SURVEY OF ROMANS

CENTER FOR CHURCH ENRICHMENT

ROMANS SURVEY

TEACHING OUTLINE 11

ROM 14:1 -15:13

Living In Christian Community

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Introduction

This section would have been relevant to Roman Christians, with the mixture of Jew and Gentile Christians in the city and the house churches in Rome.

However, it is especially relevant to Christians today who live in congregations that cover five generations, and a diverse ethnic community.
The material basically addresses how the so-called stronger Christians should be sensitive to Christians who might still be weak in the Christian faith.

At the root of the problem lies the tendency we all have to find fault with others and to judge them in such a manner that this causes faith and conscience problems, friction, and ultimately division in the body of Christ.

Rom 14:1-4 Welcome One Another For God Has Welcomed The Other!

The strong (whoever they are, most times us!) ought to welcome (receive, accept) those whose faith (or conscience) is weak or not yet fully informed.

Note Rom 15:1, and 7.
Christians are to welcome (receive, accept) one another just as Christ has graciously received and accepted us for the glory of God!

Some Christians’ faith may still be immature and needing enlightenment (edification).

Christian growth is sometimes slow (see Matt 13:13-32, The Parable of the Mustard Seed; Matt 13:33-35, The Parable of Leaven, growth in the kingdom is slow and needs time, just like baking bread!).

It is important to note that we do not permit matters of opinion to become divisive issues.

Matters of opinion include food and drink (kosher food and wine), but thy can also include matters of opinion over biblical interpretation.

We like to think that our opinions on scripture are “doctrine”, but should remember that they are still opinion!

Churches do have consensus on doctrinal issues, and should our personal opinion differ with the consensus, we have no right to cause problems and division.

If we cannot “tolerate” (a bad word, for we need to learn to be more tolerant of others) the doctrinal consensus of a congregation we should either keep this to ourselves, or leave!

Rom 14:5-12 Judging God’s Servants!
In matters of opinion we must not become brittle to where we constantly find fault and judge one another!

Note Matt 7:1 where the structure of the Greek actually implies falling into the habit of constantly finding fault and judging others (the Greek me [pronounced may and meaning not] with a present imperative verb implies a prohibition of forming a constant habit of finding fault).

Note also Matt 13:24-30, The Parable of Wheat and Tares, and Matt 13:47-50, The Parable of The Dragnet.
Judging is not the responsibility nor business of Christians.

Judging belongs to God and Christ to whom God has given the responsibility of judging (Acts 17:30, 31).
The Christians mandate is to proclaim the gospel, nurture, and edify, not judge.

We need to get out of the judging business and into the nurturing and loving business!

Christians do not live for themselves and their own opinions, we live for Christ and others!

Rom 14:13-23 Becoming a Stumbling Block
The expression “stumbling block” [Greek skandalon] does not mean what others may not like or object to, but involves causing them to stumble into sin, or simply to sin!

[Note Matt 18:7, 8 where the RSV and NIV read sin for skandalon implying that stumbling block can mean sin!]

Paul is not addressing persons who believes they are strong yet who object to something, claiming that this could cause someone else [never defined!] to stumble!

Paul is addressing Christians so behaving as to cause weaker Christian to sin!

Christians have freedom in Christ in regard to what they eat and drink, or in regard to special days they may consider special or holy (Christmas, or Easter), but if that freedom should cause someone who is weak in the faith to sin (and I emphasize sin) then Christians should give that freedom up to Christ!

Note Gal 5:1, 13 where Paul again addresses the use or expression of our freedom. The parameter to that freedom is another person and their faith.

Christians must be careful in expressing their freedom, or in raising objections to another’s opinion, that they do not destroy the saving work of God in someone’s life!

The kingdom is more important than our opinions and freedoms!

Paul stresses (Rom 14:19) that Christians should strive for mutual upbuilding (deification).

This is done by personal example, prayer, bible study, and nurturing one another.

A major emphasis relates to faith or conscience!

Faith as Paul uses it in Rom 14:22 refers to one’s conscience.

Conscience is that inner ability we have to discern between right and wrong.

Conscience, then, is related to faith which must be nurtured and matured according to some body of knowledge.
For the Jewish Christian this would have been the Torah, for the Gentile Christian it would be the Christian “torah” [divine instruction].
In Paul’s time the Christian “torah” would have been the Torah interpreted by Christ.
Today it would be the New Testament as it reflects on Christ.
Christian conscience should be shaped and nurtured by Christ and his life and teachings.

To live contrary to one’s conscience [no matter how well formed or otherwise conscience may be] is sin, and to cause a weaker Christian to live contrary to conscience is also sin!

In the context of what we are studying, conscience relates especially to personal opinion!

Rom 15:1-6 Following Christ’s Example
Strong Christians must welcome [accept and receive] weaker Christians just as Christ received them, full of sin and opinion!

We do this for the glory of God and the maturing of the weaker Christian.

At this point Paul focuses on the Jewish Christians accepting the Gentile Christians, for they had been included in God’s plan of righteousness and promises through Abraham.

But this is what the Gospel is all about!
God accepted the Jew in spite of their sinful ways, by grace trough faith in Jesus, and on the same grounds, by grace through faith in Jesus, he accepts the Gentile.

Jewish Christians likewise, by grace and trust in God’s working salvation for the Gentile, must also accept the Gentile Christians!

Strong Christians, likewise, must welcome and accept the weaker or new Christians whose faith is still in the process of maturing!

Notes:

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