Romans 14:13-23

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

!

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Much is communicated in these 11 verses, and the language is not very simple.

We most regularly aid our thinking with simple outlines.

I like to give them to you in advance and give you some structure to know where we're going.

Typically, two to four point outlines.

Most regularly three.

Things just seem to fall into that structure.

But today, in a way that I hope won't complicate our consideration,

we're going to follow the negative exhortations.

That is the do-nots through the text in seven points.

So if you are a note-taker and you want to get these in advance, they all start with do-not.

So that might help you, save you a little bit of writing time.

I'm going to give them to you very quickly, and then we'll jump right into the first point.

So, number one, do not judge your brother.

Number two, do not tempt your brother to sin.

Number three, do not grieve your brother.

Number four, do not destroy your brother.

Number five, do not forfeit your witness.

Number six, do not destroy the work of God.

And number seven, do not flaunt or forfeit your liberty.

So hopefully you can kind of pick this up and piece together where we're headed as we go through it.

Now, I just want to say at the outset, before we go to point one,

you will note that I said brother in most of those points.

Do not judge your brother is point number one.

And it is very reasonable to say, or sister, brother or sister.

And to say that many, many, many times this morning.

And I want you to know that often the language of just brother is picked up in the Scripture.

And I don't think that they mean to exclude you ladies who are in Christ.

I think that's what the authors are doing at all.

But they're helping us to think about us being co-heirs with Christ

and being recipients of all that is given to those who belong to him,

which would have been men in the Bible, right?

My oldest brothers received the great benefit of the family.

And so, ladies, I think you want to find yourself as a brother.

So I'm not excluding you as I address in that way this morning.

And neither do I believe as Paul.

So, firstly, do not judge your brother.

And we see this in the first part of verse 13.

Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.

Verse 13 begins with this word, therefore.

So we must first deal with it to understand what comes next.

This transition word.

Because of everything that I've said, this next thing I'm going to say.

In the final half of chapter 14,

Paul exhorts us to humbly serve one another

as it concerns what he calls opinions in verse 1.

I made the case to you that Paul is not speaking in this chapter of doctrines

that are fundamental to the faith.

Remember, we talked about theological triage.

First, second, third, and fourth tier issues, right?

What I do believe he's speaking about is

those issues that we deem third tier theological issues.

Not unimportant convictions, but they should be held in a particular way,

which is what he's trying to help us to see here, right?

We may disagree on some of the less important matters.

How do we do that?

How do we walk in unity together

when we don't quite see eye to eye on everything?

He employed two examples in the beginning of the chapter.

One about food and the other, the observance of particular days.

And he returns to that former example in the last half of the chapter.

So he's talking largely in chapter 14 about food,

and we think, particularly, food that's been offered to idols.

So these exhortations are for Christians living in relationship to other Christians

under the assumption that they're all laboring to live their lives

in a manner that's pleasing to God.

Last week, we noted four foundational reasons that Paul gives us

for his call to Christian unity on these types of matters.

I touched on them briefly last week.

I'm going to touch on them really briefly this week as well to remind us of them.

So in verses 3 and 8 of chapter 14,

we see, if you've made a profession of faith in Christ,

that we are gods.

Verse 3 says that God has welcomed him,

referring to this weaker brother.

And then verse 8 says whether we live or whether we die,

we are the Lord's.

We belong to him.

Secondly, our eternal position is secured by God.

Verse 4 says,

And he will be upheld, this weak faith Christian,

for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Thirdly, we saw that Paul's examples are heartfelt.

And by that I mean, they're well-intentioned.

The person who has these particular convictions is doing them

because he wants to please God.

Verse 6 says,

The one who observes the day observes it in honor of the Lord.

The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord,

since he gives thanks to God,

while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord

and gives thanks to God.

The intention is pure.

I want to please God with my life.

And fourth, God will judge our temporal works.

Verse 10 says we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

And verse 12, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

And so there's things that will be sorted out in the end.

So it follows all of this that Paul says,

Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.

