Romans: Chapter 14

Our Responsibilities as Mature Christians; to Love & Encourage All Believers

14:1

We are to welcome all Believers into our Fellowship. If the Believer is new, or weak, or just ignorant of God’s Word, we are not to criticize him or judge him or confuse or frustrate him.

14:2-4

The mature Believer understands and knows that laws pertaining to food, etc. are no longer in effect. (3.) Yet the weaker Believer still thinks he is in bondage to rules and laws. (4.) Never judge or criticize a person who lives by certain rules and laws pertaining to eating and drinking. Self-righteous pride is a sin. Never judge or criticize another member of someone’s family. The Master of all, the Lord Himself, knows the intent of his heart and is the One who will lead him to Truth.

14:5

Some Believers honor certain holidays, holy days, Sabbaths, etc. Others believe all days are holy and sacred to God. Remember that the Sabbath was identified in Creation week. God made it a special day of rest. Mark 2:27, Jesus says the Sabbath was made for man. The law was a yoke of bondage, see Galatians 3:2, and Christians have been set free. It is honoring to God to celebrate the Sabbath, but no one should feel obligated to observe it in some way.

14:6

Those who choose to honor the Sabbath for God’s Glory should never demand that others do the same. Those who eat and drink, thanking God, do so in honor of the Lord. Yet the person who fasts also does so to honor the Lord. We must never criticize the way that others chose to honor God. See Colossians 2: 16-17. Regarding resting on the Sabbath, see Hebrews 4. Note that also in the end times the worship of Jesus will occur from one New Moon to another New Moon and from one Sabbath to another Sabbath… see Isaiah 66: 22 -23. Evidently, the Sabbath is important to God and worship will be required on the Sabbath. Perhaps it is so that man will always honor God and His creation and establishment of the day of rest.

14:7-9

No true Believer can live only for himself but must serve and honor God. Our thoughts, words, and deeds are all to honor God. Even our very death is to honor God. (8.) So if we live, we are to honor God, and even when we die, we are honoring God. (9.) Jesus died, His earthly body died; and He rose again, with a new living body. Jesus is Lord of both the living and the dead.

14:10

We are never to criticize or judge others; that is not our place or right. Only Jesus is to judge, and we will all stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to be judged for our thoughts and behavior. This is the Judgement that will try our works; either to be refined like gold, silver and gems, or to be burned up as wood, hay and stubble. This is where our rewards will be revealed by fire ~ God’s perfect judgment.

14:11

Jesus tells us clearly that everyone shall bow their knee to Him, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All will acknowledge Jesus is God. Remember, even the demons acknowledge Jesus is the Holy One, yet they are not saved!

14:12-13

Every single person who has ever lived must give an account of his life on earth and all his thoughts and actions only to Jesus. Jesus will rightly judge us and reward those who have been obedient and faithful to His Word. See 1 Corinthians 3: 8-15. All of us can work toward improving our Rewards. See Philippians 2. We must be willing to sacrifice ourselves and suffer the loss for others. (13.) Therefore; or so then, stop criticizing and blaming one another, instead resolve to never discourage or hinder another Believer in his walk with God. If our actions cause another, weaker, Believer to stumble and fall, we will also be the loser.

14:14-15

Paul says he is absolutely convinced that nothing is forbidden or unholy to God. Yet for a weaker Believer who thinks something is wrong, for him it is wrong. If a weaker Believer is pained or hurt by what we eat or drink, then we are not walking in love by causing that person to be offended. We do not want to harm the tender conscience of a weaker Believer by doing something he believes is wrong.

14:16-17

Even though we know something is acceptable to God, we should avoid it if it causes others to be offended. This is to act and live in true love. Even Paul disciplined himself so he would not be a castaway~lose his reward; Paul was concerned about losing his inheritance. See 1 Corinthian 9: 26 – 27. (17.) The Kingdom of God is not a matter of allowing us the privilege of all the food and drink we like; but rather living in righteousness, peace and joy through the Holy Spirit, before God.

14:18-19

Those who make these types of sacrifices are pleasing to God and approved by men.
So then, let us eagerly pursue whatever brings harmony and mutual edification and development of one another. Whatever is needed to help us grow in the Lord.

14:20-21

All foods are acceptable to God, yet it is wrong to eat something in front of another that offends him. The right thing to do is to avoid enjoying whatever it is one likes IF that sacrifice will help a weaker Believer. This action is joining in the suffering of Christ.

14:22

Keep your personal beliefs secret between you and God; develop your own personal relationship with God. Yet never insist that others develop their relationship with God the same way you do. Blessed is the person who has no reason to judge himself for what he believes.

14:23

Remember the person who has doubts and an uneasy conscience about eating something and then eats it because of you, stands condemned before God. Why? Because he was not true to his own convictions and did not act out of True Faith. Whatever is done outside of Faith is a sin. When in doubt ~ Don’t. James 4:17.

Summary: Avoid criticizing any Believer. We cannot know their circumstances nor their personal relationship with Jesus. Be willing to sacrifice ourselves to help a weaker Believer grow in the Lord. Be gentle and loving in sharing the Truth of God’s Word. God’s Word, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will sanctify all True Believers. Pray for and encourage one another.