819 Rom.14.13-23 The Unselfish Gene
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· 7 viewsEach Christian is on a different journey and it is important to recognise this and to act in love towards the "weaker" Christian. Love causes us to defer to others in order to benefit them in their walk with Christ.
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There are a lot of metals that on the surface look similar to gold. Centuries ago, people discovered that unscrupulous operators would take advantage of this to trick people into paying for worthless metal.
In order to determine whether gold was genuine or not, scientists devised an “acid test.” The item that is supposed to be gold is rubbed on a black stone, leaving a mark behind. Gold is what is called a noble metal, meaning that it is resistant to the corrosive effects of acid. If the mark is washed away by the acid, then the metal is not real gold.
Date: 06-01-19 819 Echuca
There are a lot of metals that on the surface look similar to gold. Centuries ago, people discovered that unscrupulous operators would take advantage of this to trick people into paying for worthless metal.
In order to determine whether gold was genuine or not, scientists devised an “acid test.” The item that is supposed to be gold is rubbed on a black stone, leaving a mark behind. Gold is what is called a noble metal, meaning that it is resistant to the corrosive effects of acid. If the mark is washed away by the acid, then the metal is not real gold.
- There is the real metal, but there is a metal that looks the same, but whose composition is totally different
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- Part of the nature of fallen humanity is the “selfish gene”
- You would say through experience that this is not exclusive to unbelievers – there have been & will be many selfish Christians
- Of course, it should not be & I'll explain why soon
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- According to Scripture, unregenerate mankind – those who are not Christian – are in a state of sin & dominated by the “selfish gene”
- But as we know, the Christian has been renewed, regenerated by the Spirit of God & is called a new creation in Christ
- A new creation where the old has gone & the new has come
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- Overall, you can see that, predominantly, it has been Christians who have been involved in unselfish works of service to our fellow man
- That is indisputable to an unbiased historian
- Christians have so often coped the brunt of the world as they have stood up to the selfish who want to exploit the weak & vulnerable in order to profit
- William Wilberforce was one such man as he stood against the slave owners & those who profiteered from the use of slaves
- There is the ongoing issue of abortion – standing up for the those who are living, but not even given a chance at life because they might be an inconvenience
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- We wonder why we are so laxed at catching on to our new reality
- The reality of who we are in Christ
- Being in Christ means that we are different & although we still enjoy many comforts of life, our heart is now directed towards God & His will
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Q. The question is why we seem to struggle with sin & selfishness?
- The reason is what I call “baggage”. A hangover of the past experiences in the world & a hangover of our past state of being in sin
- We wrestle with accepting our new reality
- We see the battle as so difficult that we sometimes wonder if anything substantial in us has changed at all
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- It has, but like many many things, you have to be won over first to the reality of the change
- If you don't believe it, how can you expect any sort of transformation
- So the apostle says after 11 chps of Romans, outlining meticulously his Gospel, that we are to, in chp.12 “not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind”
- Right thinking leads to right realities & patterns in your life
1. Walk According to Love
1. Walk According to Love
1. Walk According to Love
1. Walk According to Love
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
—13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
- One of the areas which would exhibit this change is in how Christians treat one another
- We are to love one another – that is not disputed – it is THE command of Christ
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
—34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
- This is now accomplished because God has first loved us in giving us His Son
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- The name of this message today is “The Unselfish Gene” & I named it because this is a) the gene of the new creation in Christ & b) it is what we aspire to be
- Just because you have become a new creation in Christ does not mean that you are perfect – either now nor until the day you pass this world
- What it does mean is that God has given you provision to override the temptations of the world & be able to act unselfishly
- Yes, often it is a hard ask, but that is because we think that if we are not perfect, then there is something wrong with our conversion
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- That is not the case
- Let us remember that we live between the ages – I have mentioned this many times before
- We live in a tension – the glorious age to come has now begun with Christ's resurrection, but the old fallen age of Adam – “this present evil age” (as Paul calls it) is still with us
- We are living like we have rubber bands around us – some pulling us one way, another pulling us the other way
- There is a tension, but we have the power to stay true to God because His Spirit empowers us to do that
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- The apostle Paul frames it as two powers competing for us
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal. 5:1
- The works of “flesh” pulling us one way
- The work of the “Spirit” pulling us another & those who keep choosing the Spirit will bear the “fruits” of the Spirit
- So we are more than conquerors as Paul says
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- Getting to our passage today, we find that there are issues between Christians that can get a little warm, maybe even hot
- These matters in the early church revolved around disputes about food, drink & Sabbath days
- These matters are now irrelevant as far as the Gospel of Christ is concerned but there are some in the church who find it impossible to accept the liberty of the Gospel in these matters
- For those tied to the past strictures of the law of Moses, they had baggage, big time
