First, strong-faith Christians who understand that all things are clean for those in Christ should welcome and not try to change weaker-faith Christians who believe some things, like eating certain meats, to be sinful. Each should act on their convictions and honor the Lord in doing so.
The believer with strong faith should bear and accept the one who is weak in faith, instead of pushing the weak believer into violating his conscience, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 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.
Romans 14:1-note Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Romans 14:3-note Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
Romans 14:1-19 In-Context. 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.
One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.” (Romans 14:1-2). The word 'accept' speaks of grace and kind treatment. It also has implications that believers should not judge or despise those who possess in their eyes an inferior faith.
“Submit” means “to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.” Ephesians 5:21 isn't telling us to yield to another person. It is telling us that we yield to Jesus! When we do that, we give Him the authority to guide us and show us how to live—not my will, but His.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Ephesians 4:22-24
"To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
In Romans 14 Paul addresses conflict in the body of Christ about ceremonial practices that are peripheral to the gospel. Some — whom Paul calls the “weak” — believe that, according to Jewish tradition, certain foods are to be avoided and certain days are holy.
It is completely inappropriate for believers to assume God's role in judging fellow believers. We need to get clear in our minds that for which we are accountable. We are not accountable for our sin, because Jesus was accountable for that. On the other hand, God will evaluate how we used our gifts, resources, and time.
The strong believer should not look down on the weaker believer who does not have a solid view of his liberty in Christ. An attitude of disdaining another Christian is an attitude of superiority. and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; The weaker believer should not “judge” the stronger believer.
Those who feel free to partake in certain things should not look down on those who are not comfortable with that same activity. At the same time, those who feel a personal conviction about something ought not judge those who do not share their conviction.
Psalm 55:22 (Amplified) “CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD (releasing the weight of it) and He will sustain you. HE WILL NEVER ALLOW THE (CONSISTENTLY) RIGHTEOUS TO BE MOVED (made to slip, fall or fail).
We can practice casting our anxieties on the Lord by stepping away from attempts to control our worries and leaning into the reassuring words of God. Once we do this, we can see that our anxiety is not a thing on which we should focus. Instead, we are called to give it up to God.
Pearl Dy | Mar 16, 2020. As it is written in scripture, God's proclamation of “Every Knee Shall Bow” is an affirmation of His sovereignty over all who worship God. Through this passage, He has claimed sovereignty of faith in all nations and denominations. We all worship God regardless of how we practice our faith.
What does it mean to be truly equal to someone else? We spend most of our lives comparing ourselves to others, whether it is our accomplishments, our talents, or even our faults. But as believers, we should recognize that we are all equal before God.
For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: “ 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God. ' ” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Romans 14:23 Reminds Us to Fight Sin
We choose to fight our sin through the obedience of faith. So how do we avoid sin in our lives? We live by faith and we think by faith. We take captive all of our thoughts in the obedience of faith in God.
Verse 14 gives a specific example of how the mature believer might cause an immature Christian to stumble. The apostle made it emphatically clear that there is nothing wrong with eating certain foods. There was no doubt in his mind about his liberty in Christ. He obtained this full conviction from the Lord Jesus.
In this text Paul talks about a “strong” Christian destroying a “weaker” Christian through the unloving exercise of freedom. Paul refers to a stumbling block in v. 13 and again in v. 15 to hurting and destroying one's brother.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for staying close to me no matter my circumstances. Please give me strength when fears surround me. I ask that You allow me to feel Your presence and comfort as I bring my fears to You in prayer. In Jesus' Name, I pray.
Submission to God's authority brings freedom. It sets order and direction in our everyday lives for those found in Christ.
: to yield oneself to the authority or will of another : surrender. b. : to permit oneself to be subjected to something.