Romans 14:13-19 (Do Not Cause Another to Stumble)
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Tag: The Work of Christ vs the Opinions of Man (Don’t judge)
Paul has been building his entire writing to reach this point in the letter. In the church at Rome there were Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. They differed on how they “did life.” The Jewish believers would still want to observe the ritual days and eating laws of the OT. The Gentile believers would not have those frameworks in their daily living. The thought anchor in the mind of the Gentile believers would be in direct opposition of the Jewish believer. Paul is writing this book to make sure they understand that, in Christ, they are one. They are both depraved (Chapters 1-3); they both need to come to Christ by faith (Chapter 4); they are both Justified by faith (Chapters 4-7); they are both lead by the Spirit (Chapter 8); the Jewish believers were chosen, but so, too, the Gentiles (Chapter 9-11); we are all to live in harmony (Chapters 12-16). In the above passage we see that the entire point of Christ’s sacrifice was for righteousness, peace and joy. Paul wants them to see the doctrinal and historical significance of justification so that they will live in unification. Unification is the desired end of righteousness, peace and joy. We are not to damage the work of Christ over days, meats, or rituals. The purpose of the entire book is to make sure, as believers, we are demonstrating the unity we have in Christ because of the justification we have by Christ. Justification of the saint is to be demonstrated by the unification of the believers (the Church). We are not to destroy the work of Christ over foods, days and personal opinions over what is righteous and what is not righteous. We are One with Christ and are not to be divisive over material things.
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