FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

TITLE: PURSUE PEACE

TEXT: ROMANS 14:19-23

INTRODUCTION: (1) HOW FAR DOES CHRISTIAN LIBERTY GO IN REGARD TO BEHAVIOR NOT SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE?

* WELL, THE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION HAVE SPARKED SOME HEATED DEBATES AND DIVISIONS AMONG CHRISTIANS OVER THE YEARS.

** DEBATES AND DIVISIONS OVER QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES, PRACTICES THAT MANY BELIEVERS FEEL TO BE WRONG BUT THAT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE.

(2) PRACTICES LIKE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, PLAYING CARDS, WOMEN WEARING MAKEUP, WOMEN WEARING SLACKS, DANCING, SUNDAY SPORTS, KINDS OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC, GOING TO MOVIES, WATCHING TV, HOW WE EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE MAY HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT.

* NOW ONE REASON CHRISTIANS HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ARGUING THESE ISSUES IS THAT THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY FORBID THEM OR CONDEMN THEM.

** AND IT IS NOT THAT THESE ISSUES AND MANY SIMILAR ISSUES ARE NOT IMPORTANT, THEY ARE.

*** BUT WE CANNOT SPEAK AS AUTHORITATIVELY ABOUT THEM AS WE CAN SUCH THINGS AS STEALING, MURDER, SLANDER, IMMORALITY OR COVETOUSNESS – WHICH SCRIPTURE PLAINLY FORBIDS AS SINFUL.

(3) IN FACT, BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT MENTIONS MANY THINGS THAT BELIEVERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM DOING.

* LIKEWISE BOTH TESTAMENTS TEACH MANY THINGS THAT ARE ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO, THINGS LIKE LOVING AND WORSHIPPING THE LORD, LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR, HELPING THE POOR, PREACHING THE GOSPEL, AND SO ON.

** FOR YOU SEE THOSE THINGS ARE BLACK OR WHITE, WRONG OR RIGHT.

(4) HOWEVER, SOME THINGS ARE NOT COMMANDED OR FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE.

* THEY ARE NEITHER BLACK OR WHITE, BUT GRAY. AND SUCH ISSUES IN ONE AGE OR AREA MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS THOSE IN OTHER TIMES OR PLACES.

** BUT EVERY AGE AND EVERY PLACE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THE GRAY AREAS OF CHRISTIAN LIVING AND CHRISTIAN LIBERTY OR FREEDOM.

(5) AND CLEARLY WE AS BELIEVERS HAVE LIBERTY IN CHRIST, BUT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IS NOT UNBRIDLED LICENSE.

* IT IS NEVER FREEDOM TO SIN AND OFTEN IT SHOULD EXCLUDE THINGS THAT IN THEMSELVES ARE NOT SIN BUT THAT MAY BECOME SIN OR LEAD OTHERS TO SIN.

** PETER SAYS IN I PETER 2:16: “ACT AS FREE MEN, AND DO NOT USE YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVERING FOR EVIL, BUT USE IT AS BOND SLAVES OF GOD.”

(6) NOW WITH THAT TRUTH IN MIND, TWO COMMON EXTREMES ARE OFTEN FOLLOWED IN REGARD TO DOUBTFUL THINGS, GRAY AREAS, OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES.

* ONE IS LEGALISM AND THE OTHER IS LICENSE.

** NOW TECHNICALLY FROM SCRIPTURE, SPECIFICALLY THE BOOK OF GALATIANS.

*** LEGALISM IS A RELIGIOUS SYSTEM THAT TEACHES THAT A PERSON CAN DO SOMETHING TO EARN OR MERIT SALVATION.

**** GOD’S PLAN IS A GRACE PLAN AND ONE OF THE GREAT DISTORTIONS TO GRACE IS RELIGIOUS LEGALISM.

(7) SO IN ITS PUREST DEFINITION, LEGALISM IS BELIEF THAT OBEDIENCE TO SOME LAW OR ORDINANCE OR RELIGIOUS ACT, NOT FAITH, IS THE PRE-EMINENT PRINCIPLE OF REDEMPTION OR FAVOR WITH GOD.

* NOW AN ILLUSTRATION OF THIS WOULD BE THE JUDAIZERS AT GALATIA IN PAUL’S DAY THAT HE ADDRESSED IN THE BOOK OF GALATIANS WHO WERE FALSE TEACHERS.

