Eclectic group of non- Koreans who also attended. Because of a dear family from India, I was introduced to some amazing Indian cuisine. And the course of conversation over a meal, the couple mentioned how it was wrong to eat pork. Now, I don’t know if this was a regional thing in India from where they were from or maybe a part of the church that they belong to, but they could see the perplexed look on my face. So I recounted them, Mark Chapter 7, Jesus talk about, It’s not food that defiles you, but it’s what comes out of a person, his heart that defiles him. Then from Mark 7:19, there it reads, Thus, Jesus declared all foods clean. Okay, here were two people who knew their Bibles quite well, and they never had a reason to connect that particular part of the Bible to their diet. It was an aha moment for them. Now, I I don’t know if they ate pork after that, but they did stop saying it was sinful. When for the kingdom. Now, I seriously doubt anyone here has any real problem with eating pork. Now, the response of most of us is, That’s dumb.
Christians can eat whatever they want. I’m sure, like you, I’ve never been a around any Jewish or Muslims groups, at least growing up here. So that just seems strange. Well, it does seem dumb as long as we don’t have a pony in that race. But once it crosses over in the matters that are near and dear to the heart, it suddenly stops being dumb and we get upset. What do we do with believers who apply the gospel in different ways than us? Real believers who understand the good news of Jesus Christ but who apply it differently. Well, because Christians are united to Christ by the sovereign mercy of God, we must do the hard work of welcoming brothers and sisters who might disagree with us. Make no mistake, this is a deeply theological issue. Paul informs us that this is a direct outflow of being justified by faith in Christ. Because of what Jesus has done, we all, whether you’re a Jew, Gentile or whatever, we are welcomed on an equal basis. Jesus has achieved access to the Father. Therefore, we are not to pass judgment on those who sit at a table with us.
Who have the same invitation that we have that’s been written in the blood of Christ. In chapter 13, Paul has just laid out the clear call to love one another. It’s somewhat general. Included a call to righteous and holy living, no longer walking in the former sins that Jesus has set us free from. Now here in chapters 14 to 15, he speaks of a very specific issue to the church in Rome. What was clear is because of this high calling to love, we are to welcome the brothers and sisters who might apply the gospel in a different way. Paul then gives us three arguments for why we would do so. First, he says that we are welcomed by God. Verse one, As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Now, that word for welcome is one of hospitality. It’s not just saying, except them, grudgingly. Welcome them. You’re inviting a person in when you’re welcoming them. It’s a warm and accepting disposition of the heart. Well, who are you inviting in? The one we can faith. Well, who’s that? Here, Paul shows he’s really well-informed what’s happening in Rome.
He hadn’t been there, but he’s very aware of what’s taking place. We see that in chapter 16, he’s talking to various house churches. He mentioned some 30 people by name. Paul knows what’s going on. The language of weak and strong are part of this ongoing problem for these particular Christians. Now, weak in faith does not mean someone who is unsure of their faith in Christ. It’s not someone who’s barely holding on by a thread of belief. No, weak in faith here speaks of someone who does not think that their faith in Christ allows them to do certain things. Nobody in this camp thinks of themselves as weak. They’re not there, Yeah, I’m a weak Christian. That word weak is by the other camp, the strong camp. They’re referring to this other group this way. And what we see is that we’re to welcome this brother or sister who differs with us without quarreling about the issue that they differ on. That’s an amazing thing. Think about it. It’s a bit… If you’re married and your wife tells you, Hey, it’s our nephew’s birthday. We’re having my sister’s family over for a cake, and you and Bob are not going to talk about politics.
Capiche? That’s what he’s saying. We’re inviting over, we’re welcoming, and this divisive thing, just shut it. Paul goes on. One person believes he may meet anything while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despice the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats. Why? For God has welcomed him. Here we see a bit more of probably what was the dividing issue. Remember, Paul has been addressing the major divisions between Gentile and Jewish believers. Here he’s not dividing the church into these camps. He’s talking about food issues. He’s very pastorially wise. But we can certainly imagine that there are Jewish Christians, maybe God-fearing Gentiles, who are very concerned about kosher food rules. How to eat the right foods from the Old Testament. A few things to keep in mind. The problem in Rome is not the same problem that Paul dealt with in Corinthians, in Colossians, or in Galatians. Each of these churches had some different sets of problems while relatable, but different enough that Paul addresses them with some different kinds of wisdom. The bomb of the gospel is applied in differing ways.
