Emory Baptist Church

When Life Stinks...

Introduction

This morning and for the month of December, Bro. Ronnie and I will be teaching through the Old Testament book of Ruth.  It has four (4) chapters, and there are five (5) Sundays in December so we will look at each chapter plus the Sunday immediately preceding Christmas.

 

If you look across the room this evening, you will find 250 or so different and unique individuals.  Some of you are very different compared to the rest of us. 

 

However, even in our diversity, we have multiple commonalities.  We are all currently at EBC.  We are all alive.  For the moment, we are all awake.  We are all clothed.  We are all human. 

 

And for our purposes this morning, we all will experience tragedy in this life sooner or later.  The reality is that in this life on earth, we have either just experienced a tragedy, we are currently experiencing a tragedy or we will experience a tragedy in the very near future.  This is true for every person in the room, both young and old, male and female.

 

When we think of “life stinking” in the Bible, we often think about Job. Have you ever found yourself in a situation like Job?  The Scriptures tell us that Job was a righteous man but also a man who lost house and home, family and health.  And when tragedy strikes, how many of us have said or thought, “Life stinks?” 

 

In our text this morning, I want to show three scenes to you and ask three (3) questions regarding “When Life Stinks…” 

 

 

1. When Life Stinks, where is God?

 

In verse one (1), this phrase “when the judges ruled” serves as a chronological marker letting us know that the date of this story is approximately 1,000-1,300 years before Christ.

 

And judges judged or governed or ruled when there was no king in Israel.  They functioned as military leaders and local rulers administering political and legal justice.

 

And the very last verse in the book of Judges tells us that when there was no king in Israel, evil dominated.  See Judges 21:25.

 

Judges 21:25, 25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

 

May I remind you of how much evil dominated during this time?  We get a very graphic picture of this culture and society from the last five (5) chapters of the book of Judges.

 

In Judges 17-18, we find grave idolatry.  Chapter 17 tells the story of Micah, a man involved in idolatry.

 

Judges 17:4-5, 4 Thus he returned the silver to his mother. Then his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a molded image; and they were in the house of Micah.  5 The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

God’s people had turned their backs on Yahweh and turned to grave idolatry.

 

However, in chapters 19-21, there is more.  In these three chapters, we see gross immorality. 

 

In Judges 19, we see a Levite married who married a prostitute.

 

And in Judges 19:22-25, we find an incredibly horrific scene involving this Levite, his daughter, his wife or concubine and a neighborly old man.

 

Judges 19:22-30, 22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!”  23 But the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act so wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, do not commit this outrage. 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine; let me bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!” 25 But the men would not heed him. So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when the day began to break, they let her go. 

 

Can you believe what we just read?  Accounts of militant homosexuality, gang rape and murder?  But the story doesn’t end there.

 

Judges 19:26-30, 26 Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light.  27 When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold. 28 And he said to her, “Get up and let us be going.” But there was no answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and the man got up and went to his place.  29 When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. 30 And so it was that all who saw it said, “No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, confer, and speak up!” The Levite took his concubine and dismembered her body and sent the members to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 

 

I don’t think I need to go any further, but chapters 20-21 tell of the evils specifically of the tribe of Benjamin.

 

If you watch any television news or read the newspaper, you know that our world still witnesses evil dominating every single day. 

 

Where is God when evil dominates?

 

In the rest of verse one (1) we not only see that evil is dominating, but we also see that nature destroys. 

 

There was famine in Bethlehem.  It is interesting that in the city that means “house of bread,” there was no bread.

 

So Elimelech and his family headed out of town east to Moab.  What is even more interesting and also sad is that Elimelech and his wife and his sons, who were faithful Jews, headed to Moab. 

 

Do you know about Moab?  Moab is seen throughout the OT as the archenemy of Israel.  This country originated when Lot fathered Moab by an incestuous union with his oldest daughter, and it was the Moabite women in Numbers 25:1-5 that led the Israelite men into idolatry. 

 

Numbers 25:1-5, 1 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.  4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.”  5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor.”

 

Moab should have been the last place any Jew would go, but isn’t that how sometimes it works?  When life stinks, good religious people often do that which hurts them instead of helping them. 

 

Was there a reason for this famine?  Did it happen “just because” or was there actually a message within the famine?  In light of what we just read in Judges 17-21, it is certainly a possibility that God was sending judgment upon His people.

 

Deuteronomy 11:13-17, 13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’ 16 “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, 17 lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.

 

Do you see that it is very likely that Israel was suffering during the time of this famine because of their own spiritual rebellion?

 

Life stinks when evil dominates and when nature destroys, and when loved ones die. 

 

In verse three (3), we see Naomi lose her husband and her two sons.  She outlived her three (3) closest male relatives.  She virtually had no chance of survival in this Jewish, patriarchal society. 

 

When life stinks, where is God?  For the follower of Christ, He is right by your side.

 

John 14:16-17, 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

 

If you are Believer this morning, the answer to our first question is that God is right by your side. 

 

Jesus promised us another helper, not another of a different kind but another of the same kind.  Once the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost, believers from that point forward received Him upon conversion.  So when you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, at that very moment, God began to dwell within you.

 

The picture of the Holy Spirit as a helper is one who walks along side you lifting you up like a medical trainer or coach or teammate would help an injured athlete off of the field or court.  The Holy Spirit comes along side us and helps us along.  And Jesus says He is with us forever. 

 

 

2. When life stinks, can anything good come?

 

Yes, God can bring good from your situation that stinks.  First, see that Naomi had adoration of God in verse six (6).  While in Moab, she heard that the Lord had visited His people, and He had delivered them from famine and drought.  God had given them bread again.

