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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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DO NOT
JUDGE CHRISTIAN LIBERTY (Romans 14:2-8) 2/22/09 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor I.
RECAP ON THE
CONCEPT OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
The believer
has been liberated in Christ. He has spiritual freedoms such as freedom from the
condemnation of sin (Ro 8:1), freedom over sin’s ultimate power (Ro 6:4),
freedom from the Law (Ro 7:6), and freedom to serve God through the Holy
Spirit (Ro 8:2). B.
In addition to
these freedoms, the Christian has freedom to enjoy his Christian life in a variety
of ways as long as it does not violate clear scriptural principles. These
would be amoral issues or morally indifferent issues (adiáphora “indifferent things”)
and are matters of conscience, faith, and Christian Liberty. C.
Christian Liberty involves practices not covered in
Scripture by a moral absolute that either commands or forbids them. Such
activities, scripturally speaking, are morally indifferent. (Feinberg & Huxley, Ethics for a Brave New
World, pg. 43) D.
However, if a
believer’s particular freedom offends another believer, then the stronger
Christian should limit his freedom so as not to cause his brother to stumble
(Ro 14:13). E.
Therefore, the
believer is to know what things are approved or forbidden in the Scriptures, enjoy
those things within his Christian liberty, and allow nothing to stain his
testimony or cause another brother to stumble. II.
REASONS NOT TO
JUDGE CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
Believers Are Commanded
To Accept One Another (1-2) 1. Christian Liberty is the topic of Romans 14, the
main theme of which is not to judge one another on those areas where there is
liberty. 2. Believers were not to judge one another but rather
were commanded to “accept” (proslambánō – receive to oneself; present
middle imperative – “you must keep on accepting to yourselves”) and welcome other believers regardless of their differences
on liberty. They were not to “pass
judgment” (diákrisis - the act of judgment) or dispute over differences concerning indifferent
things (1). 3. Paul compares two types of Christians. There are the
“weak in faith” (14:1) vs. the “strong” (15:1); one who “has faith” (14:2)
vs. the “weak”; one who “eats all things” and one who “eats vegetables only”
(14:2). 4. Paul deals with the question whether or not the
Christian has liberty to eat meat sacrificed to idols. The Romans and Greeks
believed in polytheism (many-gods). They made sacrifices unto those gods in
order not to offend or displease them. They also sacrificed unto their gods
so that their gods would decontaminate their food from evil spirits. After
their meat was sacrificed and burned to pagan gods, the remaining meat was
eaten at pagan feasts. Any meat left over was sold in the common market. Some
Gentile believers, who participated in pagan worship, were extremely
sensitive or “weak” about their former practice and could not bring
themselves to eat this meat. Others, who had faith and were “strong,” had no
problem eating meat sacrificed to idols. B.
Believers Are
Accepted By God (3) 1. Paul clearly states that the “strong” were not to show contempt
(exouthenéō – treat someone with disdain or scorn) for the “weak.” Likewise the weak were not to
judge (krínō – to distinguish and make a decision)
the strong. 2. The reason that neither were to judge was because
God “accepts” both the strong and the weak. God accepted (aorist tense - proslambánō - same word
as vs. 1) them both on the basis of
Christ’s righteousness (cp. Ro 15:7), which is the theme of Romans. Since God
accepts both strong and weak believers, on that basis believers should accept
one another. C.
Believers Are Accountable
to God (4) 1. Believers are not to judge other believers in their
Christian liberty because all believers are God’s servants. The term “servant”
here is oikétês and
means “house servant”; that is, one who cares for the household while the
master is not present. Neither the
“strong” nor the “weak” are inferior to each other (1Co 8:8). Neither is the
other’s house servant. Rather they are both God’s oikétês, caring
for God’s Kingdom until He returns. 2. Furthermore, believers are ultimately accountable to
God. Believers have a standing in Christ and are made fit to stand before
God. Believers “will stand” because God is able to “make them stand.” In this
sense, the believer is not subservient to the judgment of other Christians (Col
2:16 cp. 1Co 4:1-4, but also cp. 1Co 5:3). D.
Believers Have
a Right to Their Own Convictions (5-6) 1. The next question Paul deals with was whether some
days were holier than other days. This was particularly troubling for the
weaker Christian Jew. All Christian Jews worshipped on the Sabbath (Saturday)
and the first day of the week (Sunday). But some were compelled not only to
worship on the Sabbath but also on the other Jewish holidays. 2. Paul shows that there are two convictions in view
here. However, each individual believer was to be “fully convinced” (plerophoréō – lit. “bring
to full measure”) in his own (ídios - Eng.
idiosyncrasies) mind (noús – mental activity). 3. Paul defends the convictions of both Christians by
stating that each holds their own convictions with thanksgiving to God (1Ti
4:1-6). 4. In the area of Christian Liberty, all believers have
a right to their own convictions. We must be very careful not to judge the
hearts and motive of other believers. E.
Believers Live
Unto The Lord (7-8) 1. When an individual places his faith in Christ, he
belongs to the Lord in body (1Co 3:16; 6:19) and soul (Ro 12:1-2). He no
longer lives in life’s pursuits for himself but for the Lord. Also, he no
longer dies in ultimate loyalty to himself but to the Lord. 2. We belong to the Lord and whether we live or die we
do it unto God (Phil 1:21). 3. Since believers are the Lord’s and live exclusively unto
Him, no believer has the right to judge another believer in the area of Christian
liberty. III.
PRINCIPLES FOR
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
Do I have faith
and knowledge on this activity (1Co 8:1-4)? 1. In 1 Co 8:1-4, Paul states that he and those who are
mature “have knowledge” that God exists and that there are no other gods (1Co
8:4). Therefore, a believer does not have to have a problem with eating meat
sacrificed to idols. 2. However, cannot blindly or callously say that he can
do all things. Rather he must make sure that he has studied the Scriptures
and prayed about his Christian liberty. B.
Am I fully convinced
about this activity (5)? 1. After studying and praying about his Christian liberty,
the believer must make sure that he is convinced (fully persuaded) about a
particular activity. 2. If there are doubts, it is wrong to participate in a
particular area (Ro 14:22-23). A believer is to know why he does what he does
and must be fully persuaded about it. C.
Can I Do This
Activity Unto the Lord (6-8)? 1. Christian Liberty is to be enjoyed. However along
with our enjoyment, everything we do we must do unto the Lord (Col 3:17, 23). 2. We must answer the question, “Can I truly serve the
Lord in doing this particular activity?” If not then we must refrain. |
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