1. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 1 Romans 14:13 – 21 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this - not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

2. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 2 Romans 14:13 – 21 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this - not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

3. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 3 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. What is the “Therefore” referring to ? let us not judge one another anymore judge - krinō - to form an opinion, Luke 7:43; John 7:24;Rom 14:5,10 present tense – stop judging this moment but rather determine this – determine – krinō – same Greek word but be judging this rather (Wuest) not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way obstacle - an obstacle against which one may dash his foot stumbling block - the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed both words can be used in a good sense – see 1 Peter 2:8

4. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 4 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus know –oida – complete knowledge convinced – having been persuaded, believe (a change of mind) passive voice - see Rom 8:38, Acts 17:1-4 both know and convinced are in the perfect tense that nothing is unclean in itself unclean - defiled, common, unclean see Mark 7:2, Acts 10:14, 28 what does this statement mean? but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, thinks – logizomai - to reckon, take into account – present tense to him it is unclean

5. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 5 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. because of food your brother is hurt you are no longer walking according to love if walking – peripateō - signifying the whole round of the activities of the individual life – see Eph 5:2, Col 2:6, Rom 6:4 hurt – lypeō - to be grieved, sad, sorrowful – see Eph 4:30 Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. destroy - the idea is not extinction but ruin, loss, not of being, but of well-being. what Class ?

6. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 6 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Therefore – based on verses 13 to 15 stop allowing your good to be spoken of in a reproachful and evil manner; blasphēmeō - to blaspheme, rail, revile What is your good in this verse ? for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking kingdom of God – the rule of God over his creatures but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit these are characteristics of Christ’s life in us

7. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 7 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. he who in this way serves Christ is serves - to serve as a doulos acceptable to God acceptable in Rom 12:1 and 2 well-pleasing in 2 Cor. 5:9; Eph. 5:10; Heb. 13:21 approved by men approved – dokimos - Proved, receivable, tried as metals by fire and thus be purified

8. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 8 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. So then – Paul’s conclusion is as follows we pursue (let us pursue) pursue – diōkō - to pursue in a good sense see Heb 12:14, 2 Tim 2:22 the things which make for peace peace – eirēnē - harmonious relationships between men, Phil. 4:9 the building up of one another building up – oikodomē - "the act of building" (oikos, "a home," and demo, "to build"), Rom. 15:2; 1 Cor. 14:3, 5, 12, 26,

9. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 9 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food tear down – katalyō - to loose or unloose what was before bound or fastened work of God – see Eph. 2:10 All things indeed are clean but they (all things) are evil for the man who eats and gives offense evil for the man who eats evil - actively causing evil, i.e., hurtful, harmful gives offense – called “an obstacle” in Rom.14:13 lit: by causing offense (stumbling)

10. R. Henderson 8/12/07 Lesson # 95 10 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles stumbles – same root word as in verses 13 and 20 “ to beat upon or against, to strike against, dash against” Paul’s view on our Christian liberty – see 1 Cor. 10:27-31

11. The Do’s of our Christian liberties *The Don’t’s of our Christian liberties * Do start judging yourself (strong) that you Do walk (conduct your life) always in the debt of love (universal principle) as opposed to claiming your rights (strong) Do serve Christ by walking in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and forgo your liberty is necessary (strong) Do actively and eagerly pursue the things that promote peace and the building up of one another spiritually (weak and strong) * Hal Molloy Romans Notes Dec. 1978 Don’t judge one another (weak & strong) Don’t be a stumbling block (spiritual hindrance) or a snare (trap) to your brother by exercising your liberty if it is wrong to him (strong) Don’t grieve or distress your brother by the exercise of your liberty (strong) Don’t destroy (keep on leading your weaker brother in a path of ruin) with respect to his spiritual life (strong) Don’t be wrong by being right—your liberty is not a license that it should be blasphemed (strong) Don’t undo the work of God for a t-bone steak or a drink because it may cause your brother to stumble and be led away from Christ instead of closer to Christ (strong) Don’t exercise your liberty if there is a question— and you will be happy because you will be free from having to pass sentence on yourself (strong) Don’t exercise any liberty that your conscience questions—because if it cannot be done in faith then it is sin (weak)