LOVE OVER LIBERTY (2 OF 4)
Scripture: Romans 14:12-23
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Love Over Liberty (2 of 4)
Series: Gospel Unity
Jonathan McLeod
Romans 14:12-23
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God (vv. 19-20a).
To Eat or Not to Eat?
Every church has problems. The church in Rome was no exception. There were disagreements in the church about food (i.e., following the OT laws about what not to eat) and days (i.e., observing the Sabbath).
What should we do when another Christian strongly believes that something is sinful but it actually isn't sinful? If you belonged to the church in Rome, would you eat food forbidden in the OT or not? [Give a few examples of permissible things that some Christians think are singful (playing cards, a man wearing a hat during worship, etc.)]
Paul's Answer
In verse 3, the apostle Paul writes, ''Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.'' It's easy to ''pass judgment'' or ''despise'' (i.e., look down on) those who disagree with us on whether or not a certain activity is permissible for a Christian. But we are to ''welcome'' (i.e., accept) one another as brothers and sisters, equal members in the body of Christ. You and I are no more accepted by God than any other believer.
In verse 13, Paul says, ''Therefore [since ''each of us will give an account of himself to God,'' v. 12] let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother'' (v. 13). A ''stumbling block'' is ''the cause of one's spiritual downfall.''
What should we do when another Christian strongly believes that something is sinful but it actually isn't sinful? Here's Paul's answer: Pursue love over liberty. It is better to sacrifice our liberty than to harm the faith of another believer.
All Foods Are Clean, But ...
Paul writes, ''I k ...
Series: Gospel Unity
Jonathan McLeod
Romans 14:12-23
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God (vv. 19-20a).
To Eat or Not to Eat?
Every church has problems. The church in Rome was no exception. There were disagreements in the church about food (i.e., following the OT laws about what not to eat) and days (i.e., observing the Sabbath).
What should we do when another Christian strongly believes that something is sinful but it actually isn't sinful? If you belonged to the church in Rome, would you eat food forbidden in the OT or not? [Give a few examples of permissible things that some Christians think are singful (playing cards, a man wearing a hat during worship, etc.)]
Paul's Answer
In verse 3, the apostle Paul writes, ''Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.'' It's easy to ''pass judgment'' or ''despise'' (i.e., look down on) those who disagree with us on whether or not a certain activity is permissible for a Christian. But we are to ''welcome'' (i.e., accept) one another as brothers and sisters, equal members in the body of Christ. You and I are no more accepted by God than any other believer.
In verse 13, Paul says, ''Therefore [since ''each of us will give an account of himself to God,'' v. 12] let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother'' (v. 13). A ''stumbling block'' is ''the cause of one's spiritual downfall.''
What should we do when another Christian strongly believes that something is sinful but it actually isn't sinful? Here's Paul's answer: Pursue love over liberty. It is better to sacrifice our liberty than to harm the faith of another believer.
All Foods Are Clean, But ...
Paul writes, ''I k ...
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