Romans 14:1-9 Making Him Lord

Hi, and welcome back. Today we are going to continue with our study of Romans. As we begin a new chapter I encourage you to look back at previous chapters and reflect on what we’ve already covered.

The study of God’s word is never a one and done. Every time we open our Bibles the Holy Spirit makes known something we have never considered before. 

Chapter 14 deals with matters that are not to be of any consequence.

They are beliefs and customs that were carried over from former religious backgrounds. Such as a converted Jew who has trouble accepting eating non kosher food.

Romans 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faithl, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

The weakness that Paul is referring to is that some Christians feel certain things are sinful to them.

These Christians have limited themselves to their former religious beliefs. Their faith in Jesus Christ however, is by no means in question. It is only their faith in these secondary items. Paul encourages those who are not weak in their faith too be welcoming and not to argue over non-essential things.

Romans 14:2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.

In our previous episode I gave my opinion about drinking.

The Bible doesn’t say that consuming alcohol is a sin, yet I prefer not to drink because I feel it clouds my judgment. That’s not to say that it’s a sin for you to drink. Again modeNow for our final verse of the day.ration is the key. So if you want to be a vegetarian, great! But if I want to have that big juicy porterhouse steak, please don’t judge.

Romans 14:3 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.

There it is, we are all God’s children.

We have all been welcomed into the fold. So, there is no need for judgment. If you want to eat your broccoli then by all means go ahead and indulge. While you’re at it, dunk it in some of that hidden valley ranch dressing. 

Romans 14:4 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.

We are all servants of the Lord.

We are not the master. So we need not judge the actions or beliefs of another. God alone will judge and lift up even the weakest of his saints. 

James 4:12 puts it like this, There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Verse 5 deals with the Sabbath and settiNow for our final verse of the day.ng aside a day of rest.

Romans 14:5 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.

The Jewish Christian may have continued to believe that Saturday was a day of obligation and rest.

In so doing they had esteemed one day above another. Other Christians did not share the same belief as the Jewish Christian. They believed that all days were sacred. There is nothing to say that either one is wrong. The New Testament is not definitive concerning this. But the first day of the week is mentioned in the New Testament and has significance. The Lord was resurrected on the first day. The Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost, which is the first day of the week. The disciples gathered to break bread on the first day of the week. So the Lord’s Day is not a day of obligation, but rather a day of privilege. A day to worship and rest. Nowhere in the New testament does it say to keep the Sabbath. Yet, we recognize that even God rested on the seventh day. So whatever your view, let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 14:6 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.

To the Jew who observes the Sabbath Saturday it is an observance kept because in his heart he believes that this is pleasing to God.

So whether it is kosher or non kosher the believer eats and gives thanks for what God has provided. So why should this be an occasion for conflict? The commonality is that both have come to God in the proper spirit and given honor and thanks for what God has provided.

1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Romans 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.

Romans 14:8 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.

We don’t live to ourselves, we live to the Lord. We don’t die to ourselves, we die to the Lord. The emphasis in these verses is that no matter what we say or do we do it as unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Colossians 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

No matter what happens we serve the Lord. Paul made it clear in Philippians that he felt compelled to serve in this lifetime and that his eternal future was something to look forward to.

Philippians 1:20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Now for our final verse of the day.

Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

This verse doesn’t say that he will be Lord of both the living and the dead. But rather that he might be Lord. The choice is yours. You may truly know Him as your Savior. He saved you from your sins and gave you a new heart. But have you surrendered your life to Him?  Have you surrendered all that you are, holding nothing back and freely letting him be Lord of your life? 

Whatever it is that’s hindering your walk with Him, let it go. Let go and let God.

This looks like a good place for us to stop for today. I’d like to thank you for listening and as always, may you have a week full of opportunities to share this good news with those that need to hear it.