Romans chapter 14 Message Two

Many believers have wrong (or immature) ideas about God’s will because they are not familiar with His Word. Paul instructed the strong (knowledgeable of God’s Word) to receive the immature into the fellowship and to refrain from arguing with them. Paul also instructed the weak to refrain from judging others!

Paul did not surrender doctrine for anyone –

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Paul taught that one can be both right and gentle in building up the brethren in the Word of Truth –

Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Which brings us to Romans chapter 14 –

We learned that Paul instructed the church to –

I. Care for one another. 14:1 “…receive ye…” Take them unto yourselves, as family, to help them and enjoy being one with another in the church.

Be the one to teach them, not seeking arguments and debates. We are to –

II. Create an atmosphere of growing in the Lord.. 14:1-6

When we all, weak and strong, remember that we are the Lord’s, we then –

III. Commit ourselves to the Lord. 14:7-12

And tonight we see that we are to –

IV. Consider others before self. 14:13-23
Believers are to be –

A. Careful Romans 14:13 “…a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall…”.

Paul is warning believers to be careful not to cause hurt (painful wounding of the foot striking against a rock) to brethren in the church and also to be careful not to cause them to sin (σκανδαλον) through their reaction to accusations from stronger members.
Be careful to help them grow in the Lord.

Believers are to be –

B. Confident. Romans 14:14,20

“…I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself.”
“…All things indeed are pure…”

Being right and being prideful leads to one being unkind. This attitude does not increase anyone’s stature!

3 John 9-10 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

C. Consistent. Romans 14:19-23

1. Remember the purpose of the church. Exalt the Lord. Romans 14:19

“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”

2. Respond to the brethren in love. Romans 14:20-21

Ephesians 1:14-16 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus (strong in the Lord), and love unto all the saints (kind and caring for all the brethren), Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Surrender your liberties through love for and patience with them –

“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

3. Resolve to pursue a holy life, both the strong and the weak. Romans 14:22-23

Romans 14:22 (KJV) Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Seek to reflect the righteousness and love of the Lord in our lives –

Philippians 2:3-8 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Believers are to be careful
Believers are to be confident
Believers are to be consistent