What is clear is that this group of people that Paul calls weak are not changing the message of the gospel. Now, keep that in mind. That’s not the issue. They’re just applying the message of gospel differently to food. For them, to honor Jesus means we don’t eat certain foods, either because they considered it unclean or maybe because some of those foods were offered to temples in the marketplace, to idles. Their consciences would not allow them to eat. They’re convinced that this is the right way for a Christian to live. And because they believe they are saved by grace, this is how living out grace looks like to them. It’s not an issue of, I’m going to eat this way so that I can get saved. They’re saying, This is a response to the goodness of God in my life. That’s very different than doing something to gain favor, which Paul would just hit him right on the head. He’s saying, No, that’s not the issue here. These people are trying to honor God. So reason number one for accepting a brother or sister who disagrees with you is God has welcomed them. What are you to do if you are in one camp and the person is in another?
Well, you don’t despise them. You don’t judge them. Don’t despise, don’t judge. And then Paul gives us the next reason. Because we’re to live to please the Lord. Verse 4, Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It’s before his own master that he stands or falls. Now, Paul’s example doesn’t quite have the same bite for us because we don’t live in a culture of slaves and masters. But it’s clear enough that this is about belonging to God, belonging to the Lord. Who are you to pass judgment on God’s servant? And Paul goes on, And he will be upheld for the Lord is able to make him stand. Like you, this brother or sister, they didn’t save themselves. And like you, God’s grace is what will provide them through the very end to stand. How will they stand? God is sufficient for them, just like he is for you. They’re God’s servants. He further elaborate. Verse 5, One person esteems one day better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each should be convinced in his own mind. If you observe this day or you observe that day, you do so to honor God.
If you eat this or don’t eat this, you do so to honor God. Whether you eat or abstain, that is the heart. Now, this could be very well about those who are following the different Old Testament feasts. It could be about moving the Christian worship from the Jewish Shabbat to Sunday service and everything that involves that. It certainly could be about that. But there There are many who make a very wrong application about this on the Lord’s Day worship. Paul is not declaring that you can take or leave it in terms of worship, depending on your conviction. Like, you don’t need to worship God. He’s not saying that. He’s talking about the day that you worship. He is saying that whether it’s in this Jewish context or the Gentile context, you’re free to worship and honor God. Not saying it doesn’t matter. You see, in America, in particular, We use this often as an excuse to pursue our own selfish delights and actions. No, you belong to the Lord. Worshiping him is not optional. How you view different days and different holidays and things like that, that’s optional. One person might hold this, one person might hold that, but you both are wanting to honor God.
It’s clear to Paul that that’s what’s at stake. His brother or sister is trying to show their love and affection to God and all he has done and how they live. And we should encourage that. It’s wonderful. When people do something to honor God, even if we might disagree with it or think maybe it’s a little wrong handed, their heart is an amazing spot. Don’t discourage that. Be thrilled. It’s like, man, my brother and my sister, they wanted to take this part of their life and they feel that it’s elevating their understanding and worship of God. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? As opposed to despising them or looking down on them. Saint Claire Ferguson, he said, The weak have a strong conscience. That’s why they’re doing what they’re doing. They’re like, I can’t do that. They have a strong conscience. While the strong have an instructed conscience. See, our conscience can never be independent of scripture. Like my Indian friends, they were wanting to honor the Lord the Lord and what they ate, but their scripture reasoning for doing so was not correct. It was a matter of instruction, not a matter of the heart.
And so how we go about trying to correct or instruct is also then an issue of the heart. Paul goes on, verse 7, For none of us lives to himself, none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord. That word Lord is mentioned nine times here in these few verses. The word master in English is actually Lord in Greek. He’s making abundantly clear who we belong to. His second reason for accepting one another is because we all live to please our Lord. Verse 9, For this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord, both of the dead and of the living. Now, think about it. What happens as kids when One of our siblings tries to tell the other one what to do. What is usually the response? You’re not dad, you’re not mom. Don’t you tell me what to do, brother, sister, Mom and dad have that prerogative. Paul is telling this group of Christians, back off. They belong to the Lord. They’re following him. We are all to live for Christ.
