Aug. 13, 2023

“DOING THE RIGHT THING”

“BUILDING EACH OTHER UP IN THE FAITH”

ROMANS 14:13-23

Paul shares several facts to help believers on helping others:

1.   We Influence One Another- Romans 14:13

Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

Knowledge and love must work together.

1 Corinthians 8:1 “Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”

2.   Nothing Is Unclean Of Itself- Romans 14:14-16

Romans 14:14 “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”

Romans 14:15-16 “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil.”

“Destroy”- can mean enabling someone’s physical destruction by setting a poor example.

Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.”

3.   We Must Have Priorities- Romans 14:17-18

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The essence of Christianity is not found in external matters.

Matthew 15:11 “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

At the end of the day we will answer not for what we put into our stomachs but for the attitudes we nurtured in our hearts.

1 Corinthians 8:8 “But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 14:18 “For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

Galatians 5:13 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

4.   We Must Help Other Grow- Romans 14:19-20

Both strong and weak Christians need to grow. The weak Christian needs to grow in knowledge and the strong Christian need to grow in love.

Romans 14:19 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

2 Peter 3:18

Romans 14:20 “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.”

*When liberty hinders the work of God, it must yield.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.”

5.   We Must Not Force Our Opinions On Others- Romans 14:21-23

Everyone has room for growth, and everyone is still learning to maintain balance. 

* Be Considerate of Others 

Romans 14:21 “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.”

What you enjoy in the privacy of your home is entirely between you and the Lord. All things are lawful, not all things are constructive.

• Be Convinced

Romans 14:22 “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”

*Be Consistent

Romans 14:23 “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Galatians 5:13 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Just as we are saved by faith, we are to walk by faith allowing the Spirit to guide us.