We have to have our categories straight in our heads

if we were going to get this not passing judgment correct.

So we're going to take a little time at this point,

which I think will help us progress more quickly as our text proceeds.

So when you hear,

Therefore, let us not pass judgment on another any longer,

your mind may, mine does,

rush off to a text like Matthew chapter 7 and verse 1.

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

There Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount,

Judge not that you be not judged.

In the common Christian zeitgeist,

the understanding of this verse and Romans 14, 1

seems so clear and is handled with phrases like,

you've likely heard somebody say something like,

Well, who am I to judge?

It is used as an instruction for retreat

from meaningful engagement in the lives of others in the church.

But what does Jesus go on to teach in Matthew chapter 7?

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

He says, Judge not lest you be judged.

For with the judgment you pronounce,

you will be judged.

And with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.

And that should strike some fear in us.

I'm just going to avoid it altogether then.

But then he goes on in verse 3.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,

but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Or how can you say to your brother,

Let me take the speck out of your eye

when there is a log in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,

and then you will see clearly to take the speck

out of your brother's eye.

So in verse 5 of Matthew 7,

Jesus tells us that we ought to remove the speck

from our brother's eye

after warning us how it is

that we ought to remove the speck

from our brother's eye.

Jesus here in Matthew is a warning against judgmentalism.

An arrogance that says,

I have figured out all the intricacies

of what faithful life looks like.

And this ought not characterize the humble heart.

I've got it all sorted, Jesus says.

Oh, be careful.

There is a log in your eye if you think in this way.

Be sure that you are of humble heart,

that you see your own sin as large,

that you might see clearly to help others with theirs.

These verses are not instruction for retreat,

for meaningful engagement in the lives of others in the church,

but instruction for care and for categories.

How are we to go about loving one another in the truth,

pressing one another towards Christlikeness

in the midst of disagreement?

Otherwise, if we don't see it this way,

what do we do with Paul's teaching

in 1 Corinthians 5, verses 9-13?

1 Corinthians 5:9–13

Is he contradicting himself or the Lord Jesus Christ?

Of course not.

There he says,

I wrote to you in my letter

not to associate with sexually immoral people.

There was an egregious sin

that he had heard was going on in the life of this church,

and they were tolerating it.

He then says,

not at all meaning the sexually immoral in this world

or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters,

since then you would need to go out of the world.

But now I am writing to you

not to associate with anyone

who bears the name of brother

if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed

or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler,

not even to eat with such a one.

So somebody's life that is characterized by sin,

they say they're a Christ follower

and their life gives no evidence of that.

The fruit that they're producing

is not the fruit of a redeemed tree,

it's the fruit of a different kind, right?

A desperately lost tree.

And then he says, verse 12,

for what have I to do with judging outsiders,

those of the world?

Is it not those inside the church

whom you are to judge?

God judges those outside.

Purge the evil person from among you.

So, we're not being instructed in Romans chapter 14

Romans 14 · chapter mention

to not help people see their sin.

To point out, you're in error here.

We want to faithfully follow Jesus

and you're wrong.

Let me help you see the wrong that exists in your life.

One of the important things the church does together

is this great work.

I am so grateful to be fellowshiped,

committed to a group of Christians

that help me faithfully follow Jesus.

I need your help to do this.

Do not leave me alone in this effort.

You are a grace given to me

and I hope to one another and me to you.

Jesus gives us instruction on in Matthew,

Matthew chapter 18, verse 15 through 17,

Matthew 18:15–17

about how we're to go about this careful speck removal work.

It's a four-step process.

He starts in verse 15,

if your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.

If he listens to you,

you have gained your brother.

You go to him, he sinned,

and he hears you, he repents.

Praise God.

Step two, but if he does not listen,

take one or two others along with you

that every charge may be established

by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

You go with others.

You say, brother,

we all see this thing that's going on

in your life that requires repentance.

And it's assumed, right,

if he listens to you,

you have gained your brother.

There's an opportunity for repentance

at that second step.

