God’s Word for Today

14 Feb 2024

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

-Rom 15:1-3 ESV

CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF

Paul strongly urges the ‘strong’ among us to please the neighbor and to build him up. In the gospel community, there should be a feeling of obligation to bear the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. This reminds us to what Paul wrote in Romans 12:10  that Christians must outdo each other in showing honor. In other words, they must honor each other above themselves. 

In an intentional way, each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.[v.2 NIV] . That is, those of stronger in faith must not provoke the weak to violate their convictions.  Paul articulated this in his letter to Philippi, saying; “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”[Phil 2:3,4] This thinking is in-line with Christ’s.[Phil 2:5-7] This reminds of DBS catchy slogan, “Neighbors first. Bankers second” 

Christ is our example. Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” Paul quotes from Psalm 69:9, and he applies it to Jesus. This means the reproaches, mockeries and criticisms of those who reproached God the Father fell on Christ. Similarly, Paul says that strong-faith Christians should be willing to give up meat, or wine, or to skip the Sabbath, or any other matter of their personal freedom, for the sake of building up their weaker siblings in Christ. This life of sacrifice makes us more like Christ more than anything else.

Joy is an acronym for Jesus first, others second and you last.  Nothing could be further from the truth. Joy is the byproduct of selflessness. He who loves begets love.

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Text: Romans 14:20-23 (ESV)

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.

WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN.

Paul affirms that everything is indeed clean. But, as simple as eating may tear down the work of God. Paul is telling those with stronger faith to be willing to give up eating the meat they are free to eat if that will build up and unify the church. Otherwise, their insensitivity would divide and tear down the church. It is wrong to cause other to stumble by what we eat.

He is calling on Christians to consider the weakness of others before pursuing their own enjoyment. “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”[v.21] Did Paul fully restrict Christians fully not to eat meat or drink wine? Not really. Paul has agreed that nothing is unclean for those who are in Christ (1 Tim 4:4). There is no sin in eating meat or drinking wine. They should keep this faith that they are free to eat and drink these things between themselves and God. They will be blessed to have no reason to condemn themselves for publicly approving something that may cause another person to stumble.

On the other hand, for someone to violate their own convictions by participating in one of these disputed areas is to act against faith instead of from faith. Paul writes in clear language, that person is condemned as sinning if he is not eating "from faith." Put another way, he is eating against his own faith. Paul does not mean that such a person is condemned in the sense that he will no longer be a Christian. He is condemned in the sense that he is guilty of sin, though still in Christ.

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Text: Romans 14:13-19 (ESV)

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. 14 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.

PURSUE PEACE AND MUTUAL UPBUILDING

Those who are stronger in faith, particularly those who are exercising their freedom in Christ to eat meat or not observe special days, need also to be very deep in their love and understanding towards those who are ‘weak in faith.’ They should be willing to abstain, if need be, for the sake of the others. Therefore, it does mean they ought to consider the weakness of others when deciding when and if to partake food or not observe special days.

Paul affirms to them that nothing is unclean so that they can eat whatever they want. And, they must consider that anything could be unclean to those who think it is unclean. And if the ‘weak in faith’ brothers see them you eating an unclean food, they will be grieved and stumbled. And the issue now is they’re not ‘walking in love’ anymore. By, a simple meal they destroy a brother, who Christ died. A reminder of how precious are these brothers to Christ.

The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That is, when Christ is King, we will pursue the things that promote righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit more than the enjoyment of eating and drinking. In other words, we are free to eat and drink anything as long as it won’t affect our righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit. We could not afford to enjoy on something which other brothers are grieving upon, could we?

This sensitivity is a mark of a true servant of Christ. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.[v.18] He is willing to sacrifice for others. Hence, in God’s family of diverse opinions, let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

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Text: Romans 14:10-12 ESV

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.

