Romans: The Heart of the Gospel – Do Not Be a Stumbling Block

Peter Barnes | Romans 14:13-15

SERMON  NOTES
DO  NOT  BE  A  STUMBLING  BLOCK
(Romans  14:13-15)

– Rom.14:13-23  deals  mainly  with  how  Christians  treat  one  another  rather  than  on  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ  or  God.  Here  Paul  concentrates  on  the  strong.

1.  The  strong  are  to  be  considerate  of  the  weak  in  faith.

– 14:13, 15;  in  reality,  we  cannot  destroy  someone  else’s  salvation  but  we  are  not  to  do  anything  to  damage  it.

– 1 Cor.8:7-13

2.  Nothing  created  is  unclean  of  itself.

– 14:14;  see  Mark 7:18-23  for  food  laws

– 1 Tim.4:1-5  for  food  and  for  marriage

– Acts 10:28

– even  the  devil  was  not  created  evil,  but  became  evil.

3.  Conscience  must  be  respected.

– 14:14b;  Tit.1:15

– especially  applicable  for  missionaries  in  other  cultures  e.g.  R.C.  view  of  married  priests;  men  holding  hands  while  walking  down  the  street;  piling  up  books  in  order;  eating  with  someone;  in  church  services  with  women  on  one  side  and  men  on  the  other

– Acts 24:16;  the  conscience,  even  if  ill-informed,  is  to  be  respected.