 

When life stinks, God often reminds us that He is still at work, and life could always be worse…especially if we consider others and keep matters in perspective.

 

Second, notice that Naomi had appreciation for others.  Naomi’s daughters-in-law had dealt with her kindly.  They could have kicked her to the curb, but they didn’t. 

 

When life stinks, we often begin to appreciate others for how they treat us, how they help us, how they minister to us. 

 

Third, notice that when life stinks, God can bring alteration of our behavior.  Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, who the books is named after, didn’t leave her.  As a matter of fact, in verses 16-17, we see the most famous verses of this book.

 

Naomi tried on three occasions to convince Ruth to go back to her parents and start a new life with a new husband, but Ruth wouldn’t go.  And in 1:16-17, we find those remarkable words.

 

At the end of 1:16, we see Ruth’s salvation experience or alteration to her behavior.  Remember, she was a Moabite, a Gentile pagan.  But in 1:16, she said to Naomi that your people will be my people and your God, my God.  She surrendered her life to Yahweh. 

 

There is no question in my mind that Ruth had observed how Naomi responded to tragedy.  She saw Naomi depend on God in the midst of losing a husband and two sons, and that caused Ruth to want what Naomi had.  She was saved.  Her life and her behavior changed. 

 

A little side note needs to be said about Ruth’s conversion.  When Ruth recognized who the true God was, Yahweh and not Chemosh, she turned her back on everything she knew to answer God’s calling for salvation, including family.  She had the opportunity to choose her family and as a result her family’s god, Chemosh.  But she chose Naomi, and Naomi’s God, Yahweh. 

 

When we answer the calling of God on our lives for salvation, it often times can mean turning our back on our family and on our family’s religion.  It means giving up everything for Him. 

 

When life stinks, God can bring good.

 

 

3. When life stinks, what does God ultimately want from us?

 

In a word, He wants us to turn to Him or return to Him.  You may not have caught this, but there is word dominates verses 6-22, and it is the word, “return.”  In these last verses of Ruth 1, you find it six times in one form or another. 

 

Return is once in 6, 7, and 8.  It is then in verse 15 and twice in verse 22.  When Naomi returned to Bethlehem from Moab, she was returning to the God of Bethlehem from the God of Moab.

 

When life stinks, we are prone to wonder.  We wonder from the Lord, and we wonder to that which is not of the Lord.  If your life stinks today, God wants you to return.

 

In the language of the New Testament, the idea of return is captured in the word repent.  This morning, I want to close with the first few verses of Luke 13.

 

Luke 13:1-5, 1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

 

Because life stinks, does that mean God is punishing you?  Not necessarily, but regardless, He wants you to return to Him.

 

 

Conclusion

Regardless of where you are this morning or how your life stinks, my invitation for you is to turn to God for the very first time or return to Him again.  I am not saying that He will solve all of your problems, but I am saying that He will help you get through whatever problem concerns you the most. 

Finally, Hello!

God's Mission for Emory Baptist Church...

We have now come to the end of Paul’s letter to the Romans, and we will finish this study on the last Sunday of this month.  Remember that chapters 1-8 were more theological.  Chapters 12-16 are more practical. 

 

Today begins Paul conclusion, and last Sunday, I shared with you “My Vision for Emory.”  Today, we are going to look at “God’s Vision for Emory Baptist Church.”

 

1. God’s Vision, Romans 15:20-21

20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

 

We could not see a clearly picture of God’s heart expressed in His Word through Paul than in verses 20 and 21.  Simply put, it is to take the Gospel to those who haven’t heard.

 

Paul had no interest in going were the others have gone.  His desire and God’s desire is to take the Gospel to the unreached peoples of the world.  That was true for Paul.  It is true for God, and it is His desire and mission for us.

 

Emory Baptist Church, God wants us to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  We have been attempting that in recent months by going to Maricopa, Arizona.  Our formal partnerships with them and with the Point Hispanic Mission ends at the end of 2019.

 

Today, I am letting you know that I believe that God is opening up an opportunity to go further than Point and further than Maricopa in potentially in 2019 and 2020 and beyond.  Are you ready? 

 

On Sunday evening, December 16, Adam Hailes, IMB Missionary, will be us in our evening worship to tell us about opportunities in the years to come in Madagascar.  Adam is the former pastor of Ridgecrest BC in Commerce and the son of Johnny Hailes, pastor of Park Street BC in Greenville. 

 

I don’t have all the answers this morning, but I do believe that God wants us to go to those who are unreached and unengaged, and Adam seems like a great partner for our future.  As for now, understand clearly that God wants us to go, and make plans to be here on Sunday night, December 16 to hear about future possibilities.

 

How do we accomplish God’s Mission?  By preaching, giving, and praying, and everyone can do something.

 

 

1. Preaching, Romans 15:14-22

14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”  22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.

 

Paul began by assuring the Roman Christians that he was very aware of their spiritual maturity.  Even though he did not plant this particular church, he did know many of the members personally as we will see in the coming weeks.  He knew of their moral goodness and of their spiritual knowledge in verse 14. 

 

He also was aware that they were very capable of admonishing, encouraging, warn, advising, and counseling each other in verse 15.

 

However, he wrote to them to remind them of those foundational doctrines that we studied in Romans 1-8.  Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Paul knew that repetition is a most effective way of learning so he repeated what they already knew. 

 

But not only did Paul write to remind them of the doctrines of the faith, he wrote them in order to recruit them for God’s mission.  Paul’s mission was to minister to the Gentiles, and he took it seriously. 

 

We know from Galatians 2 that Peter was the apostle to the Jews, but Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles.  He was a minister, and that word for minister in verse 16 is the word from which we take our English word “liturgy.” 

