A verse by verse commentary lesson on Romans chapter 14. This presentation along with others are given each Sunday morning at Fellowship Bible Church at 9:30 AM

1. What Makes Christians Different?
Footnotes1/6/2020 1

2. Scripture Reading
Romans 14: 1-4
Footnotes1/6/2020 2
Who Are You to Judge Another Servant

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We call one who is weak in the faith, a baby
Christian.
A baby Christian is a person who is new to the faith
having only a basic understanding of Scripture.
Paul exhorts the matured Christians to welcome the
new Christians in brotherly love.
Paul cautions the mature Christians not to judge
the new Christian for their lack of understanding
in the truths of Paul’s gospel.
Paul uses the example of a dietary choice, as
an inconsequential difference in belief.
Under the law, Jews were not permitted to
eat unclean things (Lev 5:2).
Peter, on the other hand, had a vision which
seemingly contradicts Lev 5:2 (Act 11:4-9).
Whether this vision pertained to dietary
choice, acceptance of the Gentile, or both
neither interpretation, is of consequence
compared to Paul’s gospel.
Footnotes
All Scripture verses and references are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible

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“Mutual love and respect are the marks of true
disciples of Christ1.”
We all are, in part, products of our background.
We carry with us beliefs and customs which
affect our Christian lives.
For example, some Christians see nothing
wrong with including the myth of Santa Claus
in their Christmas observance.
On the other side of that coin, there are
Christians who think of including Santa
Clause is wrong. Because it teaches a lie,
and it helps take Christ out of Christmas.
In the above example we see a non-doctrinal, non-
theological issue, having no bearing on Christian
character.
We are not to look down or think badly about any
brother or sister who’s beliefs differ slightly from
our own.
Footnotes
David S. Dockery. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. (Broadman & Holman, 2013).

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The vegetarian dietary habits of some Jews
came from the time of their captivity in
Babylon.
Daniel and his friends rejected the king’s food, not
knowing whether or not it was food offered to
Babylonian gods, which is forbidden by Levitical law
(Dan 1:8).
However, Paul states: “8 But food does not
commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we
the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse
(1 Cor 8:8).”
The actions of a Christian will be judged by the only
one who is worthy to do so –Christ Jesus.
Footnotes

6. Scripture Reading
Romans 14: 5 - 13
1/6/2020 Footnotes 6
Lord of Both the Living and the Dead

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Is the Sabbath on Friday/Saturday or Sunday?
According to the Hebrew calendar, the first day of
the week is called Yom Rishon. However, on the
Gregorian calendar, this day is called Sunday.
God called the first day of the week, simply the
first day (Gen 1:5).
Whether or not this day was, centuries later,
called Sunday or Monday cannot be determined
by Scripture.
The Lord commanded that the seventh day was
to be kept holy, calling it the Sabbath1.
Evangelicals call Sunday the Lord’s day1.
Paul is saying to hold one day greater than another
day is a matter of conviction.
The important thing to remember is that one day a
week should be set apart and kept holy for worship.
God did not need a day of rest.
But He knew that mortal humans did need one
day in seven to rest, from their labors (Mar
2:27).
Footnotes
1. Sabbath Coming from the Hebrew word Sabat meaning stop

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Verse 6 is another example given by Paul of
personal conviction.
The Person, who worships on the Jewish Sabbath
(Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) is not
greater, nor are they lessor than those who worship
on Sunday.
Both worshipers, honor and worship the Lord on
their day of rest, according to their convictions.
The person who commits themselves to a
vegetarian diet because of their personal conviction
is no grater or lessor Christian that eats meat.
Neither is more significant because both give
thanks to the Lord for their provisions.
Remember that God made the Sabbath for man and
not man for the Sabbath (Mar 2:27).
We are not servants of the law. We are servants
of the One who authored the law. Jesus said He
was the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark2:28).
Footnotes

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Jesus purchased us by the shedding of His
blood.
We are not slaves in captivity, because we have free
will. We are bondservants of the One who created
us.
The same One who created us died in our place.
Therefore Paul is saying, in taking on the cross
of Jesus, we die to our old self and are reborn in
Jesus a new creation (2 Cor 5:14-17).
When we die to our old self, we take on a new self in
the image of Jesus.
In verse 9, Paul sums it all up by saying, “to this end,
Christ died and lived (again)1.”
Footnotes
1. Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, D Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible.
(published, 1871).

