Living and Dying to the Lord
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Introduction
Introduction
Christian liberty. We love the sound of Christian liberty until it gets in the way of our own scruples. Scruples are those moral standards that we develop in life that stop us from doing certain actions. It’s not unlike what the Pharisees and Rabbis and Scribes used in the first century to keep themselves holy. I remember hearing an old saying that went “I don’t smoke and I don’t chew and I don’t go with girls who do.” And perhaps there is something to that. After all, doesn’t Paul say to the Corinthians,
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
In reality though, the “bad company,” in context are not boys/girls who smoke/chew, but those who deny the resurrection. The resurrection of the dead has a profound effect upon our morals—and upon our Christian liberty. Over the next three weeks, we are going to be dealing with some difficult or uncomfortable issues. Romans 14 is commonly referred to as the “conscience” chapter of the Bible. In reality, that word is never used in Romans 14, but the idea as we have come to think of it is. This morning, as we begin our study on Romans 14, we are going to see how we are to respond to one another’s scruples, and how to have community with people who think differently than you do. And we will do so by understanding the four elements to Paul’s argument here. Namely: what Paul means by strong or weak in faith, some examples of being strong and weak in faith, our response to those who are strong and weak in faith (as well as to God), and finally, our place being strong or weak.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
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.
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
The Strong vs. The Weak
The Strong vs. The Weak
Before we can go very far, we need to understand Paul’s line of thinking about the strong in faith versus the weak in faith. It would seem that the strong in faith are what comprise the majority of the church while the weak in faith comprise the minority, which is why he is speaking to the strong to welcome the weak.
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Both the strong and the weak are strong and weak “in faith.” Sometimes that can be thought of as a weak Christian or a strong Christian, but I think it should be looked at more like a weak understanding and a strong understanding. That seems to fit the context to me. The weak in faith, are the ones who are weak in understanding what faith can be and do for them. Those who are strong in faith are the ones who understand more fully what faith can be and do for them. To be in faith is to be in Christ. To be in Christ is to be set free.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Paul told the Galatians in
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
The idea of being in Christ is the idea of freedom. The only way to be in Christ is to believe in him. It is by faith that we are saved. So to be weak in faith is to be weak in the freedom that Christ has provided. That’s what I mean when I say that it is weak in understand what faith can be and do. Faith sets us free because faith sets us in Christ who sets us free. The strong believe firmly that Christ has set them free, and they embrace Christian liberty.
But notice how Paul states that the strong are supposed to treat the weak; they are to welcome them. That word welcome literally means to receive near or to bring near. In other words, Paul is telling the strong not to keep the weak at arms length, but to take them near. And then he puts a caveat on it, because he understands the human need to prove oneself to be right. “Don’t quarrel over opinions,” or we could say “scruples.” Don’t argue about those moral standards that we develop in life that stop us from doing certain actions.
We’ll get to the examples that he gives in a moment, but let’s focus on why we are to welcome the weak in faith.
Romans 14:3 (ESV)
for God has welcomed him.
Did you catch that? For us to not welcome the weak is to put ourselves at a higher level, a higher standard than God. If God, who is the holiest of all beings, the most righteous and most moral of all, welcomes this person who has a weak faith, then ought not we? And that really goes for the opposite. The weak is to welcome the strong. They aren’t to keep the strong at arm’s length either. God welcomes the strong and the weak.
Examples of Strong and Weak Faith
Examples of Strong and Weak Faith
So let’s take a look at some examples of those with strong and weak faith. Paul gave two: food and events.
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Certainly these are not the only things that people have scruples over. There are many moral standards that we come up with in our own minds. For whom should we vote? Should we drink alcohol or abstain? If we drink alcohol, should we do it in public? Should it only be an occasional drink or is a glass of wine or a can of beer okay to have every night of the week? Is smoking okay or is it not? Is it okay to watch rated R movies, what about PG-13? Should we boycott this company because of their stance on certain issues?
The people in Paul’s example are people who probably had good reasons for their opinions. Perhaps, some were Gentiles who were used to eating meat, and it didn’t matter to them where it came from. Others may have been Jews who had dietary laws. These were things God put into place thousands of years ago. Surely they were originally put there for a reason. Others may have been so overwhelmed by idolatry that when they came to Christ they did not trust themselves with partaking of meat. What if it makes them relapse into their old way of thinking and doing?
Jews may have continued to observe the Sabbath, while the Gentiles thoughts nothing about working on the sabbath. The Jews may have continued to observe Passover, while the Gentiles thought that there was no longer any need.
But here is what we need to grasp. The one who eats only vegetables and the one who esteems one day as better than another, they are the ones weak in faith. Those who eat meat, those who esteem all days alike are the ones strong in faith. They recognize the freedom that faith in Christ has given them. For the weak to try and constrain the strong to his/her own scruples is just as wrong as the strong trying to make the weak go against his/her scruples.
Response of Strong and Weak Faith
Response of Strong and Weak Faith
Which leads us to the response between the two parties. We already saw that they are to be welcoming to each. They aren’t to quarrel over scruples. But Paul goes further than that. Because welcoming with arms and welcoming with the heart are two different things. Arguing outwardly and maligning inwardly are two different things. So Paul tells us,
Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
So the stronger person in faith is to not look down upon those who are weaker in faith. At the same time the weaker is not to be judgmental toward the one who is stronger in faith. So, the person who votes one way is not to look down on one who votes a different way. One who abstains from alcohol is not to judge the one who doesn’t, nor should the one who feels free to drink alcohol look down about the one who abstains. The person who is okay with movies is not to think less of one who isn’t, and the one who doesn’t think it is proper is not to criticize or condemn the one who does.
