Romans 14 and Fellowship
A. Rom. 14 WRITTEN TO HELP US ACHIEVE UNITY IN THE AREA OF LIBERTY
– IN MATTERS OF INDIFFERENCE.
B. SOME INSIST THAT Rom. 14 BE APPLIED TO DOCTRINAL ISSUES
WHERE WE CAN’T SEEM TO AGREE. THE OUT COME IS:
1. Toleration of error – instrumental music, institutionalism, divorce and remarriage.
2. Fellowship with false teachers has been advocated using Rom. 14.
3. Unity in diversity (belief that we can differ in doctrine & still be united).
C. WHAT IS THE PROPER APPLICATION OF Rom. 14?
D. CAN WE MAKE THAT APPLICATION TODAY? TO WHAT?
A. THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CHAPTER.
1. THE PROBLEM – DISPUTES OVER DOUBTFUL THINGS (14:1-12).
– that a harsh and angry denunciation of a man in relation to things not morally
wrong, but where he may have honest scruples (Barnes' Notes)
2. THE SAFE SOLUTION (14:13-23).
3. GLORIFY GOD WITH UNITY IN HIS WORD(15:1-7).
B. THE TEXT AND THE CONTEXT.
1. Text: Things clean (14:14), good (14:16), acceptable (14:18), & pure (14:20).
2. Immediate context:
a. NO moral sins (Rom. 13:11-14);
b. NO doctrinal sins (Rom. 16:17-19).
3. General context:
a. Gal. 5:19-21 – Works of the flesh.
b. Eph. 5:11 – Reprove sin (not tolerate it).
c. 2 Jno. 9-11 – No fellowship with sin.
4. Rom. 14 addresses things doctrinally & morally indifferent to God.
C. ANY ATTEMPT TO PUT SINFUL DOCTRINES OR PRACTICES INTO Rom. 14:
1. Violates the context (no moral or doctrinal sins).
2. Puts God into fellowship with sin (14:3, 18, 22; 15:7).
3. Brings sin into the church (14:17).
4. Provides basis for open-ended fellowship with sin (15:6-7).
D. Rom. 14 PROTECTS CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES OVER NON-SINFUL MATTERS.
A. THE STRONG BROTHER (meat-eater) WAS CONTEMPTUOUS OF THE
WEAK BROTHER (herb-eater) – (14:3, 10).
B. THE WEAK (herb-eater) CONDEMNED THE STRONG (meat-eater) – (14:3-4, 10).
C. BOTH, AS THEY WERE PLEASED GOD (14:4, 6, 10-12; 1 Cor. 6:13).
D. THEREFORE, BOTH WERE TO RECEIVE THE OTHER! (Rom. 14:1 & 15:7).
-Here is the scope of fellowship taught in Romans 14!
A. THE WEAK (14:1).
1. Eats herbs rather than risk eating meat sacrificed to idols(14:2).
2. Weak in conscience (14:2, 14, 23).
a. Doubts the propriety of participating in matters of opinion (meats & days):
Abstains from meat & observes days - 14:6, 14.
b. Weak in knowledge & conscience concerning matters of liberty (14:14, 20)– [cf.1 Cor. 8:4-12 parallels & explains Rom. 14].
c. Do not judge (condemn) the strong (14:3).
3. The “weak” (because he does not violate his conscience) is in good standing with
God (14:4, 6, 18) - (no sin is involved; not condemned!).
B. THE STRONG (14:1; 15:1).
1. Eats meat (14:2).
2. Strong in conscience – 14:2.
a. Does not doubt the propriety of participating in matters of opinion (meats &
days): Eats meat & does not observe one day above another (14:6).
b. Strong in knowledge & conscience concerning matters of liberty (are indifferent
before God) – (14:14, 20, 22).
c. Do not despise (look down on, show contempt for) the weak (14:3).
3. The “strong” (because he does not violate his conscience) is in good standing with
God (14:4, 6, 18, 22)- (no sin is involved; not condemned!).
C. FAITH (14:1, 5, 22-23) – AS OPPOSE TO THE FAITH:
1. Personal conscience (confidence or trust) (14:2, 22).
2. Personal faith (estimation, judgment, persuasion) – (14:5, 14, 22-23).
D. DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS (scruples, ASV) (14:1).
1. Disputes over things where one has questions (decisions of doubts).
2. That a harsh and angry denunciation of a man in relation to things not morally
wrong, but where he may have honest scruples (Barnes' Notes)
E. OFFEND: CAUSE TO STUMBLE (14:13).
1. 14:13. Do not put a stumbling block before a fellow Christian!
2. Influence &/or pressure upon the “weak in conscience” to do that which violates his conscience – cf. 1 Cor. 8:9-13.
a. 14:14-15 – Grieves the weak due to his violation of conscience regarding that
which he considers unclean.
b. 14:20 – Destroys (14:15) the weak due to the violating his conscience (14:23).
3. 15:1-2 – Do not “please yourself” to the destruction of your brother (1 Cor. 8:13).
A. DO NOT HOLD ONE ANOTHER IN CONTEMPT! (14:1, 3, 10). BECAUSE:
1. 14:3 – each one is accepted by God.
2. 14:5 – each one is fully persuaded in their own mind.
3. 14:7-9 –e ach one is living unto the Lord who died for them (each were faithful!).
4. 14:10-11 – each one will be judged by the Lord.
5. 14:12 – in matters of conscience & liberty, each is accountable to God, not man.
B. DON’T TEMPT OTHERS BEYOND LINES DRAWN BY THEIR CONSCIENCE!
(14:13-23).
1. 14:14-15 - Because matters of liberty allow for differences of conscience.
2. 14:15 – Because Christ died for the weak as well as the strong in conscience.
3. 14:16 – Because we are to do good to each other.
4. 14:17 – Because of the nature of the kingdom of God.
5. 14:18 – Because in matters of liberty each serve Christ, are accepted by God, and
are genuine (approved) before men.
6. 14:20 – Because each Christian is more valuable than food (“the work of God”).
A. FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS (15:1-3) (Unselfishness, love, sacrifice)
B. RECEIVE EACH OTHER With PATIENCE (15:4-7). (This glorifies God!)
-Be like-minded toward one another! (15:5).
(There continues to be many appropriate & needful uses of Rom. 14 today, i.e. the veil,
kneeling to pray, the use of “thee” & “thou”, number of cups, Old Rugged Cross, etc.)
A. WE MUST RESPECT EACH OTHER’S CONSCIENCE IN MATTERS OF LIBERTY.
B. WE MUST BE DILIGENT TO DISTINGUISH REVEALED FAITH (Jude 3) FROM
THE PERSONAL FAITH OF MEN (Phil. 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 6:13-18).
C. Rom. 14 DOES NOT TEACH US TO HAVE ONGOING FELLOWSHIP WITH
DOCTRINAL ERROR or IMMORALITY.
1. Rom. 14:1-15:7 TEACHES US TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER WITH OUR
DIFFERENT OPINIONS IN AREAS OF PERSONAL LIBERTY. WHY?
a. Because Christ has received us: Without reservation, completely, for our
edification, for peace.
b. We must receive each other in the same way in all areas of conscientious
scruples.
c. We must be of one mind re. this part of the revealed truth (1 Cor. 1:10).
2. Rom. 14 DOES NOT ALLOW US TO HAVE UNITY IN MORAL AND
DOCTRINAL DIVERSITY (2 Jno. 9-11).