-Rom 14:10-12 ESV

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF GOD

We are free in Christ. This means that everyone has liberty, specially in our choices and preferences in life. But, our freeness is not to be equated to liscentiousness. We ought to do only that which pleases the Lord. Why? Firstly, He owns us. It’s just appropriate that the owner decides what to do to things that belong to Him.

Here, we are warned that we are to stand at the judgment seat of God. Thus, passing judgment or despising others on matters of food and special days are expressions of pride. In a sense, that the person assumes he is the judge. Judgmentalism, that is putting oneself as better than others, should have no place in God’s family. There is only one judge – God. We will not be the ones sitting in the judge's chair. Instead, we will be all equally standing before the judge.

Paul quotes mostly from the second half of Isaiah 45:23 to support the idea of God judging our works during the end times. This judgment seat is also described by Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians. Soon after His coming, Christ will judge the works of all believers. It’s not about judging whether we go to heaven or hell. This is settled when we came to God through faith in Christ (Eph 2:8–9). Instead, as 2 Cor 5:10 says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." In other words, Jesus will look at all our choices in our lifetime and reward our good works (1 Cor 4:5. He holds us accountable in some way so that there will be losses if our works are worthless before Him(1 Cor 3:8).

Yes, this day of judgment is real and it is coming very soon. Each of us will give an account of himself to God. Let’s just be faithful unto our specific calling and tasks. Judging other Christians in this lifetime is not our job.We can agree to disagree but continue to love each other.

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Text: Romans 14:7-9 ESV

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.

-Rom 14:7-9 ESV

WE ARE THE LORD’S?

All believers belong the Lord. The statement ‘no one lives or dies to themselves’ does not mean believers live in a vacuum. In contrary, we are always connected with the Lord and with each other. Thus, in whatever we do, God is always involve for we belong to Him. He who owns us. Paul declares,

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”[1 Cor 6:19-20]

What does this imply to us?

Our decisions and choices must be done for His honor and in accordance to His purpose. In the context of Romans 14, this includes all our choices and preferences about whether we should eat meat or not and observe special days or not. Surely, it should encompass all the choices we make in this life. As 1 Cor 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

We also die to the Lord. That is, God determines our death. And even after death we still continue to belong to Him in eternal state. Our awareness towards this should impact our choices and decisions in life.

All believers are free. But our Christian liberty must be exercised in view to God’s ownership of our lives. True freedom is not a license for us to do what we want. It’s His empowerment for us to do the right thing that pleases Him. As Jesus said, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” [John 8:32,36]

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God’s Word for Today

8 Feb 2024

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. 

-Rom 14:5-6 ESV

IS YOUR MOTIVE TO HONOR THE LORD?

Concerning ‘gray’ areas, we have diverse opinions. But, we should have the same motive – to honor the Lord. Paul uses the examples of observing days or not and eating or abstaining from certain food or not. In all cases, the motive must be for God’s honor.

Sadly, the Pharisees were observing certain laws and regulations to be seen and praised by men. God looks at our hearts and not the outside.  This is consistent with Paul’s act in condemning the Christians in Galatians for continuing to observe "days and months and seasons and years" for wrong motives(Gal 4:10). These Christians at Galatia were trusting their religious rule-keeping to save them instead of trusting God's grace through faith in Christ alone.

Let us continue to hold on and be persuaded by the merits of our opinion in some gray areas of our Christian life. However, we must be doing it for God to be honored alone and nothing else. This means we should examine our motives and not be dissuaded by any other fleshly sentiment to be proud and arrogant. 

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God’s Word for Today

7 Feb 2024

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.

-Rom 14:4 ESV

WHO ARE YOU TO PASS JUDGMENT?

Believers should not fall into either the extremes of legalism nor in superstitious beliefs. The gray areas should remain gray and not to be forced as either black of white. Tolerance is the key. Who is right or wrong in their opinions?