Instead, going back to verse 1, we are to welcome, bring each other near. While Paul was starting a whole new line of thought in this section, it still is logical to see a connection with the previous words he just wrote. In particular, the idea of loving your neighbor as yourself. To welcome one another in love, despite differences of opinions, is one of the great marks of a believer.
So that is how we are to respond to each other, but how about our response to God?
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.
So, here is the principle of our response to God. Honor and thanksgiving. This is a major difference between what we do and what the world does. It is a major difference of being. Let’s go back to Romans chapter 1.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Now, the word honor in Romans 14:6 is not actually in the text, but I think the translators got it right. Quite literally, the text just reads, “The one who considers a day, considers it to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord.” But what does it mean to do something “to the Lord?” Paul wrote something similar in 1 Corinthians that will help us understand better.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
That word glory is doxa, the same word that Paul used but translated as honor in 1:21. When we observe a day we do so with the purpose of honoring, of glorifying the Lord. When we eat, we do so with the purpose of honoring, of glorifying the Lord. How? By giving thanks for what he has given. Those who do not know Jesus do not do that. The word “since,” is the word “for” in Greek. He who eats, eats to the glory of the Lord for he gives thanks to God.
Spurgeon is known for saying, “I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God before I go to bed tonight.” Some of you may not be able to see how Spurgeon could ever smoke a cigar, good or not, to the glory of God! Some of you may not be able to understand how Luther could sit in the pub drinking ale with his buddies as they talked theology. The truth of the matter is, that you don’t need to understand it. It goes against your scruples, but not theirs.
Spurgeon would go on to explain his reasoning. It may not make sense to you, but I bring it up for a reason.
‘The expression “smoking to the glory of God” standing alone has an ill sound, and I do not justify it; but in the sense in which I employed it I still stand to it. No Christian should do anything in which he cannot glorify God; and this may be done, according to Scripture, in eating and drinking and the common actions of life. When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name; this is what I meant, and by no means did I use sacred words triflingly.’
I bring it up because of what Paul mentioned in
Romans 14:5 (ESV)
Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Spurgeon was convinced that God had given the gift of the cigar and the gift of Christian liberty to enjoy the cigar. If you are convinced that you would not be able to enjoy a cigar to the glory of God, then don’t smoke one. If you can, then enjoy and give thanks for it. But don’t think less of your brother and sister who can’t. And the brother of sister ought not judge or criticize you for enjoying it.
Our response to God for all of life is one of thanksgiving. It’s one of gratitude. That’s what honors the Lord. As we’ll see later in the chapter Paul wrote,
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Place of the Strong and Weak
Place of the Strong and Weak
This leads us to our last point. It involves our placement as both the strong in faith and the weak in faith. We are in God’s kingdom before anything else. Another way to put it: we are placed in God’s household as his servant. Hence, we read what Paul wrote in
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Think of God’s household. We are all servants of God within the same household. As servants of God, we are not each other’s judges; we are each others helpers. We need to understand our place and stay in our place. We do not play judge over scruples, over opinions. Each of us will stand or fall before our Master. And guess what! We will stand strong. Not because of what we ate or what we drank. We will stand because we are being stood up. Christ stands us up. Only he has the power to do so. All that vegetable eating will not hold you up, Paul says. Neither will eating all that meat. Observing one day or observing no days is not going to do anyone a bit of good. Abstaining from drinking or smoking or rated R movies or voting will not hold you up, and neither will partaking in them. Only Christ is able to hold us up.
So why is it that we look down on each other? Why is it that we are so judgmental? Why are we arguing about our own opinions? They don’t mean a thing in eternity. We’re like the Pharisees who are tithing the mint and cumin, but neglecting the weightier things like justice and mercy and faithfulness. We’re straining the gnat and swallowing the camel. In other words, we’re making a mountain out of a molehill. There are more important things to worry about. We must learn our place.
Paul wrote,
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
This is our place. We belong to Christ. He upholds us. He keeps us standing and guarantees our standing strong. Our eating or drinking or movie-watching or abstentions are not to ourselves. We don’t live to ourselves and we don’t die to ourselves. Everything we are doing is done to the glory of the Lord. Why? Because he is our Master. He is our Lord. He is our King! He is the one who died and rose again for the purpose of being Lord over everyone of us who have put our faith in him; it is not so that we would be lord of each other, but that he would be Lord of us all.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we finish Romans 13:1-9, I need to make sure each of us understand the difference between scruples (opinions) and facts. There are sins that the Bible speaks of. Those are factually sinful and to be abstained from and those who indulge in them and will not repent, that is for the church to judge. Everything I’ve talked about today are scruples. They’re opinions. They are extra-biblical. Extra-biblical opinion must not be treated as if it is biblical fact. We are called to grace. We are called to love. We are called to welcome one another despite differing opinions.
And beloved, I hope you understand that this goes way beyond scruples. If I can’t trust you to love me and welcome me (or vice versa) when we have a difference of opinion/scruples, then why would I trust you (vice versa) to love and welcome me when I have an actual sin problem? How can I gain victory over my sin if I have no confidence that someone will draw me near and love me through it?
We who are strong in faith and live more in our Christian liberty are to love and welcome those weaker than we. Those who are weaker in faith and in Christian liberty are to live and welcome the stronger. Neither side is holier or more righteous than the other because of their scruples. May we remember that each of us belong to the Lord. It is not our deeds or lack of deeds that keeps us standing before him. If it were based on us, we would fall. But in mercy and grace, we are stood up by our loving Master. So brothers and sisters, let us love each other more deeply, and see what manner of love God has for us. He not only sent Jesus to die for us, but rose him from the dead to be our strong Lord who upholds us so we never fall.