Romans 14 - 1.15.26
SCRIPTURE: Romans 14:1 - 18
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Summary of Romans 14: Don’t judge each other in doubtful things.
(1-2) Receiving the weaker brother.
(3-4) Judging our brother is inappropriate because we are not their masters.
(5-6) Judging our brother is inappropriate because these are matters of conscience.
(7-9) We live and die to the Lord.
(10-12) Judging our brother is inappropriate because we will all face judgment before Jesus.
(13) Don’t stumble each other over doubtful things. Meaning: don’t make it an issue of judging, but don’t use your liberty to stumble another brother.
(14-15) Destroying a brother makes a privilege wrong.
(16-18) Pursuing the higher call of the Kingdom of God.
OBSERVATION
The Author: It was this glorious encounter with Jesus himself that changed Saul’s life. After his conversion, God appointed him to be an apostle, not to the Jews but to the Gentiles. It was this same Paul who once persecuted and destroyed the church, and who wrote Romans for the benefit of the Jewish and Gentile believers living in Rome. He would eventually write 13, possibly 14 of the books in the New Testament. Though he was a great apostle, he suffered greatly for the kingdom of God and the cause of Christ,
God likes it when we think of others.
Receive the one who is weak in the faith: These are words to take seriously. Paul warns us to not make spiritual maturity a requirement for fellowship. There are many reasons why a Christian might be weak.
· They may be a babe in Christ (babies are weak).
· They may be sick or diseased (by legalism).
o What is legalism? Christian legalism, in common usage, refers to a focus on strict adherence to rules and laws as the basis of righteousness or acceptance before God. This emphasis can overshadow or even replace dependence on grace through faith.
· They may be malnourished (by lack of good teaching).
· They may lack exercise (needing exhortation).
o What is exhortation? To exhort is to develop relationships with other believers for the purpose of encouraging them in their spiritual growth.
(19-21) Use your liberty to build each other up, not to tear each other down.
(22-23) The concluding principle of faith.
o What is the principle of faith? Faith, as a living principle, is a foundational concept in Christian theology, representing a dynamic and active trust in God and His promises.
APPLICATION
This is a wonderful check on our tendency to justify ourselves in the things we permit. If we are troubled by something, it likely isn’t of faith and likely is sin (transgression of the law/commandments) for us. And to be cautious in NEVER TEARING DOWN ONE ANOTHER which is one of the principles of our Faith in Jesus Christ. There are “numerous” scriptures on the impact of the words of our mouth: https://www.openbible.info/topics/the_tongue. It’s our words not thought out before speaking that cause us trouble if they are misunderstood. We are to guard our words.
PRAYER
Lord, my goal for 2026 is for you to show me how to live a righteous life…and in my pitiful natural state I can find fault with myself and others…and I am asking for red flags to let me know when my mind is finding fault AND if I have self-doubt. And what I love so much Jesus is the “family” you’ve placed me in—they do not “bad mouth” one another. Each one is so precious. Jesus, I want to be a woman after your own heart who builds others up not tearing anyone down. My precious family! If there is trouble, they are the first ones up to defend one another…and Jesus, I am so blessed that my church family builds up one another! I have never once in the years I’ve been at DSC (2012) heard gossip, or “bad mouthing” (each one has a heart for others). I cherish who you are Jesus, and I gotz tears…and this precious Paul, who knew the glory of the “mouth” in telling others of who YOU ARE, the Messiah. And he and many of the apostles/disciples died proclaiming you. TO KNOW YOU JESUS gives us strength to “watch our tongues” and live a life that reflects who you are; Jesus I truly have tears thank you for calling me out of the darkness to walk with you; and I PRAY that ALL My family KNOWS YOU. And let me acknowledge the “red flags” to watch my words, and speak your truth. AMEN
AND this is who I want to be.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
- Charleen Zakarian
