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• Romans 14:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14  Romans 15:1,2,3,4,5,6-7 
• INTRODUCTION
• An important part of the Christian life is getting along with brethren...
• Jesus prayed for unity among believers - Jn 17:20,21,22-23
• Paul condemned division among Christians - 1Co 1:10,11,12-13
• Jesus died to make Jew and Gentile one new man and one body - Ep 2:14,15-16
• Unity did not come easily in the early church...
• Jewish Christians were reluctant to accept Gentile Christians -  Ac 15:1,2,3,4-5
• Knowledgeable Christians were not always considerate - 1Co 8:10,11-12
• Unity does not come easily in the church today...
• People come into the kingdom from all sorts of religious backgrounds
• Their level of knowledge, their rate of spiritual growth, varies widely
• [To ensure that brethren receive one another as they should, Paul wrote a lengthy discourse in which he provides "Admonitions To The Strong And Weak" (Ro 14:1-15:7). As we consider these admonitions, let's do so in the form of answering some key questions...]
• WHO IS A 'WEAK' BROTHER?
• ONE WHO IS 'WEAK' IN THE FAITH...
• Who has doubts about certain things - Ro 14:1
• One who eats only vegetables - Ro 14:2
• One who esteems one day above another - Ro 14:5-6
• One who stumbles over meat and wine - Ro 14:21
• -- E.g., a new Jewish Christian whose conscience had been trained by the Law to abstain from certain foods, to observe certain holidays
• NOT ONE 'IGNORANT' IN THE FAITH...
• The weak brother was certainly not ignorant after reading this epistle
• He is told that God accepts the other brother - Ro 14:3
• He is told that God declares all foods clean - Ro 14:14,20; cf. Mk 7:18,19; 1Ti 4:4
• But his conscience was not yet ready to accept what the Lord allows
• There are still lingering doubts - Ro 14:1
• He is not yet fully convinced - Ro 14:5b
• He is grieved by certain foods - Ro 14:15
• He cannot eat without offense - Ro 14:20
• He is prone to stumble and become weaker - Ro 14:21
• He cannot eat with faith (a strong conviction) - Ro 14:23
• -- E.g., a Jew or Muslim who becomes a Christian, yet still struggles with their newfound liberty in Christ
• [The weak brother knows what is right, but his conscience has yet to be sufficiently retrained to partake in that which for so long had been a sin for him. On the other hand, consider...]
• WHO IS A 'STRONG' BROTHER?
• ONE WHO IS STRONG IN 'THE' FAITH...
• He knows that God has received him - Ro 14:3
• He knows what the Lord has revealed - Ro 14:14,20;  Mk 7:18,19; 1Ti 4:4
• -- I.e., a Christian who is well taught in the ways of the Lord
• ONE WHO IS STRONG IN 'HIS' FAITH...
• Who believes he may eat all things - Ro 14:2
• One who observes every day alike - Ro 14:5-6
• One who does not condemn himself in what he approves - Ro 14:22
• -- I.e., a Christian who can enjoy God-given freedom without qualms of conscience
• [In any congregation, you are likely to find both strong and weak brethren as described in this passage. What is expected of those who are weak...?]
• ADMONITIONS TO THE WEAK
• DO NOT JUDGE (CONDEMN) YOUR BROTHER...
• For God has received him - Ro 14:3
• God has revealed that what he does is acceptable -  Mk 7:18,19; 1Ti 4:4
• The weak brother knows this; by reading this epistle, if not before - Ro 14:14,20
• He is Christ's servant, not yours - Ro 14:4
• We cannot judge or condemn another servant whom God has accepted - Ro 14:4
• Such judgment belongs to Christ, before whom we will all stand - Ro 14:10,11,12-13a;  also Jm 4:11-12
• -- The weak brother is not told to accept a brother whom he believes to be in error; rather, he is not to condemn a brother who is doing what God has revealed
• DO NOT VIOLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE...
• Do that which you are able to do with full conviction - Ro 14:5b
• Refrain from doing anything about which you have doubts - Ro 14:22-23
• Serving the Lord with a clear conscience is important
• Jesus shed His blood to cleanse our conscience - He 9:14; 10:22
• The goal is to have a good conscience - 1Ti 1:5,19; 2 Ti 1:3
• The conscience can be rejected, seared, and defiled - 1 Ti 1:19; 4:1-2; Tit 1:15
• -- Paul would not have the brother whose faith is weak to do anything to weaken his conscience
• [Paul's concern for the weak is evident elsewhere 2Co 11:29 and in our text by noting that the bulk of this passage is actually directed toward the strong brother...]
• ADMONITIONS TO THE STRONG
• RECEIVE YOUR WEAK BROTHER...
• Not for the purpose of disputing over what he has doubts - Ro 14:1
• Don't despise your brother - Ro 14:3
• Don't show contempt for your brother - Ro 14:10
• Bear with their scruples - Ro 15:1
• -- A strong brother must be careful not to be arrogant, but considerate
• DON'T PUT UP STUMBLING BLOCKS...
• Don't put up occasions for him to fall - Ro 14:13b
• Don't grieve your brethren with your liberty - Ro 14:15a
• Don't destroy your brother with your liberty - Ro 14:15b,20a
• Don't let your good be spoken of as evil - Ro 14:16
• -- A strong brother must be careful lest his abuse of liberty lead to his own downfall
• PURSUE PEACE AND EDIFICATION...
• For the kingdom of God is not about food - Ro 14:17-18
• It is about righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit
• He who serves Christ in such things is acceptable to God, approved by men
• Strive for that which brings peace and edifies one another - Ro 14:19
• Blessed are the peacemakers - Mt 5:9; 2Co 13:11; 1 Pe 3:10-11
• Our goal should be one of building each other up - Ro 15:2
• -- A strong brother must care more for his brother than for himself - Ro 15:1-3
• CONCLUSION
• What is the goal of such admonitions to the strong and weak...?
• That brethren be like-minded toward one another - Ro 15:5
• That brethren might glorify God with one mind and one mouth - Ro 15:6
• That brethren might receive one another to the glory of God - Ro 15:7
• -- Is this not sufficient motive to take Paul's admonitions seriously?
• Thus we are to receive one another as Christ received us...
• He received us in our weakness - Ro 5:6
• His longsuffering works toward our salvation - 2Pe 3:15
• -- Should not we who are strong extend the same courtesy to our weaker brethren?Speaking of Christ having received us...have we received Him in faith and baptism? -  Jn 1:12; Ga 3:26-27

HEAR

BELIEVE

REPENT

CONFESS

BE BAPTIZED

LIVE FAITHFULLY