** AND THEY DEMANDED FAITH PLUS CIRCUMCISION AND OBEDIENCE TO THE MOSAIC LAW.

*** THEY DID NOT DENY FAITH BUT ADDED TO IT WITH CEREMONIES AND STANDARDS OF THE OLD COVENANT.

**** BUT ANYTHING ADDED TO GRACE DESTROYS IT. AND PAUL CALLS IT ANOTHER GOSPEL IN GALATIANS 1:6-9 (READ THEM). ALSO READ GALATIANS 2:21.

- NOW AGAIN LEGALISM TECHNICALLY ADDS WORKS TO GRACE AND IS FALSE RELIGION.

(8) NOW FOR OUR PURPOSES TODAY, I WILL USE THE TERM LEGALISM TO TALK ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE LISTS OF DO’S AND DON’TS, IF KEPT, MAKE YOU MORE SPIRITUAL, NOT TO JUSTIFY YOU.

* AND THIS KIND OF LEGALISM LIVES BY MAN-MADE RULES RATHER THAN BY THE SPIRIT. LEGALISTS BELIEVE THAT EVERY ACT, EVERY HABIT, AND EVERY TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS EITHER BLACK OR WHITE.

** THEY CLASSIFY EVERYTHING AS EITHER GOOD OR BAD, WHETHER THE BIBLE MENTIONS IT OR NOT.

(9) AS A RESULT OF THAT THEY DEVELOP EXHAUSTIVE LISTS OF DO’S AND DON’TS. AND DOING THINGS ON THE GOOD LIST AND AVOIDING THINGS ON THE BAD LIST IS THEIR IDEA OF SPIRITUALITY, NO MATTER WHAT THE INNER PERSON IS LIKE.

* THEIR LIVES ARE LAW CONTROLLED, NOT SPIRIT CONTROLLED. BUT REFRAINING FROM DOING THINGS IS NOT SPIRITUALITY; WALKING IN THE SPIRIT IS SPIRITUALITY.

** AND LEGALISM STIFLES LIBERTY, IT STIFLES CONSCIENCE, IT STIFLES THE WORD AND IT STIFLES THE HOLY SPIRIT.

*** NOW THE OTHER EXTREME IS LICENSE. AND IT LIKE LEGALISM HAS NO GRAY AREAS, BUT NEITHER DOES IT HAVE MUCH BLACK.

**** FOR YOU SEE TO THE LICENSE PERSON, ALMOST EVERYTHING IS WHITE; EVERYTHING IS ACCEPTABLE AS LONG AS IT IS NOT STRICTLY FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE.

(10) AND UNFORTUNATELY, SUCH PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IS VIRTUALLY ABSOLUTE AND UNQUALIFIED.

* AND AS LONG AS YOUR CONSCIENCE IS FREE YOU CAN DO AS YOU PLEASE, NOT REALIZING THAT SOME OF THEIR CONSCIENCES HAVE BEEN SEARED AND ARE NOT SENSITIVE. AND THOSE ARE THE TWO EXTREMES, LEGALISM AND LICENSE.

** WELL, IN ROMANS 14, PAUL UNDER INSPIRATION TEACHES BALANCE. AND THAT BALANCE IS BROUGHT ABOUT BY MATURITY AND LOVE.

*** PAUL COMMUNICATES THAT CHRISTIAN FREEDOM AND CHRISTIAN LOVE GO HAND IN HAND.

**** THAT 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, ESPECIALLY THOSE WE WORK WITH.

- FOR YOU SEE CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 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.

(11) AND BECAUSE OF THAT WHEN IT COMES TO 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.

* IN FACT, RATHER THAN OFFENDING EACH OTHER IN GRAY AREAS, WE ARE TO BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER BY OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND TO PROMOTE PEACE.

** WE SHOULD NOT TEAR DOWN THE WORK OF GOD OVER OPINION AREAS BUT PURSUE PEACE.

*** AND THAT IS THE THEME OF OUR TEXT TODAY, SO I’VE TITLED OUR MESSAGE THIS MORNING, PURSUE PEACE.

(12) AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS, NO. 1 THE PURSUIT OF PEACE AND EDIFICATION, V. 19; NO. 2 THE PROHIBITION BY PAUL NOT TO TEAR DOWN THE WORK OF GOD OR TO DO ANYTHING THAT MAKES OUR BROTHER STUMBLE, VV. 20&21.