The most important consideration in answering this question is looking at ourselves as not the master or judge. Thus, Paul asked, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?” Let’s posture ourselves humbly not arrogantly. We have no right to be judgmental to a brother on matters which only God has the authority.

Let’s remember that we are not our brother’s master. In fact, we are all servants of the same master – Jesus. It's not the role of servants to pass judgment on each other. The master passes judgment. Paul cautions us about judging each other by saying,

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”[1 Cor 4:3-5]

Here, Paul insinuates that the Lord is not condemning any or both groups about their differences of opinion. Since the Lord is not doing so, why would we think it is our right to do so? God tolerates them.

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Text: Romans 14:1-3 (ESV)

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.

BE MAGNANIMOUS

There are many gray areas in our life. We have been freed from the obligation of the law.[Rom 7:4-6] But, many Christians do not yet fully trust that God has set them free from observing the law or observing religious rule. They struggle to accept that everything God created is good (1 Tim 4:4), and can be used for a good purpose. They are called by Paul as believers of ‘weak faith.’

How are we going to relate with them?

He commands us to welcome those with weaker faith community of the church. Moreover, Paul instructs us not to welcome them with an ulterior motive of convincing them that they are wrong. In matters of opinions, we are not to quarrel but but do respect one another. There is a distinction between an opinion and outright works of darkness.

Paul gave two distinct examples, namely the religious ‘vegetarians’ and the ‘non-vegetarians.’ Paul does neither condemn the religious vegetarians nor the others for their opinion. Instead, he forbids both groups from despising or passing judgment upon each other. In short, both sides need to respect and tolerate each other. As Paul writes,

“ Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Col 2:16–23)

Let’s be magnanimous for the sake of the gospel.

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Text: Romans 13:11-14 (ESV)

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

GET UP FROM SLEEP

In a spiritual metaphor, Paul pictures that the sun is about to rise and it's time to get up. Salvation is nearer to us now. That is, the time of salvation’s ultimate glory and judgment is imminent and fast approaching. More than two thousand years had gone by and we are looking forward to it. Even creation groans along with us as we wait for our adoption to be finalized and the redemption of our bodies on that day (Rom 8:22–23).

The night is far gone. It’s soon daybreak. We must throw away any works of darkness, any of the worthless things that we have done that belong to the night – orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarreling and jealousy. These are nighttime lifestyles. We need a new way of living as children of light. Thus, we have to put on the armor of light.

Christians are to fight against the darkness rather than condone it. In Eph 6:10–17, Paul describes in detail our spiritual armor to put on as we stand against the forces of spiritual darkness. In verse 14, we have to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. This means we will symbolically wear Jesus - His triumph. In other words, our goal as Jesus-followers is to live as Jesus would empower us how to live. That we won’t gratify the flesh, that is our human appetites not to go wild and berserk.

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Text: Romans 13:8-10 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

-Rom 13:8-10 ESV

LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW

Paul argues that we are indebted to love others. It is a debt we will never pay off. We will never be done with "paying" love to each other. Why? It is because Jesus said that to love God and our neighbors are two greatest commandments that summed up the law (Mark 12:29–31) Thus, we’re always bound to love others, are we not?

By ‘owe no man anything but love one another’ implies that we’re to settle our debts. Moreover, it is love that would motivate us to keep all the other commands, not to disregard them. Love is like the peg that holds our commitment to do good and bless others.

Paul lists four of the Ten Commandments - forbidding adultery, murder, stealing, and coveting. Paul then adds the statement "and any other command” to mean "etcetera," or "etc." He has in mind all the commands included in the law, especially those about human relationships. This is summed up in one command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [Lev 19:18]

Could somebody murder or steal from somebody he loves? This is an absurd question. Love does not do wrong to his neighbor. We don’t want to hurt anyone. Thus, love fulfills the intention of every other commands given to protect people from harm. Let us take note that this refers to those who are in Christ. Having been empowered by the Spirit, we are called to keep on loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

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