Ant . The purpose of the present paper is to set forth the teaching of Scripture concerning the separated life, and then to show how erroneous teaching about the separated life affects the four doctrines enumerated above. The second κρίνατε is used as corresponding to the first, and is in fact a play on it: ‘pulchra mimesis ad id quod præcedit,’ Bengel: see James 2:4 for another instance:—but determine this rather. So then. The weak are not to judge the strong because they think they are abusing their freedom, nor are the strong to condemn the weak for their lack of faith and small‑ mindedness. It is not loving to force people to move at your pace. then we are certain to fall into serious errors in other doctrines. Whereas the wrong use of things indifferent, that is the abuse of them, is contrary to the glory of God and therefore sinful. We would keep the consciences of Christian people free from what Dr. Machen called "the tyranny of the experts.". 6. 15 sWewhoarestrongthaveanobligationtobearwiththefailingsoftheweak,andnottopleaseourselves.2 uLet… You have put a stumbling block in your brother’s way. 5. American Tract Society. They failed here by overly focusing on the physical, even petty things that supposedly made someone spiritually unacceptable to the Lord. Any contact (no matter how indirect) with something "unclean" required elaborate rituals of sacrifice (purification). The sin committed, however, is not the sin of piano playing — but the sin of disobedience to legitimate parental authority. If this fact be denied or ignored — then only confusion and error can result. Comp. THE GOSPEL OF GOD Meditations in St. Paul's Letter to the Romans ACTION REQUIRED Romans 14 (Sermon 4) Verse 13-16 “Therefore let us stop ....". If we could cause anyone to be eternally lost, then our power would be greater than God’s, who alone is able both to save and to keep us for eternity (Rom. It is one thing to administer church discipline if and when real scandal occurs — and quite another to attempt to prevent its occurring by binding a universal man-made rule upon the consciences of the Lord's people. They have been “converted and become like children” (Mt18:3) and “believe in Me” (Mt 18:6). The Christian is not required to separate from all association with unregenerate and sinful men; he is permitted to have civil association, even with fornicators, covetous, extortioners and idolaters; but he is forbidden to regard such as within the pale of Christian or ecclesiastical fellowship. (Word Pictures of the New Testament), Bengel adds that this is "A beautiful Mimesis (repetition of words in order to refute them) in relation to what precedes, let us no longer judge (This matter requires careful attention. If every Christian, instead of judging his brethren severely, would resolve that “he” would so live as to promote peace, and so as not to lead others into sin, it would tend more, perhaps, than any other thing to advance the harmony and purity of the church of Christ. Romans 14:19. Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" . It does not mean that a Christian, in performing any particular act, can be regarded as himself morally neutral or indifferent, or that the Christian can at any time take a moral holiday and concern himself wholly with things morally indifferent. FOR IF BECAUSE OF FOOD YOUR BROTHER IS HURT : ei gar dia broma o adelphos sou lupeitai (3SPPI): For (gar) - As always it is a good habit to pause and ponder this term of explanation, asking at least what is the author explaining? Will it grieve him or even destroy him by encouraging him to sin? "Commentary on Romans 14:13". He teaches that it is not enough that we are persuaded a certain course is, in itself considered, right, in order to authorize us to pursue it. Love (26) (agape) is unconditional, sacrificial love and Biblically refers to a love that God is (1Jn 4:8,16), that God shows (Jn 3:16, 1Jn 4:9) and that God by His Spirit enables His children to bear (see note on fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22- note). The practice of ecclesiastical assemblies issuing authoritative pronouncements on all sorts of questions which Scripture places in the sphere of the individual Christian conscience — has become a notorious evil. But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. This general agreement is, however, no proper ground for church judicatories authoritatively pronouncing such substances sinful in themselves, or declaring their use to be sinful per se. 3. Scripture recognizes a classification of things or actions which are commonly called adiaphora — or "things indifferent." (1Cor 3:3), for we walk by faith, not by sight (2Cor 5:7), For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (2Cor 10:3-see note), I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. May others learn of Your love through me. A stumbling block or an occasion of falling, Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Hodge's Commentary on Romans, Ephesians and First Corintians. Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Limit your liberty for your own sake. But touching a flat plate could not spiritually defile a Jew. 13. μηκέτι οὖν κ.