Thirdly, verse 17,

if he refuses to listen to them,

tell it to the church.

And again, an opportunity.

But if he does listen, right,

you have gained your brother.

And step four,

and if he refuses to listen even to the church,

let him be to you as a Gentile

and a tax collector.

That is to say,

one who is not in the faith.

So this is not the judgment

that Paul is talking about here.

It can't be.

If it is,

then the whole thing

is just running in contradiction.

Paul changed his mind at some point

about all of this.

And we know that this text

is an inspired text.

It has ultimately,

as its author, God.

And God cannot lie.

And he cannot contradict himself.

So we're to not pass judgment

on one another any longer.

And I believe,

because of everything that I've said,

he's talking about these

third-tier types of issues.

The Greek verb here translated,

past judgment,

can also be translated,

determine.

And it carries the idea of condemnation.

In the second half of verse 13,

the word translated decide,

in the ESV,

is the same Greek verb.

So Paul is saying,

right,

on these third-tier

convictional matters,

let's not condemn one another.

And he goes on,

secondly,

do not tempt your brother

to sin.

The last half of verse 13

and verse 14,

this is point two.

He says,

instead of that,

let us not pass judgment,

but rather,

decide,

determine,

never to put a stumbling block

or hindrance

in the way

of a brother.

Instead of being judgmental,

determine that you will not

tempt the weaker

brother.

And this is where he picks back up

the food example.

Last week I said that there are

two possibilities

why an early Roman Christian

may have abstained from

eating of meat.

In either case,

it is most probable

that they were Jewish.

They may have been

strictly vegetarian,

either,

one,

to avoid eating meat

that had been offered

to an idol,

or two,

to avoid any meat

that was considered unclean

under Old Testament law.

Although they probably

were aware

of those,

but I don't,

I'm not very good

at identifying meat

once it's been cut up.

So,

maybe you or they

were better at it.

So I want to say

it's probably

the former,

perhaps maybe

a little of the latter,

because the concern

was this unknowingly

eating of meat

that had been offered

to an idol.

And Paul calls

these brothers

the weaker brothers

at the beginning

of chapter 14.

In today's text,

in verse 14,

he says,

I know and am persuaded

in the Lord Jesus

that nothing is unclean

in itself,

but it is unclean

for anyone who

thinks it unclean.

So he's being very clear

on the doctrinal matter.

It is okay

to eat

these meats,

these meats

that were considered

unclean in the Old Testament,

these meats

that are offered

to idols.

Gentiles.

This issue,

however,

was not a simple issue.

Simple for us,

not simple

for them.

In Acts chapter 15,

Acts 15 · chapter mention

a council is gathered

in Jerusalem

to determine

whether or not

Gentiles who converted

to Christianity

needed to be

circumcised.

This issue

was at the core

of much hubbub

in the early church.

The book of Galatians

is written

to address

those who were teaching

that somebody

must be circumcised

to be saved.

A salvific question.

And this council gathers

and we get a record of it

in Acts chapter 15

Acts 15 · chapter mention

and they determined

that circumcision

had no bearing

on the salvation

of one's soul

and decided to circulate

a letter

stating so.

But that letter

did include

some further instruction.

So Acts chapter 15,

Acts 15 · chapter mention

this is verse 28,

29,

for it has seemed good,

this is the letter

they wrote,

to the Holy Spirit

and to us

to lay on you

no greater burden,

talking about circumcision,

than these requirements

that you abstain

from what has been

sacrificed to idols

and from blood

and from what has been

strangled

and from sexual immorality.

If you keep yourselves

from these,

you will do well.

So a letter

is circulated

from the apostles

who were in Jerusalem.

Paul participated

in this decision making

and in the distribution

of that letter.

Perhaps a little more

complicated

because in our text today

in verse 14,

he says,

there's nothing unclean.

It's quite okay

for me to eat

meat

offered to idols.

And you don't see that

in chapter 14

specifically,

do you?

but you can find it

in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8.

