Romans Chapter 14 - Principles of Conscience
14 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
- The 14th chapter of Roans offer some great advice about principles of conscience.
o These principles are worth learning and living by
- First we are told
o We should accept the one who is weak in faith
§ some people have more faith than others
o we should accept those are weak in faith
§ but not for the purpose of passing judgement on his opinions
§ it is not for us to judge their reasoning (that is between them & God)
o One person has faith that he may eat all things
§ If you believe you can eat all things as long as you pray first – go ahead
o But he who is weak eats vegetables only
§ Notice the weaker is a vegetarian (just kidding)
§ Some people think it is not acceptable to eat meat – they shouldn’t then
o The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat
§ Meat eaters are not to regard in contempt vegetarians (no disrespect)
o The one who does not eat (meat implied), is not to judge the one who eats
§ Vegetarians should respect meat eaters as well
o For God has accepted him
§ In other words, it is up to God not man
§ We should not judge either man for what he eats or does not eat
§ God accepts both
4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
- This is rhetorical question
o Who are you to judge the servant of another?
o Obviously you would not judge a servant who belongs to another master because the servant works for and reports to someone else (his boss)
- To his own master he stands or falls
o In other words, his own master will judge his actions according to his own will
- And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand
o God says “he will stand” – that is a promise.
o For the Lord is able to make him stand (God is able, God is willing, God does it)
5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or 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.
- One person regards one day above another, another every day alike
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