1. Faith, Conscience, and Convictions

2. Introduction Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Spiritual maturity allows us to determine what practices are commanded, prohibited or left to our discretion 
No two people are the same in terms of maturity
We must work to grow in the Lord in such a way that we can effectively practice and share our faith

3. Introduction Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
 Unity is essential among believers – 1Cor. 1:10
Absolute unity of understanding is an unrealistic expectation
Because of sinful attitudes - 1Cor 5
Because of indifference - Eph. 4:1-16
Because of different levels of spiritual maturity - Rom 14; 1Cor 8
“In faith, unity; in opinion, liberty; in all things charity” (Thomas Campbell)

4. Background of the Text Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Romans 14 is at the end of the section of Romans dealing with the reality of New Man Living (Rom 12-15:13)
New Man Living - The life one begins when he is buried with Christ, dies to sin and is raised “to walk in newness of life”
A “living sacrifice” who understands that “loved is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 12:1; 13:10)

5. Background of the Problem in Rome
Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Background of the Problem in Rome
41-54 A.D. Claudius ordered the Jews out of Rome (Acts 18:2)
This would have left a congregation consisting of mainly Gentiles
54 A.D. Claudius died rendering the edict void
Jews begin to move back to Rome
By 57 A.D. the congregation would have been largely Jewish

6. Background of the Problem in Rome
Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Background of the Problem in Rome
Tension between those who are called “strong” and those considered “weak”
Two views existed among the Roman brethren
In the liberty of Christ, food laws were no longer important and observance of days unnecessary
In the law of the Lord, it is wrong to eat meat and certain days should be observed above others
" 1And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”" Acts 15:1
"11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”" Acts 15:11

7. Righteous Liberties, Not sinful Practices
Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Righteous Liberties, Not sinful Practices
“Weak” is not used to describe the quality of the person’s faith, but the maturity of that faith
The weak brother is failing to see his liberties because he has a strong desire to serve the Lord
The same brother could be weak in one area and strong in another (1 Cor. 8)

8. Righteous Liberties, Not sinful Practices
Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Righteous Liberties, Not sinful Practices
The Weak Brother
“accept the one who is weak in faith” vs. 1
“for God has accepted him” vs. 3
He is one “for whom Christ died” vs. 21
The Errant Sinner
“keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life…” – 1Thess. 3
“receive him not…” 2 Jn. 10
“the dogs of the circumcision” Phil 3:2

9. Live for the Lord Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
The New Man’s life is not his own – vs. 7-8
Our liberty is not worth another’s soul
The willingness to set aside liberty for the sake of another is the true expression of liberty in Christ
“So completely was he emancipated from spiritual bondage that he was not even in bondage to his emancipation” (Romans, An Introductory Commentary)

10. Live for the Lord Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
Paul admonishes the strong brother to accept the weak, but not with contempt - vs. 1-2, 10
We must respect each other’s conscience - vs. 5-6, 14
It is not enough to call one another brother and yet isolate the weak - vs. 20

11. Live for the Lord Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
One should “not condemn himself in what he approves” – vs. 22
“approves” - to make a critical examination of something to determine genuineness, put to the test, examine (BDAG)
The idea here is to develop a conviction based on the careful study of God’s word

12. How do I exercise my liberties?
Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
How do I exercise my liberties?
Do not cause your brother to stumble (14:13)
To “grieve” one another over these issues would be sin (14:14-15a)
“Grieved” – denotes the idea of “pain” or “harm”
Do not destroy your brother (14:15b)
Same word used for eternal damnation in Matt 10:28; Lk 13:3; Jn 3:16; Rom 2:12
“The idea is not extinction but ruin, loss, not of being but of wellbeing” (Vine’s)

13. How do I exercise my liberties?
Faith, Conscience, and Convictions
How do I exercise my liberties?
Do not forfeit your example (14:16-19)
Do not use your freedom in Christ to pressure the weak to violate their conscience (14:20-21)
Do not denounce or flaunt your liberty (14:22-23)