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There is a tendency in some Christians to
judge other Christians.
There is no seniority in God’s kingdom.
There is no difference between the life-long
Christian and the newborn Christian in God’s
eyes.
All Christians will stand before Jesus Christ at
the bema seat.
All a judged according to their good works
and not the length of time they have called
themselves Christians.
Therefore, if we are all the same before God, by
what authority do we judge?
The only authority to judge the living and the
dead was given by God the Father, to God the
Son (Jhn 5:27).
Paul is quoting Isaiah 45:23 in verse 11.
Footnotes

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We will give an account of our deeds as
Christians.
Therefore if we judge our brothers and sisters in
Christ, shall we not likewise be judged by Christ
Jesus?
Holman writes:
His [Paul’s] background as a Pharisee trained
him to emphasize the distinction between
clean and unclean, but Jesus persuaded him
that this distinction was no longer valid. Thus
Paul adopted a new stance, but he also
recognized that some believers, especially
those from a Jewish background, had not
made this transition. Mature believers should
not recklessly push "weak" believers (v. 1)
into such a transition1.”
Not only are we not to judge one another, but we are
also to take great care that we do not cause another
to stumble.
Footnotes
1. Holman Bible Editorial Staff. The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018) .

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WORD STUDY
Stumble
The Transliteration of stumble is the Greek
word skandalon literally meaning a snare.
Part of Speech - neuter noun
"In the New Testament skandalon is always used
metaphorically, and ordinarily of anything that
arouses prejudice, or becomes a hindrance to
others, or causes them to fall by the way.
Sometimes the hindrance is in itself good, and those
stumbled by it are the wicked1.”
Therefore, refrain from doing or saying
anything that might cause another to falter in
their walk with Jesus.
Footnotes
William Vine. "Offence - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (Blue letter Bible
June 24,1996)

13. Scripture Reading
Romans 14: 14-18
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The Law of Love
Footnotes

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Paul’s statement in verse 14, goes against his
training under Gamaliel.
Jesus first showed the apostle Peter by way of a
vision that God made the clean and unclean.
Peter saw the vision of a sheet with every clean and
unclean creature and was told to kill and eata
1.
The purpose of this vision was twofold.
1. To convince Peter not to see Gentiles as
unclean.
2. To show Peter that all that God had created
was good.
No longer was he to shun the Gentile, or be
burdened with the legalism in his diet.
However, if a person believes that something is
unclean to him, then to him, it is forbidden.
If the Holy Spirit convicts a person of something, we do
not have the authority to judge that person for his
convictions.
The Holy Spirit will not convict someone of anything
that is not in the perfect will of God2.

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In Verse 15, Paul adds a caveat.
Jesus died for all who would believe in Him.
Therefore, it is wrong of a Christian to force his
personal convictions on another, causing the
other to turn away from Christ.
As an example; A Christian believes that to
drink coffee is sinful because it contains
caffeine -a stimulant. Now he tells a person
he is witnessing to, of this conviction.
Because of this revelation, that person does
not become a Christian, deciding this religion
is too restrictive.
Without knowing it, this witnessing Christian has
turned one who would have believed into a
person who now rejects Christ Jesus.
The Christian was right to witness the gospel
of Jesus, but wrong by adding his conviction
to his witness1.
Footnotes

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As Christians, we have been granted liberty
from the Levitical law (V. 16-19).
Holman writes the following:
Christian liberty will get a bad name if love does
not govern it. Food is never to be a major concern
in our lives, but we are to promote righteousness,
peace, and joy in the churches1.
This freedom does not give us a license to do
and say what we please.
As Christians, we come under a higher law. The law
was given to us in God’s word and by His Holy Spirit.
Remember, always A Christians good works can
be ruined by one careless act or word.
Therefore, do not scorn others for their conviction.
Always remember that their convictions are a faith-
bond between them and the Lord.
Footnotes
Holman Bible Editorial Staff . The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018)

17. Scripture Reading
Romans 14: 19-23
1/6/2020 Footnotes 17
“Do not destroy the work of God
for the sake of food [or Drink] (Rom 14:20 NKJV).”

