Rules of Engagement - Part II

The Sycamore Church - Romans 14 - Pastor Eric Burton

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭23‬‬
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Today let's see where this applies to our life in respect to other believers. I don’t want us leaving here just knowing what the observation and interpretation are but the application as well. How does this apply to my life?

Key Verse: Romans 14:12-23

Sycamore Church Value: Be loyal. Accept other believers where they are and be willing to walk with them when we don’t see eye to eye.

1. Prefer other believers. Vs. 14-21
• “ In and of itself” There are lots of things in and of themselves that are not bad. If you were to take it out of the context of it’s stereotype it’s not evil. It comes down to the context of a thing. Of course, we know there are things “in and of themselves” that are evil.
• The “strong” believer has a responsibility to not exercise their liberties in front of a “weak” believer as it says in vs. 2. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

2. Don't ruin what God is doing. Vs. 15.
• If we don't understand the terms of the new covenant we risk the chance of destroying the work of God. The church in Rome were in danger of destroying the work of God because of differences. (ROMANS 14: 20)
• One might say the weaker believer just needs to grow up and not get offended. True, but we’re not talking about someone simply getting upset. This is about a practice that overlaps worship with God and someone’s old life. This has to do with someone that hasn’t quite come to the place where you are.
• Is there anything you used to do in the world that you see being done in the church?
• Don’t let your freedom ruin what Christ did to make someone else free.

3. Keep your liberties to yourself. Vs. 22

4. Don’t violate your conscience. Vs. 22-23
• If you think it’s right then don’t feel guilty
• If you think it’s wrong then don’t do it. If you do, You’re trespassing your own conscience thus sinning against yourself. God makes things acceptable, not man.
I know we're not fighting over meat. 1Corinthians 8:4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.
Examples of meat: Something acceptable in the church and the world. Politics, style of music, organized sports, TV, riding a Harley Davidson, dancing…

5. People are not meat.
•God shows Peter a vision in Acts 10:28 of a sheet of different meats. Peter's religious custom said you can't eat those kinds of meats. But God is not talking about meat, HE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HE DIED FOR. (ROMANS 14:15)
God is wanting to use you to bring people into His kingdom today. If Peter had rejected what God was doing Cornelius and his family may not have come to Jesus.

Let’s go back to the beginning of our text
6. Focus on yourself.
• Vs. 10-12 Every knee will bow. Everyone will give a personal account.
Paul is speaking to the weaker brother here. A reference back to vs. 2 in this chapter when Paul tells those who don’t do certain things must not condemn those who do. Why do you judge each other over non-essential matters when God is going to judge us all on essential matters? Focus on yourself.
• INSTEAD live in such a way that doesn’t cause other believers to stumble and fall. This stumble and fall is much more serious than just hurting someone’s feelings. It's about you causing them to leave the faith; to destroy the work God has begun in them.
• It may feel unfair to watch what you do for the sake of someone else’s faith, but the sacrifice will be worth it all. These present sufferings won’t compare to the glory we will share. Romans 8:8

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