Give Mutual Acceptance to the Body of Christ
Romans 14 and 15
As I bring the last message in this Series of messages from Romans, the Apostle Paul continues his teaching on how Christians ought to behave. In Romans 12, we are invited to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices. How do we do that? We give our body to God; give our mind to God; give our ministry gift to God's Body; and give our love to all. Paul says, “Let love be without dissimulation.” Do not allow your love to be hypocritical. As the Body of Christ, we are the only one equipped to love the world in a pure way. We should love to all. Then in chapter 13, we are to Give Obedience to God's Delegated Authority. Paul carefully explained, we should give obedience to God’s delegated authority for wrath's sake; for conscience's sake; for love's sake and for Jesus' sake. Romans chapters 14 and 15 offer some valuable lessons on how Christians ought to live with each other. Most Christians understand how we are supposed to live in the world. We are lights in a dark world. We are Christ’s ambassadors, His personal representatives in a foreign land. Yet, sometimes we struggle to live peaceable with fellow believers. The principle Paul teaches here is the principle of tolerance or acceptance. Tolerance and acceptance is more than just putting up with each other. It's really walking in a loving, accepting, and appreciating attitude that has the power to maintain unity in the body of Christ. If Satan, our chief adversary, cannot prevent us from being saved, he then seeks to prevent the believers from walking in unity. In order to preserve the unity and influence of the church, believers must offer mutual acceptance in non essentials of the Christian faith. They should also resist the temptation to judge one another or condemn one another for what we believe about non essentials tenets of the faith. Paul first addresses the benefit of practicing mutual acceptance. Practicing mutual acceptance ensures that the believer’s personal liberty in Christ does not become a stumbling block for other believers in Christ. Then Paul moves to assure the believer that mutual acceptance enables one to be completely forgiving and accepting others in the body because Christ has forgiven and accepted them in His family.
The body of Christ has many basic tenets that we all accept and embrace. Those things are the core truths that are clearly defined in the Scripture about which there can be no debate. For an example: the origin of man; the identity of Jesus Christ; the authority of Scripture; and many others. Then there are some personal convictions that believers hold which are supported by Scripture, but not clearly defined. Most denominations are formed around these convictions. For an example: some believe that women should not preach; women should not wear pants, make up, jewelry, etc.; some Christians believe in snake handling as a testimony of their faith, and many others. There literally thousands of convictions, hundreds of denominations and sects who agree on the core values and beliefs but differ on the convictions. Finally, there is another area called preferences which are things not addressed in the Scripture but are embraced for many different reasons. For an example: the style of Christian music; the color of Church carpet; the style of the Church building; the kind of robes to be worn by the clergy and this list is endless. In other words, there will always be difference in the Church concerning the non essentials of the faith. Since we accept and believe the core basic tenets of the faith, we should give mutual acceptance to others when it comes to the non essentials. The apostle Paul was not talking about the basic moral issues, and core values in this text. He is clearly addressing the subject of non-essentials.
In a Christian church make up of Jews and Gentiles, there will certainly be disagreements over whether to eat certain meats or live as vegetarians; whether or not to keep certain feasts and ceremonies; whether or not they should observe certain special days or not and the like. So, Paul uses Romans 14 and 15 to address the subject of mutual acceptance and Christian tolerance. The believers at Rome were together on the way of salvation, justification by faith, sufficiency of the Gospel of grace and the inner workings of the Holy Spirit. Among Christians there must be unity on the core values of the faith. Paul urges the believers to protect the unity of the church by give mutual acceptance over non-essential things. Satan knows that a divided kingdom cannot stand. If Satan can deceive us into judging one another or being critical of one another in the non essentials, we cannot glorify God as we ought. Paul gives this advice in order to preserve Christian love and Christian witness in the world. In an earlier chapter, Paul expressed the idea that love is the fulfilling of the law. There is nothing more threatening, nor more destructive to Christian church, than the contentions and divisions that dwells among the members. When infighting breaks out, we leave one another battered and wounded on the road of life and many saints never recover. In this chapter, Paul provides the healing balm of Gilead for hurt in the church. In Romans 14:17, Paul sums up his conclusion by saying, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” As we continue our discussion, consider the statement that we should give mutual acceptance by receiving one another.
