notes
Main point summary
Watch out for your brother. Make sure your walk does not lead your brother to sin because the kingdom of God is more than the enjoyable temporal things of this present lifetime.
Arc
editing
NT
Romans 14:14-23
nkjv
mine
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus
that there is nothing unclean of itself;
that there is nothing unclean of itself.
but to him who considers anything to be unclean,
On the other hand , if someone thinks anything to be unclean,
to him it is unclean.
then it is unclean to him.
conditional
alternative
ideaexplanation
Yet if your brother is grieved
Yet, although all food is clean, if your brother is grieved
because of your food,
because of your food,
ground
you are no longer walking in love.
then you are no longer walking in love.
concessive
Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
In other words, it is fine to eat all foods but do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
Walk therefore in love by making sure that the good gifts you enjoy are not spoken evil of;
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
since the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
negativepositive
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
because He who serves Christ for the advancement of His righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may built up another.
bilateral
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.
In other words, it is fine to enjoy temporal things like food, but do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.
All things indeed are pure,
Let me stress again that all things are pure,
but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
Therefore , it is good to avoid any practice by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
inference
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.
Now if you have faith, then have it to yourself before God.
Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
and happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
progression
But he who doubts is condemned
On the other hand, he who doubts is condemned
if he eats,
if he eats,
because he does not eat from faith;
because he does not eat from faith;
for whatever is not from faith
since if anything is not from faith,
is sin.
then it is sin.
discourse
Notes
How is Paul convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself? What comes out of the heart of men can defile men but food goes into the stomach and does not defile men. The Lord taught this in Mark 7:17-23. A saint that is well instructed and assured in justification by faith alone should, therefore, be able to eat all foods in faith without a bad conscience. And yet, strong saints should never grieve weaker and doubting saints to participate in something that goes against their conscience because God loves the weak and Christ died for them. It is also good and lovable for the strong saints to avoid practices that are good in themselves yet stumble other weaker saints.