FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

TITLE: DO NOT!

TEXT: ROMANS 14:14-18

INTRODUCTION: (1) CHRISTIAN FREEDOM AND CHRISTIAN LOVE GO HAND IN HAND.

* CHRISTIAN FREEDOM MEANS THAT WE ARE FREE TO DO, NOT WHAT WE LIKE, BUT WHAT CHRIST LIKES.

** IN FACT, CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS A CHRISTIAN DUTY TO THINK OF EVERYTHING, NOT AS IT AFFECTS OURSELVES ONLY, BUT ALSO HOW IT AFFECTS CHRIST’S KINGDOM AND HOW IT AFFECTS OTHERS.

(2) FOR YOU SEE CHRISTIAN LIVING MUST BE GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLE OF LOVE; AND WHEN IT DOES, WE WILL THINK, NOT SO MUCH OF OUR RIGHT TO DO WHAT WE WANT, BUT WHAT CHRIST WANTS AND WHAT WILL BE BEST FOR OTHERS.

* BECAUSE OF THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN FREEDOM, CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, WE WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO OFFEND OR VIOLATE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN’S CONSCIENCE IN THINGS THAT DO NOT REALLY MATTER.

** CHRISTIAN LIBERTY MUST NEVER BE USED TO STEAM ROLL AND OFFEND A WEAKER BROTHER OR SISTER.

*** TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, NO FREEDOM IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT CAN JUSTIFY BRINGING OFFENSE AND GRIEF AND DEVASTATION TO OTHER BELIEVERS.

(3) AUGUSTINE USED TO SAY THAT THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN ETHIC COULD BE SUMMED UP IN A SAYING: “LOVE GOD AND DO WHAT YOU LIKE.” (THE LOVE OF GOD CONTROLLING US TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT).

* AND IN A SENSE THAT IS TRUE; BUT CHRISTIAN FREEDOM CONSISTS NOT ONLY IN LOVING GOD; IT ALSO CONSISTS IN LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES.

** AND WHEN STRONGER BELIEVERS, OUT OF LOVE FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, VOLUNTARILY RESTRICT THEIR OWN LIVES TO CONFORM TO THE STRICTER STANDARDS OF WEAKER BELIEVERS,

*** THE RESULT IS, THEY BUILD CLOSER RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE IS STRENGTHENED AND UNIFIED.

(4) AND IN THAT LOVING ENVIRONMENT, THE WEAKER BELIEVERS BECOME STRONGER AS WE LIMIT OUR LIBERTY FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS.

* WHICH LEADS US TO OUR TEXT TODAY. FOR IN ROMANS 14:14-18, AND TO THE END OF THE CHAPTER, PAUL CONTINUES HIS TEACHING ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND THE MUTUAL OBLIGATION OF STRONG AND WEAK BELIEVERS TO ACCEPT EACH OTHER WITHOUT BEING JUDGMENTAL OR CAUSING OFFENSE.

** AND IN THESE VERSES PAUL MENTIONS A NUMBER OF PRINCIPLES, EACH GIVEN IN A NEGATIVE FORM, THAT SERVE AS GUIDELINES FOR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

(5) PAUL WILL SAY DO NOT DO CERTAIN THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT V. 13, PAUL SAYS, LET US NOT, IN THE FIRST PART OF THE VERSE, BUT DETERMINE THIS IN THE 2’D PART OF THE VERSE, NOT TO PUT AN OBSTACLE OR A STUMBLING BLOCK IN A BROTHER’S WAY.

* IN V. 15B HE SAYS, “DO NOT DESTROY WITH YOUR FOOD HIM FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED.”

** IN V. 16 PAUL SAYS, “THEREFORE DO NOT LET WHAT IS FOR YOU A GOOD THING TO BE SPOKEN OF AS EVIL.”

*** IN V. 20A HE SAYS, “DO NOT TEAR DOWN THE WORK OF GOD FOR THE SAKE OF FOOD.” AND THEN IN V. 21, “IT IS GOOD NOT TO EAT MEAT OR TO DRINK WINE OR TO DO ANYTHING BY WHICH YOUR BROTHER STUMBLES.”