We Give Mutual Acceptance by Receiving One another as Christ Received Us
Romans 14:1 “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."
Ro 15:7 “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
Jesus Christ is the supreme example for the church. Because the Lord Jesus Christ has indeed received us; put up with our weaknesses; and overlooked our foolishness, then we should have patience with one another. We ought to be willing to show pity and understand to each other's weakness. We should offer acceptance without fault finding or doubtful disputations in the non essentials of the faith. Although we were babes in the faith and imperfect in our walk, Christ received us into the nearest and dearest relationship with himself. We are members of His own body. He has received us into his sheepfold, into his family, into the adoption of sons, into a covenant of friendship, into a marriage-covenant with himself; he has received us (though we were strangers and enemies, and had played the prodigal) into fellowship and communion with himself. We have made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ because we are accepted in the beloved. Christ is our pattern for receiving others. Since we have been so graciously received, we should receive our brother and sister in the same spirit of grace. Paul clearly understood the temptation within the body of Christ. Stronger members of the faith may be tempted to look down on those weak in the faith. Weak members of the faith may be tempted to judge the stronger members of the faith. Paul makes his case for mutual acceptance. How can we reject those who Christ has received? If Christ has received us, we should receive each other.
These weak believers were sincere Christians who had been delivered from idolatry and refuse to eat that might have been offered to idols. The Jewish believers who had faithfully kept the holy days and special feasts were reluctant to give them up. We all can understand this, but we should give mutual acceptance because matters of meat and drink, special days, personal preferences should be left to Christian liberty. No one has any right to dictate to another how to act in non essentials things. The Body of Christ stands together on the essentials of the Christian faith, but will always differ on convictions and preferences. John Wesley said about non essentials, “We must think and let think.” We may differ on convictions, preferences and politics, but on essentials we stand together. Our convictions and preferences are formed out of our experiences, backgrounds, society and popular opinion. Our essentials are based on the unadulterated word of God. Let’s receive one another as Christ received us.
We Give Mutual Acceptance by Refusing to Judge One Another
Romans 14:4, 13 “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
Paul lifts the idea that since we do not own one another or control one another, so we should not judge one another. We do not have the wisdom or the authority to judge one another. God alone is Judge. God alone has the authority to approve or disapprove. Mutual acceptance requires us to resist the temptation to judge others by our own standard or personal preference. Among the believers at Rome, some kept the Jewish festivals and some did not; some ate meat while other did not, but they all belonged to God. They are His servants. God alone calls, saves, keeps them. He alone is able to make them stand. No true Christian lives to himself, we all live unto God and we have no right to judge one another in these non essential things. We are therefore very wrong when we attempt to make our brethren the servants of our opinions and ideas. Let us leave them to serve the Lord as their consciences teach them and leave judgment to God. As a Pastor, I have an opinion about unfaithful church members. I have an opinion about non tithers. I have an opinion about members who do not attend Sunday school and Bible study. Since those members belong to God, I must keep my opinion to myself and lead the Judgment to God. If God saved them, He can help them stand. We should give mutual acceptance by receiving one another, by not judging one another and by refusing to violate another person’s conscience. Jesus addresses this same subject in the gospels, Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” We should always remember judgment belongs to God. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, a young man approached Jesus asking him to persuade his brother to divide the family inheritance with him. He wanted Jesus to take sides with him, but Jesus said, “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you.” In other words, your brother must follow his own conscience in this matter. We ought to follow Jesus’ example and allow people to follow their own conscience in the non essentials of the faith. Paul now moves our attention to subject of refusing to violate the conscience of other believers.
