THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE BELIEVER
Between brethren in Christ
Chapter 14:1-15:13
In the previous chapter, we have the admonition to the believer not to exercise the actions clearly declared sinful, immoral in the Scriptures such as murder, adultery, theft, lies and greed. Now we have a warning not to condemn the brethren whose scruples lead them to consider sinful other questionable actions, which are not expressly forbidden in Scripture and therefore are of secondary importance.
Following that, we find three basic principles:
- The scrupulous believer must be accepted in communion: “one who is weak in the faith" does not mean weakness in the knowledge of the great truths of the Gospel — the facts of the faith — but in the practical application of what is God's will in his behaviour. He is weak because he falters and hesitates on issues of conduct, not interpreting properly how to proceed. Nevertheless, he should be received into fellowship in the Church with open arms if he is a believer in Jesus Christ. Communion should not be disturbed by discussions about questionable things. Although certain things are not expressly condemned in Scripture, some believers separate themselves from them. If they want to do this, the responsibility is theirs, but that is no reason to separate the brethren. The Scofield Reference Bible has a very useful note on this verse — "the church has no authority to decide questions of personal freedom in things not expressly forbidden in Scripture ".
- Tolerance must be mutual : The differences of behaviour with regard to that "what is lawful" and "what edifies" (1 Corinthians 10:23) can be large, and it is necessary to have in mind a clear opinion (in the light of the knowledge of the word of God) about what should be the appropriate behaviour. Here we have a first example, where the dispute concerns food. In the churches in Rome there were converted Jews and Gentiles, coming from very different cultures.
The Jews were accustomed to the restrictions specified in the Law of Moses about what meat they could eat. The Gentiles were free of these restrictions, eating everything, including the meat that had been sacrificed to idols. One ate only vegetables; the other followed the commandment found in Genesis 9: 3 "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you". This was confirmed in 1 Timothy 4: 4: "every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving". We can imagine the discussions they had on this subject. Who is "strong" should not despise his “weak” brother , nor should the "weak" judge the “strong” as if he were a sinner, because God has received both in His family, regardless of what they eat.
- Each believer is a servant of the Lord and what he does, is done for the Lord, for he is His, and for Him he lives or dies. He has no right to take the place of his Master and judge his co-workers. Each will be firmed in the faith because the Master is able to do it. Then we have another example, which is the observance of special days on the calendar. Some Jewish Christians, for example, still religiously observed the "Sabbaths", which were ceremonial days of rest on their festivals and the last day of each week. Other believers made no distinction, considering every day alike, each consecrated to the service of the Lord. According to this third principle, it is not important nor is there a requirement for making a difference between days. However, who does it for himself, convinced in his mind that it is the will of the Lord, let him do so, for when obeying his conscience in this way he does it for the Lord.
The lordship of Christ comes into every aspect of the life of the believer. He does not live for himself, but for the Lord. He does not die for himself, but for the Lord. It is true that what he does and says can affect others, but that is not the thought here. Paul is stressing that the Lord should be the aim and object of the life of His people.
Everything that a believer does in life is subject to review and approval of Christ. The believer looks at everything in function of what would be acceptable in the presence of Christ. Even when he dies, he aspires to glorify Him in his departure to be with Him. Therefore, he belongs to Him in life or in death.
One of the reasons why Christ died and arose again is so that He could be seen to be Lord both of the dead and the living. Therefore, the believer has a Lord who is alive and active both during his lifetime and after death when he leaves his physical body and lives in soul and spirit in His presence.
As a result, the very scrupulous believer realizes that it is not fitting for him to make judgment about the behaviour of others, and the believer who feels free will verify the uselessness of despising those who still hold on to restrictive customs. For each one will give account of himself at the judgment seat of Christ.
This tribunal has to do with the service of the believer, not his sins (1 Corinthians 3:11 -15). It is a process of review and reward and should not be confused with the judgment of the nations of the gentiles (Matthew 25: 31-46) nor the judgment of the great white throne (Revelation 20:11 -15). The latter is the final judgment of all the ungodly after the end of the millennium.
The certainty of his attendance before the judgment seat of Christ is enhanced by the reference taken from Isaiah 45:23, where the LORD makes a strong statement that every knee must bend before Him in recognition of His supreme authority. All will give account of themselves, not of their brethren, to God. The false doctrine of the intercession by the "saints" falls to the ground.
Instead of judging their companions in these matters of moral indifference, believers should decide never to do anything to prevent a brother in his spiritual progress. None of these non-essential matters is so important as to justify causing him to trip or fall.
Paul declares his certainty that no food is unclean (spiritually). However, it is unclean for any who considers it unclean. If, therefore, a "strong" brother eats something that the "weak" considers impure, the latter will stumble in his faith because of the "strong" brother. The “strong” brother sins for lack of love for the "weak", and will be rebuked for this. He should avoid censorship by not eating that food, for thus he serves Christ becoming pleasing to God and accepted by men. His abstinence from what he knows is not sin, respecting the scruples of his brother, contributes to peace and to mutual edification and avoids the destruction of the work of God.
The "strong", therefore, must withstand the weaknesses of the weaker ones by restricting their own freedom, not pleasing themselves, but pleasing their neighbours in what is good for edification. Christ also did not please Himself: the defamation of those who slandered God fell upon Him (He suffered so that we might be saved).
Because Scripture is silent on many things in our contemporary society, we receive these broad guidelines, which are three principles of separation:
- Certainty: Everything we do must be done with enthusiasm, because we are convinced in our own minds that it is what God wants us to do.
- Clear conscience: Our conduct must be such that to remember it does not cause us remorse.
- Concern: We must show concern for the feelings and prejudices of the weaker believers.
God is a God of patience and consolation - may He grant us the same feeling for each other, according to Christ Jesus, that we agree among ourselves in glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and accept each other just as Christ welcomed us to the glory of God.
Christ ministered to Jews to confirm the promises made to their ancestors, and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, thus fulfilling various prophecies of the Old Testament.
There are four references to "mouth" in Romans, forming a biographical sketch of a "soul well saved". At first, his mouth was full of cursing and bitterness (Chapter 3:14). Then his mouth was stopped, and he became guilty before God (Chapter 3:19). Then he confessed with his mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in His resurrection (Chapter 10: 9). Finally, his mouth is actively glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Chapter 15:6).
Paul wishes that the God of hope might fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
R David Jones
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1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD."
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Romans chapter 14
1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "FOR THIS REASON I WILL CONFESS TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING TO YOUR NAME."
10 And again he says: "REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE!"
11 And again: "PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES! LAUD HIM, ALL YOU PEOPLES!"
12 And again, Isaiah says: "THERE SHALL BE A ROOT OF JESSE; AND HE WHO SHALL RISE TO REIGN OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM THE GENTILES SHALL HOPE."
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans chapter 15, verses 1 to 13