When & How Christians Are Free to Disagree

Scripture Focus (Romans 14:1-13) – Romans 14:1-13 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. [2] One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] 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. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. [8] 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. [9] For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. [10] Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; [11] for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” [12] So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. [13] Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

I. Paul’s Instruction Concerning Christian Liberty (1-4)

A. The welcome mat versus the wrestling mat (1)

1. Put out the welcome mat – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him…”

2. Take up the wrestling mat – “…but not to quarrel over opinions.” (Not for the purpose of setting them straight!)

B. The free conscience versus the fragile conscience (2-3a)

1. Recognizing each type – “One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.”

2. Responding to each type

a. The free will be tempted to look down upon the fragile – “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains…”

b. The fragile will be tempted to condemn the free – “…let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats…”

C. Man’s denunciation versus God’s declaration (3b-4) – “…for God has welcomed him. 4 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.”

II. Paul’s Illustration Concerning Christian Liberty (5-9)

A. Two opposing views concerning the days (5a) – “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike…”

B. Two opposing views concerning diet (6b) – “…the one who eats…the one who abstains…”

C. One common denominator (6a, 6b) – “…in honor of the Lord…in honor of the Lord since he gives thanks to God…the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Each type of Christian was seeking to please his Lord)

D. One inescapable conclusion (7-9) – “ For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 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. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

III. Paul’s Application Concerning Christian Liberty (10-13)

A. Our personal consecration (5b) – “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

B. Our relational commitment (13a) – “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer…”

C. Our individual accountability (10b-12) – “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”