Living with one another

• 1^st – Different convicions… vs. 1-5
  • Doctrine vs. Opinion…
    • The Bible is VERY clear on many issues as to what is right and what is wrong…
      • Do not commit Adultery – it is sin – Exodus 20:4 / Galatians 5:19-21
      • Do not murder – it is sin – Exodus 20:13 / Deuteronomy 5:17 
      • Do not get drunk – it is sin – Ephesians 5:18
      • Do not steal or tell a lie – it is sin – Exodus 20:15-16
    • But there are issues that are not as clear – are we allowed to do them as Christians…
      • As a believer in Jesus – are we allowed to smoke / can we listen to secular music…
      • As a believer in Jesus – are we allowed to see movies – what rating…
      • As a believer in Jesus – drink coffee / can we have tattoos / can we wear jewelry…
  • Not all believers in Jesus have the same convictions – what we can or cannot do…
    • Paul gives us 2 examples of these ‘grey’ areas in a Christian’s life – Meat & Sabbath…
      • These were critical issues in Paul’s day – he was reaching out to a gentile church…
      • The gentiles did not worry about eating meat / they did not honor the Sabbath day
      • Where as the Jews – who represented the 1^st church in Jerusalem – did both!

• 1^st – Being able to eat meat – verses only eating vegetables… vs. 2-3
  • Jesus addressed this issue of eating meat…
    • Matthew 15:11 – “You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do.”
    • Whatever you eat – it just goes into your stomach – then into the CR
    • No matter what you eat – it all ends up in the same place – obviously
    • So you are not a better person if you don’t eat pork – or worse if you do
    • If you eat pork – of if only eat fish – it all ends up the same place…
  • Someone not knowing what Jesus taught – might think its better not to eat meat…
    • Even though we are allowed to eat anything we like…
    • A person might avoid eating meat (or certain meats) to honor God…
• 2^nd – Worshiping God on a specific day – verses everyday being the same… vs. 5-6
  • Jesus also addressed this issue of the Sabbath day…
    • Matthew 12:8 – “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
    • God did not create us to follow the Sabbath – He gave the Sabbath to us!
    • It was meant to give us a day to unwind – rest – recover…
    • It is no longer required– but it is probably a really good idea
  • Someone not knowing this – might think the only day to worship is the Sabbath…
    • Even though it does not matter what day we worship the Lord…
    • A person might be convinced the only day for church is Saturday / or Sunday…

• Two perspectives – the ‘strong’ and the ‘weak’…
  • In these ‘grey’ areas of our Christian walk we should not be judgmental of each other…
  • Those who have more freedom in their faith (eat what they want / worship every day)
    • These ‘stronger’ brothers should not look down upon those who have more rules…
    • This tends to be the easier position to take – having more freedom in Jesus…
    • If someone follows more rules than we do – ‘God bless them’ – we don’t mind…
    • So long as they do not force their rules onto us!
  • Those who are the ‘weaker’ saints – bound by more rules (don’t eat / certain days)
    • Weak not if their faith – but in their understanding of God’s word – I Corinthians 8:7
    • Should not criticize those who have more freedom in their walk in Christ…
    • This is where most people tend to struggle – be judgmental of others…
    • If we think we cannot see movies / cannot listen to secular music / no tattoos…
    • If we have a rule we believe we must follow – and someone else do not…
    • Then we tend to think we are better Christians – more righteous than they are…
• The danger in forcing your convictions on others… vs. 4
  • Passing on your convictions…
    • If I have a conviction that is it wrong to watch movies (there is a lot of junk in movies)
    • And I tell you that you should also not watch them – I have given you a law…
    • The problem is I have not changed your heart – you still want to see movies…
    • So I have set you up for failure – you will watch a movie – then feel like a failure…
  • Trusting in the Lord to show others right and wrong…
    • If instead I tell you to go to the Lord – ask Him if you should see a movie…
    • God will tell you – and if He says no – He will change you heart so you don’t want to!
    • God does not just give you the Law- He gives you the ability to live up to the Law!

