4/7/24 - Eternal Not External - Romans 14:13–23 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday we're back in our study of Romans chapter fourteen. Paul isn’t finished talking about the importance of Christian unity. This can be challenging because we don’t all come from the same backgrounds, experiences and cultures. In Paul’s day, Rome was a cosmopolitan city with diverse people now joined together under the banner of Christianity. Many of these folks had very little in common. 

 

Picture this incredible scene…

 

Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Barbarians, servants of the house and owners of the same house sharing the same meal around the same table. Many come from pagan backgrounds and yet all are gathered together because of their newly formed faith in Jesus. This environment gave many opportunities for discord. One example Paul uses is that of eating meat. He introduces this at the beginning of chapter two. 

 

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Romans 14:2

 

Jewish Christians did not eat meat sold by the local butcher because it had been offered to pagan gods. For this reason the food was tainted so they kept it vegetarian. Gentile believers had no problem eating because they believed all meat was created by the one true God and idols are nothing. So what happens when the Gentile invites the Jew over for dinner? It could get awkward. There is opportunity for disunity.

 

Once again Paul helps us understand what it means to live in unity with one another in matters of conscience that are not sinful. I need to emphasize this - we are not talking about the clear violations of Scripture. Rather, this is between those whose faith is “weak” and those whose faith is "strong.”

Paul agrees with Jesus…

 

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” Mark 7:14-19

 

Inanimate things such as food are morally neutral. However, if someone thinks such things are unclean, then for that person it is so. If a Jewish believer says, “I can’t eat what has been sacrificed to idols and if I do, I will be morally wrecked!” and you’re the host of this dinner party, then Paul has a warning for you.

 

For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. Romans 14:15

 

Back in chapter twelve Paul gave us an incredible description of Christian love. It seeks to bless and honor others. One way the strong can bless the weak is by putting limitations on his or her Christian freedoms. R. Kent Hughes says that exercising Christian liberty is like walking a tightrope. As you walk the rope with a balancing pole in your hands, one end of the pole is "love for others" and the other end is "Christian liberty." When these are in balance, you walk as you should. The stronger Christian voluntarily gives up his freedoms out of love for his weaker brothers and sisters. This is the way we maintain unity within the body and show the world we are disciples of Jesus.