(6) AND MY POINT IS PAUL IS BEING PRETTY NEGATIVE, HE IS SAYING “DO NOT” A LOT. AND SOMETIMES WE DON’T LIKE THAT, WE DON’T LIKE TO BE TOLD WHAT WE CAN DO, OR WHAT WE SHOULD NOT OR CAN’T DO.

* BUT PAUL DOES HERE, BECAUSE WE NEED THAT AS BELIEVERS.

** AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED MY MESSAGE THIS MORNING, “DO NOT!”

*** AND UNDER THAT THEME WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS TODAY. NO. 1 DON’T DISTRESS YOUR BROTHER, VV. 14&15A; NO. 2 DON’T DESTROY YOUR BROTHER, V. 15B; AND NO. 3, DON’T DAMAGE YOUR WITNESS, VV. 16-18.

(7) AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, AND BEING REAL NEGATIVE TODAY (WHICH IS EASY FOR ME, I HAVE O-NEGATIVE BLOOD – IT’S GENETIC) LOOK AT V. 14 WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT, DON’T DISTRESS YOUR BROTHER.

I. DON’T DISTRESS YOUR BROTHER, (READ V. 14)

A. NOW AS FAR AS NON-SINFUL THINGS, GRAY AREAS, ARE CONCERNED, PAUL SAYS, I KNOW AND AM CONVINCED, HE WAS ABSOLUTELY SURE, IN THE LORD THAT NOTHING IS UNCLEAN IN ITSELF.

* AND PAUL IS NOT STATING A PERSONAL OPINION OR A PREFERENCE HERE, BUT WAS CONVINCED, AND WAS PERSUADED BY THE LORD, BY THE LORD’S WORD AND REVEALING HIS WILL TO HIM THAT NOTHING WAS UNCLEAN WHEN IT CAME TO THE PREFERENCE GRAY AREAS HE’S BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THIS CONTEXT.

** AND WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC CONTEXT OF ROMANS 14? WELL, IT HAS TO DO WITH EATING MEATS, OBSERVING OR NOT OBSERVING CERTAIN RELIGIOUS DAYS, AND AS WE’LL SEE NEXT SUNDAY IN V. 21 DRINKING WINE.

1. NOW THAT IS THE CONTEXT. IT IS GRAY AREAS, THINGS NOT COMMANDED OR FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE, OPINIONS, PREFERENCES.

* AND I BRING THAT UP TO SHOW YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING SCRIPTURE IN CONTEXT, EXPOSITORY STUDY AND WHAT I DO, EXPOSITORY PREACHING.

** FOR IF YOU TAKE ROMANS 14:14 OUT OF THE CONTEXT OF THIS CHAPTER AND ISOLATE OR USE IT BY ITSELF, YOU COULD BUILD A QUOTE “BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE” THAT SAYS, “NOTHING IS UNCLEAN IN AND OF ITSELF.”

*** WHICH IS ANTINOMIANISM, LIBERTARIANISM, RELATIVISM, THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES.

**** AND YOU COULD SAY, SINCE NOTHING IS UNCLEAN OF ITSELF, WE AS HUMAN BEINGS DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG, THAT WE ARE THE FINAL AUTHORITY ON MORALITY, ETHICS, ETC.

2. AND YOU COULD QUOTE THE LAST PART OF V. 14 BY ITSELF AND SAY, IF YOU THINK SOMETHING IS UNCLEAN, MEANING SINFUL, COMMON OR UNHALLOWED, THE MEANING OF UNCLEAN HERE, THEN IT IS, IF YOU DON’T THINK IT’S UNCLEAN, THEN IT’S NOT.

* AND YOU COULD USE SCRIPTURE TO COMMUNICATE SITUATIONAL ETHICS, RELATIVISM AND THAT THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES, THAT WE DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG, THAT WE ARE THE FINAL AUTHORITY.

** SO, HAVING SEX WITH SOMEONE YOU’RE NOT MARRIED TO MIGHT BE WRONG FOR YOU BUT ITS RIGHT FOR SOMEONE ELSE, THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES.

*** LYING MIGHT BE WRONG FOR YOU BUT ITS RIGHT FOR ME. STEALING MIGHT BE WRONG FOR YOU, BUT IF I HAVE A NEED ITS RIGHT FOR ME.