 

Paul was a minister or priest, and the Gentiles converted under his ministry were given to the Lord as an offering, made acceptable by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Paul’s mission was to minister to the Gentiles, and that was God’s mission as well, and Paul wanted that to be mission of this Roman Church, and God wants that to be the mission of the Emory Church.

 

What is Paul preaching?  See 15:19-20.  He wasn’t preaching his own agenda.  It is not about a particular pastor or particular church or particular denomination.  It is about the gospel, the one and only gospel. 

 

What is the gospel?  The gospel means that there is a holy God, and there is unholy man.  Our sin separates us from the holy God.  However, Jesus lived a sinless life and died on the cross in our place that made a personal relationship with God possible, but we must repent of our sins and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.  We must call on Him to be saved.  That is the gospel, and that is what Paul preached.

 

And what happened when Paul preached?  Gentiles obeyed and were saved.  Signs and wonders authenticated this ministry, and the power of Holy Spirit was made known in the preaching and in the conversations. 

 

Where did Paul preach?  He preached from Jerusalem to Illyricum.  That phrase literally reads from Jerusalem and in a circle.  He preached all over.  Jerusalem to Illyricum, which is the former Yugoslavia, is about 1400 miles, and in the first century, that was by foot.  He took the gospel everywhere.

 

Why did he preach the gospel?  He preached because there were those who hadn’t heard.  Look at 15:20-22.  He wanted to go to the unreached people.  He didn’t want to go where the gospel had already been.  He quoted Isaiah 52 regarding the unreached.  They had no news and they had not heard so Paul went.

 

How did Paul go and preach?  He went in humility.  Look back at 15:17. He recognized that his entire ministry was by the grace of God.  It wasn’t his preaching skills or his creativity or his boldness, but God’s grace manifest in his life.

 

Now God’s mission that was evident in Paul approximately 2000 years ago is still God’s mission today.  God’s mission is for His followers to preach the gospel. 

 

Don’t stumble over the verb preach.  Use share if that is better for you.  God’s mission is for you to share the message.  His mission is for you to share the message wherever He has sovereignly placed you. It may be in a particular neighborhood or at a particular job or with a particular customer or merchant.  God’s mission is for you to share the gospel with those who aren’t saved, and be sure not to equate church attendance or church membership with salvation. 

 

And like Paul, we must be bold in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The people of Madagascar are unreached and unengaged for a reason.  It is far away.  There are physical, spiritual, and financial obstacles that will stand in our way, but we must be bold to go and preach or share.  We must preach the message to those who aren’t saved and those who haven’t heard. 

 

 

1. Giving, Romans 15:22-29

22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 

 

In verses 22-25, Paul told the Roman Christians of his future plans to visit with them on his way to Spain.  He had wanted to visit them previously, but God prevented him with multiple opportunities to preach the message.  When he does come to Rome, Paul anticipated them helping him get to Spain.

 

In the meantime, he had been collecting an offering in the Gentile churches that would go toward helping the impoverished Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.  He applauded the Macedonia and Achaia churches for doing their job in helping out their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ.  See his original commendation in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.

 

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

 

Notice that their financial giving gave them joy even though they didn’t have hardly anything to give.  They gave according to their ability and beyond.  They sacrificed.  They gave themselves to the Lord and the Lord provided for them to give to the saints in Jerusalem.

 

EBC has a long history of being a giving church, and that is still true today.  We give to multiple ministries throughout the year, but we put a lot of emphasis on our World Missions Fund which is 25 families giving $25 a week for 52 weeks a year.  50% of that goes to the International Mission Board.  In 2020, I hope our annual budget will include the partnership with Madagascar and Adam Hailes that introduced previously.

 

Keep giving because financially providing for ministries is part of God’s mission whether it is to the IMB, NAMB, Reach Texas, Military Bible Sticks, Raffa Clinic, Gideons International, Mission Dignity, Pure Water Pure Love, Operation Christmas Child, or something else.

 

You can be a part of God’s mission by giving financially to for practical ministries.

 

 

1. Praying, Romans 15:30-33

30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

The final four verses of this chapter include Paul’s request for the Roman Christians to pray for him.  See verse 30. 

 

He asked that they pray for his protection in verse 31.  He also asked for them to pray for his profitability in verse 31. 

 

He finally asked for them to pray for providence, for God’s will to be done.  And he leaves them with peace.

 

Are you praying for missionaries today?  Again, don’t stumble over that word.  Use other Christians if it fits better.  Are you praying for God to use you to share the gospel?  Are you praying for God to use me and Ronnie to lead our church?  Are you praying for your Sunday School teacher?  And yes, you can pray for vocational missionaries like Luke and Emily Panter, Bro. Adolpho, and Adam Hailes.  I need your prayers.  We need your prayers.  They need your prayers.

 

 

Conclusion

I close with one question.  Will you make God’s mission your mission?  Will you preach?  Will you give?  Will you pray? 

What Does That Church Believe: Churches of Christ?

Where did they come from?

• Early leaders were Thomas Campbell (1763-1854) and his son Alexander (1788-1866); originally Presbyterians; criticized by Presbyterians for not making Presbyterian creeds and confessions the basis of fellowship and communion; served communion to non-Presbyterians; ultimate goal was to move Christianity back to its first-century roots; church membership should be based solely on the beliefs and practices of New Testament Christianity; motto of Christian Association of Washington County was “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.”; originally called Campbellites or Disciples of Christ.
• Barton Stone (1772-1844) also broke away from the Presbyterian church and founded his group of followers simply known as “Christians;” didn’t want to be bound by human creeds; thought the Bible alone should be the rule of faith and practice.
• In 1832, the Campbells’ 12,000 followers and Stone’s 10,000 followers joined together in Lexington, KY; retained the name, “Disciples of Christ;” experienced heavy growth early on in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Tennessee.