• 2^nd – We shall all stand before Jesus… vs. 6-13
  • What is the motive behind our actions… vs. 6-9
    • God has received both the ‘strong’ and the ‘weak’… vs. 6-8
      • No matter what we do – eat or don’t eat / worship on Saturday or any day…
      • It is not so much about our convictions – as it is about the motivation of our heart
      • In other words it does not really matter whether we are the ‘strong’ or the ‘weak’
      • If we are doing it for the Lord – God accepts either way!
    • Whether we live of we die – we are the Lords…
      • I Corinthians 6:20 – “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
      • Are we using our freedom in Christ to justify our sin – just to do what we want…
      • Are we following lots of rules just to show we are more righteous than others…
      • Or are we doing what we do in order to give our lives completely to God…
      • Only the Lord knows the heart – only God knows our motives…
  • So do not judge your brother… vs. 10-13
    • That does not mean we let people get away with open sin…
      • Though we are not called to judge men’s convictions – we can judge their fruit…
      • Matthew 12:33 – “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.”
      • If we see a brother giving into sin – living a life that is contrary to Jesus…
      • Out of love for your brothers warn them – encourage them stay away from sin
      • Hebrews 3:13 – “You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.”
    • We are not to judge them when it comes to our convictions…
      • We might be absolutely convinced we are right about our convictions…
        • Yet often we get our ‘convictions’ – not from God – but from other people…
        • We might be convicted that we have to go to church on Holy Friday…
        • Or be convicted that we need to give 10% of our money to the church…
        • Or perhaps we get our convictions from our own experiences in life…
        • If I know I struggle with ‘lust’ perhaps I am convicted not to watch TV (images)
        • If I struggle with gambling – I might be convicted not to play with cards…
        • But the only one who knows which convictions are really from God – is God!
      • Every knee will bow – every tongue confess to God…
        • The truth is we will all stand before Jesus – and He will ultimately decide…
        • Jesus is the only one who can say whether we have been a faithful Christian…
        • Whether we have been obedient to the convictions He has given us or not!
        • Therefore we should not try and judge each others convictions – instead…

• 3^rd – Consider one another… vs. 14-23
  • To the ‘stronger’ brother… vs. 14-15, 20-21
    • It is true that things are not sin – but to the one who thinks they are wrong…
      • We might know that pork is nothing / cards are nothing / movies are nothing…
      • But to a brother who thinks they are evil – to him they are sin…
    • So be considerate of the convictions of your brother in Christ…
      • If eating pork stumbles your brother – don’t eat in front of him…
      • If watching a movie stumbles him – then don’t watch the movie in front of him…
      • If playing with cards stumbles him – then don’t put out the deck when he comes by…
    • Don’t use your freedom in Christ – to destroy the faith of someone else!
      • I knew a brother in the Lord who struggled with alcohol – lost his whole family…
      • He grew in the Lord – stopped drinking – and stated to get his life back…
      • One day a ‘brother’ invited him over to play some pool – offered him a beer…
      • ‘We have freedom in Jesus’ – the brother told him – what can one beer hurt…
      • He ended up falling back into his old lifestyle – walked away from the Lord
      • One man’s freedom in Christ – can be another man’s undoing…
      • We need to be sensitive to each other’s weaknesses – protecting each other from sin!
  • To the ‘weaker’ brother… vs. 16-19
    • Don’t get so caught up in your convictions – you miss what’s most important…
      • Following Jesus is not about what you eat or drink – or what you wear…
      • Worrying about what you look like, what you listen to, what you watch…
      • To often in the Christian walk we focus on the little things and miss the big picture…
      • It is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit…
      • If you have these things – then you will be approved by God and by men!
      • If the heart of a person is right – focused on Jesus (righteousness)
      • Full of joy – empowered by the Holy Spirit – everything else will fall into place!
    • Therefore focus on the things that encourage one another…
      • So if you are going to say anything to your brother – encourage him in Christ!
      • Encourage him to read his Bible – encourage him to be full of the Holy Spirit…
      • Rather than tearing one another down – build each other up in the Lord!
  • To both the ‘strong’ and the ‘weak’… vs. 22-23
    • If you have any doubts about what your freedom or rules…
      • If you are not sure if you should see that movie – play with those cards…
      • If you are not sure if you should eat that pork…
      • Then better not to – because whatever is not done in faith – is sin…
    • Don’t let your freedom or rules lead you away from Jesus…
      • I Corinthians 6:12 – “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.’ And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.”
      • The bottom line – we have incredible freedom in Jesus – but be careful…
      • Do not let your freedom become a snare that brings you into the bondage of sin
      • Make sure whatever you do – or don’t do – do it to the glory of God!
      • I Corinthians 10:31 – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”