Romans
14:1-16
This is
one of those areas that is not so easy to live by.
All the “in your face” chapters in
the New Testament are easily preached, practiced, and used as a gauge to measure
other Christian maturity and separation levels.
This chapter teaches the Christian
that everyone isn’t going to believe the same when it comes to standards and
convictions, but that doesn’t mean they are “ungodly” or wrong.
We have a great responsibility to
uphold Christ in our life and will one day give an account for what we have done
with this truth we have been given.
(v.1-6)
A
Look at our Faith.
What does it mean, “weak in the
faith?”
First of all we are dealing with
people who know perfectly well that Christ saved them through faith.
There salvation does not stand on
refraining from meat and keeping certain feast days.
Some Christians were once idol
worshippers and some where Jews that kept the feast days.
Salvation came and Christ gave them
new life, yet their conscience will not let them escape certain activities or
allow them to participate in certain activities.
We are all weak in some areas and
strong in others.
Our faith is strong in an area if we
can come in contact with sinners and not fall into their practice, it is weak if
we must avoid certain people, places, and activities to keep from falling back
into the lifestyle the Lord pulled us out of.
Music, movies, activities (beaches,
theaters, concerts, etc…)
(v.7-9, 13-16)
A
Look at our Purpose.
It is not about us, it is about the
Lord. How can our life reflect
Jesus?
Not a movie star, singer, or
professional athlete, but Christ.
How can we win others to Christ and
not push them away. (v.13)
There are some grey areas that are
always brought up. Tattoos,
piercings, smoking, drinking, dating,
We are a witness to those around
us, but more importantly, we will stand before God one day for our actions.
(v.10-12) A Look at our
Judgement.
One thing is
for sure, it will not be me or another preacher or brother that is going to
judge you in the end.
We will not be concerned about how
our neighbor acted on that day.
It is going to be the righteous
judge.
Illustration of the news broadcast
about the arrests in Burke County.
Our judge will be different.
Luke 12…servant.
Ezek. 33…sound of the trumpet