3. HERE’S THEIR ARGUMENT, YOU SEE THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT NOTHING IS UNCLEAN OF ITSELF, ONLY TO THE PERSON WHO THINKS IT’S WRONG. YET THAT KIND OF THINKING MAKES US GODS. WE DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.

* AND THAT KIND OF THINKING IS VERY POPULAR TODAY AND CAN YOU SEE HOW CULTS AND FALSE RELIGIONS USE THE BIBLE TO TEACH DOCTRINES AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE? TAKE VERSES OUT OF CONTEXT AND BUILD DOCTRINES ON IT.

** SO WE MUST STUDY SCRIPTURE CONTEXTUALLY AND MEMORIZE VERSES WITH THE CONTEXT IN MIND, AND AGAIN THAT’S WHY I’M COMMITTED TO VERSE BY VERSE EXPOSITORY PREACHING RATHER THAN TOPICAL OR TEXTUAL PREACHING, ITS EASY TO MISS THE CONTEXT.

4. NOW AGAIN AS WE GO BACK TO THE CONTEXT OF ROMANS 14, PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT GRAY AREAS, OPINIONS, PREFERENCES, NOT BLACK AND WHITE THINGS COMMANDED OR FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE. THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR ABSOLUTE AND FINAL AUTHORITY.

* AND PAUL’S POINT IN V. 14 IS THE STRONG CHRISTIAN IN PAUL’S DISCUSSION OF THIS CHAPTER IS ENTIRELY RIGHT IN HIS THINKING THAT HE IS FREE, AT LIBERTY TO ENJOY ANYTHING THE LORD DOES NOT DECLARE TO BE SINFUL.

** AND THE WEAK CHRISTIAN, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS WRONG IN HIS UNDERSTANDING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

*** BUT HE, THE WEAK BELIEVER, IS NOT WRONG IN THE SENSE OF BEING IMMORAL OR HERETICAL, HE IS WRONG IN THE SENSE OF NOT HAVING COMPLETE AND MATURE UNDERSTANDINGS, WHICH CAUSES HIS CONSCIENCE TO BE UNNECESSARILY TOO SENSITIVE.

**** AND FOR THAT REASON, TO HIM WHO THINKS ANYTHING TO BE UNCLEAN, TO HIM IT IS UNCLEAN IN HIS MIND, PAUL’S POINT IN I CORINTHIANS 8:1-13.

5. NOW LET ME PAUSE HERE FOR A MINUTE AND SAY FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE KNOW ARE NOT SINFUL BUT THAT WE DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DOING OR EVEN BEING NEAR.

* AND AS LONG AS WE FEEL DISCOMFORT ABOUT ANY SUCH THING, WE SHOULD AVOID DOING IT – EVEN IF IT WOULD NOT CAUSE OFFENSE TO OTHER BELIEVERS. IF IN DOUBT, DON’T.

** AND IF WE OURSELVES CONSIDER ANYTHING TO BE UNCLEAN, IN A GRAY AREA, THEN TO US IT IS UNCLEAN, THE LAST PART OF V. 14.

*** AND IF WE PERSIST IN VIOLATING OUR CONSCIENCE, THAT CONSCIENCE WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE INSENSITIVE UNTIL IT IS SEARED OR HARDENED, THEN IT IS NO LONGER AS SENSITIVE AS IT NEEDS TO BE TO PROTECT US FROM SIN.

6. NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, BEGINNING IN V. 15, WE’LL SEE THAT PAUL’S EMPHASIS SHIFTS TO HOW WORDS AND ACTIONS AFFECT THE SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING, THE WELFARE OF FELLOW CHRISTIANS, AND THAT WE ARE NOT TO HURT OR DISTRESS THEM OVER GRAY AREAS. LOOK AT V. 15A PLEASE.

B. READ V. 15A. NOW IF WE ABUSE OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IN THE AREA OF FOOD OR ANY OTHER AREA, WE CAN HURT WEAKER BROTHERS, AND IF WE DISREGARD THEM AND HURT THEM WE ARE NO LONGER WALKING ACCORDING TO LOVE.

