

Romans 14 The weak and strong brothers In CONTEXT with Romans 12 and 13 Your only debt is to love your neighbor Serving and loving your brother Serving the Lord

Romans 14:1-4 Accept the one who is weak IN FAITH That’s the instruction to the stronger brother Weak described: eats only vegetables and is not to judge his brother who eats all things Strong brother: Accept the one weak in faith Don’t pass judgment Described as the one who has faith to eat Don’t regard your weak brother with contempt

Contempt Eksoutheneo – to cast out as nothing, to regard something as lacking any standing value. To despise, treat with scorn “Do not regard your brother as nothing, with no standing value in your eyes and treat him with scorn” Do YOU do that? HAVE you done that?

Romans 14:1-4 Weak? Probably the Jewish believers keeping the dietary restrictions of the Law Strong? Probably the Gentile believers keeping NO dietary laws, eating meat offered to idols with a clear conscience Why are they not to judge? Both God’s servants God has accepted them both

Romans 14:5-9 One regards one day of the week above others One regards all days of the week the same Solution? Each brother is to be fully convinced in his OWN mind (being transformed) that what he is doing is right before the LORD Matter of conscience Observing a certain day, eating or not Both give thanks to the Lord

Romans 14:7-8 Die: apothnesko – to die off, focusing on the separation that goes with the dying off; it stresses the significance of the separation that always comes with divine closure. The ending of what is former to bring what naturally follows. Zodiates: “To be dead to the Law, to have no more dependence upon mere legal righteousness for justification and salvation than a dead man would have, as being self-crucified and dead together with Christ”

Romans 14:10-12 How do verses 11-12 relate to verses 3-4 and 7-9? God has accepted both (vs. 3) We are the Lord’s (vs. 8) (same Lord) Each one will give an account (vs. 12)(All are accountable before God) The Lord is master and judge, no one else (vs. 11) (Same Lord and Master)

2 Corinthians 5:10 The Judgment Seat of Christ A time when believers are recompensed for the deeds done in their physical bodies whether they be good or bad Not a place that deals with salvation Is a place where believers will give an account for the deeds done in the body – Their “walk of faith”

Romans 14:13-23 Instruction for weak and strong brother: Don’t judge one another Determine not to be an obstacle/stumbling block Romans 12:2-3 ….so YOU can prove what the will of God is… Paul determined in his own mind that nothing was unclean in itself (14:14)

Romans 14:15-20 Don’t hurt a brother Christ died for Walk in love The kingdom of God is NOT food or drink The kingdom of God IS righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Outcome: Peace Brother is built up

Romans 14:20-23 Warnings Don’t tear down God’s work for the sake of food Work: ergon – a deed that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intention, purpose) Work of God = salvation! Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12)

Romans 14:22-23 EACH believer has his own conviction before God (vs. 22) The weak brother is the one who has doubts Whatever is not from faith, is sin…but within the context of Romans 14 Romans 14 deals with the “externals”, non-essentials regarding the faith

Application Can YOU seek peace and not judge? Do YOU have rules or laws which are not God’s rules or laws? How can you build your brother up?