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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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CHRISTIAN
LIBERTY IS TO GLORIFY GOD (Romans
15:1-6) 3/15/09 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor I.
THE STRONG HAVE
AN OBLIGATION TO THE WEAK (1a) A.
Paul has not
spent as much time on the specific liberties as he has the Christian principles
that govern them. From God’s perspective, the stronger Christian is always to
minister to the weaker Christian in the area of Christian Liberty. But even if
the context were discipline, the strong are to attempt to restore the weak.
In addition, they are to do so in humility and meekness (Ga
6:1). B.
The stronger
brother, spiritually speaking, has an obligation to the weaker brother. Paul
uses the word opheílō,
which means indebted or responsible for. The stronger are indebted and
responsible to help bear (bastázō – lift, carry, tolerate) the burdens of the weak. In fact, the Law of
Christ is fulfilled when believers bear one another’s burdens (Ga 6:2). In essence, bearing the weaknesses of other
believers by limiting our Christian liberties is a fulfillment of the Law of
Christ. II.
BELIEVERS, LIKE
CHRIST, MUST PLEASE ONE ANOTHER (1b-4) A.
In bearing the
weaknesses of the weak, the believer is pleasing Christ and others, and not
just himself. To please (aréskō) literally means to seek to accommodate
or gratify someone. Paul explains in vs. 2. B.
Paul gave a
general principle that should characterize all believers. Each believer, Paul
included himself, must seek to please his neighbor. This is different from
being a mere men-pleaser for the sake of personal gain (Ep 6:6; Col 3:22). It
is for the neighbor’s good (agathos - benefit) and edification (oikodomế – spiritual growth). The believer is commanded (present active imperative) to do this as a continual practice. Here
the term “neighbor” is used in the sense of “doing good to all people,
especially to
those who are of the household of the faith” (Ga
6:10). C.
Christ is the
ultimate example of one who did not please Himself. Christ came to please the
Father and do His will (Jn 4:34; 5:30; 8:29). Furthermore, Paul quotes Ps
69:9, a Messianic Psalm, to show that Christ’s zeal for the Father’s will identified
Him with the reproaches (oneidismós –insults, railings, and
disgrace) against God. In a greater
sense, even though Christ was unjustifiably reproached by sinners, He died
for those sinners taking their sin and reproach. Christ died and rose again
to be our Savior and Lord (Ro 14:9), but He also did it to be our example (Ro
15:3 cp. 1Pe 2:21). 1. Not only does this apply to Christian Liberty, but
it applies to the principles behind Christian Ministry. 2. Ministry, which every believer is apart of, is never focused on pleasing ourselves, but on pleasing
Christ and others. In that ministry, we find ourselves ministering to the
weak, the needy, the immature, and at times, the uncommitted. If we are
looking for our own pleasure, we will be disgruntled and disillusioned in
ministry. D.
Paul gives a
brief argument showing that Scripture supports not pleasing oneself in the
matter of Christian Liberty. Scripture, no matter when it was written in the
past, and even though it was written in a particular context, was written for
the believer’s instruction (didaskalía – instruction; root word of didaskō – to teach cp. 2Ti 3:16-17). The background, context, and original language
must be taken into account for a proper interpretation (cp. 2Pe 1:20). Then
with the proper interpretation, a believer can be instructed by its
principles and apply it to his life. The believer can find hope as he
perseveres through the encouragement (paraklesis) of the Scriptures. III.
THE GOAL OF ALL
BELIEVERS IS TO GLORIFY GOD (5-6) A.
A benediction is given which proclaims that God is the God of perseverance
and encouragement. He gives encouragement in His divine book and He gives
encouragement by His Spirit according to the things written in that book. The
perseverance and encouragement that God gives is for the purpose to conform
the mind of every believer with the mindset of
serving others and not themselves. B.
The ultimate purpose of pleasing others is so that with one voice, the
entire body of Christ may continually glorify God. To glorify (doxázō - high opinion, esteem, and give glory)
God means to acknowledge and proclaim the dignity and worth of His Person and
work. To glorify God, meaning to render
glory to Him, recognize Him for Who and What He is, to celebrate with
praises, worship, adoration (Mt 5:16; 15:31; Mk 2:12; Lk 2:20; 5:25, 26;
7:16; 23:47; Jn 13:31, 32; 14:13; 15:8; 17:4; 21:19; Ac 4:21; 11:18; 21:20;
Ro 1:21; 15:6, 9; 1Co 6:20; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24; 1Pe
2:12; 4:11. Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary) 1. All things were created and
decreed by God for His ultimate purposes and glory (Ro 11:36). 2. All things that a believer does
is to be motivated by glorifying God (1Co 10:31). a) Q. What is the chief and highest end of man? b) A. Man's Chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him
forever. (Westminster
Long Confession 1) C.
In conclusion, it glorifies God when a believer enjoys and gives thanks
for the things that God has created (1Ti 4:4). But it glorifies God even more
when the believer seeks to please and edify others even if sometimes it means
limiting one’s own Christian liberties. The following list sums up guidelines
by which a believer can apply his Christian liberties to assure that it will
not cause another brother to stumble. IV. PRINCIPLES FOR CHRISTIAN
LIBERTY 1.
Do I have faith
and knowledge on this activity (1Co 8:1-4)? a. Have I searched the Scriptures for myself to see if
God has anything to say about this particular activity? b. Does God command or prohibit this particular
activity in anyway? 2.
Am I fully
convinced about this activity (Ro 14:5, 22-23)? a. Am I really convinced in my own mind about this
particular activity? b. Anything that is not done in faith is sin. 3.
Can I do this
activity unto the Lord (Ro 14:6-9)? a. Can I see myself doing this particular activity in
the presence of the Lord? b. Could I do this particular activity as a ministry
unto the Lord? 4.
Will it stand
the test of the Bema Seat (Ro 14:10-12)? a. Do I find myself judging the liberties of others not
realizing that we all believers will stand before Christ? b. Will this particular activity be rewarded or burned
at the Bema Seat of Christ? 5.
Will it cause
another brother to stumble (Ro 14:13, 21; 1Co 8:13)? a. Will this particular activity in anyway cause
another brother to stumble in his Christian life? b. Which is more important to me, my liberties or my
brother’s spiritual life? 6.
Am I walking in
love in regard to this activity (Ro 14:14-16)? a. Am I pursuing this particular activity with a spirit
of love? b. Do I realize that agape love is a self-sacrificing love and could apply to my
liberties? 7.
Does it bring
peace among the brethren (Ro 14:19; Col 3:15)? a. Am I pursuing this particular activity with the goal
of peace among the brethren? b. Does this particular activity cause unrest in the Christians
around me? 8.
Does it edify
my brother (Ro 14:19; 15:2; 1Co 10:23b)? a. Is my ultimate goal to see myself and other
believers edified? b. Does this particular activity encourage others
spiritually? 9.
Is it
profitable for myself or others (1Co 6:12a; 10:23a)? a. Is this particular activity in some way beneficial
for me or others? b. What are the benefits of this particular activity? 10.
Will it enslave
me (1Co 6:12b)? a. Do I rule this particular activity or does it rule
me? b. Will this particular activity cause another brother
to be tempted and fall back into sin? 11.
Am I only
pleasing myself (Ro 15:1-3)? a. Am I the kind of Christian that only cares about
himself? b. Am I seeking to please Christ and others in this
particular activity 12.
Does it bring
glory to God (Ro 15:6-7; 1Co 10:31)? a. Is it my ultimate purpose as a Christian to bring
glory to God? b. Will this particular activity glorify God today or
in eternity? |
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