τ.λ. ; Breitenbach, ad Xen. To eat it would be to violate his God-given conscience. A T Robertson writes "“Let us no longer have the habit of criticizing one another.” A wonderfully fine text for modern Christians and in harmony with what the Master said (Matt. It’s still a serious matter—we shouldn’t minimize how bad it is to hurt a brother’s walk with God. As he states (Ro 14:15), “For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love.” So the principle is: Love for others should govern our exercise of liberty in Christ when our liberty would cause a weaker brother to stumble. Recognizing the seriousness of life, every Christian who is consecrated at all must guard against being an offense to others. 12:9; 13:8–10). Those two steps follow in this passage. One weakness I have is on how I spend my time. That no man put a stumbling-block, &c.; wound the feelings or the conscience of a brother. Just eat what you want and don’t worry about it! A few weeks later the eager Christian told me that he and his family learned an age-old lesson: the Lord can make 90 percent go farther than we could ever make 100 percent go. ." Judge the second time has the meaning of decide; comp. "Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible ". Rather, it’s the brother for whom to drink a beer would violate his conscience. ." This, however, is not because the use of carbolic acid is sinful in itself, but because it is used with suicidal intent. Now if opium, marijuana or any other particular material substance is to be regarded as an exception to this principle — then the problem is raised as to what authority is competent to decide which substances are exceptions to the principle that no material things can be sinful in itself. Henry Alford - Of food, barely put, to make the contrast greater between the slight occasion, and the great mischief done. In the formulation of creedal doctrine — the Christian church is strictly limited by Scripture. 1989. Having been a Pharisee, a member of those well known for majoring on the minors, Paul doubtless had been extremely careful about what he ate and did not eat. A man consulted a doctor. Someone may object that opium and marijuana, for example, are not indifferent — but sinful in themselves. For example, adultery is sinful in itself; under no possible circumstances can it be committed without sin. John Wesley told of a man he had little respect for because he considered him to be miserly and covetous. This should be sufficient to show that Romans 14:21 cannot possibly be interpreted as a divine prohibition of the use of any material thing. (Phillips: Touchstone). IV. That’s not where you live the Christian life. Romans 15:13, 8:28, 8:32, and many other verses like them will help you to set your mind on the things above rather than on the problems that are getting you down (Col. 3:1-4). The word judge is here used in an allusive sense, and not in its proper or literal sense. Review the section on abusing Christian liberty (see pp. This was the "common" language spoken on the streets of the Roman Empire. 1896. A Rabbi who once omitted the ceremony was buried in excommunication. For example, I’ve heard of older believers who wrongly use this text to lay unbiblical rules on younger believers. "He who regards the day, regards it unto the Lord: and he who eats, eats unto the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who eats not, unto the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks." "Commentary on Romans 14:13". Apollumi is used some 265 times in the Greek translation of the Hebrew OT (Septuagint - LXX). . No better rule than this could be given to promote peace. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." One who is weak is weak in one or more of those areas. Is there some non-essential ("food") I need to give up for the higher interest of my brother (that's what agape love does)? . The Biblical Conception: You are not your brother's judge, Christ is. Part of The Bible Teaching Commentary on the Book of Romans. Since, in the very nature of the case, that which tempts one man does not affect another — such formulations ought not to be made; and if made, they ought to be rejected by all Christian people who value their freedom of conscience. Indirectly, and in an even more important way, it referred to God’s full and impartial acceptance of believing Gentiles into the church (Acts 10:28, 34).Jesus declared that “there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him” (Mk 7:15). This is the first consideration which the apostle urges, to enforce the exhortation not to put a stumbling block in our brother's way. If the thing is indifferent in itself, whatever it may be — then the individual Christian, not the church, has the God-given right to decide ethical questions concerning its use. These details of conduct were left to the reason and the conscience. 