DON’T JUDGE DIETS AND DAYS!
Romans 14:1-13
INTRODUCTION: In this section of Romans, Paul is taking the opportunity to speak to the church at Rome concerning the application of spiritual principles into EVERYDAY life. Paul’s primary concern in this section of Romans is not how the Christian is to conduct himself in society, but how we express our new life within the believing community.
This is not because society is unimportant. It is because the Christian community as well as the individual is to witness the reality of Jesus. The Christian community is the context in which individual believers can grow to their full stature as Christ’s people, yet the love that marks Christian relationships is itself a powerful testimony to Christ’s presence. For each of these purposes to be achieved, the church must truly be the righteous, loving community.
With this in mind, Paul addresses the issue of Judgment
I THE ISSUE OF ACCEPTANCE – 14:1-3
A Primarily addressed toe those who are “strong” in the faith
B Addressed regarding the issue of perception and not sin
C Acceptance
1 Receive into fellowship
2 Keep on taking into yourself
D Acceptance without judgment
1 Do not receive to argue
2 Do not receive to pass judgment
E There is a mutual responsibility here
1 The stronger is not to look down on the weaker.
a Reject his beliefs with contempt
b To despise
2 The weaker is not to judge the stronger
a Spiritual weakness is the “biggest bully” in the universe
b There needs to be an understanding that works evidences righteousness, it is not the catalyst to righteousness!
3 Christ accepted both the stronger and the weaker
a At the moment of salvation
II THE PLACE OF CHRIST – 14:4-5
A It is important to see where Christ fits in all of this
B Christ accepted both
C Each believer is Christ’s servant
1 The word servant is the word for “domestic servant”, not “slave”
a Issue of service
b A domestic servant is judged by who they serve, not by others
III OUR RESPONSIBILITY – 14:6-12
A Based on the fact that we are to be guided by our convictions
1 We do what we do as “special” to the Lord
2 We do not do what we do for others, but for Christ
B We do not shape our own conduct
1 We live to Christ
2 We die to Christ
C Christ is to be the object of our life
1 No Christian is above another as judge
a All are under God
2 Each believer is to be reviewed by God
PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT ISSUES OF PERCEPTION, NOT ISSUES OF SIN
Romans 14:13 -- WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IN ISSUES OF PERCEPTION AND PERSONAL CONVICTION THAT WE ARE STEPPING STONES AND NOT STUMBLING BLOCKS!
