|
|
|
4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
|
|
|
CHRISTIAN
LIBERTY MUST NOT BE A STUMBLING BLOCK (Romans
14:9-16) 3/1/09 Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor I.
REASONS NOT TO
JUDGE CHRISTIAN LIBERTY A.
Believers Are
Commanded To Accept One Another (1-2) B.
Believers Are
Accepted By God (3) C.
Believers Are
Accountable to God (4) D.
Believers Have
a Right to Their Own Convictions (5-6) E.
Believers Live
Unto The Lord (7-9) 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. 4. At this point, Paul supports his argument from a Christological standpoint. Christ died and now lives so
that the believer might live unto the Lord. By dying for the believer’s sin,
Christ became his Lord and Savior for all eternity (Phil 2:11; 1Ti 6:15; Re
17:14; 19:16).). By being raised from the dead, Christ is now Lord and Savior
over all living believers and their pursuits (2Ti 2:19; 1Pe 3:15). F.
Believers Will
Stand Before the Bema Seat (10-12) 1. Paul reiterates that no one is to “judge” (krínō – to distinguish and make a decision)
or hold with contempt” (exouthenéō – treat someone with disdain
or scorn) other believers in regard
to Christian Liberty. Paul explains that every believer will stand before the
“judgment seat of God.” This refers to the Bema-Seat of Christ (1Co 3:13-15;
4:1-5; 2Co 5:9-10). “Judgment” here is the Greek word bếma and means a step as in an elevated platform from which a judge
or magistrate sat (Mt 27:19). It is akin to the judges
seat at the Greek Olympic Games where a “crown” (stéphanos) was awarded to
the winner. a) It does not refer to the Great White Throne Judgment
for unbelievers (Re 20:11-15). b) It is not for salvation (1Co 3:15). c) It is for rewards for works and service to the Lord
(1Co 3:14). d) It will be tested for sincerity and motive (1Co
3:13). e) It is a motivation to serve the Lord and a deterrent
from judging other believers (Ro 14:10-13) 2. Is 45:23 is quoted to show that everyone (“every
knee” and “every tongue”), including the believer will submit to Christ’s (Jn
5:22) authority and give an account (Ro 14:12). II.
CHRISTIAN
LIBERTY CANNOT CAUSE A BROTHER TO STUMBLE A.
Use Judgment to
Avoid Stumbling Blocks (13) 1. The conclusion (oún “therefore) is that, based on all the previous reasons (Ro
14:1-9), a believer is not to judge another believer in the area of Christian
Liberty. A play on words is used in this verse. A believer is not to “judge”
(krínō)
or dispute differences on indifferent things,
however, he is to “judge” (krínō) or distinguish and decide what things
would cause a particular brother to stumble. In other words, a believer is
not to be judgmental but he is to be discerning concerning. 2. Two words are used to describe a stumbling block, “obstacle”
(próskomma) which
literally is a rock or other hard
object against which a person may strike his foot, causing him to stumble or
even to fall (Hendriksen, New Testament Commetary), and “stumbling block” (skándalon) which originally was “the name of the part of a
trap to which the bait is attached (Vine's Complete Expository
Dictionary). 3. So then, an obstacle or a stumbling block is
anything that troubles and impedes spiritual progress or causes someone to trip
and fall into sin (cp. 1Co 8:9, próskomma). 4. [This] …
principle applies to any activity or practice that is not inherently sinful.
Problem areas vary from society to society and from person to person, but the
principle never changes. The loving, caring, strong Christian will determine
in his mind and heart to be sensitive to any weakness in a fellow believer
and avoid doing anything, including what is innocent in itself and otherwise
permissible, that might cause him to morally or spiritually stumble. (MacArthur, Romans in loc.) B.
Do Not Allow
Good to Become Evil (14-16) 1. When it comes to Christian Liberty, we are not
speaking of anything sinful or unclean. For God has not called it sinful or
unclean in His Word. In regard to food (vs. 15-16), Paul was “convinced” (perfect passive - peíthō) that nothing is inherently unclean (koinós – common or in another sense,
ceremonially unacceptable). Many things are amoral in that in themselves
(“in itself” - dí eautoú) are not considered “unclean.” Even
though many things can be used sinfully, it does not mean that in and of
itself it is sinful. However, if a believer considers it to be sinful, then
“to him it is unclean.” Even if it is not unclean,
the believer’s conscience makes it unclean and is affected. 2. Paul takes a look at the bigger picture. How
ludicrous is it to hurt another believer over such a trivial matter as food? If
a believer hurts (lupéō – grieve or injure) another believer
over food, then he is “no longer walking according to love (agápê – self sacrificial love cp. Ro 12:9-10;
13:8-10). Scripture commands “Do not destroy a brother over food” or any
other liberty for that matter. “Destroy” (apóllumi) is a strong word and can mean complete devastation
or ruin. A believer could be so distraught or fall into sin that his
spiritual life could be seriously devastated. What a spiritual tragedy for a
believer for whom Christ died (cp. 1Co 8:11). 3. So in conclusion, Paul exhorts not to let what is
good (the good things God has created for our enjoyment) be spoken of as
evil. Literally, “Let not that which is a good thing for you be blasphemed.”
Blaspheme means to slander or speak against profanely. Even though a believer
may have liberty, if not exercised with regard for his brother, his actions could
be unloving and sinful. III.
PRINCIPLES FOR
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY #1 -
Do I have faith
and knowledge on this activity (1Co 8:1-4)? #2 -
Am I fully
convinced about this activity (5)? #3 -
Can I do this
activity unto the Lord (6-9)? #4 -
Will it stand
the test of the Bema Seat (10-12)?
i.
The Bema Seat
puts our Christian lives in perspective. Each believer should first and
foremost be preoccupied with his own accountable to the Lord.
ii.
Am I being the
judge of others (in Christian Liberty) when in reality we all will stand
before Christ?
iii.
Am I exercising
my liberty with right motives and in the right way to serve the Lord?
iv.
Am I unwilling
to give up my own liberties only to have them burned up as selfish rubbish? #5 -
Will it cause
another brother to stumble (13)?
i.
In regard to
other believers, my first concern should be to make sure my liberties do not
cause them to stumble.
ii.
Do I even care
if my liberties could cause another brother to stumble?
iii.
Do I attempt to
discern if my liberties might cause another brother to stumble? #6 -
Am I walking in
love in regard to this activity (14-16)?
i.
The main focus
of a believer’s life is to be Christ-like and walk according to love as He
did.
ii.
Am I more
concerned for my brother or for my liberties?
iii.
Am I, like
Christ, willing to sacrifice my own liberties for the sake of another? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
