Title: Romans Paul
1RomansPauls Exposition of Salvation by Grace
Through Faith
- Lesson 18a
- VIII. Gods Righteousness
- DEMANDING RIGHTEOUS LIVES
- Romans 121 - 1513
- Todays Lesson 141-12, Page 158
2Overview
- In chapter 12, Paul dealt with various moral
obligations - In chapter 13, with political obligations
- In chapter 14, he deals with reciprocal
obligations of church members to each other
regarding differences of opinions - Pauls discussion in this chapter will center
around attitudes that brethren should hold toward
one another
3C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
(1-5) - Opinion is a personal view, attitude, or
appraisal - Knowledge plays a major role in the opinions that
Christians entertain about particular issues - As our knowledge of Gods word increases, our
appreciation about what the Scripture does not
actually say increases - Matters of opinion are treated differently than
matters of faith as we determine fellowship
issues - Christians must not allow strong differences of
opinion to disrupt the unity of the church
4C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
(1-5) - The stronger brethren are to receive the one who
is weak (1) - Strong has reference to the knowledge of Gods
word - Doubtful refers to things that are not clear,
uncertain or questionable - Disputations are verbal controversies,
discussions or debates - Sometimes we must agree to disagree to keep the
peace and harmony of the church
5C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
(1-5) - The immediate issue was eating of meats (2)
- The weak brother ate herbs (vegetables), the
stronger brother ate all things including meat - Some of the Roman Christian Jews had not entirely
broken away from the law of Moses holding that
they could not eat meat that was unclean (as well
as observing certain days) - They were disposed to condemn the Gentile
Christian for not following the same law - It is clear that these differences were not
matters affecting the salvation of the persons
involved (3)
6C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
(1-5) - We are not to judge others on the matters of
opinion (4) - Paul uses the example of a servant to his master
- We are not to intervene in physical, personal,
everyday matters of others - We should remember that Gods position on any
untaught issue if He has one is the right
position. Ours may not be.
7C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
(1-5) - Observing special days, or not, and eating meats,
or not, were matters of conscience and not of
faith (5) - Let each be fully convinced in his own mind
- The resulting conclusion will be based on his
knowledge of Gods word
8C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our primary concern must be to please the Lord
(6-12) - Whether he ate or didnt eat (observed days or
didnt), it was to the Lord according to his
personal conscience (6) - Each person should thank God for this liberty
9C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our primary concern must be to please the Lord
(6-12) - Whether we live or die, we are the Lords (8)
- We do not live or die to ourselves (7)
- Christians belong to the Lord and are doing their
best to please Him - We are not under obligation to any man with
regard to the liberty described in verse 6, but
we are subject to the Lord - Likewise, we are not to force our opinions on
others as long as they follow the Lord - For to this end, Christ died and lived again (9)
10C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our primary concern must be to please the Lord
(6-12) - But why do you judge your brother? (10)
- In other words, why would anyone dare to assume
responsibility for judging the decisions and
actions of others with respect to things not
clearly taught in revelation? - This judgment should be left to Christ (10) and
God (12) - Why? For we shall all stand before the judgment
seat of Christ (10) Then he quotes from Isaiah
4523 - So then each one of us shall give account of
himself to God (12)
11 12RomansPauls Exposition of Salvation by Grace
Through Faith
- Lesson 18b
- VIII. Gods Righteousness
- DEMANDING RIGHTEOUS LIVES
- Romans 121 - 1513
- Todays Lesson 1413-23, Page 162
13C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-22) - Love rules over liberty when others are weak
(13-15) - Pauls conclusion is Let us not judge one
another any more (13) - We are ...not to put a stumbling block or a
cause to fall in our brothers way - If we, the more knowledgeable or stronger
brother, cause our weaker brother to violate his
conscience on a matter of indifference, we have
caused him to sin and placed a stumbling block in
his way - (This point will be discussed further in verse
23)
14C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-22) - Love rules over liberty when others are weak
(13-15) (Continued) - There was nothing wrong with eating meat, but if
the meat was unclean in the mind of a brother, it
was wrong for him to eat it (14) - Paul knew there was nothing unclean in itself,
but the Jews (and Gentiles) came from a
background that had some things they did not want
to change -- which things had no bearing on their
salvation
15C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-22) - Love rules over liberty when others are weak
(13-15) (Continued) - If our liberty of eating meat causes a brother to
stumble, we are not walking in love (15) - Christ loved him and died for him as well (15)
- God has been gracious to remove His laws about
diet - He has also been gracious to respect the laws
that men choose to make for themselves, as long
as none seeks to impose his personal restrictions
or allowances on others
16C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-23) - Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
love - (16-22)
- The good privilege to implement a personal
choice can become a bad and deadly weapon
against the tender conscience of a weaker saint
(16) - Such misuse of conscientious privilege is to be
uniformly condemned as evil by all thoughtful
Christians - We are no better or worse as faithful members
because we eat and drink, or because we dont
17C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-23) - Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
love - (16-22)(Continued)
- The things that are truly important in the church
are righteousness, peace, and joy (17) - We must pursue two goals in our dealings with
other saints - (1) Things which make for peace
- (2) Things that will edify (19)
- We then are acceptable to God (18)
18C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-23) - Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
love - (16-22)(Continued)
- What is good or bad for the strong members
behavior will become dependent upon what is
actually good or bad for the others - If his behavior will offend the consciences of
fellow saints, then he must forego the enjoyment
of those things (20,21)
19C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-23) - Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
love - (16-22)(Continued)
- The faith good conscience about participating
in nonessentials of the strong may need to be
kept to oneself and not expressed in action
because of the conscience of someone else (22)
20C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23
- Our secondary but essential concern is for a
brothers welfare (13-23) - Integrity of conscience is critical for all (23)
- Whatever is not from faith is sin (23)
- If one eats meats but believes he shouldnt, he
does not eat from faith - Violating your conscience is evil!
21