 

What are their significant historical events?

• In the latter part of the 19^th century, a conflict developed between conservatives and progressives; the conservatives withdrew in protest against the development of missionary societies and the use of instrumental music (organ) in church services; while the “Disciples of Christ” stayed and advocated mission societies and instrumental music, the conservatives withdrew and formed the “Churches of Christ” in 1906.
• In 1968, the “Disciples of Christ” strengthened their national presence regarding coordinated missions and evangelism and reorganized as the Christian Church.

 

What are their unique beliefs (Disciples of Christ: progressive)?

• Do not believe in original sin, but each person is sinful and responsible for his/her sinfulness following the age of accountability.
• The salvation process includes: hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, live a Christian life.
• Baptism is necessary for the remission or forgiveness of sins; although they don’t practice other forms, they accept other forms of baptism including infant baptism.
• The Eucharist is served every Sunday as a memorial feast and is open to all who believe in Jesus.

 

What are their unique beliefs (Churches of Christ: conservative)?

• See above except accepting other forms of baptism.
• Believes the Church of Christ began with the ministry of Jesus in 30 AD.
• Missionaries are supported by local church
• Hymns are sung a capella.
• Premillennialism is often viewed as heresy and must be eradicated from the church.

 

Major points of contention

• Is original sin biblical? Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12-21
• Can a genuine believer lose his or her salvation?  Romans 8:26-39; 1 John 2:19
• Does physical baptism remove or forgive sins?
  • A better understanding of Acts 2:38; John 1:12, 3:16, 5:24, 11:25-26; Acts 10:43; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:22
  • George W. Truett, “Immersion only does not constitute scriptural baptism.  One must be immersed because he is already saved, and not, in any sense to secure salvation.”

 

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)	1832	518,434	3717	www.disciples.org
Christian Congregation	1887	119,391	1439	www.netministries.org/see/churches/exe/ch10619
Churches of Christ	1906	1,500,000	15,000	www.churchesofchrist.com www.church-of-christ.org
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ	1927	1,071,616	5579	Unknown

 

My 2 Favorite Christian Churches/Churches of Christ

• Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY              www.southeastchristian.org
• Oak Hill Church, San Antonio, TX                            www.oakhillschurchsa.org

 

 

My Vision for Emory Baptist Church...

As the pastor of Emory Baptist Church, I am sometimes asked, “What is your vision for the church?”  I’m usually very hesitant to answer that question because my answer isn’t very creative nor is it complex.

 

I am totally fine with, “My vision for Emory Baptist Church is to love God, love people, and make disciples.”  That is the vision of Jesus in Matthew 22 and Matthew 28.

 

However, Romans 14-15 has given me a wonderful picture of what I hope for Emory Baptist Church, and we’re going to see that this morning.

 

Today is our last Sunday looking at doubtful things or gray areas that Paul was addressing in these chapters.  These are issues of which the Bible does not speak clearly.  For them, it included eating meat sacrificed to idols, observing the Sabbath, and drinking wine.  For us, it includes issues like alcohol use, appropriate dress, gambling, piercings, tattoos, and styles of music.

 

In the recent weeks, we have seen two sides.  There was the weak in faith Jewish Christians who are didn’t eat meat and they observed the Sabbath and they probably didn’t drink wine.  The other group was the strong in faith Gentile Christians who did eat meat even that which was sacrificed to idols and they didn’t observe Sabbath and they did drink wine.  The Jewish Christians celebrated holiness.  The Gentile Christians celebrated freedom.  Both groups were guilty of judging and condemning each other.

 

In week one, we looked at Romans 14:1-12.  Paul’s first piece of advice when speaking of doubtful issues was to receive one another.  Don’t judge or condemn or try to change each other.  Receive one another and a brother or sister’s different opinion or preference or conviction.

 

In week two, we looked at Romans 14:13-23.  Paul’s second piece of advice was resolve or decide not to be a stumbling block to your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Instead, live according to the law of love that seeks pace and don’t participate in activities that cause brothers or sisters in Christ to stumble even if you don’t think it is sin.

 

We now come to week three and the last message in this series, and we are looking at Romans 15:1-13.  Paul has one last piece of advice and that is simply to please the other person first before you please your self. 

 

However, today, I want to begin with the end in mind.   Therefore, let’s start with the goal.

 

 

1. The Goal: Unity, Romans 15:4-6

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [c]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In verse 4, Paul made a follow up statement regarding an OT quote that he applied to Jesus.  He then pointed out that the OT was for the Roman Church’s learning and could help them in being patient and hopeful for the future.

 

That is also true for us.  Paul’s letter to the Roman Church was from a very specific author to a very specific group of Christians at a very specific time.  However, through the act of inspiration and preservation, Paul’s letter to the Roman Church also has truth and application for every Christian Church to come after them including the Emory Church.

 

Verses 5-6 speak to the goal of unity.  Perhaps even in a prayer, Paul asked God to help them be like-minded toward one another and of one mind and one mouth. 

 

Does that mean that Paul was praying for them to all be vegetarians or to all eat meat?  No, it means he was praying for them to all operate out of love for one another and accept one another and please one another.  Again, he didn’t desire unity of opinion or unity of preference but unity of mind in how they treated those who were different.

 

Is unity a big deal to God?  See Psalm 133:1 and John 17:11, 20-23.

 

Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

 

John 17:11, 20-23, 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep[a] through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

 

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [a]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

 

What is my vision for Emory Baptist Church?  To be a unified picture of heaven on earth as a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-socio-economic, multi-political affiliation, and multi-preference Body of Christ.

 

How do we do that?

