rom_rom14

 

WEAK AND STRONG

 

ROMANS 14:1-15:13

In this section Paul deals with the problem of the weak and the strong.  Paul teaches that

      • Brethren should refrain from judging one another (14:1-12).
      • Brethren should avoid offending one another (14:13-23).
      • Brethren should follow the example of Christ: (15:1-13).
          • The strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak (15:1-6).
          • They should receive one another as Christ received them (15:7-13).

 

REFRAIN FROM JUDGING ONE ANOTHER

ROMANS 14:1-12

1 As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions.  2 One believes he may eat anything,
while the weak man eats only vegetables.  3 Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats;  for God has welcomed him.  4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?  It is before his own master that he stands or falls.  And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.  5 One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike.  Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind.  6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.  He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he give thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.  7 None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord;  so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.  10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother?  Or you, why do you despise your brother?  For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;  11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”  12 So each of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

AVOID OFFENDING ONE ANOTHER

ROMANS 14:13-23

13 Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of a brother.  14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself;  but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean.  15 If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.  Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.  16 So do not let what is good to you be spoken of as evil.  17 For the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit;  18 he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  19 Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God.  Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats; 21 it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble.  22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God;  happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves.  23 But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act from faith;  and whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST

ROMANS 15:1-13

In this section Paul teaches that the brethren should follow the example of Christ:

  • The strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak (15:1-6).
  • They should receive one another as Christ received them (15:7-13).

 

BEAR THE WEAKNESS OF THE WEAK

ROMANS 15:1-6

1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves;  2 let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.  3 For Christ did not please himself;  but, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me.”  4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.  5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,  6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER

ROMANS 15:7-13

7 Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.  As it is written, “Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name”;  10 and again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;  11 and again, “Praise the Lord, all Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; 12 and further Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles;  in him shall the Gentiles hope.”   13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.