Freedom in Christ does not allow us to live however we want, but brings us to a place of allowing our freedom to be an expression of our faith in Christ.
*14:1-12—Both “strong” and “weak” Christians need to stop condemning each other because it is the Lord, and he alone, who has the right to access the believer’s status and conduct. (by Douglas Moo)
If our convictions are lead by the Spirit and are a means to our ultimate worship of Christ, that is what matters. In the end I will give an account for my lift not the life of the person next to me (14:12).
Rom 14:6
6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
*14:13-23—The “strong” Christians must be careful not to cause the “weak” Christians to suffer spiritual harm by their insistence on exercising their liberty on disputed matters. For such instance violates the essence of the kingdom, which is to manifest love and concern for one another. (by Douglas Moo)
We get so caught up on insignificant matters of life that we make ultimate, things that were never intended to be such.
Rom 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
We so often fail at walking in the power of the Spirit (Rom 8) that it’s no wonder we pursue and fight for the things that have such little significance. Are these things such idols in our lives that we can’t set them aside for a time? Yet we are driven by the material, rather than by the eternal. We have made the Kingdom to be about food and drink rather than about the gospel. Are we more concerned with fighting for our freedom that we neglect dying to ourselves (Luke 9:23) and “pursuing what makes for peach and for mutual upbuilding” (v.19) for that time. How true is verse 20, that for the sake of “food” we so often destroy the work of God.” The gospel is not a matter of mere behavior modification, but a heart that is changed by the cross, that is filled with the Spirit, and that leads us to live differently in light of those things. Our purpose then becomes Christ and Christ alone. The freedoms that I have don’t govern and drive my life, but it’s Christ that governs and drives my freedoms.
So the gut-checking question comes out of verse 23. Is the exercise of your freedom birthed out of a faith in the gospel, a faith that knows its free acceptance in the cross of Christ alone, not your behavior (for that would be salvation by works)? Or is the exercise of your freedom rooted in simply an attempt to show that you’re free, absent of any expression of faith or life that has been changed by the power of the gospel.
The amazing thing about the gospel is that is totally changes the motivation and purpose of how we live. The gospel say -- I am more sinful and depraved than I ever thought possible, yet I am more accepted and loved than I ever dared believe. And this reality brings us to a place of putting no weight in our spiritual performance (or lack thereof) as a means of being accepted by God. In the same way, there is nothing Mikail (my daughter) can do to gain or lose my love--She will always have my absolute love and affection as my daughter. When we understand the gospel in this way, it will revolutionize our motivation for living. It will change how we view our sin and God’s grace. It will change how we view our freedom. Our response, then, to a cross-centered gospel will be a faith-centered life. As it says in Col 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” I came to Christ by the power of God birthing faith in my heart. I live for Christ, by the power of God continually birthing faith in my heart; and his Spirit living in out through me as I live my life on a mission to show the world the gospel. This will restore and revitalize how we view freedom.
1 Cor 10:31
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Would love to hear your thoughts!!! Please comment! Hopefully more to come from Romans 15.
3 comments:
Below is from the website: http://www.wildbranch.org/Archive/index.html
There are three issues discussed in this section of scripture that are used to support the Christian view that Torah has been done away with. We will discuss these three 'proof texts' in this teaching. The three erroneous teachings we will address are:
The 'weak in the faith' are those who observe Torah.
The 'strong in the faith' can now eat whatever they want.
A believer in Yahshua can worship or rest whenever he chooses, for all days are the same.
Romans 14:1
"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye. . .
One of the helpful keys to understanding Romans chapter 14 is to remember that it is preceded by Romans chapter 13. Sha'ul teaches us something important about Torah before he gives us his advice on how to handle the weak in the faith. The last seven verses of chapter 13 give insight on how to put on the Messiah. In verse 9, Sha'ul, (who, we remind you, was raised in the only scriptures in existence thus far) teaches us what the phrase 'to love thy neighbor' means.
Romans 13:8-10
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to its neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."
Sha'ul interprets for us what Yahshua meant when He said to love thy neighbor. If one observes the commandments concerning how to treat your neighbor, then one is loving thy neighbor. This is true love. When one loves this way, then Torah is established. (In the language in which Sha'ul was raised and the scriptures were written in, the word 'fulfill' means 'to establish'.) Sha'ul goes on to remind us to 'cast off the works of darkness' and to 'put on the armor of light'. In chapter 13 we see that Sha'ul is continuing to hold Torah up as the means to loving your neighbor and distinguishing what is works of darkness. With this in mind let's keep following Sha'ul's teaching into Romans 14.
Most Christian commentators, including a long time mentor, begin their commentary on this chapter with presupposed conclusions. Two of which are that chapter 14 is a contrast between the strong in the faith and the weak in the faith; the weak in the faith being those who still observe Torah and are still 'under the law', and the strong in the faith being those who are 'free' from the law and are just walking in the spirit. But is that what the basis of this chapter is all about? And could it be that the actual problem Sha'ul is addressing is something that he had previously dealt with in Corinth?
If you carefully read the first verse you will see that Sha'ul is talking to someone ABOUT the weak in the faith. The subjects are the 'weak' not the strong. What does the phrase 'weak in the faith' mean? Let's go back and define 'weak'. This word in the Greek is 'astheneo. This word is used in the Greek culture to describe someone who is feeble, or sickly, or impotent.
Thanks for the in-depth comments. Were you finished with your "argument"?
Dave...great thoughts and challenging words. I'm ready for part 2 any time! Would love to hear more about what the Lord has been showing you when we are all together at the reunion. Thanks for the encouragement to live a Gospel centered life. -A Carson
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