1. When Christians Disagree
Chapter 12
Romans 14:1-15:7

2. Disunity, a major problem with God’s people
Ps 133:1 – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
Problems from backgrounds of the believers in the churches
Keep convictions to himself rather than to criticize and judge one another
Believers can disagree on non essentials and still maintain unity in the church

3. Receiver One Another (14:1-12)
Begins and ends with the same admonition: receive one another
Strong in faith & weak in faith
Strong: understood the spiritual liberty & were not enslaved to diet & days
Weak: immature Christians who felt obligated to obey the legalistic rules concerning the diet & days
Strong Christians were despising the weak
Weak Christians were judging the strong Christians
God receives us (1-3)

4. Jesus Christ is the Lord (5-9)
Not our responsibility to decide the requirements for Christian fellowship
Augustine: In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity
Peter: Acts 11 & Gal. 2:11-13
Fellowship is not based on food and days
God sustains His own (4)
Wrong for the weak Christians to take place of God
God the Master, the Christians the servants
Success doesn’t depend on the opinions or attitudes of other Christians
Servants should be busy for the Lord and not judge or condemn other Christians
Jesus Christ is the Lord (5-9)
Lord 8 times in v. 5-9
No Christians has the right to play God in the lives of other Christians

5. Jesus is the judge (10-12) We relate food & day to the Lord
“fully persuaded in his own mind” (5)
Let every man see to it that he is really doing for the Lord’s sake, and not merely on the basis of prejudice & whim
Some standards & practices in our local churches are traditional, but not necessarily scriptural
John 21:15-25: “What is that to thee? Follow me.”
Paul’s emphasis on believers’ union: Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s (8)
Jesus is the judge (10-12)
Both weak & strong will stand at the judgment seat (bema) of Christ (I Cor 9:24-27) and be judged for the works, not sins
How we build our ministries (I Cor 3:10-15)
How to prepare

6. Making Jesus Lord of his life and faithfully obeying Him
Judge ourselves rather than other Christians (Luke 12:41-48, Heb 13:17, I John 2:28)
Sin keeps us from serving Christ
Loss of reward (I Cor 3:15)
Lot & Abraham
Give account of ourselves
Principle of Lordship
Spurgeon & Parker
“I have learned that God blessed people I disagree with”
Edify One Another (14:13-23)
The emphasis on brother relationship, not master-servant
Principle of brotherly love

7. Christians affect one another (13-15)
Christian can cause other believers to stumble, grieve others, or even destroy others
Knowledge & love (I Cor 8:1): “Knowlwdge puffs up, but love builds up.
There is nothing unclean of itself (14)
Issue is not “How does it affect me?”, rather “If I do this, how will it affect my brother?”
Christians must have priorities (16-18)
Christians major in minor things
Division over insignificant matters
Eternal matter, not external must be first in our lives: righteousness. peace & joy
Spiritual priorities essential to harmony in church
Christians must help each other grow (19-21)
Strong believers need to grow in love
Weak believers need to grow in knowledge

8. Christians must not force their opinions on others (22-23)
The weak must learn from the strong; strong believers must love the weak
Result: peace & maturity to the glory of God
Christians must not force their opinions on others (22-23)
Certain truths all Christians must accept because they are the foundation for their faith
If conviction from God, keep to yourself
Conscience is strengthened by knowledge
Knowledge must be balance by love
Please one another (15:1-7)
Basic problem with strong Christians: selfishness
True Christian love seeks to share with others & make them happy
Sources of spiritual power to please others
Word of God (4)
Prayer (5-6)

9. Patience vs impatience
The local church must major in the Word of God & prayer
Acts 6:1-7 – Deacons were chosen
Result: glory of God
Abraham’s words: “Let there be no strife … for we be brethren.” (Gen 13:8)
Jesus prayed for the unity in John 17:20-26)
Receive one another, edify one another, & please one another to the glory of God

10. Person’s spiritual maturity is revealed by his discernment
Psalm 69:9b – The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me (15:3)
Measure your sacrifice by Christ’s sacrifice
Person’s spiritual maturity is revealed by his discernment
Willing to give up his right to help others grow
Blessing rather than burden