ROMANS 14:13-23 – THE CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

INTRODUCTION:

Last week we talked about the strength of faith and also the need for full assurance in our salvation and walk with God. We talked about weak faith, doubtful arguments, how different people look at things that are right and wrong for them, and ended with the thought that every knee will bow unto the Lord so we should not judge our brother unworthy of heaven as that is God’s decision.

Tonight we are going to look at our responsibility as Christians and how we should voluntarily be willing to restrain ourselves to keep our brother from falling into sin by our actions.

V13 – CHRISTIAN LIBERTY RESTRAINS OUR JUDGMENTS AND ACTIONS

Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1 – As Christians we should discern and judge sin but just actions of our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

2 – As Christians we should discern and judge what our actions means to young or immature Christians.

3 – As Christians we should take responsibility for our brother and sister standing and not falling

V14 – CHRISTIAN LIBERTY BUILDS OUR FAITH AND OVERCOMES GUILT

Rom 14:14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Read Mark 7:14-23 – evil comes from the heart

1 – As Christians we should be fully persuaded in the Lord how we should live for him. That includes both correction and repentance when we find we are wrong.

2 – As Christians we should be fully persuaded that there is nothing unclean of itself. But know how to tell what and when something becomes sin. II Tim 2:20-22, I Cor 6:12-13, I Cor 10:21-24, Rom 6:12-14

3 – As Christians we should be fully persuaded that when something is unclean it is unclean to us no matter what someone else says or thinks.

2 Tim 2:20-22  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Cor 6:12-13  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1 Cor 10:21-24  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Rom 6:12-14  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

V15-16 – WE WALK WITH BOTH FAITH AND LOVE

Rom 14:15-16  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

1 – As Christians love and faith must be balanced for our walk to be straight

2 – As Christians we are responsible for others and could destroy them in the faith

3 – As Christians we are not to let our good be evil spoken of.

V17-18 – CHRISTIAN LIBERTY GIVES BALANCE

Rom 14:17-18  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

1 – As Christians we should not have just an outwardly understanding of the kingdom of God but also an inwardly knowledge and balance of – right living, peace, and happiness in the Spirit.

2 – As Christians we have gain our balance as we serve Christ and our fellowman.

3 – As Christians through right living, peace, and joy we are accepted of God and approved of men

V19-20 – CHRISTIAN LIBERTY MAKES PEACE

Rom 14:19-20  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

1 – As Christians we follow after peace and uplifting each other

2 – As Christians we are builders of the work of God.  But all actions will either build or tare down.

3 – as Christians it is not the things but the attitude that we must guard against.

V21-22 – CHRISTIAN LIBERTY DIRECTS OUR WALK

Rom 14:21-22  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

1 – As Christians we must restrain ourselves from anything that will make a brother stumble (strike at, trip up),

be offended (scandalized or enticed to sin), or be made weak (feeble, impotent, sick).

2 – As Christians be strong in your faith first to yourself (through restraint) and next before God (through submission).

3 – As Christians a person is happy when they do not condemn themselves.

V23 – CHRISTIAN LIBERTY DISCERNS SIN

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

1 – As Christians we condemn ourselves when we doubt because of lack of faith.

2 – As Christians we cause ourselves to sin if we do anything in doubt or by doubting.

3 – As Christians we must learn to use and control our liberty to be effective for God.

QUESTIONS FOR LESSON:

1 – How can we be fully persuaded that how we are living is right? (V14, 19,21)

2 – How should we as fully persuaded Christians judge our brother? (V13,15,16)

3 – What responsibility do we have to live a restrained life in front of our brother? (V20-21)

4 – Who is the first person who should see our faith? (V22,23)