- They saw these matters as absolutes & they wouldn't budge
- The apostle called this “weak” in faith
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- As opposed to this, were the “strong” in faith & these strong ones had no problem eating all kinds of meat & didn't of necessity hold to the Sabbath days
- It should seem plain to us that the weak were Jewish people who had lived all their life under the law of Moses & all their life thinking that they would defy God if they did not keep the food laws & the Sabbath day
- The strong were Gentiles who had no background per se under the law of Moses
- They had been eating different kinds of meat all their life, so they didn't have this form of baggage carried by the Jewish person
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- Since these are not moral, nor biblical commands, they can or cannot be kept
- To me, fasting is another thing in the same category – some Christians hold to this rigidly
- I get emails from Christians calling on us to fast & pray
- If you want to fast, fast to the Lord, but if you don't want to, you are free to not fast
- So we are dealing with matters of preference
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- In such matters, as in all matters actually, love is to reign
- In this matter, regarding food & Sabbath days, it means that the “strong” in faith ought to consider the damage they might do to a fellow believer if they cause them to sin against God
- The weak in faith are weak because they are not sure about the rights & wrongs of what they are doing
A fellow by the name of Warwick was a new Christian & a heap of us from the Southport Church of Christ went away together to the snowfields for a week. Now Warwick was an ex-alcoholic & a couple of the guys decided one night to go to the hotel for a beer. They invited Warwick along, but he said to them: “I thought Christians were not suppose to drink alcohol”? But they assured him that Christians were free to drink but to not get drunk
- Now here is a classic example of ignorance on the part of these guys that invited him for a drink. They might not have been aware of his past alcoholism.
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- But it also seems that Warwick was being kept safe, by the fact, that he thought Christians were not allowed to drink alcohol
- What happened then, was that Warwick ended up back into alcoholism & to my knowledge had left the faith
- These men were young Christians themselves & hadn't perceived at the time the precarious nature of what they were doing
- Their liberty became a stumbling block to a “weak” brother
—15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
- The ESV pew Bible has “your brother is grieved”, but it seems that it is much stronger than that – NASB “hurt” - others have “injured” & another NEB, has “outraged”
- “Outraged” probably expresses the “weak” persons view that some Christian might eat pork or ignore the Sabbath
- Quite true, they would be outraged, but what is expressed here is damage – you do damage to the person for whom Christ died
- Here is how it is expressed elsewhere
For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
- They are damaged or ruined because they have been persuaded, let's say, to eat pork against what they believe is a divine prohibition
- In this sense, then, their Christian life becomes damaged beyond recovery
Q. How could he become destroyed? We will come to that in the 4th pt
2. Elevate Righteousness, Peace & Joy
2. Elevate Righteousness, Peace & Joy
2. Elevate Righteousness, Peace & Joy
2. Elevate Righteousness, Peace & Joy
16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
—16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
- Let's say half of our congregation eats pork & the other half thinks that it is unclean – which means that one half believes that God does not approve of you eating pork
- Let us understand this well – those who think that certain meats are unclean are abstaining because they are conscious of God
- They are concerned about offending God if they eat meat, whether pork or any sort, because they believe that in some sense it is still wrong to eat it
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- But those of you who eat any kind of meat because you are “strong” in faith – is because you believe Jesus declared all food to be clean
- This being the case, you have the option to not eat any meat at all
- Because you know that God doesn't care
- If He doesn't care if you do eat, then He certainly doesn't care if you don't eat
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- The point the apostle is making here is that there are matters that are more important than what you eat
Q. What is important?
1. That the church doesn't get into a fight over food & days
- You only have to look at how parliaments fight over the silliest things
Q. What do people think of that? They have contempt for most politicians
- Likewise, the “strong” who can eat all sorts of meat should not want their preference to become a source for war in the church
- Better to let love rule & not insist on your freedom
2. God approves of this action
- The “weak” do not eat meat because they are concerned about God's approval
- Guess what – God approves of the “strong” who, for the sake of the “weak” Christian, will put off eating pork or meat because they love their fellow believers – they care more for them, than their palette
- Not only is this abstaining, for the sake of the weaker Christian, approved of by God, it also gains the approval of the “weak” Christian
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- The point is = “Love rules” when it comes to matters of preference
- You might think, “Oh, pork is my favourite (sweet & sour pork is my favourite) & I have to give it up because someone can't get their head around the truth”
- It seems so because you are not just offending this Christian, you may be destroying their Christian life
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- The kingdom of God is what is important – Gospel living – the sort of living that Christ displayed in His life
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
—45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Likewise Paul who said…
—22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
- It's the attitude of the heart that's important
- Selfishness or unselfishness? What will rule?
3. A Love that Overrules Preference
3. A Love that Overrules Preference
3. A Love that Overrules Preference
3. A Love that Overrules Preference
19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
—19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
- Paul is clearly one of the “strong” in faith – do you see that there?
