ROMANS LESSON FOURTEEN. MAINTAINING FELLOWSHIP WHEN BRETHREN DIFFER OVER MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD (Romans 14:1-15:7). In this chapter we deal with

ROMANSROMANSLESSON FOURTEENLESSON FOURTEEN

MAINTAINING FELLOWSHIP WHEN BRETHREN MAINTAINING FELLOWSHIP WHEN BRETHREN DIFFER OVERDIFFER OVER

MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD (Romans 14:1-15:7).(Romans 14:1-15:7).

In this chapter we deal with the In this chapter we deal with the problem of eating or not eating meat.problem of eating or not eating meat.

In I Corinthians 8 and 10:14-33- Paul In I Corinthians 8 and 10:14-33- Paul warns about eating meats sacrificed warns about eating meats sacrificed to idols.to idols.

In chapter 14 of Romans, it seems In chapter 14 of Romans, it seems that it refers also to eating meat that that it refers also to eating meat that the OT law declared unclean. the OT law declared unclean.


MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD (Romans 14:1-15:7).(Romans 14:1-15:7).

A. Receive those weak in the faith – A. Receive those weak in the faith – weak not to judge those strong in weak not to judge those strong in the faith (v.1-6).the faith (v.1-6).

Weakness in faith consisted in Weakness in faith consisted in doubtsdoubts of our liberties: eating meat.of our liberties: eating meat.

This weakness is not talking about the This weakness is not talking about the truths in Christ.truths in Christ.

We are talking about matters of We are talking about matters of libertiesliberties

We are right with God as long as our We are right with God as long as our liberties do not interfere with liberties do not interfere with our/others faith or obedience.our/others faith or obedience.

We cannot force our We cannot force our libertiesliberties upon upon others. others.

1. Matters of eating meats or eating 1. Matters of eating meats or eating only herbs. (v. 1-4)only herbs. (v. 1-4)

““But the Spirit explicitly says that in later But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demonsand doctrines of demons, by means of , by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men conscience as with a branding iron, men

who who forbid forbid marriage and marriage and advocateadvocate abstaining from foods which God has abstaining from foods which God has createdcreated to be gratefully shared in by those to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” (I Tim. 4:1-of the word of God and prayer.” (I Tim. 4:1-5)5)

““This testimony is true. For this reason This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, be sound in the faith, not paying not paying attention to Jewish myths and attention to Jewish myths and commandments of mencommandments of men who turn who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, They profess to know God, but by their but by their deeds they deny Himdeeds they deny Him, being detestable , being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” (Titus 1:13-16)good deed.” (Titus 1:13-16)

This is drawing lines of fellowship on the This is drawing lines of fellowship on the basis of their selfish liberties.basis of their selfish liberties.

Peter was once guilty of this and Paul confronted Peter was once guilty of this and Paul confronted him (Galatians 2:11-14)him (Galatians 2:11-14)

““But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because him to his face, because he stood condemnedhe stood condemned. . For prior to the coming of certain men from For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he James, he used to eatused to eat with the Gentiles; but with the Gentiles; but when they came, when they came, he began to withdrawhe began to withdraw and and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.”carried away by their hypocrisy.”

““But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called A brother if he is an immoral any so-called A brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with not even to eat with such a onesuch a one.” (I Cor. 5:11).” (I Cor. 5:11)

In essence Peter had withdrawn fellowship with In essence Peter had withdrawn fellowship with them.them.

In our Liberty as Christians:In our Liberty as Christians:

There are things we There are things we MUST MUST do. do. There are things we There are things we MUST NOTMUST NOT do. do. There are things that we are at There are things that we are at LIBERTYLIBERTY to to

do. do. Paul said “Paul said “All things are lawful for meAll things are lawful for me, ,

but but not all things are profitablenot all things are profitable. All things . All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (I Cor. 6:12)by anything.” (I Cor. 6:12)

““All things are lawful, but All things are lawful, but not all things not all things are profitableare profitable. All things are lawful, but . All things are lawful, but not all things edifynot all things edify” (I Cor. 10:23)” (I Cor. 10:23)

Liberty vs Matters of faithLiberty vs Matters of faith

LibertyLiberty To worship twice To worship twice

on Sundayon Sunday

Matters of FaithMatters of Faith To Worship on the To Worship on the

Sabbath.Sabbath.


LibertyLiberty To support To support

individually individually colleges that are colleges that are run by brethren. Or run by brethren. Or any other human any other human institution.institution.

Matters of FaithMatters of Faith To support colleges To support colleges

that are run by that are run by brethren with the brethren with the Lords money. Or Lords money. Or any other human any other human institution.institution.


LibertyLiberty To work with a To work with a

preacher who preacher who graduates from graduates from said college.said college.

Matters of FaithMatters of Faith To rely on the To rely on the

colleges to produce colleges to produce preachers or to only preachers or to only consider those who consider those who have graduated have graduated from these colleges.from these colleges.