So if you will,

turn with me

to 1 Corinthians 8.

We're going to read

the entirety

of the chapter

because he lays

this argument out.

It's really

the example

that I think

is embedded

in Romans 14

just walked

all the way out.

It's like logical

reasoning to its end

and I think

really helpful

for us

this morning.

1 Corinthians 8

beginning in verse 1.

Now,

concerning food

offered to idols.

Okay,

so there's the example

very clearly

right at the beginning.

We know

that all of us

possess knowledge.

This knowledge

puffs up

but love

builds up.

The knowledge

he's referring to

that it's okay

to eat food

offered to idols.

If anyone imagines

that he knows something,

he does not yet know

as he ought to know.

But if anyone

loves God,

he is known by God.

Therefore,

as to the eating

of food

offered to idols,

we know

that an idol

has no real existence

and that there is

no God

but one.

For although

there may be

so-called gods

in heaven

or on earth,

as indeed

there are many gods

and many lords,

yet for us

there is one God,

the Father,

from whom

are all things

and for whom

we exist

and one Lord

Jesus Christ

through whom

are all things

and through whom

we exist.

He's basically saying

food that's offered

to idols

doesn't mean anything

because there are

no other gods.

Like,

vain worship.

Right?

That's what he's

saying there.

However,

not all possess

this knowledge

but some

through former

association

with idols

eat food

as really offered

to an idol

and their conscience

being weak

is defiled.

One who used

to offer food

to idols.

Right?

Food will not

commend us

to God.

Verse 8,

we are no worse

off if we do

not eat

and no better

off if we do.

How are we

justified?

By faith alone.

Right?

Justified by faith

alone,

not by our

works.

But take care

that this right

of yours

does not somehow

become a stumbling

block to the weak.

For if anyone

sees you

who have

knowledge

eating in

an idol's

temple,

will he not

be encouraged

if his conscience

is weak

to eat food

offered to

idols?

And so by

your knowledge

this weak

person is

destroyed,

the brother

for whom

Christ

died.

Thus,

sinning against

your brothers

and wounding

their conscience

when it is weak,

you sin

against

Christ.

Therefore,

if food

makes my

brother stumble,

I will never

eat meat

lest I make

my brother

stumble.

So the whole

matter seems

to be one

that was

important

as a way

of separating

Christians

from idolaters,

but not as

an issue

of salvation.

Acts chapter

Acts 15 · chapter mention

15,

we want to be

clear about

who we are.

We are not

idolaters.

However,

the practice

had grown

and wasn't

seen as

salvific

in any

way.

An example

with some

fair

parallel

in our

day,

especially

in the

southeast,

is that

of the

consumption

of alcohol.

The Bible

gives no

prohibitions

against alcohol

in moderation.

It does

issue warning

against the

use of

strong drink

and it

does

forbid

drunkenness.

You are

young people

meant to

obey the

laws of

our land,

drinking.

If you are

younger than

21,

it is not

even a

debate

for you.

It does

not

forbid

moderate

drinking.

However,

this activity

is wrought

with complications

when you add

the addictive

nature of

alcohol and

its great

abuse.

I think all

of us have

been affected

in one way

or another

by alcohol

abuse.

It has

probably

touched

all of

our

lives.

and the

cultural

assumptions

that come

along

with it

about

those

who

drink.

A great

old joke

asked,

do you

know the

difference

between a

Baptist

and a

Methodist?

Of course,

there are

a lot of

theological

differences,

but the

joke is

the Baptist

is the

one who

ducks

when you

walk in

the liquor

store.

It is not

a simple

issue.

It is not a

simple issue.

What are

the Bible's

prohibitions?

We need to

be clear

about this.

It parallels

in a lot

of ways.

It is not

a thing we

should do

without careful

thought towards

others.

I am going

to make it

a simple

issue.

For all of

our years of

involvement with

the Georgia

Baptist

Convention,

there was a

period of

time where

I went to

annual meetings

and without

fail,

there would

be a motion

from the

floor to

make it

essentially

an unforgivable

sin that

any pastor

in the

Georgia

Baptist

Convention

drink

alcohol.

