Laying Down Freedoms

Scripture Focus (Romans 14:14-23) – “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. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

I. The Components of Christian Liberty (14-16)

A. The Christian’s powerful freedom (14a) – “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself…”

B. The Christian’s personal convictions (14b) – “…but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.”

C. The Christian’s precautionary instruction (15-16)

1. Our prioritized love for others dictates the use of our liberty (15a) – “For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.”

2. Recognize that your use of Christian liberty may harm a weaker Christian (15b) – “By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.”

3. Freedom is good, but not if it hurts another Christian (16) – “So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.”

II. The Clarification Concerning Christian Liberty (17-19)

A. The potential distraction (17a) – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking…”

B. The powerful revelation (17b) – “…but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

C. The plain explanation (18) – “Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

D. The personal exhortation (19) – “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

III. The Responsibility Accompanying Christian Liberty (20-23)

A. A sobering responsibility (20a) – “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean…”

B. A personal responsibility (20b) – “…but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.”

C. A corporate responsibility (21) – “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”

D. A heavenly responsibility (22a) – “The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God.”

E. A serious responsibility (22b- 23) – “Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. [23] But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.