19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. The free Christian found it easy to show contempt against his brother, regarding him as a uptight-legalistic-goody-good. He also knew well the terrible joy that comes only through suffering as he lived quite afflicted (both by illness and slander). In such a case we must rather cross ourselves than shame ourselves. We may lawfully eat flesh, even those meats which were prohibited by the ceremonial law; but, if we abuse this liberty, it turns into sin to us: It is evil to him that eats with offence. Receive him, proslambavesthetake him to you, bid him welcome, receive him with the greatest affection and tenderness; porrigite manum (so the Syriac): lend him your hand, to help him, to fetch him to you, to encourage him. Undoubtedly these weak ones did not see themselves as weaker. Site by Mere. 11 14. But it will be asked, "Who feared God and worked righteousness, and who did not?" 2. But here is a caution he gives to those who had not that clearness in this matter which he had: To him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, though it be his error, yet to him it is unclean. He is Lord of those that are living to rule them, of those that are dead to receive them and raise them up. 15, 16. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Grace is the soul's cheerful, entire, and avowed subjection to Jesus Christ. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. [2.] Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Or why do you show contempt for your brother? conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy The Old Testament But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. Romans vii. Children of God, born of the grandest of all parents, regenerated by the almighty energy of , THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AND OF ADOPTION. The former is a stumbling-block, that gives our brother a great shake, and is a hindrance and discouragement to him; but this is an occasion to fall. He that duly observeth these things, First, Is acceptable to God. Observe, The same for whom Christ died (v. 15) are here called the work of God; besides the work that is wrought for us there is a work to be wrought in us, in order to our salvation. have it to thyself before God. They judged them as breakers of the law, contemners of God's ordinance, and the like. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. All his foes shall be constrained to do it, whether they will or no. Why is all this clashing, and contradicting, and censuring, among Christians? But now it is winter, and the sun is gone, and the banqueting-house is closed. It may not be that the thing itself is clearly good or bad, but it is enough that God speaks to us about the matter. On the other hand, he that eatest not those meats which were forbidden by the ceremonial law, to the Lord he eateth not. We are not our own masters, nor our own proprietorswe are not at our own disposal. This, which had been bred in the bone with them, could hardly be got out of the flesh, even after they turned Christians; especially with some of them, who were not easily weaned from what they had long been wedded to. The apostle Paul knew the mysteries of the kingdom of God as well as ever any man; yet he confesses himself at a loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth. The Gospels GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point This does not take away the need and the responsibility for admonishment (Romans 15:14) or rebuke (2 Timothy 4:2). The gospel is your good; the liberties and franchises, the privileges and immunities, granted by it, are your good; your knowledge and strength of grace to discern and use your liberty in things disputed are your good, a good which the weak brother hath not. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. First, Bowing to himthe understanding bowed to his truths, the will to his laws, the whole man to his authority; and this expressed by the bowing of the knee, the posture of adoration and prayer. So that now there is nothing unclean of itself, every creature of God is good; nothing common: so the margin, ouden koinon; nothing which is common to others to eat, from the use of which the professors of religion are restrained: nothing profane; in this sense the Jews used the word common. Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. The Old Testament The better to insinuate the exhortation, he puts himself in; Let us not; as if he had said, "It is what I have resolved against, therefore do you leave it: but judge this rather, instead of censuring the practice of others, let us look to our own, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way,"proskomma, e skandalon. Passwords should have at least 6 characters. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. You think that he who eateth will fall by his presumption, or that he who eateth not will sink under the weight of his own fears and scruples; but if they have true faith, and an eye to God, the one in the intelligent use of his Christian liberty and the other in the conscientious forbearance of it, they shall be held upthe one in his integrity, and the other in his comfort. A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. We neither live to ourselves nor die to ourselves. These are some of the essentials of Christianity, things in which all the people of God are agreed, in the pursuit of which we must spend our zeal, and which we must mind with an excelling care. It will not be asked at the great day, "Who ate flesh, and who ate herbs?" Our work is to bless the sons of men. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. It is true we cannot hinder loose and ungoverned tongues from speaking evil of us, and of the best things we have; but we must not (if we can help it) give them any occasion to do it. Some make it a reason why, in case of offence likely to be taken, we should refrain the use of our Christian liberty; but it seems directed in general against that heat about those things which he observed on both sides. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom , The Pastor's Parting Blessing Who are you to judge anothers servant? Whatever we do in religion, it will not turn to any good account, except we do it from a principle of faith, with a believing regard to the will of Christ as our rule, to the glory of Christ as our end, and to the righteousness of Christ as our plea. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Minor Prophets , Zealous, But Wrong There is a lot of useless, harmful division among Christians over silly, bigoted things. Every saint is God's workmanship, his husbandry, his building, Eph 2 10; 1 Cor 3 9. So for the other instance: He that eateth whatever is set before him, though it be blood, though it be swine's flesh, if it be food convenient for him, he eateth to the Lord. Romans 4:4. It was after he had died and risen that he said, All power is given unto me (Matt 28 18), and presently he exerts that power in issuing out commissions, v. 19, 20. 4. [1.] Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. The Christian is a man of generous actions, but his wishes go far beyond his deeds. Thus, while both have an eye to God in what they do, and approve themselves to him in their integrity, why should either of them be judged or despised? (Romans 14:1-2) Receiving the weaker brother. I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman Romans 8:1. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Observe here. Poetical Books Theme. See Matt 18 6, 10. Weak and strong Christians are indeed our brethren, but they are not our servants. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Thirdly, It is in these things to serve Christ (v. 18), to do all this out of respect to Christ himself as our Master, to his will as our rule and to his glory as our end. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself: We must understand that from beginning to end our life is connected to other lives. Luke-Acts And this leads to another reason against judging and despising. Happy is the free man who is thus liberated by the . Let all these differences be referred to the arbitration of Christ at the great day. It is indeed their sin who do speak evil of that which is good for the sake of any such circumstantial errors, but it is our folly if we give any occasion to do so. If the contending parties will but submit to this fair arbitration, each abate of his rigour, and sacrifice their differences to their graces, all will be well quickly. When we come to die actually, neither is that to ourselves; it is not barely that we would be unclothed, and eased of the burden of the flesh, but it is to the Lord, that we may depart and be with Christ, may be present with the Lord. Divine honour is due to him, and must be paid. Those who know most in this imperfect state, feel their own weakness most. They may lack exercise (needing exhortation). [1.] This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. Each of us must ask: God what is there in my life hindering a closer walk with You? David Guzik commentary on Romans 13, in which Paul describes the christian's obligation to the authority given to government. Pauline Epistles Surely we serve a good Master, who makes peace and joy so essential to our religion. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.Romans viii. But why do you judge your brother? 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. There are many reasons why a Christian might be weak. Smith, Chuck "The Gospel According to Grace" (Costa Mesa, California: The Word for Today, 1981), Trapp, John "A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments" Volume 5 (Matthew to Revelation) (Eureka, California: Tanski Publications, 1997). The kingdom of God is not meat, etc. We are apt, in such a case, to lay all the blame on that side. Here it seems to be taken more strictly; whatever is not of faith (that is, whatever is done while we are not clearly persuaded of the lawfulness of it), is a sin against conscience. Charity to the souls of our brethren is the best charity. We live to glorify him in all the actions and affairs of life; we die, whether a natural or a violent death, to glorify him, and to go to be glorified with him. 3. Perhaps they refused the meat because it wasnt kosher, and they stuck to Jewish dietary regulations and traditions. It would also be easy for those who did not eat meat to judge those who did. It is goodpleasing to God, profitable to our brother, and no harm to ourselves. _Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:_ The gospel is full of therefores, it is above reason, but it is never against reason; it is the most reasonable thing under heaven There-fore it is a matter of argument. Secondly, He is approved of menof all wise and good men, and the opinion of others is not to be regarded. Because some Christian saw nothing wrong in this meat and others saw much wrong in it, this was a burning issue among believers in Pauls day. a. (2.) Romans 12:13-14. They stand or fall before their own Master, God and God is able to make those meat eaters stand. While the issue of not eating meat for spiritual reasons is no longer directly relevant to most Christians today, there are plenty of issues where some believers believe one way and others believe differently. We are to serve his interests and designs in the world, which are in the first place to reconcile us one to another. By shaking his faith, provoking his passion, and tempting him to act against the light of his own conscience, thou dost, as much as in thee lies, destroy him, giving him an occasion to return to Judaism. i. Trapp on I know and am convinced: Many, on the contrary, are persuaded before they know; and such will not be persuaded to know.. The Leading of the Spirit, the Secret Token of the Sons of God January 1, 1970 The Leading of the Spirit, the Secret Token of the Sons of God "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."Romans viii. A strong emphasis in Spurgeon's preaching was God's grace and sovereignty over man's helpless state. The ground of this, v. 9. Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Wake Up! And we may well afford to serve him who for us and for our salvation took upon him the form of a servant. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Good praying, preaching, and discourse, may often, for want of prudence in ordering the time, the expression, and other circumstances to edification, be evil spoken of. 22 Hast thou faith? GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? While thou destroyest thy brother thou art helping forward the devil's design, for he is the great destroyer; and, as much as in thee lies, thou art crossing the design of Christ, for he is the great Saviour, and dost not only offend thy brother, but offend Christ; for the work of salvation is that which his heart is upon. Now in this chapter we are furnished with the sovereign balm of Gilead; the blessed apostle prescribes like a wise physician. There it is, I have sworn by myself; here it is, As I live. Our Master had foretold that offences would come; and, it seems, so they did, for want of that wisdom and love which would have prevented discord, and kept up union among them. ( Romans 14:19-21) Use your liberty to build each other up, not to tear each other down. of For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Spurgeon left this earth for his heavenly hope in 1892. We must not pin our faith upon any one's sleeve, nor make the practice of others our rule; but follow the dictates of our own understanding. Pentateuch Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike: By bringing in the aspect of observing certain days, Paul lets us know that he is talking more about principles than specific issues. But why do you judge your brother? If we would know what way we walk in, we must enquire what end we walk towards. Concerning meats (v. 2): One believeth that he may eat all thingshe is well satisfied that the ceremonial distinction of meats into clean and unclean is no longer in force, but that every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused; nothing unclean of itself, v. 14. 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