It would

get hotly

debated on

the floor.

It was

very silly

to be

frank because

one group

was just

going,

but the

prohibition is

not clear in

the text.

Make the

prohibition clear

and we are

with you,

but until

you can make

the prohibition

clear and

it becomes

a problem

in that

way.

But we're

being encouraged

here in

this text

to not

put a

stumbling

block or

hindrance

in the

way of

a brother.

Your

participation

in something

that you

are free

to participate

in,

that has

the potential

to harm

your brother

is no

longer

of any

value.

And Paul

takes it a

step further

in 1 Corinthians

8 and

calls it

sin.

You are

sinning

against

the one

who Christ

died for.

And he

says in

verse 11,

the brother

for whom,

excuse me,

verse 12,

you sin

against

Christ.

So we

have to be

considerate

about the

things that

we do,

the liberties

that we

practice,

the ways

in which

we disagree

on these

third-tier

issues.

It matters

greatly.

We'll see

why in

just a bit.

The next

exhortation,

negative

exhortation,

verse 15a,

the first part

of verse 15,

point number

three.

For if

your brother

is grieved

by what

you eat,

you are

no longer

walking

in love.

This word

grieved can

also be

translated

pained,

distressed,

!

or hurt.

I am

continually

astounded

by those

that consider

themselves

quote-unquote

strong.

They consider

themselves

strong in

faith,

who deal

with those

who are

weak in

faith in

unloving

ways.

This kind

of arrogance.

I've got

it figured

out.

How could

you not

see this?

If you

desire for

everyone who

claims to

follow Christ

to look

like you,

then you

are not

mature.

You are

not strong

in faith.

You are

rather

pharisaical.

people.

It's a

great

expression

of

immaturity

to walk

unlovingly

in these

types

of matters.

You probably

all know

someone who

does this.

He's got

a lot of

knowledge and

it is way

outpacing

their maturity.

It's really

damaging to

have knowledge

without

love.

Jesus issues

all of these

woes

in the book

of Matthew

22.

And this

one is

particularly

striking to

me.

Matthew

Matthew 23 · chapter mention

chapter 23

in verse 15.

He says,

Woe to

you,

scribes

and

Pharisees,

hypocrites.

So these

are the

religious

people of

his day.

For you

travel across

sea and

land to

make a

single

proselyte

or convert.

And when

he becomes

a proselyte,

you make

him twice

as much

a child

of hell

as

yourselves.

Now,

Jesus is

speaking to

unconverted

people who

further condemn

others.

But should

we be

characterized

in the

same way?

Absolutely

not.

May it

never

be.

The

strong

in faith,

truly

strong

in faith,

hold

fast to

the gospel

of Jesus

Christ.

They know

that they

are saved

from the

wrath of

God

by grace

alone,

through faith

alone,

and the

peace to

us in

all of

the

preceding

chapters.

This is

how we

are made

right before

God.

And there

is a doctrinal

tightrope to

be walked in

the gospel,

and it

is this.

We have

been saved

by God's

kindness to

us in

Christ.

He

accomplished

the work.

But our

faith is not

a passive

faith, it

is an

active

faith.

That's the

tightrope

that we

walk as

faithful

Christians.

Every

other

world

religion

or system

sets up

rules to

attain the

next level,

whether that's

right relationship

with God

or some

kind of

enlightenment.

Christianity

is unique,

and it is

unique because

it is created

by our

Lord.

He

accomplishes

the work

on our

behalf.

You add

nothing to

the equation

of your

salvation.

By grace,

through faith,

in Christ,

it is because

God is

kind to

you that

you have a

right standing

with Him.

You cannot

earn it.

It is

impossible to

do.

But having

been changed

from one

kind to

another

kind,

good

trees

produce

good

fruit.

Our

faith is an

active faith

that shows

itself out

in the

world.

Praise God

that we can

see evidences

of His

Spirit at

work

within us.

