Bible Study - Glue (6) - Stick with Acceptance - Romans 14:1-4, 13-19 - May 31, 2015

Bible Study – Glue (6) – Stick with Acceptance – May 31, 2015

This is lesson six (6) and final lesson in our series entitled “Like Glue: Making Your Relationships Stick.”

Our focus scripture is Romans 14:1-4, 13-19.

Strong relationships are not hindered by difference of opinion.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome about 57 A.D. Paul had never visited the church members in Rome but planned to visit them on his way to Spain. It is believed that the Christian church in Rome began after Pentecost as we read in Acts 2:

1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different • languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. 5 There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and • Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and • proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.”

In Romans Chapter 13, the Apostle Paul admonished Christians to love one another as revealed by their actions. In Chapter 14, Paul raised an issue of concern regarding their church body. Some Christians had the belief that under grace they were free from the strict Jewish regulations for eating or not eating certain foods. There were other Christians, likely coming from pagan backgrounds, thought it wrong to eat meat because the meat may have been part of pagan worship. In pagan worship, they used only certain parts of the animal for sacrifice and the other parts, not used, were sold at steep discounts in the market place. Thus, there were two camps of Christians classified as strong and weak. When this happens in a church unity is not achieved and unity is a must when obediently serving GOD. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Romans 14:1-4:

1 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able to make him stand.

Although not specifically stated, there is a presumption, based upon what Paul’s wrote in verse one, that those strong in faith, implied, were to “accept anyone who was weak in faith.” The premise was that the strong should focus on being patient and to be examples to those weak in faith until the weak became strong in their faith.

Opinions ran two ways. There were the Jews who had been taught the Jewish dietary rules, thus these Jews found it hard not to continue them in light of their new found faith in CHRIST. There were those coming from the Gentile or pagan side who wanted to distance themselves from their pagan way of life. Then there were Christians who embraced their freedom in CHRIST as led by the Holy Spirit.

Paul used the example of whether or not to eat meat. For whatever reason some Christians thought it was wrong for them to eat meat. Such a position likely came from the fact that the pagan temples offered sacrifices to their gods and that the leftover meat was sold in the market place at a discount. Some Christians bought that meat and thought, “what a bargain.” Others thought it was wrong to support the pagans by buying their meat. If a Christian ate any meat others would not know whether or not that meat had been used for pagan worship, therefore, to avoid sending the wrong message, they avoided meat. Others might think, so what if it was used for pagan worship, it is just meat because pagan worship is phony and useless and does not taint the meat. Thus, this was a serious issue that could break Christian unity and purpose in the church body.

Paul admonished them that neither group should look down on the other group because both groups were Christians. Paul tied them together with the statement in verse 4 “Who are you to criticize another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able to make him stand.”

The reference to “household slave” does not refer to a bond servant. The “household slave” was a servant who had the special status of, in essence, being a member of the master’s family or having the highest status in the category of slaves. Christians have been bought with the price of the shed blood of CHRIST and therefore they are members of GOD’S family. They are accountable to GOD and under the authority of GOD. Christians are to be obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

It is the LORD who is our strength and HE hones us through the process of sanctification. Those who are weak will be made strong and those who are strong will be confirmed in their stand while not judging others. Christians are to live in harmony and unity with each other. Bickering sends the wrong message and divides. When Christians disagree, they must come together to agree or agree to disagree and move on with GOD’S business. Often, Christians focus on petty things that have nothing to do with the fundamentals of the Gospel of CHRIST. But what are Christians to do when the fundamentals of the Gospel of CHRIST are compromised?

Let’s read Romans 14:13-15:

13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. 14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is • unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.) 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer • walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat.

Stronger Christians are to be sensitive to the weaker Christians. Stronger Christians are not to flaunt their freedom to do or eat certain things weaker Christians avoid. What could that include today? But does this include foundational issues such as marriage, adultery, murder, homosexuality, stealing and the list goes on. The key is to love the sinner but hate the sin.

In today’s society is sin being redefined? We must keep in mind it is not our definition of sin but GOD’S definition of sin because every human will be judged according to HIS definition of sin. Just because everyone is doing a certain thing or turns a blind eye to it does not make it correct. What does GOD’S Word, the Holy Bible, have to say about certain issues? Not only will our churches be held accountable to GOD but so will our nation.

GOD’S Word is very clear on a number of issues all Christians face in today’s society. The true Spiritual body of believers must stand firm even in persecution.

Let’s read Romans 14:16-19:

16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

Don’t let your Christian witness be compromised by taking such strong stands on issues that are personal choices. But instead focus on the big picture of living as GOD desires for you by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you every moment.

When Christians allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them, they are focusing on the will and purpose of GOD. Christians are to focus on building up the Spiritual body of believers.

Positions on various issues have resulted in a number of Christian denominations emerging over the years e.g. sprinkle or immerse in baptism; sprinkling, christening or dedication of children; the use of alcohol, tobacco or marijuana; observing the LORD’S Supper; type of music in worship; use or non-use of musical instruments or certain musical instruments; certain rituals and the list goes on. Most, if not all, of these are debatable and are opinions.

What is the core issue?

Have you asked CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and asked HIM to come into your heart? CHRIST in you is what makes you a Christian. But by me stating these words, some reading this may disagree. Christians debated this issue in the early church as we read in Ephesians 2:8-9:

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

In Galatians 2:15-21, we read:

15 We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” 16 know that no one is • justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild the system I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

To me, the key is building our relationship with CHRIST such that the Holy Spirit leads and guides us. Serving the LORD JESUS is not about what we want but what GOD desires for us according to HIS plan and purpose. This may require us to reconsider our lifestyles. We are to be in relationship with the LORD JESUS such that that our lives are being led by HIM. We no longer have the mind of the flesh but we have the mind of CHRIST accomplished by and through the renewing of our minds, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, as we obediently serve our LORD.

The Apostle Paul stated it well above in verse 20 “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Such a transformation comes about naturally through the process of sanctification as we build our relationship with GOD through CHRIST as guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

All Christians are in fulltime ministry, even though, some may have secular careers.  

2 Corinthians 2:14-17:

14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this? 17 For we are not like the many who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

This is the final lesson in our series “Like Glue: Making Relationships Stick.” We have explored sticking with love, encouragement, forgiveness, service, humility and acceptance. Life can get complicated. We are living in a world where Christian values are being challenged and we remain silent. Why? Is it because Christians are uncertain of the truth? Seeking truth comes with studying the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us. Have Christians marketed GOD as they think HE should be or as HE is? GOD is love but also the GOD of wrath. HIS love for all is captured in John 3:16-21:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. 19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Seek truth and live truth as empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. When you fail, confess it, repent, and keep on going. Christians are not perfect just forgiven. The goal of GOD is for every Christian to be made in the image of CHRIST. We are works in progress! All Christians are “sinners saved by grace” and are being perfected in the crucible of life. Blessings!!!