* IN OTHER WORDS WE NEED TO BYPASS OUR LIBERTY, LIMIT OUR LIBERTY OUT OF LOVE, THE SACRIFICE OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO, SO WE DON’T HURT OR GRIEVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHICH IS TRUE LOVE.

** BELOVED, WE DON’T WANT TO DISTRESS OR HURT OUR WEAKER BRETHREN BY OUR KNOWLEDGE OF SOMETHING THAT IS O.K., WHAT OTHER BELIEVERS THINK IS WRONG BY A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.

*** AND THIS IS THE POINT OF I CORINTHIANS 8:1 WHERE IT SAYS: “NOW CONCERNING THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, WE KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE MAKES ARROGANT, BUT LOVE EDIFIES.”

**** AND NOTE THAT THE WORD HURT HERE IN THE NAS TRANSLATED DISTRESS IN THE NIV, AND GRIEVE IN THE KJV AND ESV IS THE GREEK WORD LUPEO (LOO-PEH-O).

1. AND IT LIT. MEANS TO MAKE SORROWFUL, TO AFFECT WITH SADNESS, TO CAUSE GRIEF, TO THROW INTO SORROW, TO GRIEVE, TO OFFEND, TO MAKE ONE UNEASY.

* AND THIS PARTICULAR GREEK WORD IS USED BY JOHN IN JOHN 21:17 TO DESCRIBE PETER’S REACTION WHEN JESUS ASKED HIM THE THIRD TIME, SIMON, SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME? AND PETER WAS WHAT? HE WAS GRIEVED.

** AND PAUL USES THIS WORD IN EPHESIANS 4:30 TO SPEAK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS GRIEVED WHEN WE SIN, (READ IT).

2. NOW, WE AS BELIEVERS ARE NOT TO GRIEVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OVER OPINIONS AND IT’S REGRETTABLE WHEN CHRISTIANS ARE HURT OR HARMED BY UNBELIEVERS, BUT IT IS TRAGIC WHEN CHRISTIANS HURT A BROTHER CHRISTIAN, PARTICULARLY OVER MATTERS THAT ARE NOT INHERENTLY WRONG OR ENCOURAGED TO DO SOMETHING THEY THINK IS WRONG, TO VIOLATE THEIR CONSCIENCE.

* BELOVED, A CHRISTIAN WHOSE CARELESS USE OF HIS FREEDOM OR LIBERTY CAUSES SUCH HURT TO OTHER BELIEVERS IS NO LONGER WALKING ACCORDING TO LOVE, BUT IS WALKING IN SELFISHNESS, ONLY THINKING OF HIMSELF.

** ILLUST. IT DOES MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT JUST THE LORD, GALATIANS 1:10, MEN-PLEASERS.

*** YET ON THE OTHER HAND IF I PREACH THE TRUTH IN LOVE AND YOU’RE OFFENDED SO BE IT.

**** AND THE POINT IS, WE ARE NOT TO DISTRESS OR HURT OR GRIEVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN GRAY AREAS. AND WITH THAT IN MIND LOOK AT THE LAST PART OF V. 15, WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR SECOND POINT TODAY, DON’T DESTROY YOUR BROTHER.

II. DON’T DESTROY YOUR BROTHER, (READ V. 15)

A. NOW THIS NEGATIVE WARNING IN THE LAST PART OF V. 15 IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN THE FIRST PART OF V. 15, ONLY IT IS CONSIDERABLY STRONGER.

* AND WE SEE THAT BECAUSE OF THE WORD DESTROY, WHICH REFERS TO UTTER DEVASTATION.

** AND W. E. VINE EXPLAINS IN HIS EXPOSITION DICTIONARY OF N.T. WORDS THAT THE IDEA OF THIS GREEK WORD IN THIS CONTEXT IS NOT EXTINCTION BUT RUIN, LOSS, NOT OF BEING, BUT OF WELL BEING.

1. AND I BRING THAT UP, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THIS GREEK WORD IS USED IN THE N.T. TO TALK ABOUT ETERNAL DAMNATION WHICH APPLIES TO UNBELIEVERS. (WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DAMNATION HERE).