 

2. Our Means: Please one another first, Romans 15:1-2.

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the [a]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to [b]edification.

 

 

We see here in verse 1 that Paul clearly identified himself with the strong in faith, Gentile Christians, and he called on them to bear the scruples or weaknesses or failings or infirmities or preferences of the weak in faith.  This idea of bearing their preferences literally means to pick up a weight and carry it, and according to the tense of these verbs, we are to do that now and continue doing just that indefinitely.

 

We bear one another’s preferences or convictions when we understand that Paul instructed all of the Roman Believers, Jew or Gentile, to please his neighbor for his good.  In this context, neighbor isn’t just any Tom, Dick or Harry, but a fellow church member.  We are to please our neighbors.

 

Before I engage in any doubtful practice or gray area, I need to think about the other person and decide to please him or her first.  Paul gave these instructions to the Roman Christians and to the Philippian Christians.  See Philippians 2:3-4.

 

Philippians 2:3-4, 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

 

Therefore, the goal is unity.  The means is pleasing others before self.  What is the rationale or the why?

 

 3. The Rationale: That is how Jesus treated us, Romans 15:3, 7-12.

3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

 

7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received [d]us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a [e]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”  10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”  11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!  Laud Him, all you peoples!”  12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”  13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

In short, we are to please other before self because that is how Jesus treated us.  Look at verse 3.  Jesus Christ was the sinless, perfect Son of God, and yet, He took the sins of every single, solitary, human being upon Himself without exception. 

 

Furthermore, not only did He die for the sins of the entire world, He offered salvation to both Jew and Gentile alike without reservation or hesitation.  That is what Romans 15:7-13 says.

 

The rest of the NT affirms what Jesus would do and did do.

 

Mark 10:45, 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

Philippians 2:5-11, 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [a]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

 

Conclusion

So let’s end today with verse 13.

 

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

So here is what that means for me.

 

Because I want to receive those whose preferences are differing than mine and I don’t want to be a stumbling block and I want to please others first, I will never drink alcohol.  I will wear a coat and tie most Sunday mornings of the year.  I will also be clean shaving on Sunday’s.  I will never buy a lottery ticket or play a slot machine.  I will never wear a piercing or get a tattoo, and I will lead attempt to lead our church to worship with music and songs that are more traditional and with music and songs that are more contemporary. 

 

What does that mean for you?

 

I pray that EBC will be a unified Body of Christ that includes those that are old and young, those that are white and black and Hispanic and Asian, those that make $20,000 per year and those that make $100,000 per year, those that have their GED and those have earned their doctorate, and those that are Republican and those that are Democrats, those that dress formally and those that dress informally, those that ok with moderate gambling and those that are not, those that have piercings and those that don’t, those that have tattoos and those that don’t, and those that can worship with any song that is biblical and singing whether it is old or new.

 

So let’s receive one another, decide not to make others stumble, and please one another before self for the glory and honor of Christ in our world today!

What Does That Church Believe: Methodists?

 

Where did they come from?

• Around 1729 at Oxford University, John (1703-1791) and Charles (1707-1788) Wesley began methodically meeting with a group of students at a stated time for “prayer and religious exercises.”  They held to a strict regiment of prayer, fasting, Bible reading, and ministry.
• John was ordained a deacon in the Church of England and eventually a priest in 1735.
• On May 24, 1738, on Aldersgate Street in London, England during a Moravian worship service, John experienced a religious awakening.  He remembered, “About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.  I felt I did trust in Christ; Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”  As a result of his revival, he began to preach all over England to anyone who would listen.  He was the instrument of revival throughout the country. 
• In 1766, Philip Embury organized a “connection” of Methodist societies in New York.  These societies quickly formed in other states also, including Pennsylvania and Maryland.
• In 1769, John Wesley sent his first missionaries to America that included Francis Asbury (1745-1816).
• In 1773, the first annual Methodist conference was held in Philadelphia.  In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized as a body separate from the English Methodist structure.  Asbury and Thomas Coke (1747-1814) became bishops in authority over the new church.

 

Charles Wesley’s Writings

• And Can It Be
• Christ the Lord is Risen Today
• Rejoice, the Lord is King
• Blessed Be the Name
• O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

 

What are their beliefs?

• The Apostles’ Creed
• 25 Articles of Religion
• The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Church

 

What makes them unique?

• Strictly Arminian and a strong emphasis on human free will

• The possibility of “falling from grace” or losing one’s salvation: see John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39, 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 John 2:19.  What are the implications in believing that a believer can “fall from grace?”

 

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the difference between Methodism and Wesleyanism?
2. What is the difference between Perkins School of Theology and Asbury Theological Seminary?
3. Why do Methodists baptize infants?

 

 

 

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
African Methodist Episcopal Church	1816	1,857,186	7741	www.amecnet.org
Congregational Methodist Church	1852	14,738	187	www.congregationalmethodist.net
Free Methodist Church of North America	1860	61,202	971	www.freemethodist.org
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church	1870	850,000	2980	www.c-m-e.org
Evangelical Congregational Church	1928	21,463	168	www.eccenter.com
Southern Methodist Church	1939	7686	82	www.southernmethodistchurch.org
The Evangelical Methodist Church	1946	8615	105	www.emchurch.org
The Evangelical Church of North America	1968	12,475	164	www.theevangelicalchurch.org
The United Methodist Church	1968	8,298,145	24,162	www.umc.org
Wesleyan Church	1968	114,211	1887	www.wesleyan.org

 

Just Say No to Steaks and Beer!

Last Sunday morning, we began looking at Romans 14 and the first of a three sermon series on what the KJV calls “doubtful issues” and the NKJV calls “doubtful things” and the NASB calls “opinions.”  I referred to these issues as “gray areas” or “preferences.”