We Give Mutual Acceptance by Refusing to Violate the Conscience
Romans 14:5 “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
We must not violate the conscience of believers, theirs or our own. Since God uses the conscience to guide our lives and actions, each believer must be free to follow his own conscience and be fully persuaded in his own mind. In other word, we ought not to do anything we believe to be wrong just because we see others do it. We must follow our own personal conviction in non essentials of the faith. Mutual acceptance causes us to neither judge them nor excuse ourselves in the non essentials of the faith. We have been given this liberty by God, but we must not use our liberty as an occasion to sin or cause our brother to stumble. Your action, though right in itself for you, might have a tendency to destroy a fellow believer. In such matter, you should deny yourself for love's sake. Do you feel strong convictions about a non essential of the faith? Keep it within your own bosom, but do not worry others with it. If you are not sure that a thing is right for you, let it alone, for it will be sin to you. If any course of action which would be safe to us, but might be dangerous to weaker brethren, we must consider their weakness and deny ourselves for their sakes. For an example, recently North Carolina began offering an education lottery. The Bible does not specifically address “the lottery.” I don’t play the lottery or any other game of chance. Some other Christians I know do play. I cannot condemn them for their actions, but I am permitted to remind them of the Bible stand on “moderation.” I could say the same about drinking wine, wearing short dresses, tight pants or other forms of entertainment. Moderation is the key Bible principle and God’s standard. I have my preferences, but I keep them to myself. I believe God’s method for supporting His ministry is through tithes and offerings. I don’t condemn bake sales, plate sales and raffles. Every man must be fully persuaded in his own mind. I hope you understand Paul’s message in this text. “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” In the non essentials, we must think and let think; we must live and let live. Convictions must be obeyed from a heart of faith. Whatsoever is not done in faith from the heart of the believer is sin. We ought not violate the believer’s conscience, theirs or ours.
We Give Mutual Acceptance by Following Things That Lead to Peace and Edification
Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Many wish for peace, and talk loudly for it, but do not follow after the things that make for peace. They refuse to arm themselves with the meekness, humility, self-denial, and love necessary to avoid quarrelling and contention over trivial things of the faith. Not only should we avoid contention, we should work toward the edification of fellow believers. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. We ought to follow a course of action that leads to peace and edification in the Body of Christ. Our actions should earnestly pursue the things that build up and encourage each other in our faith walk. There are several Scriptures that speak to this truth:
Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
Ephesians 4:2-3 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
2 Corinthians 13:1 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
Paul exhorts us to the practice these two great duties of the faith. First, he calls us to mutual peace or peacefulness. Then he calls us to mutual edification or encouragement. These duties are necessary, and every Christians should labor in endeavors that promote peace and edification. Our enemy, Satan tries to lure Christians into strife and contention over non essentials of the faith. These distractions are intended to rob us of our unity, divide our strength and weaken our support system. The result is to destroy our testimony in the world. Peace and unity allows us to concentrate our efforts on fulfilling our God given assignment. The Scriptures listed above, challenge us to live peaceably with all men, to endeavor to keep the unity, and to allow the peace of God to rule our hearts and control our actions.
Our task is too important to allow non essentials to divide us. We ought to live holy lives, proclaim the good news of Jesus, demonstrate the message of His love and do good deeds in the world. When we follow after peace and seek to edify, the non essentials will not matter so much. We can stand united in the mission of the church, saving the lost and transforming lives.
This is the message of Romans 14, 15, and 16. It’s Paul’s lesson on how Christians ought to live with one another. We should offer one another mutual acceptance by receiving one another; refusing to judge one another; refusing to violate one another’s conscience and by following those things that lead to peace and edification.
Paul concludes this wonderful book of Romans by reminding us of how Christians ought to behave. In Chapter 12, Christians ought to present themselves to God as living sacrifices: give God your body; give God your mind; give your ministry gift to the Body of Christ; and give your love to all. In Chapter 13, Christians ought to give obedience to God’s delegated authority: for wrath’s sake; for conscience’s sake; for love’s sake; and for Jesus’ sake. Then in Chapter 14, 15, and 16, Christians ought to give mutual acceptance to one another within the Body of Christ: by receiving one another; by refusing to judge one another; by refusing to violate one another’s conscience; and by follow after things which lead to peace and edification. If Christians behave properly, they can proclaim the message of Christ effectively, model the ministry of Christ accurately and transform the world for Christ permanently.