* AND NO. 3 THE PRINCIPLE OF NOT CONDEMNING AND IF IN DOUBT, DON’T, VV. 22&23.

** SO WE’LL LOOK AT THE PURSUIT, THE PROHIBITION, AND THE PRINCIPLE UNDER THE TITLE OF PURSUE PEACE.

*** AND WITH THAT IN MIND LOOK AT V. 19 WHERE WE’LL BEGIN TODAY BY LOOKING AT THE PURSUIT.

I. THE PURSUIT, (READ V. 19)

A. NOW PAUL IN THE BEGINNING OF V. 19 SAYS, SO THEN, TRANSLATED LET US THEREFORE IN THE NIV AND THE KJV AND THEREFORE IN THE NKJV.

* AND BASICALLY WHAT HE’S SAYING IS CONSEQUENTLY, BECAUSE OF, THEREFORE BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS, ACCORDINGLY, THESE THINGS BEING SO, TAKING US BACK TO VV. 13-18.

** AND IN VV. 13-18 PAUL GAVE US SOME NEGATIVE ADMONITIONS, DO NOT JUDGE ONE ANOTHER ANYMORE, DO NOT DESTROY WITH YOUR FOOD HIM FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED, DO NOT LET WHAT IS FOR YOU A GOOD THING TO BE EVIL SPOKEN OF.

1. NOW IN V. 19, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE’S SAID IN VV. 13-18, THE NEGATIVES, THEREFORE, SO THEN, PAUL GIVES TWO POSITIVE EXHORTATIONS.

* AND ACCORDING TO V. 19 WE ARE TO PURSUE TWO THINGS, NO. 1 THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE AND NO. 2 THE BUILDING UP OF ONE ANOTHER.

** IN OTHER WORDS, DON’T DO CERTAIN THINGS IN VV. 13-18 AND THE POSITIVE DO THIS, PURSUE THESE THINGS IN V. 19.

*** AND NOTE THAT THE WORD PURSUE HERE LIT. MEANS TO SEEK AFTER EAGERLY, TO EARNESTLY ENDEAVOR TO ACQUIRE, TO RUN AFTER, TO FOLLOW AFTER.

2. AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT, A LOT OF ENERGY, WORK.

* AND THAT EFFORT, THAT ENERGY, THAT PURSUIT IS TO BE FOR PEACE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE CHURCH AND EDIFYING, BUILDING UP ONE ANOTHER.

** AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THOSE ARE WORTHY EFFORTS IN CHRIST’S CHURCH. THEY SHOULD BE PRIORITY PURSUITS, EFFORTS.

*** AND FIRST OF ALL PEACE, LIT. HARMONY, TRANQUILITY, PEACE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NOT DISCORD.

3. AND THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA, BUT A REPETITIOUS THEME IN THE BIBLE, ROMANS 12:18, HEBREWS 12:14, PSALM 34:14, MATTHEW 5:9, EPHESIANS 4:3 (READ THEM).

* AND THEN IN HIS CLOSING REMARKS OF HIS SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, PAUL SAID IN II CORINTHIANS 13:11 – FINALLY, BRETHREN, REJOICE, BE MADE COMPLETE, BE COMFORTED, BE LIKE-MINDED, LIVE IN PEACE; AND THE GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU.

** NOW I ASK A QUESTION AT THIS POINT, HOW DO WE LIVE IN PEACE WHEN IT COMES TO GRAY AREAS?

*** WELL, IT COMES FROM BEING HUMBLE RATHER THAN BEING PROUD. IT COMES BY SELF-LESS LOVE RATHER THAN SELFISHNESS AND IT COMES BY PUTTING EACH OTHER OVER OURSELVES, PHILIPPIANS 2:3&4. ALSO READ ROMANS 12:10.

4. AND BELOVED THAT BOILS DOWN TO WALKING IN THE SPIRIT AND HAVING PROPER PERSPECTIVE, NOT EXALTING OUR OPINIONS OR THINKING TOO HIGHLY OF OURSELVES AND FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER.

* AND PEACE IS POSSIBLE IN CHRIST’S CHURCH IF WE APPLY THESE THINGS AND ALLOW THE PRINCE OF PEACE TO RULE IN OUR HEARTS.

** BUT ALSO, PEACE RATHER THAN WAR WILL BE THE RESULT WHEN WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING UP ONE ANOTHER, EDIFYING ONE ANOTHER, EQUIPPING ONE ANOTHER, AND DISCIPLING ONE ANOTHER.

