THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS

CARE FOR THE WEAKER CHRISTIAN
Love Requires Self-Limitation

(Rom. 14:13-23)

Today’s lesson falls in the overall outline of Romans in the following way:

Practical Applications of God’s Righteousness in Life (12:1-15:13)
Complete Surrender to God (12:1-2)
Proper Exercise of Spiritual Gifts (12:3-8)
Love for Those in the Church (12:9-13)
Love for Persecutors (12:14-21)
Christian Citizenship (13:1-7)
Primacy of Love (13:8-10)
The Nearness of the Day of the Lord Motivates Us to Live Righteously (13:11-14)
Care for the Weaker Christian (14:1-15:13)
      Grace Towards Those Who are Different From Us (14:1-12)
      Love Requires Self-Limitation (14:13-23)
      The Witness to the Universal Lordship of Christ at Stake (15:1-13)

(13) Therefore, let us not judge one another any more but rather determine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.

According to verse 13 what are the 2 things Paul commands us NOT to do?

In order to understand what Paul means by not putting an obstacle or stumbling block in another's way, we need to see how he deals with this same issue at length in 1 Cor. 8-10. The Corinthians like the Romans were having problems with certain foods. Paul said that if he ate certain foods, he would damage the weaker Christians at Corinth. Although they believed that certain foods were wrong to eat, they would go ahead and eat them when they saw Paul eating them. Because they were not psychologically and emotionally ready to do this, they would suffer psychological and emotional harm. According to Paul in 1 Cor 8:13 what did Paul say he would not do?

Question: What is the difference between a Pharisaical Christian and a weaker Christian? How did Paul treat the weaker Christian, and how did Jesus treat the Pharisee?

(14) I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

According to the first part of this verse, what things are unclean?

When does something become unclean?

Now the "stronger" Christian is going to latch onto the first part of this verse: "It's OK to eat this food! It's OK to do this thing! It's OK to have this job! I'm right, and you're wrong!" Yet being right is not the most important thing. All that matters is whether or not that thing is wrong for the weaker Christian.

In one of last week's groups, we saw this exact principle operating. We were talking about Baptist traditions regarding the Lord's Supper. Whenever we mentioned changing some aspects of the Lord's Supper in order to be more in line with the New Testament, Dr. Middleton said: "We have bigger battles to fight." I thought that was not only appropriate but that it was also good. We may be right in some of the things we go to battle for; however, are we going to battle for the bigger things or for the smaller things? Are we being weighty or shallow? There is a major issue at stake here, and it is not whether or not we should eat certain meats, etc.

(15) For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with food him for whom Christ died. (16) Therefore, do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil. (17) For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by man.

In verses 15-18 Paul lists several reasons why we should surrender our rights. According to v. 15 the bigger issue is not whether or not it is right to eat certain foods. What is the bigger issue according to Paul?

Being right is not always the right approach to an issue. Love though is always the right approach.

Fill in the blanks to understand just who it is you are harming whenever you harm a fellow Christian: "For if because of food your _____________ is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with food _____ ______ ___________ __________ _________."

First, the person whom you are harming is your brother. When we became Christians, the Spirit of God's Son came to live in all of us. Since we are now all His sons and daughters, we are now all brothers to one another. Many of us have brothers that we would give our lives for. "I may get in a fight with him; however, you had better never say a harm word against my brother!" Well, as devoted as we are to our earthly brothers, how much more so should we be devoted to our heavenly brothers. We may think this seems a little silly; however, keep in mind that your relationship with your Christian brother is eternal, while that with your earthly brother will only be temporary if he does not accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Second, the person whom you are harming is the one for whom Christ died. Here's the way it works: you destroy a person's spiritual well-being by holding onto your rights and yet Christ places infinite value upon that person by dying for him/her. The "stronger" Christian now has problems--with Christ!

Just think about your situation on Judgment Day. You approach the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10) and He brings forth a person you destroyed by your actions. Now He informs you that He died for that person you destroyed. What is going to happen after that?

According to v. 16 what is another reason we should surrender our right to do certain things? What do you think Paul is referring to when he says "a good thing"?

Sometimes we make mountains out of molehills. According to v. 17 what is important and what is not important to God?

Some people get so bent out of shape when somebody takes a drink or a guy wears long hair, etc. Jesus cares more about the way a man treats his wife and children, the way he responds to his employer and government, and the way he treats non-Christians. Christ's values should be our values.

When it is all said and done, is it really all that important to be able to drink a glass of wine? Is it really all that important to hang around certain people? What if doing those things prevented you from having major influence in the church, would you give them up? If not, what does that say about us?

Although Paul does not elaborate here, in Phil. 2:5-8 Paul uses Christ as an example of the ultimate sacrifice of one's rights for the sake of another person. What rights did Jesus give up for our sakes (Phil. 2:6)? Have you ever given up anything which begins to compare with what Jesus has given up? Will you ever be able to give up anything that would compare with what Jesus gave up? If God the Son was willing to give up all He gave up, how much more should we?

Verse 18 lists the final reason in this section on why we should surrender our rights when they harm others. What is that reason?

Notice that Paul is not saying that we should let what others think govern our lives. Our relationship with Christ should govern our lives. He's dealing with the issue of something we're doing damaging the life of another believer. If damage is not being done to that Christian, then we don't need to worry about it. If damage is being done, then these principles kick into gear.

(19) So then, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. (20) Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. (21) It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. (22) The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. (23) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, for his eating is not from faith. And whatever is not from faith is sin.

Paul concludes this section by stringing together various thoughts regarding this issue: (1) pursue peace instead of being right all the time; (2) value God's work (other people) more than being right; (3) surrender your rights if they cause a fellow Christian to stumble; (4) be convinced in your heart that what you are doing is OK with God; and (5) do only those things which comes from faith, from your relationship with God.