Bill Acton :: Romans 14 - The Christian and Ethics

Sermon Outline for Romans 14

The Christian and Ethics
The Christian and Conscience
The Christian and Doubtful Things

1. The Background of the Passage
   1. Doubtful things for Christians of the First Century
      1. Eating meat that had been offered to idols
      2. Drinking wine that had been offered to idols
      3. Observance of certain “Holy” Days
   2. Doubtful things for Christians of the Twentieth Century
      1. Areas of life where Scripture does not speak specifically
      2. Areas of life where conscience rules
      3. Areas of life that are influenced by cultural back­ground
      4. The long list of “Christian taboos”
         1. “Sanka” – the Christian coffee
         2. “Basic H” – the Christian soap
2. The Exposition of the Text
   1. The first attitude for all believers
      1. The stronger believer is to receive or welcome the weaker
      2. The “strong” believer has entered into the full freedom which is his birthright; He is strong in faith – Gal 5:1
      3. The weaker believer is to receive or welcome the stronger – Rom 14:3
      4. The “weaker” believer is the one who is governed by legalism and is ruled by negative restrictions that are not forbidden by Scripture
      5. Believers are not to argue or dispute over these matters
         1. We are not to make up the mind of the other person
         2. We must not be judgmental where Scripture is silent
      6. We are to welcome the other believer because God has – Rom 14:3
   2. The second attitude for all believers is “judge not” – Rom 14:3-4; Col 2:16- 17; 1Ti 4:3-5
      1. Definition of “judging” – to condemn, label, categorize, criticize
      2. Believers are to confront each other in the areas where Scripture speaks
      3. Reasons for not judging one another
         1. We do not have the right
            1. Christ is Lord
            2. He alone is their Master
         2. It does not help us or them or the Body of Christ
            1. Christ will uphold him
            2. Christ alone is able
   3. There is no merit in doing or abstaining – Rom 14:5-6
   4. The Lordship of Christ demands individual freedom – Rom 14:5
      1. Let every man
      2. Be fully convinced
      3. In his own mind
3. General Principles
   1. Learn the “whole counsel of God”
   2. Stay away from “all appearance of evil” – 1Th 5
   3. Seek to build the faith of others