Romans Paul

1
RomansPauls Exposition of Salvation by Grace
Through Faith

• Lesson 18a
• VIII. Gods Righteousness
• DEMANDING RIGHTEOUS LIVES
• Romans 121 - 1513
• Todays Lesson 141-12, Page 158

2
Overview

1. In chapter 12, Paul dealt with various moral
   obligations
2. In chapter 13, with political obligations
3. In chapter 14, he deals with reciprocal
   obligations of church members to each other
   regarding differences of opinions
4. Pauls discussion in this chapter will center
   around attitudes that brethren should hold toward
   one another

3
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
  (1-5)
• Opinion is a personal view, attitude, or
  appraisal
• Knowledge plays a major role in the opinions that
  Christians entertain about particular issues
• As our knowledge of Gods word increases, our
  appreciation about what the Scripture does not
  actually say increases
• Matters of opinion are treated differently than
  matters of faith as we determine fellowship
  issues
• Christians must not allow strong differences of
  opinion to disrupt the unity of the church

4
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
  (1-5)
• The stronger brethren are to receive the one who
  is weak (1)
• Strong has reference to the knowledge of Gods
  word
• Doubtful refers to things that are not clear,
  uncertain or questionable
• Disputations are verbal controversies,
  discussions or debates
• Sometimes we must agree to disagree to keep the
  peace and harmony of the church

5
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
  (1-5)
• The immediate issue was eating of meats (2)
• The weak brother ate herbs (vegetables), the
  stronger brother ate all things including meat
• Some of the Roman Christian Jews had not entirely
  broken away from the law of Moses holding that
  they could not eat meat that was unclean (as well
  as observing certain days)
• They were disposed to condemn the Gentile
  Christian for not following the same law
• It is clear that these differences were not
  matters affecting the salvation of the persons
  involved (3)

6
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
  (1-5)
• We are not to judge others on the matters of
  opinion (4)
• Paul uses the example of a servant to his master
• We are not to intervene in physical, personal,
  everyday matters of others
• We should remember that Gods position on any
  untaught issue if He has one is the right
  position. Ours may not be.

7
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Fellowship is not based on matters of opinion
  (1-5)
• Observing special days, or not, and eating meats,
  or not, were matters of conscience and not of
  faith (5)
• Let each be fully convinced in his own mind
• The resulting conclusion will be based on his
  knowledge of Gods word

8
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our primary concern must be to please the Lord
  (6-12)
• Whether he ate or didnt eat (observed days or
  didnt), it was to the Lord according to his
  personal conscience (6)
• Each person should thank God for this liberty

9
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our primary concern must be to please the Lord
  (6-12)
• Whether we live or die, we are the Lords (8)
• We do not live or die to ourselves (7)
• Christians belong to the Lord and are doing their
  best to please Him
• We are not under obligation to any man with
  regard to the liberty described in verse 6, but
  we are subject to the Lord
• Likewise, we are not to force our opinions on
  others as long as they follow the Lord
• For to this end, Christ died and lived again (9)

10
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our primary concern must be to please the Lord
  (6-12)
• But why do you judge your brother? (10)
• In other words, why would anyone dare to assume
  responsibility for judging the decisions and
  actions of others with respect to things not
  clearly taught in revelation?
• This judgment should be left to Christ (10) and
  God (12)
• Why? For we shall all stand before the judgment
  seat of Christ (10) Then he quotes from Isaiah
  4523
• So then each one of us shall give account of
  himself to God (12)

11

• End of Lesson 18a

12
RomansPauls Exposition of Salvation by Grace
Through Faith

• Lesson 18b
• VIII. Gods Righteousness
• DEMANDING RIGHTEOUS LIVES
• Romans 121 - 1513
• Todays Lesson 1413-23, Page 162

13
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-22)
• Love rules over liberty when others are weak
  (13-15)
• Pauls conclusion is Let us not judge one
  another any more (13)
• We are ...not to put a stumbling block or a
  cause to fall in our brothers way
• If we, the more knowledgeable or stronger
  brother, cause our weaker brother to violate his
  conscience on a matter of indifference, we have
  caused him to sin and placed a stumbling block in
  his way
• (This point will be discussed further in verse
  23)

14
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-22)
• Love rules over liberty when others are weak
  (13-15) (Continued)
• There was nothing wrong with eating meat, but if
  the meat was unclean in the mind of a brother, it
  was wrong for him to eat it (14)
• Paul knew there was nothing unclean in itself,
  but the Jews (and Gentiles) came from a
  background that had some things they did not want
  to change -- which things had no bearing on their
  salvation

15
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-22)
• Love rules over liberty when others are weak
  (13-15) (Continued)
• If our liberty of eating meat causes a brother to
  stumble, we are not walking in love (15)
• Christ loved him and died for him as well (15)
• God has been gracious to remove His laws about
  diet
• He has also been gracious to respect the laws
  that men choose to make for themselves, as long
  as none seeks to impose his personal restrictions
  or allowances on others

16
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-23)
• Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
  love
• (16-22)
• The good privilege to implement a personal
  choice can become a bad and deadly weapon
  against the tender conscience of a weaker saint
  (16)
• Such misuse of conscientious privilege is to be
  uniformly condemned as evil by all thoughtful
  Christians
• We are no better or worse as faithful members
  because we eat and drink, or because we dont

17
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-23)
• Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
  love
• (16-22)(Continued)
• The things that are truly important in the church
  are righteousness, peace, and joy (17)
• We must pursue two goals in our dealings with
  other saints
• (1) Things which make for peace
• (2) Things that will edify (19)
• We then are acceptable to God (18)

18
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-23)
• Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
  love
• (16-22)(Continued)
• What is good or bad for the strong members
  behavior will become dependent upon what is
  actually good or bad for the others
• If his behavior will offend the consciences of
  fellow saints, then he must forego the enjoyment
  of those things (20,21)

19
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-23)
• Exercising liberty is sinful if it is counter to
  love
• (16-22)(Continued)
• The faith good conscience about participating
  in nonessentials of the strong may need to be
  kept to oneself and not expressed in action
  because of the conscience of someone else (22)

20
C. Christian behavior reflects concern for other
Christians Romans 141-23

• Our secondary but essential concern is for a
  brothers welfare (13-23)
• Integrity of conscience is critical for all (23)
• Whatever is not from faith is sin (23)
• If one eats meats but believes he shouldnt, he
  does not eat from faith
• Violating your conscience is evil!

21

• End of Lesson 18b