1. 1 Romans Paul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” Lesson 18a VIII. God’s Righteousness: DEMANDING RIGHTEOUS LIVES Romans 12:1 - 15:13 Today’s Lesson: 14:1-12, Page 158

2. 2 Overview 1. 1.In chapter 12, Paul dealt with various moral obligations 2. 2.In chapter 13, with political obligations 3. 3.In chapter 14, he deals with reciprocal obligations of church members to each other regarding differences of opinions 4. 4.Paul’s discussion in this chapter will center around attitudes that brethren should hold toward one another

3. 3 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 1. 1.Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion (1-5) a. a.Opinion is a personal view, attitude, or appraisal 1) 1)Knowledge plays a major role in the opinions that Christians entertain about particular issues 2) 2)As our knowledge of God’s word increases, our appreciation about what the Scripture does not actually say increases 3) 3)Matters of opinion are treated differently than matters of faith as we determine fellowship issues 4) 4)Christians must not allow strong differences of opinion to disrupt the unity of the church

4. 4 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 1. 1.Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion (1-5) b. b.The stronger brethren are to receive the one who is weak (1) 1) 1)“Strong” has reference to the knowledge of God’s word 2) 2)“Doubtful” refers to things that are not clear, uncertain or questionable 3) 3)“Disputations” are verbal controversies, discussions or debates c. c.Sometimes we must “agree to disagree” to keep the peace and harmony of the church

5. 5 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 1. 1.Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion (1-5) d. d.The immediate issue was eating of meats (2) 1) 1)The weak brother ate herbs (vegetables), the stronger brother ate all things including meat 2) 2)Some of the Roman Christian Jews had not entirely broken away from the law of Moses holding that they could not eat meat that was unclean (as well as observing certain days) 3) 3)They were disposed to condemn the Gentile Christian for not following the same law e. e.It is clear that these differences were not matters affecting the salvation of the persons involved (3)

6. 6 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 1. 1.Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion (1-5) f. f.We are not to judge others on the matters of opinion (4) 1) 1)Paul uses the example of a servant to his master 2) 2)We are not to intervene in physical, personal, everyday matters of others 3) 3)We should remember that God’s position on any untaught issue [if He has one] is the right position. Ours may not be.

7. 7 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 1. 1.Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion (1-5) g. g.Observing special days, or not, and eating meats, or not, were matters of conscience and not of faith (5) 1) 1)“Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” 2) 2)The resulting conclusion will be based on his knowledge of God’s word

8. 8 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 2. 2.Our primary concern must be to please the Lord (6-12) a. a.Whether he ate or didn’t eat (observed days or didn’t), it was “to the Lord” according to his personal conscience (6) 1) 1)Each person should thank God for this liberty

9. 9 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 2. 2.Our primary concern must be to please the Lord (6-12) b. b.“Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (8) 1) 1)We do not live or die to ourselves (7) 2) 2)Christians belong to the Lord and are doing their best to please Him 3) 3)We are not under obligation to any man with regard to the liberty described in verse 6, but we are subject to the Lord 4) 4)Likewise, we are not to force our opinions on others as long as they follow the Lord 5) 5)For to this end, Christ died and lived again (9)

10. 10 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 2. 2.Our primary concern must be to please the Lord (6-12) c. c. “But why do you judge your brother?” (10) 1) 1)In other words, why would anyone dare to assume responsibility for judging the decisions and actions of others with respect to things not clearly taught in revelation? 2) 2)This judgment should be left to Christ (10) and God (12) 3) 3)Why? “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (10) [Then he quotes from Isaiah 45:23] 4) 4)“So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (12)

11. 11 End of Lesson 18a

12. 12 Romans Paul’s Exposition of “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” Lesson 18b VIII. God’s Righteousness: DEMANDING RIGHTEOUS LIVES Romans 12:1 - 15:13 Today’s Lesson: 14:13-23, Page 162

13. 13 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-22) a. a.Love rules over liberty when others are weak (13-15) 1) 1)Paul’s conclusion is “Let us not judge one another any more” (13) 2) 2)We are “...not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” 3) 3)If we, the more knowledgeable or stronger brother, cause our weaker brother to violate his conscience on a matter of indifference, we have caused him to sin and placed a stumbling block in his way (This point will be discussed further in verse 23)

14. 14 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-22) a. a.Love rules over liberty when others are weak (13-15) (Continued) 4) 4)There was nothing wrong with eating meat, but if the meat was unclean in the mind of a brother, it was wrong for him to eat it (14) 5) 5)Paul knew there was nothing unclean in itself, but the Jews (and Gentiles) came from a background that had some things they did not want to change -- which things had no bearing on their salvation

15. 15 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-22) a. a.Love rules over liberty when others are weak (13-15) (Continued) 6) 6)If our liberty of eating meat causes a brother to stumble, we are not walking in love (15) 7) 7)Christ loved him and died for him as well (15) 8) 8)God has been gracious to remove His laws about diet 9) 9)He has also been gracious to respect the “laws” that men choose to make for themselves, as long as none seeks to impose his personal restrictions or allowances on others

16. 16 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-23) b. b.Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to love (16-22) 1) 1)The “good” privilege to implement a personal choice can become a “bad” and deadly weapon against the tender conscience of a weaker saint (16) 2) 2)Such misuse of conscientious privilege is to be uniformly condemned as “evil” by all thoughtful Christians 3) 3)We are no better or worse as faithful members because we eat and drink, or because we don’t

17. 17 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-23) b. b.Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to love (16-22)(Continued) 4) 4)The things that are truly important in the church are righteousness, peace, and joy (17) 5) 5)We must “pursue” two goals in our dealings with other saints: (1) Things which make for peace (2) Things that will edify (19) 6) 6)We then are acceptable to God (18)

18. 18 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-23) b. b.Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to love (16-22)(Continued) 7) 7)What is “good” or “bad” for the strong member’s behavior will become dependent upon what is actually “good” or “bad” for the others 8) 8)If his behavior will offend the consciences of fellow saints, then he must forego the enjoyment of those things (20,21)

19. 19 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-23) b. b.Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to love (16-22)(Continued) 9) 9)The “faith” [good conscience about participating in nonessentials] of the “strong” may need to be kept to oneself and not expressed in action because of the conscience of someone else (22)

20. 20 C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other Christians Romans 14:1-23 3. 3.Our secondary [but essential] concern is for a brother’s welfare (13-23) c. c.Integrity of conscience is critical for all (23) 1) 1)“Whatever is not from faith is sin” (23) 2) 2)If one eats meats but believes he shouldn’t, he does not eat from faith 3) 3)Violating your conscience is evil!

21. 21 End of Lesson 18b