This is a

tightrope

that we

must walk.

If we

fall off

one side

of the

tightrope,

we will

think that

we can

live however

we want

to.

I'm

saved by

grace

through

faith in

Christ.

He did

the work

so I

can go

do

whatever

I

want.

And this

is certainly

an error.

We have

fallen off.

It's

licentiousness.

If we

fall off

the other

side,

and this

is the

side our

text

speaks to

today,

then we

think we

are approved

because of

our

works.

And beloved,

this is

legalism,

and its

natural

conclusion is

to require

that others

conform to

us.

Because if

they don't,

then the

foundation we

built for

ourselves

begins to

erode.

If I

functionally

think that

my acceptance

before God

is because

of the

way I

figured out

these

types of

nuance

matters,

if that's

what I

stand on

and you

don't agree

with me,

then my

stance

becomes

shaky.

If

rather,

I stand

on the

solid rock

that cannot

be moved.

Perfect

life,

sacrificial

death of

the Lord

Jesus Christ.

The strong

in faith

walk right

down the

middle,

and we

need each

other's

help to

stay there

together.

Those who

are strong

in faith

are humble

because they

believe that

it is God

who accomplished

the work,

and then they

are turned

to each

other in

love,

seeking to

get others

on the

rope and

to keep

them in

that place.

Lots

of humility

required

for this.

I'll give you

a small

example from

our

congregation.

I am

not going

to use

names,

and I

am not

suggesting

that one

of these

brothers is

the weaker

brother and

one the

stronger

brother in

this given

scenario.

Just an

example of

the way two

men disagreed

and bore

with each

other in

love.

It was

about the

issue of

concealed

carry.

I have

an opinion

about that.

You can

ask me or

give me a

hug and

find out

how I

feel about

it.

But the

one brother

didn't

find it

appropriate

and the

other said,

oh, it

is.

And they

talked

together.

They opened

the word

together.

They were

thinking

together and

trying to

think biblically

and they

didn't agree.

But the

one who

agreed with

concealed

carry simply

said to the

other, I

think you'll

change your

mind when

you have

children.

And he

was patient.

He waited.

And you

know what?

One day the

other brother

had children

and fairly

promptly began

to carry.

How good

that was.

They didn't

get mad at

each other

and go to

fists over

the issue.

They thought

biblically

together.

They saw

each other's

point.

And the

one just

said, I

think you

may change

your mind

someday.

Please don't

hear me

setting that

up as the

great objective

of strong

faith at

all.

It's just

an example

of how

we're to

bear with

one

another.

Paul wrote

back in

Romans chapter

Romans 12 · chapter mention

12 in

verse 10,

love one

another with

brotherly

affection.

Outdo one

another in

showing honor,

granting to

the other,

trying to

understand,

giving them

respect.

This is what's

going to mark

the mature

Christian,

the one who

does not want

to grieve,

to damage

their brother.

Fourth,

and these

things really

are tying

together.

They're very

similar.

There maybe

could have

been a one

total overall

exhortation

here.

Fourthly,

do not

destroy your

brother.

The last

half of

verse 15,

there Paul

says,

by what you

eat,

do not

destroy the

one for

whom Christ

died.

Don't grieve

your brother

and do not

destroy your

brother.

The word

rendered

destroyed can

be a bit

misleading.

The Greek

scholar W.E.

Vine explains

this verb

this way.

The idea

is not

extinction,

but ruin.

Loss,

not of

being,

but of

well-being.

It's the

Greek word

and what it

means.

Paul is

not talking

about the

brother's

damnation.

After all,

he is one

for whom

Christ has

died.

He's making

that very

clear in

the text.

Paul is

not running

in contradiction

to his

own

theology.

If Christ

has saved

you,

then you

are indeed

saved.

Paul's

concern is

that your

practiced

freedom,

done

irresponsibly,

will damage

the conscience

of this

weaker

brother,

will affect

his

well-being.

We don't

want him

tied up

with this

stuff.

