Our Changed Relationship to the Weak – Part 2 Our Changed Relationship to the Weak in Faith – Part 2 Romans II Series [23] Romans 14:13-23

RECAP & OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 14 What is Paul’s focus in Romans 14?  Chap 12-13General Exhortations for all Christians  Chap 14-15Specific Exhortations for the Roman Church [dispute over eating meat & keeping Sabbath] Who were “the weak” in faith?  They were mostly Jewish Christians.  Their consciences were still bounded by their Jewish laws & customs of eating “kosher” food and keeping Sabbath.  On the other hand, “the strong” were mostly gentile Christians who were free in practicing Christian liberty from the Jewish customs & laws.  The weakness/strength of their faith referred not to their spiritual maturity but to their freedom in conscience of faith forgoing the Jewish customs & OT laws.

RECAP & OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 14 What is at the core of the Romans 14 issue?  The core issue is about the tension of each person’s conscience of faith in practicing Christian liberty (i.e., we are free from the Law) in the non-essentials.  However, it is NOT about practicing “antinomianism” (i.e., we now have a license to sin).  The common ground of the weak and the strong is the fact that both type of people were striving to live for the Lord. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:7-8

RECAP & OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 14 If these issues are “non-essentials”, what are “essentials”? In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, and in all things charity.

RECAP & OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 14 If these issues are “non-essentials”, what are “essentials”?  About GOD: Trinity of God, Christ (deity & humanity, Lordship, death & resurrection, and second coming), Holy Spirit (deity, the Third person of the Trinity).  About SALVATION/GOSPEL: grace & faith vs. the law & works.  About SCRIPTURE: reliability and authority of the Bible.

11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:11-15

RECAP & OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 14 What was Paul’s initial exhortation in Rom 14:1-12 [last week]?  Accept each other and don’t pass judgment to each other.  Why? The Lord accepted you and will judge everyone.

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 1)Never put a stumbling block in others by your liberty. 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (vs.13-14)

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 1)Never put a stumbling block in others by your liberty.  Stop judging others from your standard; instead, make a decision about your Christian liberty.  Decide on this: NEVER cause others stumble because of your liberty.  Paul’s personal conviction on eating meat: nothing is unclean by itself—but it is each person’s faith-conscience that matters on gray areas. 1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 2)Walk in love toward the weak for whom Christ died. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (vs )

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 2)Walk in love toward the weak for whom Christ died.  The operating WORD of Christian liberty is not “rights” but “love” that serves others.  Christ died for the weak brother or sister—so love them rather than hurt them.  Remember: If our liberty causes others stumble, the good turns into evil. A Christian is a most free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all. Martin Luther

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 3)Pursue what leads to peace and mutual edification. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (vs )

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 3)Pursue what leads to peace and mutual edification.  The essence of the kingdom of God is the Spirit producing the fruits of righteousness, peace and joy in our lives. Do not destroy the work of God through fussing over non- essentials. Rather, gladly relinquish your rights to freedom if they hinder or hurt them in their faith.  What makes for peace and upbuilding? Choosing to serve Christ by loving the weak in faith. Giving up the rights of freedom for sake of others. Seeking to use our freedom to build up others in love.

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 3)Pursue what leads to peace and mutual edification.  FOUR STAGES of Christian maturity in light of this “upbuilding” principle: “Non-committed Stage”: desires to grow but inconsistent. “Minimally Committed Stage”: consistent but lacks intentionality and passion. “Committed & Serving Stage”: commits and serves with individual passion & freedom. “Committed & Upbuilding Stage”: concerns about the unity and building up the spiritual community more than individual passion & freedom.

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 4)Cultivate your faith-convictions on “gray” areas out of the personal leading of the Spirit & Scripture-guidance. 22The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (vs )

KEY PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 4)Cultivate your faith-convictions on “gray” areas out of the personal leading of the Spirit & Scripture-guidance.  Faith here does not refer to faith for salvation but more conscience shaped by faith in gray areas.  Each of us must act from this faith-conviction not from doubt or confusion on gray areas (e.g., drinking, smoking, certain types of movies, playing poker/casino, etc.)  For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin = If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong. [v.23b, MSG]

Let the World See the Heart of the Gospel To sum up, what Paul has said to us is: Do not deliberately stumble or shock your brother or sister. Do not deliberately do things that will offend them, or even make them feel uncomfortable. Think about them, not yourself. Second: Give up your right when it threatens the peace or hinders the growth of another individual. Be alert to judge in that area. And third: Never act from doubt. Act only from conviction, by the Word, and by the Spirit of God. If these problems are all settled on that basis, a congregation will be moving gradually toward the great liberty that we have as children of God. What will happen in the eyes of the watching world? Christians will be seen to be free people, not controlled by scruples that limit them and narrow them in their enjoyment of God's great gifts... The world will begin to see that the heart of the Gospel is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of God. Those gifts, then, are the basis for freedom in all these areas. - Ray Stedman

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.MAKE UP your mind to never stumble other believers with your liberty.  Remember your operating principle is walk in LOVE.  Remember that Christ died for the weak brother/sister. 2. GIVE UP your rights of freedom to walk in love toward the weak in faith.  Give them up not out of pride or self-entitlement but out of grace-filled love for the brothers & sisters around you.  Give them up to seek peace and mutual upbuilding. 3. BUILD UP one another mutually in your spiritual community.  Pursue authentic spiritual maturity in your community.  Make upbuilding of your spiritual community as your primary concern for exercising your liberty.