ROMANS: WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Romans 14:1–23 (NKJV) 

Romans 14 is a clarion call to unity and acceptance within the body of Christ. There have always been divisions among believers. In fact, many of Paul’s writings are a direct result of the division within the local church. Here, Paul clearly states we are not permitted to allow our personal beliefs to determine the commitment or sincerity of other believers.

1. We’re all part of the family

Vss 1-4 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Vs 1 (NLT) Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them

about what they think is right or wrong.

• Paul is encouraging unity within the body of Christ
• In these verses, we are told not to allow our own view of what is right and wrong cause us to look down on another
• In the early Roman church, there was clearly a dispute among those early Christians over the edicts of the law. These included what you can eat, what days must be kept holy, etc.
• The mention of “eating” refers to the practice of the foods which are or are not permitted by the law
• Verse 4 tells us God is the master and only judge, not us
• Augustine said, “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”[1]

2. Different but equal

Vss 5-9 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

• Paul refers to the sabbath day and other holy days in the Jewish calendar in verse 5
• These were throwbacks to the “old days” of following the prescriptions of the law in order to have fellowship
• In these 5 verses, the word “Lord” is used to describe our responsibility to submit to Him alone and not allow our traditions or preferences to dictate our “faithfulness”
• We may all have differing views on issues, but we cannot allow those things to cause division, as long as we are not dealing with clearly delineated sins

3. So, give each other a break

Vss 10-13 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

• “Judge not” is the message here (Matthew 7:1)
• Paul clearly is telling us all we are not to judge others within the body of Christ
• Robert Mounce writes, “Since that is true, it is highly questionable, to say the least, for us to be involved in judging one another. Judging is a divine prerogative. To take up that role is to usurp the place of God himself.”[2]
• Verse 13 refers to the “stumbling block” (Gk-proskomma) which is a literal picture of a stone placed in the path of another which causes them to fall and be injured
• Paul clearly is telling us all we are not to judge others within the body of Christ

4. From a heart of love for one another

Vss 14-23 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

• This is a call for respect and patience for others (verse 14)
• It is also a call for us to recognize the responsibility we have to one another in our faith walk
• Paul tells us in verse 17, our preferences do not the church make, rather it is how we live
• So, don’t allow your preferences to damage your testimony and the “work of God”
• Paul underscores the importance of unity in these verses because of the damage which could be done by the actions of the strong or the weak
• Kenneth Boa said, “He wants no division to enter the church in Rome, no opportunity for the devil to get a foothold (Eph. 4:27) and perpetrate his schemes among people who all thought they were ‘right’”[3]

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 559.

[2] Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 255.

[3] Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier, Romans, vol. 6, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 426.