I THESSALONIANS 5:11 SAYS – “THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, AND BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER JUST AS YOU ALSO ARE DOING.” ALSO READ EPHESIANS 4:29.

*** AND WHEN WE PUT ANOTHER’S NEEDS BEFORE OUR NEEDS AND EQUIP WITH THE WORD AND LIMIT OUR LIBERTY FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS, IT WILL RESULT IN PEACE AND BUILDING UP ONE ANOTHER.

5. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TO PURSUE ACCORDING TO V. 19. NOW MOVING ON IN V. 20 WE MOVE FROM WHAT WE ARE TO DO, TO WHAT WE SHOULD NOT DO. THE PROHIBITION. LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE.

II. THE PROHIBITION, (READ V. 20)

A. NOW IN V. 19 PAUL ADMONISHES US TO BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER, NOW HERE IN V. 20 HE ADMONISHES US, DO NOT TEAR DOWN THE WORK OF GOD FOR THE SAKE OF FOOD.

* AND NOTE THAT THE PHRASE DO NOT TEAR DOWN TRANSLATES THE PRESENT IMPERATIVE OF A GREEK WORD, SUGGESTING THAT PAUL WAS COMMANDING CERTAIN BELIEVERS IN ROME TO DISCONTINUE SOMETHING THEY WERE ALREADY DOING.

** AND OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE BRETHREN WERE TEARING DOWN EACH OTHER, AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA OF FOOD IN V. 20.

1. NOW AS WE HAVE ALREADY STUDIED, IN THE DAYS OF THE EARLY CHURCH MANY OFFENSES AGAINST THE CONSCIENCES OF WEAK BROTHERS INVOLVED FOOD.

* FOR JEWS IT RELATED TO EATING FOOD THAT WAS DECLARED CEREMONIAL UNCLEAN UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW.

** FOR GENTILES, IT RELATED TO EATING FOOD, MOST COMMONLY MEAT, THAT HAD BEEN USED IN A PAGAN SACRIFICE.

2. BUT UNDERSTAND THIS, IN THE BIGGER BROADER CONTEXT OF ROMANS 14&15, PAUL’S WARNINGS ABOUT FOOD AND DRINK RELATE TO ANYTHING NOT SINFUL IN ITSELF THAT MIGHT BE SAID OR DONE THAT WOULD CAUSE A WEAKER CHRISTIAN TO BE OFFENDED AND SPIRITUALLY HARMED OR HURT.

* FOR WHAT IS THE WORK OF GOD IN THIS CONTEXT? THE ANSWER IS OTHER BELIEVERS, THOSE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED, V. 15.

** AND BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, EPHESIANS 2:10, PHILIPPIANS 1:6.

*** SO THE WORK OF GOD IN THIS CONTEXT IS OTHER BELIEVERS, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, ESPECIALLY WEAKER BELIEVERS.

3. NOW GET THIS, WITH THAT IN MIND, IT IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS OFFENSE AGAINST A WEAKER BROTHER TO CAUSE HIM TO STUMBLE BUT ALSO A SERIOUS OFFENSE AGAINST THE PURPOSES OF GOD.

* FOR WE ARE THE WORK OF GOD. AND AS ALL SIN IS A SERIOUS OFFENSE TO GOD AND TEARING DOWN THE WORK OF GOD, OTHER BELIEVERS OVER OPINION AREAS IS A SERIOUS SIN ALSO.

** NOW NOTICE AT THE END OF V. 20 THAT PAUL REMINDS US AGAIN THAT HE IS NOT SPEAKING ABOUT SINFUL AND UNHOLY THINGS, BUT ABOUT DISCRETIONARY LIBERTIES THAT ARE GOOD GIFTS FROM GOD.

*** AND ALL THOSE THINGS INDEED ARE CLEAN AND GOOD IN THEMSELVES, THINGS LIKE FOOD AND DRINK, CONTEXTUALLY, FREEDOM LIBERTY AREAS, V. 14.

4. BUT THE DANGER IS THAT, WHEN FREEDOMS OR LIBERTIES ARE EXERCISED SELFISHLY AND CARELESSLY BY STRONG CHRISTIANS WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE, THOSE VERY BLESSINGS CAN BECOME EVIL FOR THE MAN WHO EATS AND GIVE OFFENSE.

