The Book of Romans

Paul's teachings on "Righteousness from God"

Lesson 8: The Christian & Weak Brothers

Teacher: Merle Farris

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Romans 14:1-15:4

Deals with people loving people.
It is a section which, if properly understood, goes beyond the demands of naked law (ìthe lawful versus the unlawfulî) into the land of ìloving people and forfeiting rights.î

The Christian and Weak Brothers - Observations

The final arbiter, for the Christian, is love.

Romans 14 is not dealing with a situation in which the truth of the Gospel is being attacked.

Weak brothers and sisters are to be taught.

We must avoid erecting boundaries to our patience or liberality on spirit on the basis of hypothetical questions.

Each person must be permitted to make his own decision in the area of forfeiting liberties.

Congregations must not fragment because there are views and practices within the membership with which some other members disagree.

Some doctrinal errors will cost people their salvation.

Who is the weak brother, the one weak in faith? Seems to speak of the person's inability to rest in the teaching about liberty so that his former ways still retain an emotional grasp on him.

Concluding Comments

The person who expresses the freedom he has found in Christ in eating things God has pronounced edible is doing it to God's glory. The man who cannot eat is refraining because he wishes to glorify God. In each case, EVERYONE is seeking to glorify God. No one is living to self; each is seeking to glorify God. It is not about ME.

Some think one day is special and another thinks every day is special. That's alright. Let each one fully make up his own mind about matters like this. The person who holds the day special does it for God's glory. The one who thinks each day is special does it for God's glory. Great. It is done for His glory, not ours!

We all should be acting/living with a view to pleasing God! We are acting the part of servants. Through Christ's death he became the Lord and judge of the living and the dead. We are not. If we must be in the judging business let's decide how to avoid causing others to stumble. Your brother is worth more than a piece of meat/special day.

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