Sunday Sermons
Romans 14
Romans Chapter 14
In every generation, there has existed the attempt or plea to tolerate error among God’s people. Romans chapter 14 has frequently been used to justify such toleration. So let’s look at this chapter.
Romans 14:1 “But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples”
“Weak in faith”: This is the Christian who at this time cannot bring themselves to eat meat (14:2). The weakness’ of this chapter is not a moral or sinful weakness. The stronger brother realizes that all foods are clean (Mark 7:19; 1 Tim. 4:3-4). The man who is weak has heard those truths, but at this time his conscience would still bother him if he went ahead and ate (14:23). At the same time, no verse commands us to eat meats; therefore he can abstain and not sin. “Receive ye”: “Receive into your fellowship” (Con). This sets the tone for the entire chapter. Paul is not discussing matters in which one brother is practicing sin or teaching error because the command is to receive them into fellowship. By contrast, we are commanded not to receive those who are practicing sin and spreading error (2 John 9-11; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5:9-11).
Romans 14:1 “Yet not for decision of scruples”: “But not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions” (NASV). This chapter then is dealing with personal practices that we are not to condemn or argue over. By contrast we are commanded to expose and oppose what is false (Ephesians 5:11). The NKJV says doubtful things here, but the idea is not that many doctrines exist to which no clear answer in Scripture is given. Rather the passages are clear, one can eat meat, but this particular person still has conscience problems doing that because of his or her past. The doubts are in their conscience and not in the text of Scripture.
Romans 14:2 “One man hath faith to eat all things”: This is the stronger brother; he understands and can accept that all foods are clean because the Bible says so (Mark 7:19; 1 Timothy 4:3). When he eats, his conscience does not bother him. What a person eats is a manner of personal opinion, and food does not improve our relationship with God abd neither will it harm our relationship (1 Corinthians 8:8). Thus this chapter is talking about lawful practices that are not required.
Romans 14:3 “Judge”: To condemn. This chapter cannot be dealing with issues of right and wrong, because in this chapter no judging or condemnation of either practice, whether eating or abstaining, day keeping or non-day keeping is allowed. Yet in cases where sin is involved, judgments have to be made (Matthew 18:15; Romans 16:18; 1 Corinthians 5:3 “have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing”; 5:11). This is why two brothers engaged in two different practices are commanded to accept each other, because neither of them is in the wrong.
Romans 14 is Dealing with a Practice
This chapter is dealing with more than a privately held opinion; actually the chapter is dealing with a continual practice, or lifestyle that is known. Verse three notes God's acceptance of both brethren in their practice. Some try to use Romans 14 to excuse the person that teaches error, yet claims they do not practice it, or that they only teach error privately. Yet this chapter is not merely dealing with a privately held false view, but something that was regularly practiced and others knew about it. In addition, error taught in private is just as wrong as error that is taught in public (Jude 4).
Romans 14:3 “For God hath received him” Here is the reason why there is to be no condemnation, no contempt, and no interruption in fellowship. The word hath is in the past tense. God already in the past has received this Christian in their practice. Observe that this is true for all the practices mentioned. 14:4 “The Lord hath power to made him stand”: No one has the authority to reverse the Lord’s acceptance of the eater, and thus cause him to be condemned. Neither person in Romans 14 is in a fallen or unfaithful condition. The expression he shall be made to stand, does not mean that God will overlook his sins or that grace will unconditionally cover his sins, rather, he will stand justified because he is presently right in God’s sight. Compare with Ephesians 6:11 and Philippians 1:10. A great danger I see in applying verse 4 to a fallen Christian or a Christian in error is that this would have verse 4 teaching that God will save all fallen Christians, that is, once saved always saved.
Romans 14:5 “One man esteemeth one day above another”: Here is another illustration that is equal to the example of whether one eats or does not eat. The practice of esteeming days is clearly identified as being of the same nature as the eating of or not eating of meat (14:6). Please observe that we are dealing with the observing or not observing of days which does not violate other passages. Continuing to observe the Sabbath Day or the feast days of the Old Testament as a means of gaining favor with God would be wrong (Galatians 4:10-11; 5:4). Failing to see the importance of the First Day of the Week would also be wrong (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25). Yet I can set aside a certain day for myself to study, pray, and so on. Or I can take time out of every day. “Let each man be fully assured in his own mind”: The setting apart a day for God was right, as long as it met the above condition. “Fully assured”: “Fully convinced” (NASV). Being fully convinced means, “I know that this practice or belief is authorized; I do have the right to participate; I can participate without any qualms”. This last statement is another proof that Paul is dealing with matters that are not sinful. If one applies Romans 14 to matters of sin and error, then one would have Paul saying, “It is all right to sin as long as you are fully persuaded”.
Romans 14:6 “Unto the Lord”: This chapter is dealing with practices that it can be said are done for the Lord. Sin or error can never be done “for the Lord”. “Does it in the Lord’s honor” (Gspd). “For the Lord’s sake” (Wey). 14:7 “For none of us liveth to himself”: Each man in this section was motivated by what would please God. Neither man wanted to live for himself. One man ate meat because God allowed it (1 Tim. 4:4). The other man did not because of his conscience, and he respected God’s will regarding not violating a tender conscience (Romans 14:23).
Romans 14:13 “But judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling”: Here is additional evidence that Paul is not discussing sinful practices or false doctrines. Both of those items always cause people to stumble. 14:14 “Nothing is unclean of itself”: This passage clearly sums up what the chapter is discussing, it is dealing with matters that are not sinful. Paul is not discussing fornication, murder, adultery, homosexuality, or false doctrine. Paul mentions this same category in 1 Corinthians 6:12 “all things are lawful for me”.
Romans 14:15 “Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died”: Starting from verse 13 Paul is addressing the meat-eater. He was right, he had a right to eat meat, but that right could be abused. The following verses will express the same truth as addressed in 1 Corinthians chapters 8 and 10. In certain situations, eating meat, and especially in those chapters meat that had been sacrificed to idols, could do harm to another. Yet in reference to things sinful, they always destroy souls no matter what the situation. 14:16 “Let not then your good be evil spoken of”: This is another verse that spells out the subject matter and application of this chapter. We are talking about things that are “good” and not sinful.
Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking”: The practices under discussion here are not essential elements in the Kingdom of God. This is why they could be practiced or not practiced. Being in the kingdom was not dependent upon eating or not eating meat. Yet whether one sins or whether the truth is taught or not taught are essential elements of what the Kingdom of God is all about. Sin is a big deal in the Kingdom that Jesus established (Matthew 18:15).
Romans 14:22 “The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God”: The faith under consideration here is one's own personal conviction about eating meats, yet it is not a conviction that we must press upon others. Yet the opposite is true in what people commonly call matters of faith. In this realm we are to preach the whole counsel of God to the world (Mark 16:15; 2 Cor. 10:5; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 2:15).
Romans 14:23 “But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat”: God does not want us to violate our conscience even in a matter that is good because that is a manifestation of a lack of trust. We would be doing something that we really do not believe in. God only wants the non-eater eating when he can fully bring his conscience in line with His word. This does not mean that we only are required to keep the commands that are comfortable to us. This chapter is not dealing with positive commands such as being baptized, attending, keeping ourselves pure, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, and so on. It is dealing with practices that are lawful but not mandatory.
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
