2. Introduction Romans 14 is one of the most misused passages today, even in the church. This portion of Scripture deals with the conscience, liberties, and peace. An important part of Christianity is getting along with brethren. Today, unity does not come easily in the church.

3. John 17:20-23 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

4. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

5. Ephesians 2:14-16 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

6. Romans 14:1-4 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

7. Accept the Weak A. We must accept the weak, but not to blast his opinions. It must be true acceptance. 1.This “weakness” isn’t faith in Jesus, but a lack of knowledge (1 Cor. 8:7). B. A man is strong, to eat all things, but another is weak, and cannot conscientiously eat meat.

8. Accept the Weak C. Are they to hold each other in contempt because of their differences? No, God has accepted both. D. We are not to judge one another in matters where God accepts both sides. If a Christian judges another Christian, it will not change the Lord’s viewpoint of the judged man.

9. Romans 14:5-9 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10. God is Pleased with Both A. One man judges one day above another, and the other judges each day alike. B. The one who observes the holiday, does so for God; the one who doesn’t observe it, does so for God.

11. God is Pleased with Both C. Those who observed would judge those who did not and vice versa. This was dangerous and threatened unity. D. Christ died, and rose again; now He is the Lord of dead and living. He died so that the dead might live (1 Thess. 5:9- 10).

12. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

13. Romans 14:10-12 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

14. Let God Judge A. We cannot judge a brother in something God accepts. God will judge- and we will stand before Him in judgment. B. Each one will give account for his own actions (Matt. 12:36).

15. Romans 14:13-15 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. 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. 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. Don’t Trip a Brother A. Because God will judge, we should not judge one another. So, we DETERMINE to not be a stumbling block. B. We can exercise our liberty, but we must make certain it will not harm another.

17. Don’t Trip a Brother C. Nothing is unclean of itself, but if you feel that it is unclean, it is unclean to you. D. We are not walking according to love if we let something as inconsequential as food harm a brother. This could destroy someone’s faith!

18. Romans 14:16-18 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19. Man is Pleased with Both A. Because nothing is unclean of itself, do not let your actions that are approved by God be spoken of as evil. B. The kingdom is not physical, and food is insignificant in comparison to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

20. Man is Pleased with Both C. If we serve Christ by seeking to build others up and not exercising our liberty to harm another, we are acceptable to God and should be approved by men.

21. Romans 14:19-21 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 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. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

22. Pursue Peace and Strengthen A. Because of all these things, we pursue peace and building up of each other. B. We should not tear down the work of God because of our opinions. These things are clean, but evil for the one who eats with a guilty conscience.

23. Pursue Peace and Strengthen C. We must not exercise our liberty to make our brethren stumble. “Wine” here does not refer to intoxicating alcohol, but either grape juice or water purified with a very small amount of alcohol to rid the water of germs.

24. Romans 14:22-23 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

25. Do Not Doubt A. Each man must convict himself to do whatever he does as to the Lord. He must not doubt or second-guess his actions. B. The one who doubts is condemned, because whatever is not from faith is sin.

26. Applications Paul implores us to accept the weak in faith, not to judge or look down on him. Everyone must be fully convicted in his own mind. Don’t practice a doctrine you are uncertain of. The things each one does are for the Lord, and God approves of these things as long as they are not inherently sinful.

27. Applications We must be cautious in exercising our liberties in the presence of a weaker brother so as to not make him stumble. The strong brother must not allow the weak brother to condemn his actions, because the strong brother does what he does for the Lord.

28. Applications We must pursue peace and never preach our opinions, but only that which can be found in the Bible. Romans 14 does not mean that we can accept a brother who decides to preach a doctrine contrary to Scripture. It deals only with matters of conscience, and not matters of faith.

29. Conclusion We learned many things from Romans 14. The entire chapter is focused on matters of conscience and how the Christian must deal with them. Each one of us will give an account to God. Are you ready to give that account?