Romans 14. Give freedom instead of judgments and obstacles
Preliminary handout
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 because he is Lord over everyone (Romans 14.1-9). Therefore, do not judge or show contempt for each other. Each of us will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of God and there give an account for ourselves (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 in faith—with the confidence that that is right. If we do something against our conscience it is sin for us (Romans 14.13-23).
Outline
- 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.
- Romans 14.10-12. Therefore, do not judge or show contempt for each other. Each will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of God.
- 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.
Select doctrines
- Doubtful things
- Christ’s death and resurrection
- Lordship of Christ
- Romans and Corinthian doubtful things compared to Galatians and Colossian Judaizing
- Judging one another
- Spiritual growth
- Judgment Seat of God-Christ
- One another in Christian life
- Conscience