And we are to mind ourselves before we start directing other people. And lastly, Paul, he tells us that a final judgment awaits everyone. Verse 10, Why do you pass judgment on your brother. Why do you despise your brother? Again, judging and despising. For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. And then Paul quotes from Isaiah 45. He does so as well in Philippians 2, For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, every tongue shall confess to God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. As a somber reminder, there will be a day when we will stand before the Lord. Now, some of you go, I thought Jesus paid my penalty. Why am I being judged? Yes, Jesus paid your penalty. Amen. And yes, you will stand before the Father to have him declare your verdict. It is a serious and sobering great day. To have your record wiped clean is free. It is liberating. To know why your record is being wiped free for what you have done that you are not being condemned for. There’s weight to that.
To walk through these acts as the charges are vacated is to walk through the things that we have done to see where the blood of Christ is paying for them. There’s a seriousness to that. It’s a reminder that while I am being forgiven, there are real things that need forgiveness. So don’t be too quick to judge another when we don’t want others to judge us for what we have done. We don’t go, look at that person not eating pork to honor Jesus. What a moron. Of course, we can eat pork. That’s so dumb. Okay. Let’s look at your internal thought life and see how you’re honoring Jesus with it. How would you like that put up on a screen? Let’s walk through your Google search history. Suddenly, the pork guy doesn’t look so bad, does he? That’s Paul’s point. We all got stuff to be judged by. Don’t be going out of your way to judge someone else. Be very grateful for the mercy that you have received by God through Jesus, just like your brother has, your sister has. Well, it’s We’re going to move from preaching to meddling. Let’s first start just by saying, this is incredibly hard.
It is. This is really, really hard to do. It’s easy When it’s about things that don’t matter to you. I had a Norwegian friend, and we were talking, and she kept saying an English swear word because it was no big deal to her. It didn’t mean anything. She could say the word over and over. Why are you guys so upset by this? Finally, I said, Would you please just stop saying that word? It didn’t mean anything to her, but it meant a lot to me to have this dear Christian believer saying a word that was profane to me, it was really hard. If we go, Blargl, Blargl, Blargl, Blargl. Well, that doesn’t mean anything. What happens when it does? You see, we have issues that matter to us. We typically, we try to make them moral issues, not just issues of indifference, non-essentials. Like my friend, eating pork was a moral thing. Oh, no, that’s sinful. Well, we do that same thing with things that matter. When Peter had the vision of unclean foods, it came down to him and acts three times in the sheet. He’s like, I’ve never eaten any of these unclean things, Lord.
It came down three times to show him. This is the guy who walked with Jesus for three years. You think somewhere along the line, he heard what we saw in Mark, Hey, Jesus made all food clean. Here he is, the great apostle. The vision is coming down three times by God, and he’s struggling with it. Of course, we know that this was to send him to this Roman centurion who he didn’t want to mix with. To say, Hey, not only have I made all foods clean, in my son, I make all people clean. Peter had to be taught that because that wasn’t something that was going in very well. This is a big issue about Jewish sensibilities, so much so that the early church in Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council, gave four basic instructions to help keep peace between Jewish and Gentile believers. These were hard things. It moved from a matter of indifference to a gospel issue, though. In the Book of Galatians, Galatians 2, Paul says that he had a face-to-face confrontation with Peter because Peter pulled away from Gentile Christians in Antioch because of the pressure from Jewish believers. Now we’re not just talking about differences eating food.
We’re talking about fellowship and pulling away. He’s changing the message of the gospel, and Paul would have nothing to do with it. He hammered him, rightly so. He was not welcoming those whom God had welcomed. Now, Christians have divided over non-essentials from the beginning of history. We’ve divided over things like whether or not you have a Christmas tree. What version of the Bible do you use? Who should you vote for? Tobacco, alcohol, beliefs in the end times. The list goes on. It looks different in different parts of the church in different parts of the world. At one time, some of the English reformers objected to the use of a wedding ring. They, Oh, no, there’s an idolatrous practice that goes along with the wedding ring. So there were some who spoke against wearing a wedding ring. They, Oh, that’s ridiculous. Yeah, because you don’t have a pony in that race. Who’d you vote for? Oh. You don’t like it when someone gores your ox. The level of maturity that Paul is talking about is enormous. Our way around this is that we moralize our position. We tell ourselves it’s about the truth, the gospel, real Christianity, not just preferences or scrupules.