* BUT IN OUR CONTEXT, TO DESTROY HIM FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED, ONE OF CHRIST’S SHEEP, ONE OF HIS OWN THAT HE DIED FOR, IS NOT TO CAUSE HIS DAMNATION, BUT TO SERIOUSLY DEVASTATE OR HURT HIS OR HER SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

** IN FACT WE SEE THIS ILLUSTRATED IN MATTHEW 18:14 WHERE JESUS SAID, “IT IS NOT THE WILL OF YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN THAT ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES PERISH.” AND THE WORD PERISH IS THE SAME GREEK WORD IN ROMANS 14:15 TRANSLATED DESTROY.

*** NOW KEEP IN MIND THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 18, THESE LITTLE ONES ARE BELIEVERS, FOR THEY HAVE BEEN SAVED OR CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN, V. 3 AND BELIEVE IN ME, JESUS SAID IN V. 6.

2. NOW GET THIS, AND HERE’S THE TIE IN, THE CONNECTION. JESUS WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LOSS OF SALVATION BUT ABOUT THEIR LOSS OF SPIRITUAL WELL BEING, WHICH, ALTHOUGH NOT AN ETERNAL LOSS, IS AN INJURY THE LORD CONSIDERS TO BE EXTREMELY SERIOUS OR GRAVE.

* AND EVEN TO “DESPISE ONE OF THOSE LITTLE ONES FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED” IS A GREAT OFFENSE TO GOD.

** NOW AS WE GO BACK TO ROMANS WITH THE MEANING OF DESTROY IN MIND, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PHRASE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED IS HERE USED TO DESCRIBE BELIEVERS.

3. AND THE THOUGHT IS, HOW COULD WE DEVASTATE OR HURT THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF A WEAK BELIEVER FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED? CHRIST LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THOSE WEAK BRETHREN, HE LOVES THEM, HOW CAN WE DESTROY THEM BY ABUSING OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY?

* AND FOLKS, PAUL IS SAYING THAT IS A CONTRADICTION OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR HIS OWN! AGAIN IF WE DO THAT WE ARE NOT WALKING ACCORDING TO LOVE AND WHAT A SERIOUS THING THAT IS.

** AND YOU KNOW IT’S A SERIOUS THING NOT TO STUDY, SUBMIT AND APPLY THE GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH.

*** BUT IT IS JUST AS SERIOUS A THING TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK, AN OBSTACLE, A HINDRANCE TO OTHER BELIEVERS, BY NOT WALKING IN LOVE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED.

**** SO PAUL SAYS DON’T DESTROY YOUR BROTHER, WHICH LEADS US TO THE LAST NEGATIVE COMMAND TODAY, OUR THIRD AND LAST POINT, DON’T DAMAGE YOUR WITNESS, LOOK AT V. 16 PLEASE.

III. DON’T DAMAGE YOUR WITNESS, (READ V. 16)

A. NOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO SO ABUSE OUR LIBERTY OR FREEDOM IN CHRIST IN REGARD TO FELLOW BELIEVERS THAT WE CREATE CONFLICTS WITHIN THE CHURCH THAT GIVE THE WORLD CAUSE TO CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN THOSE WHO CLAIM TO HOLD BROTHERLY LOVE IN SUCH HIGH REGARD.

* FOR WHAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE WORLD KNOWS THAT WE ARE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST? IT IS BY OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, JOHN 13:34&35 (READ THEM).

** AND THEN JOHN 17:21 SAYS: “THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE; EVEN AS THOU, FATHER, ARE IN ME, AND I IN THEE, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE IN US; THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU DIDST SEND ME.” (BY OUR ONENESS)

1. AND BELOVED, WHEN BELIEVERS FIGHT OVER OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES AND THE CHURCH SPLITS, WHAT A TERRIBLE TESTIMONY THAT IS TO THE WORLD, WHAT A LACK OF LOVE.

* THEREFORE PAUL SAYS: DO NOT LET WHAT IS FOR YOU A GOOD THING, YOUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, BE SPOKEN OF AS EVIL.

** AND THE PHRASE “SPOKEN OF AS EVIL” IS THE GREEK WORD BLAS-FAY-MEH-O FROM WHICH WE GET OUR WORD BLASPHEME, TO SPEAK REPROACHFULLY OF.

*** AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN WE ABUSE OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND DO NOT WALK IN LOVE, OUR GOOD IS EVIL SPOKEN OF, OUR GOOD IS BLASPHEMED AND THAT’S ALL THE UNSAVED WORLD WILL SEE. THEY WON’T SEE THE OTHER GOOD THINGS.

2. BUT IF WE’RE WILLING AT ANY TIME TO FORFEIT THE EXERCISE OR USE OF A WONDERFULLY GOOD THING, OUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY OR FREEDOM, SO ITS NOT A HARM TO A BELIEVER AND AN OFFENSE TO AN UNBELIEVER, THEN WE’RE WALKING IN LOVE.

* AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT BEFORE THE CHURCH AND BEFORE THE WORLD TO DEMONSTRATE OUR LOVE THAN OUR FREEDOM.

** AND THAT’S WHY PAUL SAID TO THE CORINTHIANS IN I CORINTHIANS 9:19 (READ IT).

*** AND THE TRUTH IS, WE ARE FREE, BUT WE ARE SERVANTS, SLAVES OF CHRIST AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE LIMIT OUR LIBERTY OR FREEDOM WHICH IS VITAL TO THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH AND TO THE CHURCH’S WITNESS BEFORE AND TO THE UNBELIEVING WORLD.

3. AND FORSAKING A FREEDOM IS A SMALL PRICE OR CONCESSION TO MAKE FOR THE SAKE OF BOTH BELIEVERS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BECOME BELIEVERS, FOR THE KINGDOM IS GOD, IS NOT EATING AND DRINKING, LOOK AT V. 17 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 17. NOW IN V. 17 ANOTHER REASON IS GIVEN FOR THE EXERCISE OF CONTROL OR RESTRAINT ON THE PART OF THE STRONG WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

* AND THAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT EATING AND DRINKING, IT IS NOT DISTINGUISHED BY EATING AND DRINKING, IT IS NOT THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, LIT. WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ALL ABOUT.

** TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, THE CHRISTIAN FAITH DOES NOT CONSIST OF PHYSICAL THINGS AS FOOD OR DRINK, BUT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. AND BELOVED THE KINGDOM OF GOD HERE IS THE REALM TO WHICH BELIEVERS BELONG, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE RULE AND AUTHORITY OF GOD. IT IS THE REALM OR SPHERE IN WHICH GOD’S KINGSHIP IS RECOGNIZED AND HIS WILL IS SUPREME.

* LANGE DEFINES THE KINGDOM OF GOD HERE AS THE HEAVENLY SPHERE OF LIFE IN WHICH GOD’S WORD AND SPIRIT GOVERN, AND WHO’S ORGAN ON EARTH IS THE CHURCH.

** SO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THIS CONTEXT IS THE ROYAL REIGN OF GOD IN HIS PEOPLE NOW AND EVENTUALLY WILL BECOME A PHYSICAL REIGN OF GOD AMONG HIS PEOPLE ONE DAY IN HIS PHYSICAL ETERNAL KINGDOM.

*** AND THE RULE AND AUTHORITY OF GOD TODAY IS MANIFEST, ITS FRUITS THROUGH HIS SPIRIT ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY.

2. IN OTHER WORDS IN CHRIST’S CHURCH, WHEN HIS SPIRIT IS IN CONTROL, WHEN GOD IS RULING IN THE KINGDOM WITHIN US, LUKE 17:21, THE FRUITS OF IT ARE SPIRITUAL IN OUR INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

* IT AFFECTS OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHRISTIANS – NOT WITH GOD IN THIS CONTEXT.

** AND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE FILLED WITH RIGHTEOUS LIVING, PEACE IN THE CHURCH AND JOY IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, EVEN WEAK ONES, NOT GRIEF, DISTRESS OR DESTRUCTION, V. 15.

*** AND BELOVED, WHEN QUESTIONS OF FOOD AND DRINK AND OPINIONS BECOME OUR CHIEF CONCERN, THEN IT IS APPARENT HOW FAR REMOVED FOR THE INTERESTS OF GOD’S KINGDOM, OUR THINKING AND CONDUCT HAVE STRAYED.

