Within the Christian church, there are things that are considered essential, and non-essential.
There are thoughts, ideas, practices, and doctrines that are non-negotiable.
There are some thoughts, ideas, and practices that allow for personal conviction and disagreement.
The Ancient Church in Rome was comprised of two people groups.
1. Jewish Christians. They formerly practiced strict dietary laws, strict observance of certain religious days, laws regarding clothing,
etc. They were conservative and leaned towards legalism.
2. Gentile Christians. They had previously lived immorally, practiced idolatry, and had very little restraint in their lives. They tended
to abuse spiritual liberties, and frown upon legalists.
3. Both groups very naturally brought their former lifestyles and mindsets into the church.
4. This caused disagreements, as each group had biases, and even within each group, people were maturing in the Christian faith at
different rates of growth. Some were more or less convinced.
5. Paul does not give them a list of rules to regulate these disagreements, but rather he tells them how their attitudes should be
towards one another.
6. Application for us: We are not to force our every conviction on others, but we are to receive one another and be reminded of the
debt we have to love one another. (Romans 13:8a)
7. Modern day disagreements: What Bible version? What entertainment is allowable? Patriotism. Alcohol. Politics. Home schooling
vs. public schooling. Church membership or open attendance?
8. These are topics cause some Christians to judge one another and break fellowship.
9. We need to ask ourselves the following questions regarding our strong personal convictions.
I. Am I Fully Convinced? Vs. 1-5
V. 1 Receive– “To take as a companion, to receive to yourself”.
Don’t receive them so that you can argue with them. That is an insincere receiving.
V. 1 Weak- “Poor, needy, weak, without strength”.
Not weak regarding morality, or intelligence, or devotion.
Weak in thinking that faith in Christ is not sufficient to save; that works must be added.
V. 3 Him who eats- The one with dietary freedom tends to belittle the one with a strict diet.
V. 3 Him who does not eat– This person tends to pronounce judgment on the one who eats.
V. 4 God can make each one stand- Is God able to save and keep saved people, even if they are wrong about their food choices?
Of course. Who are we to pronounce someone as not saved because of food, or because of which day of the week they
choose to attend church?
V. 5 Be fully convinced in his own mind. – Have your own conviction, and then follow it.
II. Am I Doing This For Me, Or For God? Vs. 6-9
V. 6 Are your convictions directed in faith by/to God, are they for you, or for others to see?
Vs. 7, 8 A Christian should never use personal preference in determining how to live.
Our lives in Christ are not simply reduced to what we want to do.
Our Christian lives are about how God wants us to live, and how our lives affect others.
Can you honestly say that you care whether your choices honor God or bless people?
V. 9 Jesus is to be our Lord in this life, and in the next. He ought to be recognized as Lord over all we do in this life or the next.
We don’t simply live to please ourselves.
III. Will My Choices Pass The Test At The Bema Seat? Vs. 10-12
V.10 The weaker legalist condemns; the stronger indulgent person minimizes and despises.
We forget that we will stand before Jesus. We need to be more concerned with ourselves.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10
IV. Am I Being Careful To Not Stumble Others? Vs. 13-21
V. 13 Resolve this- Instead of judging/deciding about others, judge/ decide about yourself.
V. 13 Stumbling block; cause to fall. Something in the path to cause to trip; a trap.
V. 14 Nothing unclean– ceremonially unclean regarding foods, unless one has a conviction
V. 15 We can destroy some people’s faith by our actions. The goal is to walk in love and not
stumble others. The goal isn’t to enjoy liberties, regardless of how it might affect others.
V. 16 Your liberty will called sin if you practice it thoughtlessly in front of the weak.
V. 17 The kingdom of God isn’t about what you can do, but it is about walking in and
promoting righteousness, peace, and joy.
Vs. 18, 19 If someone worries about being accepted by God and approved of by men, then they
should pursue peace, instead of pursuing their freedoms.
1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24Let
no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
V. 20 We can actually destroy the work of God in someone’s life by belittling them, and
encouraging them into practices that God has not granted them.
V. 21 It’s better to not enjoy freedoms if it causes someone to stumble, be offended or weakened.
V. Am I Doing This By Faith? Vs. 22, 23
V. 22 NLT– You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t
feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.
V. 23 God does not want us to violate our conscience, even if we are being legalistic with ourselves. You may be unnecessarily
strict with yourself, but it’s best to follow your convictions, and not be moved to change by anyone but God. Condemned- not re.
salvation.
VI. Am I Pleasing Myself Or Others? 15:1-7
V. 1 Christian maturity is defined not by enjoying freedoms, but by bearing up with the weak. Christian strength isn’t used to
strengthen you regarding these issues.
V. 2 Christian maturity is defined as doing what is edifying for your neighbors, not enjoying liberties at the expense of others, or
not trying to force your freedoms on others.
V. 3 Jesus is the supreme example of one who lived not for self, but for others.
Guzik, Morris- This does not mean that the church is ruled by the whims of the weak. “A genuine concern for the weak will mean an
attempt to make them strong by leading them out of their irrational scruples so that they, too, can be strong.”
Vs. 3, 4 Jesus did not save Himself from pain, but endured it for the sake of others. We can
Certainly endure not enjoying legitimate freedom for the edification of someone, and the avoidance of causing them to
stumble.
V. 5 God is patient and comforting to us; may He grant us the same mind.
V. 6 This mindset and attitude brings glory to God. Condemning and despising doesn’t.
V. 7 We are called not to put up with each other, but to receive one another, to the glory of God.