Unity in Christ: Love Over Judgment Among Believers

 

Summary

In Romans 14:13-15, Paul addresses the issue of judgment among believers, particularly concerning matters of indifference, such as dietary practices and observance of certain days. The Apostle urges believers not to judge one another but to focus on not placing stumbling blocks in each other's paths. This teaching emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of our actions and decisions within the broader framework of our relationship with Christ and our fellow believers. Paul reminds us that we are all accountable to Christ, who is the ultimate judge, and that our actions should be guided by love and consideration for others.

Paul's method of addressing these issues is instructive. He takes time to set the context before addressing the specific problem, highlighting the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of all aspects of Christian life. This approach teaches us to avoid isolating issues and instead consider them within the larger narrative of our faith. Paul emphasizes that nothing is unclean in itself, a radical departure from his previous Pharisaic beliefs, illustrating the transformative power of the Gospel. This principle challenges us to reconsider our judgments and actions, ensuring they are rooted in love and do not cause harm to others.

The Apostle's teaching also underscores the importance of spiritual enlightenment and guidance from the Holy Spirit in forming our convictions. Paul’s certainty in his statements is not based on personal opinion but on divine revelation and persuasion by the Lord Jesus. This highlights the need for believers to seek spiritual insight and understanding in their decision-making processes.

Ultimately, Paul calls for a spirit of love and unity among believers, urging them to prioritize their relationships over personal opinions or freedoms. This love should guide all interactions within the church, ensuring that our actions build up rather than tear down the body of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Judgment and Stumbling Blocks: Believers are called to refrain from judging one another and instead focus on not placing stumbling blocks in each other's paths. This requires a conscious effort to consider how our actions and words might affect others, prioritizing love and unity over personal opinions. [07:45]

- Contextual Understanding: Paul’s method of addressing issues by setting them in context teaches us the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of all aspects of Christian life. This approach helps prevent misunderstandings and conflicts that arise from isolating issues. [05:35]

- Transformative Power of the Gospel: Paul's declaration that nothing is unclean in itself illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel. This principle challenges us to reconsider our judgments and actions, ensuring they are rooted in love and do not cause harm to others. [20:11]

- Spiritual Enlightenment: The Apostle’s certainty in his teachings is based on divine revelation and persuasion by the Lord Jesus. This highlights the importance of seeking spiritual insight and guidance from the Holy Spirit in forming our convictions and making decisions. [24:48]

- Love and Unity: Paul emphasizes the need for love and unity among believers, urging them to prioritize their relationships over personal opinions or freedoms. This love should guide all interactions within the church, ensuring that our actions build up rather than tear down the body of Christ. [16:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Romans 14:13-15
- [01:18] - Context of Indifferent Matters
- [02:36] - Relationship to the Lord
- [03:54] - Judgment Seat of Christ
- [05:07] - Apostolic Method
- [07:45] - Avoiding Judgment
- [09:10] - Stumbling Blocks and Traps
- [11:43] - Love for the Brethren
- [14:23] - Conscience and Consideration
- [18:41] - Paul's Opinion on Cleanliness
- [20:11] - Gospel's Transformative Power
- [24:48] - Spiritual Enlightenment
- [30:46] - Nothing Unclean in Itself
- [39:40] - Application to Modern Issues
- [48:18] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 14:13-15

Observation Questions:
1. What specific issues does Paul address in Romans 14:13-15, and how does he suggest believers should handle these issues? [00:24]
2. How does Paul describe the relationship between believers and the Lord in the context of their actions and decisions? [03:07]
3. What does Paul mean when he says, "nothing is unclean of itself," and how does this reflect a change from his previous beliefs? [20:11]
4. How does Paul use the concept of a "stumbling block" in his teaching, and what implications does it have for the behavior of believers? [09:10]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's teaching in Romans 14:13-15 challenge the traditional Jewish understanding of cleanliness and uncleanliness? [20:11]
2. In what ways does Paul emphasize the importance of love and unity among believers, and how does this relate to the avoidance of judgment? [16:08]
3. How does Paul's approach to addressing issues within the church demonstrate the importance of context and interconnectedness in Christian life? [05:35]
4. What role does spiritual enlightenment and guidance from the Holy Spirit play in forming convictions according to Paul's teaching? [24:48]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you judged someone based on personal opinions rather than love and unity. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [07:45]
2. Consider an area in your life where you might be placing a stumbling block for others. What steps can you take to remove it and promote unity? [09:10]
3. How can you ensure that your actions and decisions are rooted in love and do not cause harm to others, especially in matters of personal freedom? [20:11]
4. Think about a recent decision you made. How did you seek spiritual insight and guidance from the Holy Spirit in that process? How might you improve this practice? [24:48]
5. Identify a relationship within your church community that could benefit from a greater emphasis on love and unity. What practical steps can you take to strengthen that relationship? [16:08]
6. How can you apply Paul's method of setting context before addressing issues in your personal or professional life to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts? [05:35]
7. Reflect on a belief or opinion you hold that might need reevaluation in light of the transformative power of the Gospel. How can you open yourself to this transformation? [20:11]

Devotional

Day 1: Avoiding Judgment and Stumbling Blocks
Believers are called to refrain from judging one another and instead focus on not placing stumbling blocks in each other's paths. This requires a conscious effort to consider how our actions and words might affect others, prioritizing love and unity over personal opinions. Paul emphasizes that our actions should be guided by love and consideration for others, as we are all accountable to Christ, who is the ultimate judge. By focusing on love and unity, we can ensure that our actions build up rather than tear down the body of Christ. [07:45]

Romans 14:19-20 (ESV): "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you judged someone based on your personal opinions. How can you approach them with love and understanding instead?