**** FOR JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 6:31&32: “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS THEN, SAYING ‘WHAT SHALL WE EAT?’ OR ‘WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?” OR ‘WITH WHAT SHALL WE CLOTHE OURSELVES?’ FOR ALL THESE THINGS THE GENTILES EAGERLY SEEK; FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED ALL THESE THINGS.” (READ V. 33)

3. AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NOT THE EXTERNALS, BUT THE ETERNALS MUST BE FIRST IN OUR LIVES, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WHEN THAT KIND OF LIVING IS PREEMINENT, CHRIST IS SERVED AND OUR BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AND APPROVED BY MEN, V. 18. LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 18. NOW V. 18 IS THE RESULT OF SEEKING CHRIST FIRST, FOR IF WE SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST AND NOT PUT SELF FIRST, AND OUR PREFERENCES FIRST, THEN WE ARE SERVING CHRIST. THE VERB SERVES HERE IN THE GREEK IS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE MEANING ONE WHO KEEPS ON SERVING AS A SLAVE.

* AND IF YOU KEEP ON SERVING AS SLAVES, SERVING IN CHRISTIAN LOVE, PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.

** IF YOU DO THIS, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AND APPROVED BY MAN IN CONTRAST OF BEING EVIL SPOKEN OF, V. 16.

1. AND BELOVED WHEN WE LIVE THIS WAY, OH HOW IT PLEASES CHRIST AND WHAT A WITNESS IT IS TO THE WORLD.

AND AS I WRAP UP THINGS TODAY, (1) PHILIPPIANS 2:15 SAYS: (READ IT).

* AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE ARE LIGHTS FOR CHRIST. JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 5:14-16 (READ THEM).

** AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE FULLY WHEN WE WALK IN LOVE. AND IT’S SUCH A WITNESS TO THE WORLD, BECAUSE WE ARE WALKING LIKE CHRIST FOR PAUL SAID IN EPHESIANS 5:1&2 (READ THEM).

(2) AND THE ISSUE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY BOILS DOWN TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE TO LIMIT OUR LIBERTY OUT OF LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS.

* AND WHEN WE DO THAT, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY ARE THE RESULTS, RESULTS OF WALKING IN THE SPIRIT AND SEEKING GOD’S KINGDOM FIRST.

** BELIEVER, WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING FIRST? ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM IS A WRONG PRIORITY. SELF FIRST IS WRONG.

*** AND TO NOT CONSIDER OTHER BELIEVERS IN FOOD AND DRINK AND LIBERTY IS SELFISHNESS AND NOT LOVE.

**** BELOVED, IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO WE WILL NOT ABUSE OUR LIBERTY IF CHRIST’S KINGDOM IS FIRST AND CHRIST IS PREEMINENT, AND WHAT A WITNESS WE’LL BE IN THE PROCESS. READ MATTHEW 6:33 AND COLOSSIANS 1:18.

***** I WANT TO CLOSE BY GIVING YOU 3 RULES FOR TESTING THINGS THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE, THINGS WE’RE NOT SURE ABOUT IN APPLICATION.

(3) NO. 1 ASK YOURSELF, DOES THE BIBLE FORBID MY DOING THEM? IF IT DOES, OBVIOUSLY DON’T DO IT, THAT’S BLACK AND WHITE.

* NO. 2 ASK YOURSELF, IF WHAT I WANT TO DO IS NOT A SIN IN ITSELF, WOULD MY DOING THIS LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CAUSE ME TO SIN.

** AND THE IDEA THERE IS DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN PLACE OF TEMPTATION, IT’S FOOLISH, IT’S NOT WORTH IT, AVOID IT, DO NOT DO IT.

(4) AND THEN NO. 3, ASK YOURSELF, WOULD MY DOING THIS CAUSE ME TO OFFEND A WEAK BROTHER SO AS TO MAKE HIM STUMBLE?

* READ ROMANS 14:13 AND ROMANS 14:16.

** NOW THOSE ARE 3 QUESTIONS WE CAN ASK OURSELVES WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTIONABLE THINGS. AND IF WE ASK THOSE THREE QUESTIONS AND THERE IS STILL A QUESTION, MY COUNSEL IS, WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT A THING, DON’T DO IT.