Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
Receive-Accept into fellowship
weak in the faith-Those whose faith is not strong enough to distinguish between important and non-important issues. Someone who is not theological/biblically strong.
disputes over doubtful things- We are not to argue/debate nonissues. They may be fun, but they are not important.
Despise- rejection with contempt
judge him who eats- Condemn
God has received him- We might not understand or like or agree with our brother but He is a child of God, God has accepted him.
judge another’s servant- We are not the one others answer to. It does not matter what other servants think of other servants. We only answer to God.
stands or falls-In a state of grace
God is able to make him stand-when we are right or wrong God causes us to stand. We are wrong on some issues and that will not condemn us.
–There are non-issues in theology that we might not agree on and that is ok–
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written:
esteems one day above another- Rember the Church in Rome also had jews in it, they would have held to some days as being holy over others.
convinced in his own mind- just like meat, it is a personal choice not a theological make or break.
Vs 6- we serve God, we give thank s to God, that is what matters.
7-8- we are the Lords, in life and in death.
For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again- This is why Christ died so that he would be our Lord, for those who are alive and those who have died, he is Lord of all.
we shall all-the weak and the strong alike
judgment seat of Christ.- We answer to God not man. Quote from Isa 45:23
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
not judge one another anymore-Assume the office of judge over another believer, not on sin, but on theological non issues. This is key.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
convinced by the Lord Jesus- Not man but God
nothing unclean- It is not food or days that make one sin.
but to him who-If your conscience says don’t do it, don’t, that does not mean it is a sin but to you yes.
your food-Your freedom in Christ
walking in love-This is the whole point to walk in love, to love your brother, we must put aside our freedom to help grow the weaker believer.
for whom Christ died- by eating meat we destroy a believers faith we are wrong, Christ died for them and we should be helping them not hurting them. If meat is ok, what about temple rituals?
your good be spoken of as evil- your liberty to be used as that which brings people to sin against God.
kingdom of God-Our religion, our faith.
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.- respect for God, peace with others, thinking and feeling in the Holy spirit, our walk with Christ.
who serves Christ in these things- It is not about eating meat or not, it is about being true to our conscience, that is what God wants.
approved by men-by living in this way we not only please God but we become acceptable to men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
for peace and the things by which one may edify another.- don’t argue on what is of no consequence but work on that which brings peace and building up of each other.
but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.- You sin when we eat at the cost of your brother.
Have it to yourself before God-if you hold to something and it is a conviction of yours hold to it.
Happy is he who does not- We can stand clear of sin in our sight and the sight of God.
But he who doubts is condemned-If your think it might be, why risk it? It is now sin, people might of somewhat convinced you but you are not sure.
for whatever is not from faith is sin-Our lives are marked in faith, if we are not living in faith we are wrong.
First Baptist Church Delmar 