Romans 14

ROMANS
Chapter 14

What Makes Christians Different?

Scripture Reading
Romans 14: 1-4

We call one who is weak in the faith a baby Christian.

A baby Christian is someone new to the faith, with only a basic understanding of Scripture. Paul exhorts the mature Christians to welcome the new Christians in brotherly love.

Paul cautions the mature Christians not to judge the new Christian for their lack of understanding of the truths of Paul’s gospel. Paul uses the example of a dietary choice as an inconsequential difference in belief. Under the law, Jews were not permitted to eat unclean things (Lev 5:2).

Peter, on the other hand, had a vision which seemingly contradicts Leviticus 5:2 (Acts 11:4-9).

Whether this vision pertained to dietary choice, acceptance of the Gentile, or both, neither interpretation is of consequence compared to Paul’s gospel.

Footnotes:

All Scripture references are taken from the New King James Bible

“Mutual love and respect are the marks of true disciples of Christ[1].”

We all are, in part, products of our background. We carry beliefs and customs that shape our Christian lives. For example, some Christians see nothing wrong with including the myth of Santa Claus in their Christmas observance. On the other side of that coin, there are Christians who think that including Santa Claus is wrong. Because it teaches a lie, and it helps take Christ out of Christmas. In the above exampl,e we see a non-doctrinal, non-theological issue, having no bearing on Christian character. We are not to look down or think badly about any brother or sister whose beliefs differ slightly from our own.

           

            Some Jews' vegetarian dietary habits originated during their captivity in Babylon. Daniel and his friends rejected the king’s food, not knowing whether or not it was food offered to Babylonian gods, which is forbidden by Levitical law (Dan 1:8).

However, Paul states: “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 (1 Cor 8:8).” The actions of a Christian will be judged by the only one who is worthy to do so –Christ Jesus.

Scripture Reading

Romans 14: 5 - 13

Is the Sabbath on Friday/Saturday or Sunday? According to the Hebrew calendar, the first day of the week is called Yom Rishon. However, on the Gregorian calendar, this day is called Sunday.

God called the first day of the week, simply the first day (Gen 1:5). Whether or not this day was, centuries later, called Sunday or Monday cannot be determined by Scripture. The Lord commanded that the seventh day was to be kept holy, calling it the Sabbath1.

Evangelicals call Sunday the Lord’s Day. Paul says that holding one day greater than another is a matter of conviction. The important thing to remember is that one day a week should be set apart and kept holy for worship. God did not need a day of rest. But He knew that mortal humans did need one day in seven to rest from their labors (Mar 2:27). Verse 6 is another example of Paul's personal conviction.

The Person who worships on the Jewish Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) is not greater, nor are they less than those who worship on Sunday. Both worshipers honor and worship the Lord on their day of rest, according to their convictions. The person who commits themselves to a vegetarian diet because of their personal conviction is no greater or lesser Christian than one who eats meat. Neither is more significant because both give thanks to the Lord for their provisions. Remember that God made the Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mar 2:27). We are not servants of the law. We are servants of the One who authored the law. Jesus said He was the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark2:28).

Jesus purchased us by the shedding of His blood. We are not slaves in captivity, because we have free will. We are bondservants of the One who created us. The same One who created us died in our place. Therefore Paul is saying, in taking on the cross of Jesus, we die to our old self and are reborn in Jesus a new creation (2 Cor 5:14-17). When we die to our old self, we take on a new self in the image of Jesus. In verse 9, Paul sums it all up by saying, “to this end, Christ died and lived (again).”

There is a tendency in some Christians to judge other Christians. There is no seniority in God’s kingdom. There is no difference between the lifelong Christian and the newborn Christian in God’s eyes. All Christians will stand before Jesus Christ at the bema seat.

All are judged according to their good works and not the length of time they have called themselves Christians. Therefore, if we are all the same before God, by what authority do we judge? The only authority to judge the living and the dead was given by God the Father to God the Son (Jhn 5:27). In verse 11, Paul quotes Isaiah 45:23.

We will give an account of our deeds as Christians. Therefore if we judge our brothers and sisters in Christ, shall we not likewise be judged by Christ Jesus?

Holman writes:

 His [Paul’s] background as a Pharisee trained him to emphasize the distinction between clean and unclean, but Jesus persuaded him that this distinction was no longer valid. Thus Paul adopted a new stance, but he also recognized that some believers, especially those from a Jewish background, had not made this transition. Mature believers should not recklessly push "weak" believers (v. 1) into such a transition.”

Not only are we not to judge one another, but we are also to take great care that we do not cause another to stumble.

WORD STUDY (Stumble)

The Transliteration of stumble is the Greek word skandalon, literally meaning a snare. Part of Speech - neuter noun. "In the New Testament, skandalon is always used metaphorically, and ordinarily of anything that arouses prejudice, or becomes a hindrance to others, or causes them to fall by the way. Sometimes the hindrance is in itself good, and those stumbled by it are the wicked[2].” Therefore, refrain from doing or saying anything that might cause another to falter in their walk with Jesus.

