B1 What does this mean?
C1 God’s Rules in Relationships with Our Christian Brother and Sister
D1 Verse 1 Regarding Food
E1 The passage teaches the difference between conviction and opinion. Conviction= “I must not eat.” Opinion= “I can eat unless it damages my fellow Christian’s faith.”
E2 Conviction may be present in both parties, but it may be different if one feels it affects their salvation or rightness with God.
E3 Those, who feel it is OK to eat any food, are not to judge and condemn someone who is vegan, nor are vegans to judge and condemn those who eat any food.
E4 Weak is the idea that they cannot accept the idea of eating all and any type of food. They feel that their rightness with God will be affected.
E5 We do not want to cause troubles in the church because of food.
E6 This idea could be applied about the color of carpet in the worship area or type of curtains, etc.
D2 Regarding Special Days
E1 The same applies to those who believe that Saturday or Sunday is special or if all days are equal.
E2 This is not an issue for brothers and sisters to fight over.
E3 Comment: (Source)
We are not our own but Christ’s (1 Co 6:19-note). This right of possession, and the consequent duty of devotion and obedience, are not founded on creation but on redemption. We are Christ’s because he has bought us with a price.
In all of Scripture, there is no greater call
for holy living and for submission
to the sovereign and unconditional
lordship of Jesus Christ.
To deny the lordship of Jesus Christ in the life of any believer is to subvert the full work, power, and purpose of His crucifixion and resurrection. Christ's Lordship is the foundational truth for the unity of the Church amidst diversity of opinion.
D3 Regarding Judgment
E1 We are not to judge and condemn our brother and sister over such things.
E2 All believers are God’s servants.
E3 Different cultures have different practices in food and life. It is OK. They do not need to be changed to our opinion.
E4 We must give an account of our actions. If we judge and condemn for such things, we might incur the anger of God.
E5 Comments (Source)
Warren Wiersbe: Both strong and weak must stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and they will not judge each other—they will be judged by the Lord. The Judgment Seat of Christ is that place where Christians will have their works judged by the Lord. It has nothing to do with our sins, since Christ has paid for them and they can be held against us no more (Romans 8:1). (The Bible exposition commentary)
William Newell: It is a matter of reward for our service, and not salvation, that is here in question. (Romans 14 - Newell's Commentary on Romans)
C2 Rationale
D1 God is judge, not us.
D2 Paul’s opinion: No food is unclean in itself. He is speaking of Jewish teaching on uncleanness.
D3 We must practice the law of love towards loving our neighbor as ourselves.
D4 Verse 16, I believe, refers to non-believers looking at the Christian community.
D5 Verse 17 shows us that righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit are more important than food or drink but also applies to all that Paul has written about.
E1 Some things are more important than others.
E2 The righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit are more important. Our focus must be on these things.
E3 Food might be important to some, but all should understand the lesser importance of these.
E4 The kingdom of God is where God rules. God does not rule on earth yet. The place on earth where He does rule is in the Christian’s heart.
E5 All the Christian blessings here are from taking the yoke of Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
D6 Verse 18, these things refer to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Both God and humans are pleased when people live this way.
D7 It should be our goal to be well pleasing to God. We are His sons and daughters. We are citizens of His kingdom. We love God.
D8 Peace in the church and encouraging each other’s faith to grow is what is important, not food and drink.
D9 Most people who claim to be the weaker Christian are not, but why should we go out of our way to be offensive to anyone.
D10 Doubt has the idea of back and forth, so thinking, “Yes, this is OK,” or “No, this is not OK.”
D11 A good comment: (Source)
Ray Stedman sums up this section writing that Paul is saying "Do not deliberately stumble or shock your brother or sister. Do not deliberately do things that will offend them, or even make them feel uncomfortable. Think about them, not yourself. SECOND: Give up your right when it threatens the peace or hinders the growth of another individual. Be alert to judge in that area. And THIRD: Never act from doubt. Act only from conviction, by the Word, and by the Spirit of God. If these problems are all settled on that basis, a congregation will be moving gradually toward the great liberty that we have as children of God.
C3 Questions
D1 What is judging?
D2 Why are we to be careful in what we judge and condemn?
D3 What is our goal in serving God?
D4 What is our goal in helping our brother and sister?
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