 

What are we talking about?  We are talking about issues that the Bible doesn’t clearly address one way or another or even at all.  We are talking about issues that are to be left up to the conscience and or conviction of each individual believer.

 

We saw in Rome that there were divisions in the church between what Paul called “weak in faith” Christians and “strong in faith” Christians.  The weak in faith were probably Jewish Christians.  The strong in faith were probably Gentile Christians, but both groups were definitely followers of Christ. 

 

These two groups were divided over diets and days.  Many of the Jewish Christians were vegetarians so as not to run the risk of violating the Mosaic Law’s dietary codes.  Specifically, they tried to avoid eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  The Gentiles felt the freedom to eat whatever and felt no obligation to the OT Law unless Jesus had repeated it in the NT.

 

These two groups were also divided over days or the celebration of religious festivals and holy days.  The Jews were strict observers of the Sabbath.  The Gentiles were clearly not.  They only observed the Lord’s Day or Sunday.

 

There was one main point from last Sunday’s message, and it was addressed to both groups.  That main point was to receive or accept one another in spite of differences of opinions.  Don’t try to change to convert or change to your opinion or preference.  Simply receive or accept one another. 

 

Remember that there are some issues that don’t fit this category of “doubtful things” or “gray areas.”  Sexual immorality of any kind, drunkenness, stealing, lying, and divisiveness are not doubtful issues.  However, the following are: alcohol use, Bible translations, dress, gambling, piercings, tattoos, and music.   

 

Today, we will add another more guidelines for addressing doubtful issues or gray areas in the life of a believer.  My message this morning is “Just Say No to Beer and Steaks!”

 

 

15. Don’t hinder your fellow Believer as a stumbling block, Romans 14:13-15.

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.  14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

 

Paul began where he left off last week.  Instead of judging one another, the Roman Christians should determine not to be a stumbling block.  The NKJV says “resolve.”  The NIV says “make up your mind.”  The NLT says “decide.”  We must make a conscious decision not to hinder or bring down our fellow brothers and sisters by being a stumbling block.

 

Stumbling block can be defined as an example that leads another Christian to sin.  In this verse that Paul uses the phrase “stumbling block” and the word “cause” or “obstacle.”  Stumbling block is meant to represent unintentionally leading a Christian astray.  Obstacle means intentionally leading a Christian astray. 

 

Regardless, his admonition is to resolve or decide or determine, make a conscious decision, not to be a stumbling block, intentionally or unintentionally for any brother or sister in Christ.

 

Jesus gave a strong warning about stumbling blocks or offenses in Matthew 18:7.

 

Matthew 18:7, “7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”

 

Yes, stumbling blocks will come, but don’t you be a stumbling block or else suffer the consequences.  When it comes to doubtful issues, determine not to be a stumbling block.

 

In verses 14-15, we see the rationale for not being a stumbling block.  We must keep others in mind.  Paul acknowledges that nothing is evil in of itself.  However, something might be evil to an individual. 

 

In verse 14, Paul seems to even acknowledge that he personally would identify more with the strong in faith when it comes to eating meat.  After all, nothing is unclean in and of itself.  That is exactly what Jesus said to Peter in Acts 10:15.

 

Acts 10:15, 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

 

However, some meats may seem to be unclean to some Christians.  Therefore, if your eating certain meats hurts another brother or sister in Christ and you refuse to stop, you are no longer walking or treating them with love. 

 

Christ died for these weak in the faith brothers and sisters.  Don’t you destroy them with your freedom in Christ.  Paul is saying here that our actions affect others.  Don’t you think otherwise.

 

Don’t hinder your fellow believer as a stumbling block.

 

 

18. Don’t bring down the Kingdom of God with your freedom, Romans 14:16-18.

16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

 

In verse 16, Paul spoke of our good.  What was that?  Most of this second half of Romans is for the Gentile Christians, those strong in the faith.  They felt like their freedom in Christ allowed them to eat any meat and only observe the Lord’s Day.  Their freedom was their good.

 

However, Paul exhorted them to consider how their treatment of other Christians looked in the eyes of the world.  Don’t give the world any ammunition against the church.  Don’t give the world any evidence that you treat your brothers and sisters in Christ in any other way than with love. 

 

After all, isn’t the kingdom of God more than eating and drinking?  Obviously, the answer to that is yes.  The kingdom of God is more than our own opinions.  The kingdom of God is more than personal preferences. 

 

Did you notice that he appears to introduce a third cause of division?  Look also at 14:21.  We saw last week that eating meat had caused a division.  Observance of the Sabbath had caused a division.  Now, it appears that drinking wine had caused a division.

 

Again, the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking but about righteousness, peace and joy.  All of those are fruits of the Holy Spirit and essential for a healthy body of Christ.  Own opinions are not.  Personal preferences are not. 

 

When we walk in love rather than hurting our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are accepted by God and approved by men.  We give the world no cause or ammunition to speak evil of the church when we walk in love by determining not to be stumbling blocks.

 

 

• Don’t hinder your fellow Believer as a stumbling block, Romans 14:19-23.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 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. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

Here now is a third piece of advice regarding doubtful issues, but it actually is our first thought for today but important enough to repeat.  Let us have a desire to pursue peace and building up of one another within the body.  Let us eliminate the divisions over doubtful issues by pursuing peace, and here’s the imperative…don’t destroy the work of God.  In other words, as we each are the work of God, don’t hinder your brother or sister by engaging in that which is a stumbling block to them. 

 

After all, its just food.  It’s just a day.  It’s just a drink.  It’s just a lottery ticket.  It’s just a piercing.  It’s just a tattoo.  Yes, all things are clean in and of themselves, but not every person understands that, and until they do, desire peace and the good of the body rather than what you want to do personally.