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We are to love our brothers and sisters in
Christ.
look for ways to mentor those who are weak and
learn from those who are stronger than we are (V.
19).
(V. 20-21) Although God created everything as
good, it was mankind who brought sin into the
creation (Gen 1, 3).
Timothy tells us: “everything created by God is good,
and nothing should be rejected if it is received with
thanksgiving.”
Paul is speaking mainly to the Jewish coverts in
verse 21.
These proselytes’ were keeping strict
Levitical dietary practices.
This problem was systemic in the
churches. Paul addressed this problem
also with the church in Corintha
It is quite evident that the adherence of some,
to Levitical law, was corrupting Paul’s gospel
of grace.
Footnotes

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In verse 20, Paul admonishes the Jewish
converts. He admonishes them against judging
those who had not been personally convicted
of the dietary restrictions of Levitical law.
The Jewish converts were condemning the Gentiles
for their lack of conviction about Jewish law.
Even though they had accepted Jesus as
Messiah and believed Paul’s gospel, they
remained slaves to the law.
These Jewish converts did not see the
potential damage their scorn would bring to
the Gentile Christian.
Their judgment was based on their belief
that only Jews were God’s chosen people.
Therefore the Gentile must first become a
Jew to be saved, and this was Paul’s most
significant obstacle to overcome.
Footnotes

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DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING THAT
WOULD CAUSE YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER TO
STUMBLE (V. 21)
This admonishment goes beyond eating and drinking
and encompasses anything we might say or do.
A loving brother or sister would not drink an
alcoholic beverage in the company of an
alcoholic.
A loving brother or sister would not offer a hot
fudge sundae to a person trying to lose weight.
A loving brother or sister would not intentionally
hurt another with hurtful words.
A loving brother or sister would not laugh at the
misfortune of another.
A loving brother or sister would offer compassion
towards a person in pain.
A loving brother or sister would offer help to the
helpless.
A loving brother or sister would offer Scriptural
guidance for those in need.
Footnotes

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Holman comments on Romans 14:22:
A Christian's sense of freedom in these
matters should not translate into public
behavior if another believer finds the freedom
scandalous. For instance, a Muslim convert
who never ate pork or drank wine might
stumble if he saw a Christian doing either of
these things1.
The keyword to this verse and the proceeding
verses is awareness.
Are you guiltless if you are not aware or are
ignorant of your brothers or sisters
convictions? Consider the following:
1. Your brother or sister may still be
offended, but might not stumble if they
were aware of your ignorance.
2. You cease the offensive action, followed
by an apology.
3. After apologizing for your ignorance, you
might explain your personal conviction.
4. Assure your brother or sister that a
conviction of God is between the
practitioner and God.
Footnotes
1. Holman Bible Editorial Staff. The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018) .

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Have you ever gone to the refrigerator and
found a container of what looks like food. And
you have no idea what it is or how long it's
been there?
I have a saying in my house. When in doubt, through
it out.
Paul is saying a similar expression.
When in doubt, it is better not to do something
and offend no one. Then to do something that
might cause a brother or sister in Christ to falter.
Footnotes

23. Credits and Bibliography
Dockery, David S. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. (Broadman & Holman, 2013).
Holman Bible Editorial Staff. The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018).
Jamieson. Robert , A. R. Fausset, D Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible.
(published, 1871).
Vine, William . "Offence - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. (Blue letter Bible, 1996)
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Footnotes