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.