1. ROMANS 14 ROMANS 14:1-15:7 TEXT

2. RESTORATION PLEA In matters of faith – UNITY In matters of judgment – LIBERTY In all things - CHARITY

3. HISTORY OF ROMANS 14 1850’S – Institutionalism 1930’s – Premillennialism 1940-50’s – Institutionalism – Centralized oversight 1960-70’s – Social gospel – Grace unity 1988 – Romans 14 1994 – Rubuel Shelly – Met with Christian church and they agreed the only basis for fellowship is the deity of Christ

4. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT MUST BE TRUE TO THE CONTEXT MUST BE TRUE TO THE BIBLE MUST NOT CONTRADICT TRUTH MUST NOT VIOLATE THE CHARACTER OF GOD MUST NOT PROMOTE FELLOWSHIP WITH SIN

5. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –THE WEAK AND STRONG BROTHER ARE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE TEXT STRONG BROTHER – MATURE, INFORMED, ABLE TO PRACTICE, RIGHT UNDERSTANDING, DOING IT TO THE LORD, CONVINCED IN HIS OWN MIND, GIVES GOD THANKS WEAK BROTHER – IMMATURE, UNINFORMED, UNABLE TO PRACTICE, DOING IT NOT TO THE LORD, CONVINCED IN HIS OWN MIND, GIVES GOD THANKS

6. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –THE WEAK AND STRONG BROTHER ARE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE TEXT DANGER FOR STRONG BROTHER – CAUSE THE WEAK TO STUMBLE, SET BROTHER AT NAUGHT DANGER FOR WEAK BROTHER – JUDGE HIS BROTHER, AND VIOLATE HIS CONSCIENCE

7. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –VS. 1 – Receive –VS. 2 – Strong brother eats meat, the weak brother eats vegetables 1 TIM. 4:3-5 –VS. 3 – Both are accepted by God –VS. 4 – God makes both stand –VS. 5 – Strong brother views every day alike while weak brother esteems certain days

8. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –VS. 5 – Fully convinced in his own mind Polygamy Homosexuality – Marriages Abortion Adulterous marriages Profanity Social drinking Gambling Evolution Instrumental Music Baptism

9. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –VS. 6 – Both give thanks to God JAMES 1:17 1 TIM. 6:17 –VS. 7-9 – We all belong to the Lord 1 COR. 6:20 –VS. 10-13 – Paul asks question 1 COR. 5:1-5 LUKE 17:3 1 COR. 8:11-13

10. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –VS. 14-17 – They cannot bind their opinion on the other as long as it is clean, good, and pure ROM. 15:1-2 GAL. 5:6 1 COR. 8:8

11. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE TEXT –VS. 18-19 – Serve Christ –VS. 20-21 – Pure JOHN 13:34-35 –VS. 22-23 – If they violate their conscience or bind their opinion, then sin becomes involved 1 COR. 6:9-11 1 JN. 1:5-10 EPH. 5:6-11

12. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE CONTEXT –Compare ROM. 13:12-14 & ROM. 16:17-18 –Rom 13:12-14 - The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. –Rom 16:17-18 - Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

13. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO THE CONTEXT –Putting sinful doctrines or practices in ROM. 14 Violates the context Puts God in fellowship with sin Brings sin into the church Provides basis for open ended fellowship with SIN!!!

14. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST BE TRUE TO ALL THE BIBLE –Putting sinful doctrines or practices in ROM. 14 Violates Bible truth – GAL. 5:19-21 Puts God in fellowship with sin – 2 JN 9-11 Brings sin into the church – COL. 3:5-11 Provides basis for open ended fellowship with SIN – 2 COR. 6:14

15. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST NOT CONTRADICT TRUTH –Putting sinful doctrines or practices in ROM. 14 Makes the Bible appear to contradict itself Makes truth be in conflict with truth ROM. 14:1-3 - Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him 2 JN 9-10 - Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

16. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 MUST NOT VIOLATE THE CHARACTER OF GOD –1 PET. 1:15-16 - but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." –Does God tolerate sin? –Which sins?

17. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 Romans 14 – Authorized liberties Receive one another Do not dispute Do not judge Set no time limits Do not contend Allow differences Be fully assured God receives No limit to fellowship Ephesians 4 – Doctrinal differences Bring to maturity Bring to unity of faith Save from winds–doctrine Allow time to grow Contend Bring to repentance Have no fellowship God does not receive Limit to fellowship

18. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 Are we doomed to divide on every issue? –In matters of faith – UNITY –In matters of judgment- LIBERTY –In all things - CHARITY

19. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 Is unity on matters of faith possible? –1 COR. 1:10-13 - Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

20. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 Is unity possible on M/D/R? –One man –One woman –For life –One exception

21. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 Issues involving opinion have not divided us in the past –Baptistery - Creek –Carnal warfare –Pitch pipe – Tuning fork –Covering question –Must legal documents include “adultery” - not as long as adultery is the reason for the putting away and you are the innocent party.

22. UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 14 CONCLUSION – Some say we are tired of all these issues –1 TIM. 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. –2 TIM. 2:2-4 - And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier