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Romans Chapter Fourteen

 
Chapter Fourteen General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To learn how strong and weak brethren should deal with one another
 
2) To see the importance of being true to our conscience
 
SUMMARY
 
In this chapter Paul discusses the relationship strong and weak
brethren are to have towards each other. He admonishes the strong to 
be careful in their dealings with those whose faith and knowledge is 
weak, and for the weak not to judge those who are doing what God allows 
(1-4). In such matters, each brother should be true to their 
conscience and do what they do as service rendered to the Lord (5-9). 
There is no place for condemning or despising one another in these 
matters, for Jesus will be the judge (10-12). Of primary concern is 
not to put stumbling blocks in a brother's way (13).
 
The importance of being true to one's own conscience, and not 
encouraging the weak brother to violate his own, is the emphasis of the 
last half of the chapter. Things harmless within themselves can 
destroy those whose consciences do not permit them, so those who 
understand the true nature of the kingdom of God will be willing to 
forego personal liberties to maintain peace and build up their weaker 
brethren (14-23).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. ADMONITIONS TO STRONG AND WEAK BRETHREN (1-13)
 
 A. HOW TO TREAT EACH OTHER (1-4)
 1. The strong are to receive and not despise the weak (1-3a)
 2. The weak are not to judge those God approves (3b-4)
 
 B. HOW TO BE TRUE TO THE LORD IN THESE MATTERS (5-9)
 1. Be fully convinced in your own mind (5)
 2. Do what you do as to the Lord (6-9)
 
 C. DO NOT JUDGE ONE ANOTHER (10-13)
 1. Christ is to be our judge (10-13a)
 2. Our concern should be not to put stumbling blocks in a
 brother's way (13b)
 
II. FURTHER ADMONITIONS TO STRONG BRETHREN (14-23)
 
 A. DO NOT DESTROY A BROTHER FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED (14-18)
 1. Food is harmless in itself, but we can misuse it to the
 destruction of those who are weak (14-16)
 2. The kingdom of God is more important than food and drink
 (17-18)
 
 B. PURSUE THINGS WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE (19-23)
 1. Build up your brother, don't destroy him over food (19-20)
 2. Be willing to forego your liberties for the sake of your 
 brother (21)
 3. Appreciate the importance of a clear conscience in your weak
 brother (22-23)
 
WORDS TO PONDER
 
judge - setting oneself up as accuser, judge, and sentencer; it does 
 not mean we cannot make decisions about the right or wrong of
 another's action (cf. Mt 7:1-6,15-20; Jn 7:24; 1 Co 5:9-13)
 
stumbling block - that which causes another to fall; it does not have
 to be something wrong within itself
 
offended - made to stumble; the word does not mean the way we commonly
 use it today, that is, to have one's feelings hurt or
 "offended"
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) List the main points of this chapter
 - Admonitions To Strong And Weak Brethren (1-13)
 - Further Admonitions To Strong Brethren (14-23)
 
2) How are strong and weak brethren to treat each other? (3)
 - The strong are not to despise the weak
 - The weak are not to judge the strong
 
3) What is important according to verse 5?
 - "Let each be fully convinced in his own mind"
 
4) In all matters, whom is it we should try to please? (6-8)
 - The Lord
 
5) Who will be the Judge in such matters? (10-12)
 - The Lord
 
6) What is important according to verse 13?
 - Not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's 
 way
 
7) What elements are crucial to the kingdom of God? (17)
 - Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit
 
8) How far should one be willing to go to avoid causing a brother to
 stumble? (21)
 - As far as giving up personal liberties in Christ
 
9) If we violate our conscience, what are we guilty of? (23)
 - Sin

Admonitions To The Strong And Weak (14:1-15:7)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. An important part of the Christian life is getting along with
 brethren...
 a. Jesus prayed for unity among believers - Jn 17:20-23
 b. Paul condemned division among Christians - 1 Co 1:10-13
 c. Jesus died to make Jew and Gentile one new man and one body - Ep
 2:14-16
 
2. Unity did not come easily in the early church...
 a. Jewish Christians were reluctant to accept Gentile Christians
 - cf. Ac 15:1-5
 b. Knowledgeable Christians were not always considerate - cf. 1 Co
 8:10-12
 
3. Unity does not come easily in the church today...
 a. People come into the kingdom from all sorts of religious
 backgrounds
 b. Their level of knowledge, their rate of spiritual growth, varies
 widely
 
[To ensure that brethren receive one another as they should, Paul wrote
a lengthy discourse in which he provides "Admonitions To The Strong And
Weak" (Ro 14:1-15:7). As we consider these admonitions, let's do so in
the form of answering some key questions...]
 
I. WHO IS A 'WEAK' BROTHER?
 
 A. ONE WHO IS 'WEAK' IN THE FAITH...
 1. Who has doubts about certain things - Ro 14:1
 2. One who eats only vegetables - Ro 14:2
 3. One who esteems one day above another - Ro 14:5-6
  4. One who stumbles over meat and wine - Ro 14:21
 -- E.g., a new Jewish Christian whose conscience had been trained
 by the Law to abstain from certain foods, to observe certain
 holidays
 
 B. NOT ONE 'IGNORANT' IN THE FAITH...
  1. The weak brother was certainly not ignorant after reading this
 epistle
 a. He is told that God accepts the other brother - Ro 14:3
 b. He is told that God declares all foods clean - Ro 14:14,20;
 cf. Mk 7:18,19; 1 Ti 4:4
 2. But his conscience was not yet ready to accept what the Lord
 allows
 a. There are still lingering doubts - Ro 14:1
 b. He is not yet fully convinced - Ro 14:5b
 c. He is grieved by certain foods - Ro 14:15
 d. He cannot eat without offense - Ro 14:20
 e. He is prone to stumble and become weaker - Ro 14:21
 f. He cannot eat with faith (a strong conviction) - Ro 14:23
 -- E.g., a Jew or Muslim who becomes a Christian, yet still
  struggles with their newfound liberty in Christ
 
[The weak brother knows what is right, but his conscience has yet to be
sufficiently retrained to partake in that which for so long had been a
sin for him. On the other hand, consider...]
 
II. WHO IS A 'STRONG' BROTHER?
 
 A. ONE WHO IS STRONG IN 'THE' FAITH...
 1. He knows that God has received him - Ro 14:3
 2. He knows what the Lord has revealed - Ro 14:14,20; cf. Mk
 7:18,19; 1 Ti 4:4
 -- I.e., a Christian who is well taught in the ways of the Lord
 
 B. ONE WHO IS STRONG IN 'HIS' FAITH...
 1. Who believes he may eat all things - Ro 14:2
 2. One who observes every day alike - Ro 14:5-6
 3. One who does not condemn himself in what he approves - Ro 14:22
 -- I.e., a Christian who can enjoy God-given freedom without
 qualms of conscience
 
[In any congregation, you are likely to find both strong and weak
brethren as described in this passage. What is expected of those who
are weak...?]
 
III. ADMONITIONS TO THE WEAK
 
 A. DO NOT JUDGE (CONDEMN) YOUR BROTHER...
 1. For God has received him - Ro 14:3
 a. God has revealed that what he does is acceptable - cf. Mk 7:
 18,19; 1 Ti 4:4
 b. The weak brother knows this; by reading this epistle, if not
 before - Ro 14:14,20
 2. He is Christ's servant, not yours - Ro 14:4
 a. We cannot judge or condemn another servant whom God has
 accepted - Ro 14:4
 b. Such judgment belongs to Christ, before whom we will all
 stand - Ro 14:10-13a; cf. also Ja 4:11-12
 -- The weak brother is not told to accept a brother whom he
 believes to be in error; rather, he is not to condemn a brother
 who is doing what God has revealed
 
 B. DO NOT VIOLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE...
 1. Do that which you are able to do with full conviction - Ro
 14:5b
 2. Refrain from doing anything about which you have doubts - Ro
 14:22-23
 3. Serving the Lord with a clear conscience is important
 a. Jesus shed His blood to cleanse our conscience - He 9:14;
 10:22
 b. The goal is to have a good conscience - 1 Ti 1:5,19; 2 Ti
 1:3
 c. The conscience can be rejected, seared, and defiled - 1 Ti
 1:19; 4:1-2; Ti 1:15
 -- Paul would not have the brother whose faith is weak to do
 anything to weaken his conscience
 
[Paul's concern for the weak is evident elsewhere (cf. 2 Co 11:29), and
in our text by noting that the bulk of this passage is actually directed
toward the strong brother...]
 
IV. ADMONITIONS TO THE STRONG
 
 A. RECEIVE YOUR WEAK BROTHER...
 1. Not for the purpose of disputing over what he has doubts - Ro
 14:1
 2. Don't despise your brother - Ro 14:3
 3. Don't show contempt for your brother - Ro 14:10
 4. Bear with their scruples - Ro 15:1
 -- A strong brother must be careful not to be arrogant, but
 considerate
 
 B. DON'T PUT UP STUMBLING BLOCKS...
 1. Don't put up occasions for him to fall - Ro 14:13b
 2. Don't grieve your brethren with your liberty - Ro 14:15a
 3. Don't destroy your brother with your liberty - Ro 14:15b,20a
 4. Don't let your good be spoken of as evil - Ro 14:16
 -- A strong brother must be careful lest his abuse of liberty lead
 to his own downfall
 
 C. PURSUE PEACE AND EDIFICATION...
 1. For the kingdom of God is not about food - Ro 14:17-18
 a. It is about righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit
 b. He who serves Christ in such things is acceptable to God,
 approved by men
 2. Strive for that which brings peace and edifies one another - Ro
 14:19
 a. Blessed are the peacemakers - cf. Mt 5:9; 2 Co 13:11; 1 Pe
 3:10-11
 b. Our goal should be one of building each other up - cf. Ro
 15:2
 -- A strong brother must care more for his brother than for
 himself - Ro 15:1-3
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. What is the goal of such admonitions to the strong and weak...?
 a. That brethren be like-minded toward one another - Ro 15:5
 b. That brethren might glorify God with one mind and one mouth - Ro
 15:6
 c. That brethren might receive one another to the glory of God - Ro
  15:7
 -- Is this not sufficient motive to take Paul's admonitionsf
 seriously?
 
2. Thus we are to receive one another as Christ received us...
 a. He received us in our weakness - Ro 5:6
 b. His longsuffering works toward our salvation - 2 Pe 3:15
 -- Should not we who are strong extend the same courtesy to our
 weaker brethren?
 
Speaking of Christ having received us...have we received Him in faith
and baptism? - cf. Jn 1:12; Ga 3:26-27

－－《Executable Outlines》

Carry Out Love

Love to the Lord

Die to the Lord

I. Do Not Judge One Another

1. About Eating

2. About Keeping Special Days

3. Give Account to God

II. Do Not Stumble One Another

1. Block or Obstacle

2. Distressed by Eating

3. Destroy Others

III. Three Principles of the Kingdom of God

1. Not of Eating and Drinking

2. But of Righteousness and Peace

3. Joy in the Holy Spirit