A Brief Overview
Key themes: Righteousness, Justification, Grace, The Law,
Jew/Gentile, “In view of the mercy of God”
Chapter 1-8 – Righteousness and Justification
Chapters 9-16 – Impact of this new righteousness and the
life of faith.
14:1-12
Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t
argue about disputed matters. 2 One person believes
he may eat anything, while 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 judge one who does, because God has accepted him. 4 Who
are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he
stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him
stand.
5 One person judges one day to be
more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the
same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever
observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats,
eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat,
it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For
none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. 8 If
we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore,
whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ
died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the
dead and the living. 10 But you, why do you judge
your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For
we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For
it is written,
As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to me,
and every tongue will give praise to God.
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.[1]
1
Welcome/receive – here and 15:7, “Therefore, welcome/receive one another, just as Christ also welcomed/received you, to the glory of God.”
Welcome/receive the one who is weak in faith …
This is
talking about fellow believers.
There is a
different relationship when we come to faith in Jesus.
Fellowship/Koinonia
… disputed matters, …
This is not
about disagreeing with God’s Word.
Consider the Catechism’s explanation of the First Petition: God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!
2
Notice that the disputed matters are items that the
Scripture does not command a certain outcome.
Food – Mark
7:19
Sabbath – Mark
2:27-28, Worship from Saturday to Sunday in the Early Church.
God’s Commands on these topics were changed in light of Jesus’ coming, His revelation of the Kingdom of God, and His clear word.
3
The one who eats must not look down on/despise …
The one who does not eat must not judge …
For God accepts/welcomes/receives – the same word as verse 1!
4
Who are you? – Who do you think you are?
Judging the servant of another.
Learn to
see ourselves and one another as people who are accepted by God.
How?
The
Holy Spirit calls, gathers, and enlightens …
Baptism
Word
Faith
has been created
To his own master he stands or falls.
We trust
our brothers and sisters in Christ into God’s hands.
A pastor’s wisdom to another pastor – “Not your circus. Not your monkeys.”
And he will be established, for the Lord [caused] him to
stand.
This leaves a lot of room to be patient with fellow believers who hold different views on matters for which God has not given clear instructions or command.
5-6
There is freedom in the Gospel.
There are certain matters in which we should not bind people’s consciences.
7-8
We are the Lord’s – so we strive to live to the Lord, not to
ourselves. An exhortation to shun sin, but also a reminder that everything has
changed in our relationship with the world because of Jesus’ death and
resurrection.
Romans 12:1 – “… in view of the mercies of God ….”
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to
the Lord. Therefore, if we live and if we die, we are the Lord’s.
Is the use
of the possessive “Lord’s” important here?
When might
we use this passage in ministering to others, or even ourselves?
What are the implications of being the Lord’s?
9
For this reason Christ died and lived again, so that of the
dead and of the living He might be Lord.
He might be
Lord – be master, rule.
10
Why do you judge your brother?
Why do you disdain/despise your brother?
All will stand before the judgment seat of God.
Bema – the same word is used to name the place Pilate sat to condemn Jesus in Matthew 27:19 and John 19:13.
11
I live! – Exodus 3:14 – “I AM WHO I AM.”
Isaiah 45:23 - By myself, I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.
12
Each of us will give an account (a word) concerning
his/herself to God.
Judgement
Day
Is this the criteria for entering heaven in the New Creation?
Wrapping Up
What is one insight/word of comfort/challenging idea that
you hope to hold onto from these verses?
How will the lessons learned from these verses impact your
faith life?
[1]
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used
by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered
trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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