Romans 14 Overview

Romans 14. Give freedom instead of judgments and obstacles

Summary

Not all believers have the same level of spiritual growth. Some do not understand freedom about what food they may eat. Others do not understand freedom about days of the week. The weak believer judges the strong believer and the strong believer shows contempt for the weak. Each person must do what he does for the Lord, not for himself. In fact, whether we live or we die we belong to the Lord (Romans 14.1-9). Therefore, do not judge or show contempt for each other. Each will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14.10-12). Furthermore, do not do something that will confuse the weak believer or cause him to go against his level of biblical understanding. Give him freedom to choose. What we all do, we must do with confidence that that is right. If we do something against our conscience it is sin for us Romans 14.13-23).

Outline

1. Romans 14:1-9. Not all believers have the same level of spiritual growth. Some do not understand freedom about what food they may eat. Others do not understand freedom about days of the week. Each person must do what he does for the Lord, not for himself.
2. Romans 14.10-12. Therefore do not judge or show contempt for each other. Each will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
3. Romans 14.13-23. Furthermore, do not do something that will confuse the weak believer or cause him to go against his level of biblical understanding. Give him freedom to choose. What we all do, we must do with confidence that that is right. If we do something against our conscience it is sin for us.

So What Application

1. Not every believer has reached the same level of spiritual growth. We need to recognize this and accept all believers. God has accepted all believers based on the death and resurrection of Christ.
2. Biblically named sins do not fall in the category of Christian liberty.
3. The stronger or more mature believer should not look down on or show contempt for the younger or more immature believer who does not been taught and does not understand Christian liberty.
4. The more mature believer modifies his liberty when around a weaker believer, and has the privilege of helping that one become more mature by teaching him.
5. The weak or more immature believer should not criticize or judge a stronger believer who knows and uses Christian liberty. Remember, all believers will be evaluated by God.
6. Each believer must be convinced about Christian liberty as it applies to non-essential activities or doubtful things. He believes before God that he has liberty to eat, drink, or do whatever. This is living by faith in God’s revelation, the Bible.
7. The doctrine of doubtful things includes liberty, love, sacrifice, profit, restoration, and burden bearing.

Select doctrines

1. Doubtful things
2. Christ’s death and resurrection
3. Lordship of Christ
4. Romans and Corinthian doubtful things compared to Galatians and Colossian Judaizing
5. Judging one another
6. Spiritual growth
7. Judgment Seat of God-Christ
8. One another in Christian life
9. Conscience