- “All food is indeed clean”, but it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything by which your brother stumbles
- Stumbles – this doesn't mean he or she is simply offended
- There are always offences going on in the church, but this is way more serious than that
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- The NIV & GNB says “cause your brother or sister to fall”
- The NEB says “anything that causes your brother's downfall”
- So to stumble means to shipwreck your faith
- Perhaps, we don't realise the serious nature of this because we have never been in a position of “weakness” in what we believe
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- I remember a time in a Bible study, not long after joining ECC as your Pastor & I was teaching about the use & misuse of alcohol
- We had a couple in the group that were adamant that abstinence was essential for the Christian
- Here was a case of believers who had a very sad experience with an alcoholic family member that led them to believing that the Bible teaches total abstinence
Q. What should our response be?
- You don't have to agree with them, but you need to respect their position & make sure you do not consume any alcohol in their presence
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- Notice the building terminology in this verse – I'm a builder & get it, but everyone should too
- Don't tear down – sounds like demolition work
- This would be the person who puts themselves first, ignoring the brother or sister in the faith who has serious trouble in accepting the freedom of the Gospel
- To act in love, however, is to be into “building up one another” – sounds like construction, doesn't it?
4. Seek a Faith that Does Not Condemn
4. Seek a Faith that Does Not Condemn
4. Seek a Faith that Does Not Condemn
4. Seek a Faith that Does Not Condemn
22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
—22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
Q. Well, what do we make of this troubling couple of verses?
- Let's take it one verse at a time
- “The faith you have, have as your own conviction before God”
- Again, this is about preferential matters, since Jesus has declared all food clean, then it becomes a matter of love for the person who cannot yet accept this
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- If you have no qualms about eating meat of any kind & have no qualms about God not being phased by whether you do or don't eat meat, then you are acting in strong faith, being convinced that you are doing right
- The weak in faith, on the other hand, are not sure they are doing right & they condemn themselves by eating that which they think is wrong
- The “strong” in faith are blessed says Paul because when they eat, they eat knowing full well God approves
- Blessed is the one who does not feel condemned because he can eat anything
- He does not say that the “weak” are blessed by God in abstaining
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- But what of the last verse?
- “He who doubts is condemned if he eats”
- This person, if they eat meat that they think is wrong by God to eat, then they have acted not out of their belief, but against it
- So their eating is done because another Christian has either pushed them to grow up in the faith or made them feel silly for abstaining from meat & so they eat against their own judgement/conscience
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he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
- This person – the weak in faith - is not condemned because of the food he eats
- All food is clean, right? Jesus said that
19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)
—19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)
Q. If it is not the food that condemns the “weak”, what is it?
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- Firstly, he is not condemning himself as if this is some kind of shame that he feels
- This is ruled out by the last words: “whatever is not from faith is sin”
- It has to do with his eating which is not coming from faith
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- Faith is believing – we act the way we do, because we believe
- Acting contrary to belief, makes you libel for the same condemnation as the unbeliever
- Because to act – as in eating food you think God disapproves of – you are not eating as a result of your faith, but contrary to your faith
- It comes from the heart & that heart is rebelling against God
- Actively, in his mind, this person is in full & conscious rebellion to God
—14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
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- To help us here, let's look at the example of Abraham
19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.
—19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- The essence of faith is believing & being assured of what God had promised & what God has sanctioned
- It is important that a person of faith always acts out of that faith
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- Now one person has raised an objection & said that he doesn't have to have faith to brush his teeth, so how can “whatever is not of faith be sin”?
- I think this misses the point, however
- A life of faith is not antithetical to cleaning your teeth, so the issue of cleaning teeth could be likened to eating meat
- If someone seriously believed that somehow cleaning your teeth was something that God disapproved of, then yes, I guess in this case, it would be sin to clean your teeth
- Cleaning the teeth can still be covered under a life of faith since God has not said either way whether it is right or wrong – mind you, I would be concerned about your witness if you never cleaned your teeth
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- Tragically, this goes south for the one who is “weak” in faith
- Like Abraham, faith is that which you exercise towards the promises & commands of God
- The “weak” in faith condemn themselves to judgement, not because they eat, but because their eating is not of faith – in fact, in their heart, it is against faith & against God & they actively do it
—15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
- That word destroy is used by the apostle throughout his Epistles & it means judgement as in the loss of salvation
- Faith cannot survive if people consistently flout what they consider to be an absolute of the will of God
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- This is a hard teaching, but I hope it makes us sensitive to one another & how we can understand better that each Christian can be at various places in their walk with God
- The important teaching is to exercise love so that we seek to build up not tear down
Summary
Summary
- The reality is that Christians are a new creation in Christ & need to embrace the unselfish gene of their new nature
- Love rules when we consider the weaknesses of a brother & sister in Christ & make accommodations to help them in their weakness
- We will hardly face a time in our present circumstances where we will have to give up meat (thankfully), but the principle is the same
- We seek to build up, not tear down & this will require us to forego our personal preferences for the good of others
- Our goal is the unity of the church & the glory of Christ