* AND WE ARE NOT WALKING IN LOVE, WHEN WE LIVE THAT WAY, SO PAUL SAYS WHAT HE DOES IN V. 21 TO REINFORCE THAT, LOOK AT V. 21 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 21. NOW WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND FREEDOM, IT IS GOOD NOT TO DO THINGS THAT WE ARE FREE TO DO IF IT LEADS OUR BROTHER TO STUMBLE, TO FALL, THAT HARMS HIM SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.

* AND ALONG THAT SAME IDEA OF THINKING, PAUL SAYS IN I CORINTHIANS 8:13: THEREFORE, IF FOOD CAUSES MY BROTHER TO STUMBLE, I WILL NEVER EAT MEAT AGAIN, THAT I MIGHT NOT CAUSE MY BROTHER TO STUMBLE.

** AND BELOVED THE ISSUE CONCERNS DOING ANYTHING AT ALL BY WHICH OUR BROTHER STUMBLES OR FALLS.

*** AND THE PLEASURE OF EATING OFFENSIVE FOOD OR DRINK, OR THE PLEASURE OF DOING ANYTHING ELSE OUR LIBERTY ALLOWS US TO DO, IS ABSOLUTELY TRIVIAL COMPARED TO THE SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF A BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST.

1. IN FACT, IT IS WORSE THAT TRIVIAL. IT BECOMES ACTUALLY SINFUL IF WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IT MIGHT CAUSE ONE OF THE LITTLE ONES FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED TO STUMBLE OR FALL OR TO MAKE WEAK.

* AND AGAIN WHEN LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IS APPLIED, IT’S NO BIG DEAL TO GIVE UP SOME KIND OF FOOD OR A GLASS OF WINE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE IN A GRAY AREA, TO BUILD UP RATHER THAN TEAR DOWN OUR BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST.

** WHICH LEADS TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE PRINCIPLE. THERE IS A PRINCIPLE TO APPLY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS. LOOK AT V. 22 PLEASE.

III. THE PRINCIPLE, (READ V. 22)

A. NOW IN V. 22 WE HAVE A PRINCIPLE THAT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO STRONG CHRISTIANS, AND IN V. 23 WE HAVE A PRINCIPLE TO BE APPLIED TO WEAK CHRISTIANS.

* AND FIRST OF ALL, TO THE STRONG IN V. 22. AND THE PRINCIPLE HERE IS, THE FAITH, LIT. THE STRONG BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT CHRISTIAN FREEDOM OR LIBERTY, EATING MEATS, DRINKING WINE, AND NOT REGARDING ONE DAY OVER ANOTHER, HAVE AS YOUR OWN CONVICTION, YOUR OWN BELIEF BEFORE GOD.

** IN OTHER WORDS, WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THESE THINGS, KEEP BETWEEN YOURSELF AND GOD, DON’T BE DIVISIVE, DON’T CAUSE DIVISION.

*** PAUL IS SAYING, DON’T PUSH YOUR OPINIONS IN THOSE AREAS UPON THE WEAKER BRETHREN. BE SATISFIED WITH KEEPING THAT OPINION TO YOURSELF AND ACTING ON IT IN PRIVATE, WITHOUT BRINGING IT FORWARD TO PRODUCE STRIFE IN CHRIST’S CHURCH.

1. DON’T FLAUNT YOUR FREEDOM OR LIBERTY, DON’T PARADE YOUR LIBERTY AND BE A STUMBLING BLOCK.

* NOW NOTICE THE RESULT OF APPLYING THIS PRINCIPLE, IN THE LAST PART OF V. 22, HAPPY IS HE WHO DOES NOT CONDEMN HIMSELF IN WHAT HE APPROVES.

** AND TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, HAPPY OR BLESSED, TALKING ABOUT REAL JOY, TRUE HAPPINESS WHOSE SOURCE IS GOD, HAPPY IS THE PERSON WHO HAS A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND APPLIES THESE TRUTHS.

*** HAPPY IS THE PERSON WHOSE CONSCIENCE DOES NOT REPROVE HIM, IN WHAT HE DOES OR WHAT HE APPROVES, WHO HAS A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IN HIS OPINIONS AND CONDUCT.

2. SO BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT HAS A GOOD CONSCIENCE, WHO DOES NOT ALLOW HIMSELF TO DO WHAT HE SECRETLY CONDEMNS AND OFFENDS WEAKER BROTHERS AND CAUSES OTHERS TO STUMBLE.