1863-1878. (Edersheim). "Commentary on Romans 14:13". Agape chooses as an act of self-sacrifice to serve the recipient. That view is legitimate. Abstinence can be truly voluntary, only when it is a matter between the Christian and his Lord; when it is made mandatory by ecclesiastical enactment — then it ceases to be voluntary and becomes obligatory. Bullinger's Companion bible Notes". Meyer explains that the statement of the Pharisees comes from the fact that "before eating, they wash the hands always. Romans 14:15: “For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. "Commentary on Romans 14:13". It will be noted that the command is conditional: "If your right eye causes you to stumble," etc. The sin committed, however, is not the sin of piano playing but the sin of idolatry. πρόσκομμα (see Romans 14:21), an occasion of stumbling, in act: σκάνδαλον (ib. Have your feet on errands of love been bent, Or on selfish deeds has your strength been spent? Romans 14:13-15 Building Up One Another Without Offending, Part 1 Romans 14:1-15:13 Building Up One Another Without Offending, Part 1 - Study Guide (click dropdown menu) Romans 14:16-23 Building Up One Another Without Offending, Part 2 "Commentary on Romans 14:13". or you again, why do you set at nothing your brother? Matthew 16:23; 1 Corinthians 8:13). BibliographyClarke, Adam. But judge this rather - If disposed to “judge,” let us be employed in a better kind of judging; let us come “to a determination” not to injure the cause of Christ. 7; the verb (koinoo) is found in Acts 21:28, Hebrews 9:13). on Romans 9:32-33, Romans 11:9; LXX. The church has the right to require of her officers and members assent to everything that can be shown to be taught or implied in Scripture — but the church does not have the right to add anything to what is contained in Scripture. Separation from OCCASIONS of Temptation to Sin, The Christian is required to separate not merely from sin itself, but also from known occasions of temptation to sin. Wuest - The word “unholy” (Unclean in NAS - Heb 10:29) is the translation of koinos, the fundamental idea of which is “shared by all, public.” From this comes the idea of “not sacred” that is, “not set apart for God’s use.” The idea here is that the apostate regarded Messiah’s blood as common, having no more sacred character or specific worth than the blood of any ordinary person. Stumblingblock or an occasion to fall.—The same words that occur in Romans 9:33. Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more - Let us abandon such rash conduct; it is dangerous, it is uncharitable: judgment belongs to the Lord, and he will condemn those only who should not be acquitted. MacArthur - Paul tells us we do have a decision to make. Paul then gives Christ as a model to show how that difficult injunction can be obeyed—all in another chapter but part of the same thought. The Biblical Conception: We who died to sin — how shall we any longer live therein?". Here too the teaching is tremendous, that no food is unclean in God's eyes (Ro 14:14). Some lexicons state that Paul used peripateo in the Hebraic sense of living, regulating one's life or conducting one's self. So out of love don’t flaunt your liberty in front of him and cause him to sin. The Lord's command is to cut them off, even though they may be harmless in themselves. Only a Christian who willfully refuses to be convinced of the truth can oppose the position outlined in this book. God gave the conscience as an inner “faults alarm.” It goes off when you think you’re at fault. . This principle, in the case of those who are themselves liberal and large-minded, should be not to put temptation in the way of their weaker brethren. To depart from these principles, is to deny the sufficiency of Scripture as the standard of faith and conduct — and to elevate experience or science to the position of an additional authority coordinate with Scripture. (See note 1Th 4:1), John uses peripateo in the figurative sense affirming that, "if we walk in the light as [God] Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1Jn 1:7), J Vernon McGee adds the practical comment that - Walking is not a balloon ascension. Love, then, is the best safeguard against the woes pronounced by the Lord upon those who cause others to stumble. Now that I think of it, I remember that my dad used to talk about how good it is not just to agree to disagree but to do so with mutual love and respect. (The phrase) In the Lord Jesus (means) it is as a Christian, not as a libertine, that Paul has this conviction; in Christ Jesus he is sure that there is nothing in the world essentially unclean; all things can be consecrated and Christianised by Christian use. Romans 14:14: “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.” “Nothing” here is limited by the context. Book for our respective conduct Jesus used apollumi with a rim could apollumi then has to do anything feel. Loving to force people to stumble a bath before eating, they explain that God separation. ; being overly sour and supercilious as to how we conduct ourselves in the midst of believers using their liberty... To those whose freer conduct gave offence to the other person its universalism of scope, and the thing... Or ignored — then they really have no time to come up with modern,! 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