14:13-18
13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and am persuaded in 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 or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died. 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 receives human approval.
13
Context – Romans 14:1 – “Don’t argue about disputed
matters.”
What God
calls sin is not a disputed matter.
This is
about adiaphora – matters that are neither commanded nor prohibited.
Matthew 7:1-5 – Focused on hypocrisy
Matthew 7:15-20 – False prophets and bad fruit.
1 Corinthians 6:1-5 – If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous,[a] and not before the saints? 2 Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers?
This is a call for compassion between believers, leading to self-imposed curbs on one’s freedom.
This whole section is highly relational.
This is
culturally significant for us.
U.S.
American culture is traditionally individualistic and independent.
Other cultures are communal and interdependent.
14
Nothing is unclean in itself – this is focused on food.
“I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus …”
Jesus’
statements in Mark 7.
Did Paul
have any of the Gospels?
15
The Matters of Freedom, Conscience and Love
1 Corinthians 13
1 Peter 2:16 - Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
“Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ
died.”
Do we think
of sin as destructive?
For whom has Christ died?
16
“Do not let your good be slandered.”
“Do not let that which is for your good be slandered.”
Your freedom is good. Do not allow it to be slandered by misusing it and turning it into evil in the life of another.
17
The kingdom of God is not …
Eating and
drinking – liberty, freedom
But, …
Righteousness
Peace
Joy
All in the Holy Spirit.
18
Whoever serves Christ in this way …
Whoever is
a slave to Christ
We are
either slaves to sin or to Christ.
Slavery to
sin leads to …
Slavery to Christ leads to …
Acceptable/well-pleasing to God
Approved by people
Both of
these are tied to obeying Christ in the way of the Kingdom of God –
righteousness, peace, joy.
Romans 14:19-23
19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. 22 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith,[b] and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Reiterates much of what has already been said.
What do you make of – “everything that is not from faith is
sin”?
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?
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