We want

him

staying

on that

tight

rope,

believing

that he

is

saved

by the

grace

of

God

in

Christ,

that

Christ

did

die

for

him.

So do

not

destroy

your

brother.

Fifthly,

do not

forfeit

your

witness.

We see

this in

verses 16

through

19.

Paul

there

says,

so do

not let

what you

regard

as good

be spoken

of

as evil.

If we

separate this

verse from

its context,

this may

seem like a

command to

defend your

stances,

to stand

your ground.

I, to

my shame,

read it this

way many

times.

It's like I

ignored the

rest of

chapter 14.

It was like,

yeah, people

shouldn't say

what's good

is bad,

but if you

place it in

its context,

as all good

Bible exegesis

does,

we can see

that Paul is

simply saying,

if something

good that

you can do

is regarded

by somebody

else as

evil,

then do

not do

that thing.

Just don't

do it.

Practice your

Christian liberty

by recognizing

that you are

not justified

by what you

don't do

or by what

you do

do,

but by the

sacrificial

love of

Christ.

You can

decide not

to do

something in

order to

serve somebody

else and

still be

practicing

your Christian

liberty.

Your Christian

liberty exists

because you're

not enslaved

to the law

any longer.

You've been

set free

from its

condemnation

in Christ.

You can

give something

up for the

sake of

another.

This is the

kind of love

that we're

called to.

Should it be

shocking to

us that the

one we're

meant to

emulate,

our Lord and

Savior Jesus

Christ,

came,

condescended to

become a

man,

gave up

his position

in heaven,

humbled himself

to be a

babe,

born amongst

animals in

a manger,

suffered on

our behalf

both a

life and

a death,

and that he

doesn't call

us to serve

one another

sacrificially?

Of course we're

meant to give

of ourselves

for the sake

of other

people.

This

exhortation in

verse 16

is not

stand your

ground and

get your

way.

It's give

up your

way for

the love

of others.

And Paul

goes on,

for the

kingdom of

God is

not a

matter of

eating and

drinking.

That's not

what the

kingdom of

God is

made of,

eating and

drinking,

but of

righteousness

and peace

and joy

in the

Holy Spirit.

Those who

are righteous

have their

righteousness

because of

Christ.

He's just

saying,

it's those

people who

recognize that

they are

righteous,

they are in

right standing

before God

because of

what Christ

has accomplished

on their

behalf.

We are to

be a people

who are at

peace with

one another

because we

have peace

with God.

Foundational,

most important

things are

settled already.

Why do we

spend our

time arguing

about things

that are of

lesser

importance?

And this

brings joy.

All of

this given

to us by

grace in

the Spirit,

we are

supposed to

be a

people who

are distinct

from the

world around

us.

I am so

saddened by

the Christians

who bicker

online,

people they

don't even

know.

Just stop.

Whoever thus

serves Christ,

verse 18 says,

in this way,

giving up things

for the sake

of others,

sacrificial love,

humble service,

is acceptable to

God,

and approved

by men.

This idea of

not forfeiting

your witness

comes from,

right?

That we

would be a

people distinct

in this way.

So then let

us pursue

what makes

for peace

and for

mutual

upbuilding.

That's the

fifth exhortation.

Six,

we're going to

come quickly

to a landing.

Do not

destroy the

work of

God.

Verse 20

and 21.

Again,

this word

is the same

word that we

mentioned earlier.

It could be

a bit misleading.

It's talking

about hurting.

Not that you

actually can

stop the

work of

God.

God is

God,

and he

wouldn't

be God

if we

could stop

his purposes.

But bringing

some damage

to this good

that he's

doing,

bringing together

the church

as this

distinct

people,

unified,

and walking

together in

love.

Do not,

for the sake

of food,

destroy the

work of

God.

Everything

is indeed

clean.

Paul,

again,

he's defending

the position.

It can be

eaten,

but it

is wrong

for anyone

to make

another stumble

by what he

eats.

It is good

not to eat

meat,

or drink

wine,

or do

anything

that causes