LibertyLiberty To dress up on To dress up on

Halloween and Halloween and trick-or-treat.trick-or-treat.

FaithFaith To uphold the To uphold the

Wiccan religionWiccan religion


LibertyLiberty To get together on To get together on

X-mas and X-mas and exchange gifts exchange gifts (taking the religion (taking the religion out of x-mas)out of x-mas)

FaithFaith To have a religious To have a religious

celebration of x-celebration of x-mas, complete with mas, complete with saints and statues, saints and statues, carols and the carols and the whole nine yards.whole nine yards.


LibertyLiberty To dress with tie To dress with tie

and coat.and coat.

FaithFaith To To forceforce someone someone

to dress in tie or to dress in tie or coat, and if he coat, and if he does not then we does not then we consider him sinful consider him sinful (The Bible only (The Bible only teaches to bring teaches to bring the best to the the best to the Lord). Lord).


LibertyLiberty To say “it is better To say “it is better

for women to wear for women to wear dresses rather than dresses rather than pants. (decent, not pants. (decent, not skin tight or skin tight or revealing).revealing).

FaithFaith To say that if a To say that if a

woman wears woman wears anyany kind of pants, she kind of pants, she is going to hell.is going to hell.


LibertyLiberty To say that it is To say that it is

good to read good to read magazine articles magazine articles written by written by brethren.brethren.

FaithFaith To draw lines of To draw lines of

fellowship fellowship depending on what depending on what magazine you magazine you read or support.read or support.


MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GODMATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD(Romans 14:1-15:7).(Romans 14:1-15:7).

2. Matters of observing certain days or 2. Matters of observing certain days or not observing days. (v.5)not observing days. (v.5)

3. One must be fully convinced in own 3. One must be fully convinced in own mind with practice. (v.6)mind with practice. (v.6)

B. B. Each man is subject to and will be Each man is subject to and will be judged by the Lord (v.7-12).judged by the Lord (v.7-12).

C. Those strong in the faith C. Those strong in the faith regarding meats must not put a regarding meats must not put a stumbling block in front of stumbling block in front of brother’s way (v.13-23).brother’s way (v.13-23).

1. Meats unclean to the one who still 1. Meats unclean to the one who still considers them unclean. (v.13-14)considers them unclean. (v.13-14)

2. Refrain from eating meats or 2. Refrain from eating meats or drinking wine if the practice causes drinking wine if the practice causes a brother to stumblea brother to stumble. (v. 15-23). (v. 15-23)

The Main Idea: Love One AnotherThe Main Idea: Love One Another

All of the problems discussed in this All of the problems discussed in this lesson have occurred for lack of lesson have occurred for lack of loving one another. (current or in loving one another. (current or in ancient times)ancient times)

““A new commandment I give to you, A new commandment I give to you, that you that you love one another, even love one another, even as I have loved youas I have loved you, that you also , that you also love one another.” (Jn. 13:34)love one another.” (Jn. 13:34)

Love is well known by it’s actionsLove is well known by it’s actions

““Love is patient, love is kind and is not Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.” (I Cor. 13:4)be done away.” (I Cor. 13:4)

Love Compels us to:Love Compels us to: Be kindly affectionate to one another Be kindly affectionate to one another

(devoted to one another) Rom. 12:10.(devoted to one another) Rom. 12:10. Care for one another (Care for one another (I Cor. 12:25-27I Cor. 12:25-27).). Exhort and stimulate one another (Exhort and stimulate one another (Hebrews Hebrews

3:13; 10:243:13; 10:24).). Bear one another’s burdens (Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:1-3; James Gal. 6:1-3; James

5:9).5:9). Confide in one another to be healed from sin Confide in one another to be healed from sin

(James 5:16)(James 5:16) Tolerate one another (Tolerate one another (Eph. 4:2, 31-32; Col. Eph. 4:2, 31-32; Col.

3:13).3:13). Serve one another (Serve one another (Gal. 5:13-14).Gal. 5:13-14).

This idea is within the context of the This idea is within the context of the book of Romans.book of Romans.

““Let love be without hypocrisyLet love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in mind, but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone Respect what is right in the sight of all men. anyone Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all menpeace with all men.” (Romans 12:9-18).” (Romans 12:9-18)

D. Christ’s example in D. Christ’s example in unselfishly helping the unselfishly helping the weak (15:1-7).weak (15:1-7).

1. Christ pleased others by 1. Christ pleased others by looking to their interests, looking to their interests, not his own. not his own.

2. Brethren to receive one 2. Brethren to receive one another as Christ received another as Christ received them.them.

Documents

ROMANS LESSON FOURTEEN. MAINTAINING FELLOWSHIP WHEN BRETHREN DIFFER OVER MATTERS INDIFFERENT WITH GOD (Romans 14:1-15:7). In this chapter we deal with