And we can justify anything. A pastor I know of, he used words to speak about a couple of others that were so out of bounds that it offended non Christians. And then he created a whole interview justifying what he did and why it was okay. And all the supporters continued this type of action. The behavior was juvenile, it was divisive, and they doubled down on it rather than repent of it. It’s easy to make all of our positions central gospel issues when they’re not. We can tell ourselves that at times we live now in a different place. It’s a different response that’s needed. This is unlike anything that’s ever happened before. And so we’re justified in doing the things that we’re doing. You’re either with us or you’re against us. As Christians, what we share is far greater than what divides us. I have to welcome my fellow believers. And this means that I have to have a really healthy suspicion of what I think is essential or not. And to do that, I let the voices of other generations of Christians speak to me. Because other generations can speak into our times in a way that we don’t see.
We don’t see the things right in front of us. And we also maybe let Christians from other parts of the world have a say. Maybe other denominations. We sit there and think, Oh, yeah, your Indian friends in a pork thing. How stupid. You know what? When they came to America, they saw a lot of things in the Christian church that was pretty stupid to them that was immediately self-evident. If you think you could do that with somebody else, but they can’t do that with you, oh, my goodness, that is a huge amount of pride. We all see stuff in other people that they don’t see in themselves. Could it be that they see those things in us? Sure, they have to. That’s what we’re driven to. We see and have a healthy suspicion of some of the things that we think are essential. Knowing that the Father gives liberally to his people. I don’t have all the wisdom. I don’t have all the understanding. I can’t see things right in front of me all the time. I have a hard time liking people who are different than me. We’re quick then to think that only a real Christian would do X, only a real Christian would vote for X.
Only a real would do whatever. How easy that is. How easy it is to look down on someone else. I’m not talking about the central issue of the gospel. I’m talking about how we apply the gospel to these secondary issues. That’s the difficulty. When we hear Jesus say, As you have done to the least of thee, so you have done to me. To despise the weak is to despise the savior who died for the weak. To judge another is to condemn those whom God has acquitted. Who’s the one who condends us? Going back to Romans 8, who’s the one who accuses? It’s Satan. Satan likes to accuse us, to condemn us. Why on earth should we want to help him out and do his work for him? Why don’t you just step back, devil? I got lots of things to tell this person. Really? There’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We aren’t condemned. That’s the good news of Jesus. You didn’t figure it out. I didn’t figure it out. God brought us from darkness into light. We celebrate that. Recognizing it is really, really hard when we We have brothers and sisters who do or see things differently than we do about stuff that matters to us.
And the call then is to repentance. We repent of those things when our attitudes aren’t what they’re supposed to be. We don’t justify it, we don’t glorify it, and we have to continually remind ourselves of it. I don’t like people who differ from me, who say the things I believe are dumb. I think they’re dumb. Well, you’re dumb. You see? Here we go. We do this. Paul is saying, We’re one in Christ. We belong to Jesus. Back in Romans 5, Paul used an unusual word. We looked at it then in Romans 5:6. As one of those was like, Well, that’s a strange thing to say back then. He goes, For we were still weak. Weak? While we were still sinners, I get that. While we were depressed, I get that. While we were still weak. Oh, he’s now bringing this forward. You who are weak of faith. While we were still weak at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. That is the good news. When we could do nothing to save ourselves, Jesus died for our sins. How dare we despise another, judge another for whom Christ has died I said before with the blind Bartimaeus from John Newton, how unreasonable it would be for him once his eyes were open to take a stick and beat every blind person he saw.
He didn’t open his eyes. You didn’t save yourself. You didn’t come to some great understanding on your own. That was the work of the Holy spirit in your life. He set you free. And when we come to that place where we are struggling in loving someone and condemning them, we come to repentance. And we’re going to do this all the time. This is hard. It’s hard. It’s hard for all of us. But it’s true, it is good, and it is glorious. The world could see a group of misfit people, loving and caring for and welcoming them, enjoying a birthday without bringing up the argument with your brother-in-law because you love your nephew. Why is that there? Because Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. That’s joyful. That should move us. Once we get off our knees, confessing it as sin to embrace one another. Pray with me. Father, as we come before you this day, we confess, Lord, we have all sinned in this way. We have despised others that you have saved. We have judged others that you have redeemed. And Father, we ask that you would forgive us.
And Father, we pray that not only that, that you would fill our hearts with love and compassion, mercy towards one another. Father, that you would continue to move us away from ourselves, that we would be able to celebrate in the good work of Jesus, who has redeemed us from an empty way of life. For it is in him that we do pray. Amen.
Discaimer: This sermon text was generated by an automated transcription service.