Day 2: Contextual Understanding in Christian Life
Paul’s method of addressing issues by setting them in context teaches us the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of all aspects of Christian life. This approach helps prevent misunderstandings and conflicts that arise from isolating issues. By considering the broader narrative of our faith, we can better understand the context of our actions and decisions within our relationship with Christ and our fellow believers. This understanding allows us to navigate complex situations with wisdom and grace. [05:35]

1 Corinthians 8:9-10 (ESV): "But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?"

Reflection: Reflect on a decision you made recently. How might understanding the broader context of your faith have influenced that decision differently?


Day 3: The Transformative Power of the Gospel
Paul's declaration that nothing is unclean in itself illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel. This principle challenges us to reconsider our judgments and actions, ensuring they are rooted in love and do not cause harm to others. The Gospel has the power to transform our beliefs and actions, leading us to a deeper understanding of God's love and grace. By embracing this transformation, we can live in a way that reflects the love of Christ to those around us. [20:11]

Titus 1:15 (ESV): "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you need the transformative power of the Gospel. How can you invite God to work in that area today?


Day 4: Seeking Spiritual Enlightenment
The Apostle’s certainty in his teachings is based on divine revelation and persuasion by the Lord Jesus. This highlights the importance of seeking spiritual insight and guidance from the Holy Spirit in forming our convictions and making decisions. By relying on the Holy Spirit, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's will and purpose for our lives. This spiritual enlightenment allows us to make decisions that align with God's desires and bring glory to His name. [24:48]

James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Reflection: What decision are you currently facing that requires spiritual insight? How can you seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in this matter?


Day 5: Love and Unity Among Believers
Paul emphasizes the need for love and unity among believers, urging them to prioritize their relationships over personal opinions or freedoms. This love should guide all interactions within the church, ensuring that our actions build up rather than tear down the body of Christ. By prioritizing love and unity, we can create a community that reflects the heart of God and draws others to Him. This requires a commitment to putting others' needs above our own and seeking to build each other up in love. [16:08]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Consider a relationship in your life that needs more love and unity. What steps can you take today to strengthen that relationship?

Quotes


Let us not therefore judge one another anymore but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling Bluer an occasion to fall in his brother's way I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean through him it is unclean. [00:00:38]

Now here we start a new subsection in the argument that is put before us by the Apostle in this chapter and on as we saw in our division of the matter at the beginning a few weeks back into the 15th chapter, so far as we've been seeing the Apostle has been mainly concerned in handling the whole problem raised by these indifferent matters to set the problem in its proper context. [00:01:14]

Now this is very interesting what he does here he really plays on this word judge, he's already been doing that earlier in the chapter it's the same word exactly but he uses he uses it in a different sense we do that of course the same thing ourselves we we use the same word in different slightly different senses and meanings but the context always makes it quite plain and fair as to what we're doing. [00:08:25]

Now this word translated here by judge is a word I say that's used very commonly in the New Testament for instance in 1 Corinthians 22 the famous statement I determined not to know anything among you sa Jesus Christ and him crucified it's exactly the same word as we have here so he might have we might have the translation there I judged I came to the verdict I came to the conclusion I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. [00:09:19]

Now this of course is is again a part of this great New Testament appeal you remember our Lords appeal to his disciples at the very end that you may love one another he says that's the way the world will know that you are my people that you love one another this should always be the overruling and overriding consideration in the church if we depart from this we are almost certain to go wrong in our decision. [00:16:06]

Now this is the most amazing statement and when you remember the antecedence of the Apostle Paul it is an astounding statement when you consider that this men had one Once Upon a Time been one of the narrowest Jews conceivable one of the most nationalistic Jews and on top of that a Pharisee and a legalist of the first order there is something which is really overwhelming in this amazing statement this tremendous enunciation of a great gospel principle. [00:19:31]

I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself now that is the difference that the gospel has made and that is particularly the difference the gospel has made to a Jew you see there is only one thing that could ever have enabled this man to make that statement and that is rebirth he is really not the same man as he used to be he could never have said this as he was as Saul of tssus a Pharisee. [00:20:06]

Notice first of all his certainty which he so anxious to impress his with I know it's a very strong term it means absolute positive knowledge it isn't saying I of the opinion I am absolutely certain it is absolute positive knowledge but he doesn't he's not content with leaving it at that I know and am persuad now here again is one of his terms one of his favorite expressions strictly speaking it should be put like this I know and have been persuaded. [00:21:50]

He is claiming here that it has been revealed to him and it is not merely a repetition in his own terms and language of something that the Lord Jesus Christ himself had taught now this is an interesting point because it it helps us to understand partly delate the whole question of the authority of the scriptures and the inspiration of the scriptures this uh Revelation and inspiration. [00:27:37]

The Apostle himself draws that kind of Distinction he says of course later on that he has the spirit they claim that they've got the spirit he has the spirit also also but he draws a distinction between a revelation that has been given to him and his own spiritual opinion now this it seems to me is implicit in what we are dealing with here his emphasis is that it is something that he has been persuaded of by the Lord. [00:30:00]

The teaching can be summed up like this first and foremost we have to realize that the distinction that was drawn in the ceremonial levitical law was not based on the nature of the things in and of themselves but it was a case that God had determined and had chosen to make this distinction in order that he might discipline and govern his people in other words the prohibition to eat pork for instance was not because there was anything wrong in pork. [00:40:44]

The stronger brother is actually right but it doesn't follow from that of necessity that he therefore can put that into practice and the reason for that is what we will go on to consider God willing next Friday night let us pray oh Lord Our God we again would thank thee for the light and the knowledge and the instruction given to us by the scriptures we bless thee for it we thank thee for everything concerning Thy word. [00:48:43]

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Transcript
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