Scripture Reading

Romans 14: 14-18

Paul’s statement in verse 14 goes against his training under Gamaliel.

Jesus first showed the apostle Peter, in a vision, that God made the clean and unclean.

Peter saw the vision of a sheet with every clean and unclean creature and was told to kill and eat.

The purpose of this vision was twofold.

1. To convince Peter not to see Gentiles as unclean.

2. To show Peter that all that God had created was good.

      No longer was he to shun the Gentile, or be burdened with the legalism in his diet. However, if a person believes that something is unclean to him, then it is forbidden to him. If the Holy Spirit convicts a person of something, we do not have the authority to judge that person for his convictions. The Holy Spirit will not convict someone of anything that is not in the perfect will of God. In Verse 15, Paul adds a caveat.

      Jesus died for all who would believe in Him. Therefore, it is wrong for a Christian to force his personal convictions on another, causing the other to turn away from Christ. As an example; A Christian believes that to drink coffee is sinful because it contains caffeine -a stimulant. Now he tells a person he is witnessing to of this conviction. Because of this revelation, that person does not become a Christian, deciding this religion is too restrictive. Without knowing it, this witnessing Christian has turned one who would have believed into a person who now rejects Christ Jesus. The Christian was right to witness the gospel of Jesus, but wrong to add his conviction to his witness. As Christians, we have been granted liberty from the Levitical law (V. 16-19).

Holman writes the following: 

“Christian liberty will get a bad name if love does not govern it. Food is never to be a major concern in our lives, but we are to promote righteousness, peace, and joy in the churches”[3]. This freedom does not give us a license to do and say what we please.

     As Christians, we come under a higher law. The law was given to us in God’s word and by His Holy Spirit. Remember, always: a Christian's good works can be ruined by one careless act or word. Therefore, do not scorn others for their conviction.  Always remember that their convictions are a bond of faith between them and the Lord.

Scripture Reading

Romans 14: 19-23

We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Look for ways to mentor those who are weak and learn from those who are stronger than we are (V. 19). (V. 20-21) Although God created everything as good, it was mankind who brought sin into the creation (Gen 1:3). Timothy tells us: “Everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”

Paul is speaking mainly to the Jewish converts in verse 21. These proselytes were keeping strict Levitical dietary practices. This problem was systemic in the churches. Paul also addressed this problem with the church in Corinth (1 Cor 8:7-9). It is quite evident that the adherence of some to Levitical law was corrupting Paul’s gospel of grace.

In verse 20, Paul admonishes the Jewish converts. He admonishes them against judging those who had not been personally convicted of the dietary restrictions of Levitical law. The Jewish converts were condemning the Gentiles for their lack of conviction about Jewish law. Even though they had accepted Jesus as Messiah and believed Paul’s gospel, they remained slaves to the law. These Jewish converts did not see the potential damage their scorn would bring to the Gentile Christian. Their judgment was based on their belief that only Jews were God’s chosen people. Therefore the Gentile must first become a Jew to be saved, and this was Paul’s most significant obstacle to overcome.

DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER TO STUMBLE (V. 21)

This admonishment goes beyond eating and drinking and encompasses anything we might say or do.

A loving brother or sister would not drink an alcoholic beverage in the company of an alcoholic.

A loving brother or sister would not offer a hot fudge sundae to a person trying to lose weight.

A loving brother or sister would not intentionally hurt another with hurtful words.

A loving brother or sister would not laugh at the misfortune of another.

A loving brother or sister would offer compassion towards a person in pain.

A loving brother or sister would offer help to the helpless.

A loving brother or sister would offer Scriptural guidance for those in need.

Holman comments on Romans 14:22:

“A Christian's sense of freedom in these matters should not translate into public behavior if another believer finds the freedom scandalous. For instance, a Muslim convert who never ate pork or drank wine might stumble if he saw a Christian doing either of these things”[4].

The keyword to this verse and the proceeding verses is awareness.

Are you guiltless if you are not aware or are ignorant of your brothers or sisters convictions? Consider the following:

1. Your brother or sister may still be offended, but might not stumble if they were aware of your ignorance.

2. You cease the offensive action, followed by an apology.

3. After apologizing for your ignorance, you might explain your personal conviction.

4. Assure your brother or sister that a conviction of God is between the practitioner and God.

Have you ever gone to the refrigerator and found a container of what looks like food. And you have no idea what it is or how long it's been there? I have a saying in my house. When in doubt, through it out. Paul is using a similar expression. When in doubt, it is better not to do something and offend no one. Then to do something that might cause a brother or sister in Christ to falter.

Credits and Bibliography

Jamieson. Robert , A. R. Fausset, D Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. (published, 1871).

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[1] David S. Dockery. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. (Broadman & Holman, 2013).

[2] Vine, William . "Offence - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (Blue letter Bible, 1996)

[3] Holman Bible Editorial Staff. The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018).

[4] Ibid.