There Are No Gray Areas Only Gray People

“Abstain from anything that sustains prejudice against the Gospel.” - Dr. Robert Delnay

Romans 14:1-15:7

Background

Holy – Sanctification, Separation

Leviticus 19:2 qadosh Leviticus 20:7 qodesh

I Peter 1:15,16 hagios 1 Thessalonians 5:23 hagiazo

God is black and white! Light in Scripture equals holiness. Darkness is sin or unholiness.

I John 1:15 in Him is no darkness at all.

II Corinthians 4:6 “what communion hath light with darkness…”

Communion – fellowship or sharing – implied answer is none. Like oil and water they do not mix.

The most dangerous time to drive is twilight. Light and darkness are “mixed.” Mix black and white and you have gray.

Context

1. Church made up of born-again Jews and Gentiles

2. Issues are Old Testament acts – holy days, feasts, fasts, foods (Kosher or offered up to idols), etc.

3. Paul is not attacking legalism, but lack of love by the strong for the weak and judgment of the strong by the weak. His point is that you are not to judge or count as a reject the brother who is gray or black and white. Overriding principle is love.

4. Most of the passages strong commands are to the strong.

Romans 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

Strong are not to argue with the weaker brother or judge the weaker brother’s “convictions.”

2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

The weak eat herbs, not a gray area. Paul implies that the strong are right.

3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 

Love and understanding is key! God welcomes the weak and the strong.

4  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. 

You are not to judge one another. God will teach you if you let Him. Remember the context. We judge sin, but allow a brother to grow in truth.

5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 

6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 

Reference is to Jewish holy days and sabbaths. If you want to observe fine, but it is not required. If you tie your salvation to any of that you are legalistic and may not be saved because you do not trust in Christ alone. None of those things help you to be saved or stay saved nor make you more holy than the brother who does not do these things. As a cultural thing or historical reenactment, live in a tent or celebrate the feast. The Jewish converts may have had trouble buying Kosher food after conversion so to be safe they ate vegetables to avoid eating blood or things strangled as well as offered to idols. Gentiles were to avoid blood and things strangled, but Paul said the idol was nothing so if the food was sold in the market don’t worry about it. If at a feast, someone points out that it had been offered to an idol do not eat for the conscience of the one who pointed it out, not for yours.

7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 

8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 

We are not islands. Everything we do is before the Lord judgment. We are His and we cannot do our own thing. We are accountable to live so as not to give sinners a reason to blaspheme or reject Christ as they are watching as well as other brethren.

9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

The Gospel was to fulfill God’s purpose and to establish Jesus as Lord and a perfect judge.

10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.