 

 

Conclusion

The last three verses show us how series Paul is in thinking of the other person and not being a stumbling block.  If eating meat causes others to stumble, don’t eat meat.  If drinking wine causes others to stumble, don’t drink wine.  Delete these practices from your life for the sake of the peace and unity of the body.

 

Verse 22 says you don’t have to change your preference, but keep that between you and God, but as he said previously, change your practice.  Whatever, you do, if you doubt, don’t do it.  When we doubt, that is a sure sign our actions are wrong.  Doubting is the governor of the soul that is intended to keep our actions in check.

 

Finally, what happens or what do you get when you determine not to be a stumbling block for Christians by walking in love, desiring peace, and deleting doubtful issues in your life?  Look back again at Romans 14:18, 22b.

 

18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

 

22b Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

 

1. You serve Christ.
2. You are accepted by God.
3. You are approved by men.
4. You are happier than if you had continued be a stumbling block.
5. You avoid condemnation.

 

 

Invitation

If you are here today and you are Christian, my invitation is for you to take an honest look at your life.  Are there any doubtful issues in your life that are creating stumbling blocks for other brothers and sisters?  If yes, then I am asking you today to delete them.  I am asking you today to walk in love toward other believers and sacrifice your own personal preferences for the peace and unity of the body.  Would you serve Christ today by doing just that?  Would you let go of music or movies or piercings or alcohol or smoking for the sake of others?

 

If you here today and you are not a Christian, Christ did this very thing that we have been talking about today for you.  He laid aside his own will and did what was best for the world.  He did what was best for you.  That is dying on the cross for our sins, your sins, and if you will confess Him as Lord and Savior today, He will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from your unrighteousness and save your soul and reserve for you a place in heaven.  Will do that this morning?

 

What Does That Church Believe: Seventh-Day Adventists?

 

Where did they come from?

• William Miller was born in 1782 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts; saved during the Second Great Awakening in 1816; fervent student of the Bible with special interest in prophetic portions such as Daniel and Revelation; thought the Bible should contain the exact date of Christ’s return; cited Daniel 8:14 as his answer; formulated date from 457 BC, Cyrus’ command to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-2) to 1843 or 1844; nothing happened and there was great disappointment.
• Ellen G. White emerged in 1845 from New England; unlike Miller, White interpreted 1844 to be when Christ cleansed the heavenly sanctuary and began heavenly judgment, and this judgment will end prior to the Second Coming.

 

What do they do?

• Operate 92 sanitaria and 52 publishing houses and branches.
• Reported 17,313 evangelistic workers laboring in 213 regularly organized mission fields and distributing literature in 195 languages. 

 

What do they believe?

• Authority: the Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White; her writings are considered by church members to be authoritative, especially concerning the workings of heaven.
• Church government: presbyterian; each local church is part of a local conference, local conferences combine to form regional conferences, and all these are subsumed under a general conference.
• Investigative judgment: in 1844, Christ moved from the Holy to the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary and began the work of investigative judgment; this judgment reveals who among the dead are asleep in Christ and who among the living are abiding in Christ; these belong to God’s kingdom.
• Day of Worship: should be on the Sabbath or seventh day of the week, which is Saturday.
• Hell: the wicked spend a definite period of time here and then are destroyed or cease to exist; hell as punishment is not eternal.

 

Worship Should Be on the Sabbath	Worship Should be on the Lord’s Day
God made the Sabbath at creation for all peoples.  Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:11	New Testament believers are not under the OT Law.  Romans 6:14, Galatians 3:24-25, Colossians 2:16
Christ observed the Sabbath (Mark 1:21) and is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).	Jesus was resurrected and appeared to some of his followers on Sunday.  Matthew 28:1
The apostle Paul preached on the Sabbath.  Acts 17:2	Jesus made continuing resurrection appearances on succeeding Sundays.  John 20:26 John had his apocalyptic vision on a Sunday.  Revelation 1:10
Gentiles worshipped on the Sabbath.  Acts 13:42-44	The descent of the Holy Spirit took place on a Sunday.  Acts 2:1
Matthew, Mark, and Luke, writing after the resurrection spoke of the Sabbath as an existing institution.  Matthew 24:20, Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56	The early church was given the pattern of Sunday worship and continued to do regularly even today.  Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2

 

 

 

 

Annihilationism or Conditionalism or Conditional Immortality: the teaching that after death unbelievers suffer for the penalty of God’s wrath for a time, and then are “annihilated,” or destroyed, so that they no longer exist.

 

For: meaning of perish and destroy.                                       Against: Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:42-48.

 

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
Advent Christian Church	1860	26,264	303	www.adventchristian.org
Seventh-Day Adventist Church	1845	More than 12 million	51,086	www.northamerica.adventist.org
Seventh-Day Adventist Reform Movement	1925	More than 24,000	Unknown	www.sdarm.org

 

Rhodes, Ron, “The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations,” Harvest House Publishers, 2005.

 

The First Vegetarian Church of Rome

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Romans 14:1.  Today’s message will be the first in a 3-part series with our study in Romans on “gray areas” or doubtful issues.  Please try to be here these next three Sundays. 

 

These are issues that can be incredibly divisive and have even divided the Roman Church.  These are gray areas that some want to make black and white.  These are issues on which the Bible doesn’t clearly speak or even at all.  They are doubtful issues or literally scruples. 

 

As we begin to look at Romans 14, it ok if we disagree.  It is ok if we have a difference of opinion.  It is ok if have different preferences.  The Lord values and encourages our unity, but that does not mean uniformity.  God’s people are a diverse group.  Therefore, can there be unity in our diversity.