* AND IT IS ALWAYS A JOY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN ANY MATTER, WHAT THE LORD WOULD WANT US TO DO, IN WHAT IS APPROVED IN THE AREA OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM OR LIBERTY SO THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THAT IT’S O.K., SO THAT WE ARE NOT SELF-CONDEMNED, JUDGED FOR VIOLATING OUR CONSCIENCE.

** AND THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE STRONG ARE TO APPLY. NOW THE PRINCIPLE FOR THE WEAK IS FOUND IN V. 23. SO LOOK AT V. 23 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 23. NOW THE BASIC PRINCIPLE FOR THE WEAK BELIEVER IS THIS, IF IN DOUBT, DON’T.

* IN OTHER WORDS IF THERE IS DOUBT ABOUT DOING SOMETHING QUESTIONABLE IN A GRAY AREA, DON’T DO IT, DON’T VIOLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE.

** FOR A BELIEVER SINS, IS CONDEMNED, THERE IS GUILT WHEN HE DOES WHAT IS NOT APPROVED IN HIS CONVICTION AND FAITH. (IF HE HAS A BELIEF THAT IT IS WRONG, TO HIM IT IS WRONG).

1. AND BELOVED THIS PERSON IS SINNING BECAUSE HE IS TRYING TO SILENCE THE VOICE OF HIS CONSCIENCE. HE IS CONVINCED THAT WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO IS WRONG, FOR EXAMPLE TO EAT MEAT, YET HE DOES IT ANYWAY, WELL THAT IS SIN!!

* AND EVERYTHING THAT DOES NOT COME FORTH FROM FAITH IS SIN, THAT IS WHATEVER THOUGHT, WORD, OR ACTION THAT DOES NOT COME FORTH FROM INNER CONVICTION, INNER BELIEF IS SIN.

** AND JUST AS THE STRONG BELIEVER COMMITS SIN BY CAUSING A WEAK BROTHER TO GO AGAINST HIS OWN CONSCIENCE, THE WEAK BROTHER SINS, IS CONDEMNED, WHEN HE GOES AGAINST THE CONVICTIONS OF HIS OWN FAITH, HE SUCCUMBS OR GIVES IN TO THAT WHICH HIS CONSCIENCE CONDEMNS. SO EATING MEAT FOR HIM WOULD BE SIN.

AND AS I WRAP UP THINGS TODAY(1) LET ME SAY THAT THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY TAUGHT IN ROMANS 14 GIVES US SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HOW TO GET ALONG IN THE CHURCH.

* AND THE PEACE AND EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH ARE TO BE SOUGHT AT ALL SACRIFICE EXCEPT THOSE OF TRUTH, DOCTRINE AND DUTY.

** I MEAN WE NEVER SACRIFICE CLEAR TRUTH FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY, FOR THAT IS A FALSE UNITY.

(2) BUT WE DO SACRIFICE OUR OPINIONS OVER PREFERENCES AND LIMIT OUR LIBERTY IN GRAY AREAS OUT OF LOVE FOR OTHERS FOR UNITY.

* AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY PURSUE PEACE AND BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. WE NEED TO WALK IN LOVE, HUMILITY AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.

** AND I WONDER IS THERE SOMEONE YOU’VE OFFENDED BY ABUSING YOUR CHRISTIAN LIBERTY? IF YOU HAVE, GO TO THEM AND CLEAR YOUR CONSCIENCE, ACTS 24:16, I TIMOTHY 1:5. (READ THEM)

*** NOW ONE LAST THING I WANT TO GIVE YOU IN CLOSING APPLICATION, AND THAT IS THE 3 RULES FOR TESTING THINGS, THINGS WE’RE NOT SURE ABOUT THAT I COVERED LAST SUNDAY.

(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? DON’T SEE HOW CLOSE YOU CAN GET TO THE FIRE WITHOUT GETTING BURNT. NEVER SET ASIDE HOLINESS FOR THE SAKE OF EVANGELIZING.

** 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?

* 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, DON’T VIOLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE.

(5) BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE ARE THE WORK OF GOD, SO LET US ACCEPT OR RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER AND NOT PASS JUDGMENT ON THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS. I CLOSE WITH ROMANS 14:13.

* BELOVED, LET US PURSUE PEACE AND THE BUILDING UP OF ONE ANOTHER.