"The Weaker - Part 2"
“The Weaker - Part 2”
Blessings Folk!
Picking up from yesterday…
There was friction between those who understood that we as believers are free and those who still imposed restrictions upon themselves and others.
We see that we are...
- Free to eat and drink.
- Nothing is unclean.
Some were weaker in faith and ate only vegetables - lest they inadvertently consume meat offered to idols.
The Lord tells those who eat to not have contempt for those who do not eat.
Those who do not eat were not to judge those that eat.
The Lord gives another example…
Romans 14
5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Some were exalting a particular day.
Some viewed all days as equal.
They both do so for the Lord.
They both give thanks to the Lord.
Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
This is important, as we will see later.
Such things are a matter of personal conviction, empowered from the Lord.
We live not to ourself, but unto the Lord.
We are the Lord’s.
If we live to something, we do so unto the Lord.
If we die to something, we do so unto the Lord.
Now, read carefully…
Romans 14
10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For it is written,
"AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
Again, we are not to judge our brothers...they are free to eat.
We are not to look upon our brothers with contempt...they are free to not eat.
The conclusion is this…
- We all will stand before the judgment seat of God
- Every knee will bow to the Lord
- Every tongue will give praise to God
- Each one will give an account of himself to God
Therefore, remembering the Lord will judge, let us not just nor look with contempt upon each other. Later in the chapter we will see what we are to do…
Blessings!