In order for you to understand today’s text and this situation that we will be dealing with for the next three Sundays, we need to understand some contextual background.  Apparently, the Roman Church was divided, and there were at least two sides.  There were those who were weak in faith and those who wear strong in faith.  However, I need to clarify these terms.  Weak in faith means that your faith will not let you participate in certain activities.  While strong in faith means that your faith will let you do almost anything within reason.

 

Even though it is not crystal clear, it appears that the weak in faith were Jewish Christians who were insistent on keeping portions of the Old Testament Law.  However, the strong in faith would have been Gentle Christians who felt zero responsibility to keep any of the Old Testament Law that wasn’t repeated by Jesus.

 

Furthermore, we will also see that not only were these two groups divided on eating meat, they were also divided on remembering and celebrating certain holy days.  The Jewish Christians felt the need to celebrate many holy days.  The Gentile Christians probably only celebrated Sundays, and then you had these two groups judging and condemning each other regarding their specific practices.  The Jewish Christians through the Gentiles were liberal pagans.  The Gentiles thought the Jews were self-righteous legalists.  However, we need to remember that both groups were genuine, born-again Christians because of their faith in Christ alone!

 

 

1. The Exhortation to Receive One Another, Romans 14:1

1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

 

The one main point of this text is for Christians to receive or accept one another.  Paul began this discussion by addressing the stronger Gentile Christians.  They were to accept these weaker Jewish Christians, but they were not, and I repeat, not to accept them with the hope of changing them down the line.  They were to accept them purely because of who they were in Christ. 

 

Again, the particular issues in questions are what our translation calls “doubtful things.”  The NASB translates the phrase “opinions.”  I’m calling them “gray areas.”  The Bible doesn’t speak to them clearly one way or the other or in some instances, not at all.

 

Therefore, receive one another!

 

 

1. The Illustrations of Receiving One Another, Romans 14:2-3, 14:5-6

2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

 

5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

 

In these verses, we now find out the two gray areas or doubtful issues or opinions or preferences that were dividing this church.  The first issue was diets.  In 14:2-3, we see that the strong Gentile Christians felt the freedom to eat anything including meat that the Old Testament had declared unclean including meat that had been sacrificed to idols. 

 

However, in keeping with the strict Old Testament dietary laws, the weak Jewish Christians only ate vegetables, and Paul warned the strong Gentile Christians about showing contempt to the weak and the weak judging the strong.  This was a matter of opinion…not absolute biblical principle.

 

The second issue is in 14:5-6 and was days.  The Jewish Christians were very particular about remembering and celebrating certain holy days including various festivals and the Sabbath.  However, the Gentile Christians did not celebrate those same festivals and didn’t feel compelled to worship and or rest on the Sabbath. 

 

Regardless, in verse 6, we see that each group was eating and observing unto the Lord and for the Lord and because of the Lord. 

 

Therefore, Paul’s exhortation was to receive one another!

 

 

• The Justification for Receiving One Another, Romans 14:3b-4; 14:7-9; 14:10-12

for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

 

7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

 

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”  12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

In today’s text, Paul gave at least three justifications or reasons why we are to accept one another even though we may have different opinions or personal preferences.

 

1. The first justification is found at the end of 14:3 and goes into 14:4. We need to accept one another because God has received us.  Furthermore, we do not serve one another.  We serve God.  He is our Master.  I am not your master, and you are not my master.
2. The second justification is found 14:7-9 and is an assumption. The assumption is that Christians are trying to please the Lord in whatever they do.  When it came to eating meat or eating only vegetables, both groups were trying to please the Lord.  One group was trying to celebrate freedom.  The other group was seeking to be holy.  Both were right.  When it came to celebrating certain days, the assumption was that both groups were trying to please the Lord.  Therefore, don’t condemn or judge another group who is different from you, but nonetheless, trying to please the Lord.
3. The third and final justification is found 14:10-12. We should not judge each other because God is the only rightful judge, and we will all be judged by Him.  Don’t miss that at the end of 14:10 and 14:12. Every Christian will give an account to God of his or her life.  Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 5:10. God is the only rightful judge.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10, 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

Therefore, Paul’s exhortation was to receive one another!

 

 

 

1. The Application of Accepting One Another.

 

I rather suspect that most of us, if not all of us, here today are meat eaters.  Furthermore, I also suspect that we don’t have many different opinions regarding festivals or holy days.  Therefore, how are we to apply this message of accepting one another?

 

Let me first of all, be very clear where this text does not apply.  This text does not apply to issues that are crystal clear in the Bible.  Here are at least five (5).  This text does not apply to sexual immorality of any type.  It is clearly wrong every time whether you are talking about premarital sex or extramarital affairs.  This text does not apply to drunkenness, stealing, lying, causing division or anything else that is clearly prohibited in God’s Word!

 

However, let me give you at least ten (10) doubtful issues where I believe this text does apply.

 

1. Bible translations: KJV only?
2. Dancing
3. Music: secular or Christian and music in church: familiar or unfamiliar
4. Movies: R-rated or PG-rated
5. Dress: skirts and dresses for women
6. Tattoos
7. Piercings
8. Social drinking
9. Gambling
10. Smoking

 

 

Conclusion

As I draw this message to a close, let us not be guilty of the mindset of this pithy prose:

 

Believe as I believe, no more, no less; that I am right, and no one else, confess;

Feel as I feel, think only as I think; eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;

Look as I look, do always as I do; then, and only then, will I fellowship with you.

 

Brothers and sisters, let us receive one another regardless of gray areas, doubtful things and personal preferences.

If You Believe Jesus is Returning, Your Behavior Ought to Prove It!