Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. The Gospels For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Secondly, But to the Lord (v. 8), to the Lord Christ, to whom all power and judgment are committed, and in whose name we are taught, as Christians, to do every thing we do (Col 3 17), with an eye to the will of Christ as our rule, to the glory of Christ as our end, Phil 1 21. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. And, in our past lives, we did indeed find sin to be very fruitful. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. That healing method is not the less excellent for being common: in things necessary let there be unity, things unnecessary let there be liberty, and in both let there be charity, then all will be well quickly.Have it to thyself before God. ( Romans 14:19-21) Use your liberty to build each other up, not to tear each other down. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike, Let each be fully convinced in his own mind, For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself, Whether we live or die, we are the Lords, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. The evil concupiscence of your nature revolted against the command, and led you astray. conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For Johannine Writings But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. Romans vii. This hope is built upon the power of God, for God is able to make him stand; and, being able, no doubt he is willing to exert that power for the preservation of those that are his own." There are many reasons why a Christian might be weak. Because both the one and the other must shortly give an account, v. 10-12. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. None know but those that experience it how great both the restraining and the constraining power of conscience is. THESE two verses are full , 5001 North Oak Trafficway Luke-Acts 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. THIS exhortation, as you will readily perceive, is not addressed to the ungodly. The world's eye saw the outside of Christ the flesh of the man Christ, but the true Christ the ungodly eye could not discern. It must be understood likewise with this proviso, though men's judgments and opinions may make that which is good in itself to become evil to them, yet they cannot make that which is evil in itself to become good, either in itself or to them. Wisdom Literature Did Christ quit a life for souls, such a life, and shall not we quit a morsel of meat for them? . What he says has application to more than just eating meat. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: He is as much the Son of God as he was the Son of man. Because both the one and the other, if they be true believers, and are right in the main, have an eye to God, and do approve themselves to God in what they do, v. 6. This is to be extended to all such indifferent things whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, is involved either in sin or in trouble: or is made weakhis graces weakened, his comforts weakened, his resolutions weakened. There was a difference among them about the distinction of meats and days; these are the two things specified. Romans 12:13-14. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So for the other instance: He that eateth whatever is set before him, though it be blood, though it be swine's flesh, if it be food convenient for him, he eateth to the Lord. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Prophets 3. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. Paul warns us to not make spiritual maturity a requirement for fellowship. (11-14) The urgency to love . The Pharisees taught people to plead conscience, when they made corban an excuse for denying relief to their parents, Matt 15 5, 6. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself: We must understand that from beginning to end our life is connected to other lives. On the other hand, another, who is weak, is dissatisfied in this point, is not clear in his Christian liberty, but rather inclines to think that the meats forbidden by the law remain still unclean; and therefore, to keep at a distance from them, he will eat no flesh at all, but eateth herbs, contenting himself with only the fruits of the earth. The strict Christian found it easy to judge his brother, writing him off as an unspiritual meat-eater-compromiser. While thou destroyest thy brother thou art helping forward the devil's design, for he is the great destroyer; and, as much as in thee lies, thou art crossing the design of Christ, for he is the great Saviour, and dost not only offend thy brother, but offend Christ; for the work of salvation is that which his heart is upon. 1. He understands the liberty that God has granted him, and uses it to the glory of God, with an eye to his wisdom and goodness in enlarging our allowance now under the gospel, and taking off the yoke of legal restraints; and he giveth God thanks for the variety of food he has, and the liberty he has to eat it, and that in those things his conscience is not fettered. Date. Nor must we act against the dictates of a doubting conscience. There are things God may challenge us to give up, but we go on approving them in our life thus we condemn ourselves. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. But why do you judge your brother? In judging and censuring our brethren, we meddle with that which does not belong to us: we have work enough to do at home; and, if we must needs be judging, let us exercise our faculty upon our own hearts and ways.To his own master he stands or falls; that is, his doom will be according to his master's sentence, and not according to ours. Those are most pleasing to God that are best pleased with him; and they are those that abound most in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. To clear this argument against rash judging and despising, he shows how essential it is to true Christianity to have a regard to God and not to ourselves, which therefore, unless the contrary do manifestly appear, we must presume concerning those that in minor things differ from us. An account of the unhappy contention which had broken out in the Christian church. Romans 15 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Those who know most in this imperfect state, feel their own weakness most. Thirdly, It is in these things to serve Christ (v. 18), to do all this out of respect to Christ himself as our Master, to his will as our rule and to his glory as our end. It was not so much the difference itself that did the mischief as the mismanagement of the difference, making it a bone of contention. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. They may be sick or diseased (by legalism). This was that name above every name which God gave him as the reward of his humiliation, Phil 2 8, 9. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and . CHILDREN are expected to bear some likeness to their parent. Concerning days, v. 5. The Gospels True love would make us tender of their peace and purity, and beget a regard to their consciences as well as to our own. a. Of guilt to our brother. Where he cannot be beneficent he is benevolent. He argues against both these jointly: we must not despise nor judge our brethren. Prophets Historical Books In reference to spiritual difficulties and dangers (our own and others), much of our hope and comfort are grounded upon the divine power, 1 Pet 1 5; Jude 24. He is happy that has peace and quietness within, for the testimony of conscience will be a special cordial in troublesome times. [1.] But the rules are general, and of standing use in the church, for the preservation of that Christian love which he had so earnestly pressed in the foregoing chapter as the fulfilling of the law. But here is a caution he gives to those who had not that clearness in this matter which he had: To him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, though it be his error, yet to him it is unclean. As to our brethren, it is peaceto live in peace and love, and charity with them, following peace with all men: Christ came into the world to be the great peace-maker. (2.) a. Have it to yourself before God. It wasnt that they were weaker in their Christian life because of what they ate or didnt eat, but they were weaker because of their legalistic attitudes and lack of love towards others. i. The Romans did it out of weakness, the Galatians did it out of wilfulness and wickedness; and therefore the apostle handles them thus differently. The end of such knowledge is that, being satisfied in our liberty, we may have a conscience void of offence towards God, and let that content us. In face of our common responsibility to Him, how dare we judge each other?" Those are right indeed that are so in God's sight. A Christian man cursing is a very awkward spectacle. If a man were verily persuaded (it is Dr. Sanderson's instance, sermon on ch. (Romans 14:5-6) Judging our brother is inappropriate because these are matters of conscience. Minor Prophets Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in mine heart. See this case explained, 1 Cor 8 9-11. Poetical Books Our love is the true measure of our obedience to God. When we are ready to reproach and reflect upon the name and memory of those that are dead and gone, and to pass a censure upon them (which some the rather do, because such judgments of the dead are more likely to pass uncontrolled and uncontradicted), we must consider that Christ is Lord of the dead, as well as of the living. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. General Epistles The former is a stumbling-block, that gives our brother a great shake, and is a hindrance and discouragement to him; but this is an occasion to fall. The ground of this, v. 9. c. Whatever is not from faith is sin: Paul concludes with another principle by which we can judge gray areas if we cant do it in faith, then it is sin. Romans 4:4. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brothers way: We might stumble or cause our brother to fall in two ways. Think what thou destroyestthe work of God, whose work is honourable and glorious; think for what thou destroyest itfor meat, which was but for the belly, and the belly for it. Every saint is God's workmanship, his husbandry, his building, Eph 2 10; 1 Cor 3 9. First, Not to self. These words are not spoken to those who are dead in sin, but , Concern for Other Men's Souls Wake Up! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. But have your strong faith before God, not before a brother who will stumble. 1. It is true we cannot hinder loose and ungoverned tongues from speaking evil of us, and of the best things we have; but we must not (if we can help it) give them any occasion to do it. Paul reminds us that it isnt our place to pass judgment on any fellow Christian. i. That which for the matter of it is good and unexceptionable may sometimes, by mismanagement, be rendered liable to a great deal of censure and reproach. Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might he saved. We should distinguish between someone who is weak and someone who is rebellious. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. . We must give account how we have spent our time, how we have improved our opportunities, what we have done and how we have done it. He did not seek to be among his disciples as a king is in the midst of his troops, guarded and protected in the time of strife; but he exposed himself to the fiercest part of all the conflict. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food: If eating or drinking something will stumble another brother, then we are not free to eat or drink in that circumstance. This is a thing in which all the people of God are one, however they differ in other things; though some are weak and others are strong, yet both agree in this, not to live to themselves. WONDERFUL is the power of faith. The works of peace and comfort are destroyed by such an offence given; take heed of it therefore; do not undo that which God hath done. For this is the word of promise. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. This is reasonable. But it will be asked, "Who feared God and worked righteousness, and who did not?" He that duly observeth these things, First, Is acceptable to God. You think that he who eateth will fall by his presumption, or that he who eateth not will sink under the weight of his own fears and scruples; but if they have true faith, and an eye to God, the one in the intelligent use of his Christian liberty and the other in the conscientious forbearance of it, they shall be held upthe one in his integrity, and the other in his comfort. If a weak Christian doubts whether it be lawful to eat flesh, while he remains under that doubt he had best forbear, till he be fully persuaded in his own mind. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. The business of our deaths, to which we are every day exposed and delivered, is not to make ourselves talked of; we run not such hazards out of vain-glory, while we are dying daily. Receive him, proslambavesthetake him to you, bid him welcome, receive him with the greatest affection and tenderness; porrigite manum (so the Syriac): lend him your hand, to help him, to fetch him to you, to encourage him. First, It is not meat and drink: it does not consist either in using or in abstaining from such and such meats and drinks. Pentateuch David Guzik commentary on Romans 13, in which Paul describes the christian's obligation to the authority given to government. This is levelled directly against the fault of each party. Prophets a. "Who kept holy days, and who did not?" I want to know the happiness that comes from not condemning myself by what I approve in my life. This takes faith, because we often cling to hindering things because we think they make us happy. Perhaps they refused it because they feared it was meat sacrificed to a pagan god (as in 1 Corinthians 8). The Old Testament Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. They may be a babe in Christ (babies are weak). The gospel dispensation is in a special manner called the kingdom of God, in distinction from the legal dispensation, Matt 3 2; 4 17. Romans 14, Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible, One of over 125 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is from the most widely read and often quoted preacher in history, Charles Haddon Spurgeon Christianity gives no rule in that case, either in one way or another. Art thou satisfied that thou mayest eat all meats, and observe all days (except the Lord's day) alike? He argues against both these jointly: we must not despise nor judge our brethren. This chapter, rightly understood, made use of, and lived up to, would set things to rights, and heal us all. The apostle Paul knew the mysteries of the kingdom of God as well as ever any man; yet he confesses himself at a loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. To the same purport (v. 21) he recommends it to our care not to give offence to any one by the use of lawful things: It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine; these are things lawful indeed and comfortable, but not necessary to the support of human life, and therefore we may, and must, deny ourselves in them, rather than give offence. It is observable that the apostle directs his reproof most against those who gave the offence; not as if those were not to be blamed who causelessly and weakly took the offence from their ignorance of Christian liberty, and the want of that charity which is not easily provoked and which thinketh no evil (he several times tacitly reflects upon them), but he directs his speech to the strong, because they were better able to bear the reproof, and to begin the reformation. I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself , Peace: A Fact and A Feeling That which puts an acceptableness upon all our good duties is a regard to Christ in the doing of them. God will judge the world by him, Acts 17 31. This arises from that unchangeable law of our creation, which is, that our wills, in all their choices, motions, and directions, should follow the dictates of our understandings. He that will venture to do that which his own conscience suggests to him to be unlawful, when it is not so in itself, will by a like temptation be brought to do that which his conscience tells him is unlawful when it is really so. Johannine Writings The nature of true Christianity, what it is: it is here called, The kingdom of God; it is a religion intended to rule us, a kingdom: it stands in a true and hearty subjection to God's power and dominion. Another rule here prescribed is to those who are clear in these matters, and know their Christian liberty, yet to take heed of using it so as to give offence to a weak brother. He grants that all things indeed are pure. Did he think it worth while to deny himself so much for them as to die for them, and shall not we think it worth while to deny ourselves so little for them as abstaining from flesh comes to?with thy meat. "Nay, God doth not only receive him, but hold him up, v. 4. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. 2. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. [1.] "Why then is not the hurt of the daughter of my people recovered," but because his directions are not followed? b. b. Thou pleadest that it is thy own meat, and thou mayest do what thou wilt with it; but remember that, though the meat is thine, the brother offended by it is Christ's, and a part of his purchase. By these wounds the life and soul of religion expire. We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, 2 Cor 5 10. Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. The better to insinuate the exhortation, he puts himself in; Let us not; as if he had said, "It is what I have resolved against, therefore do you leave it: but judge this rather, instead of censuring the practice of others, let us look to our own, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way,"proskomma, e skandalon. We have reason to think, because in other things he conducts himself like a good Christian, that in this also his eye is single, and that he regardeth it unto the Lord; and God will accept of his honest intention, though he be under a mistake about the observance of days; for the sincerity and uprightness of the heart were never rejected for the weakness and infirmity of the head: so good a master do we serve. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Why so? The free Christian found it easy to show contempt against his brother, regarding him as a uptight-legalistic-goody-good. Luke-Acts We find Jews at Rome believing, Acts 28 24. (2.) What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. We make ourselves our brethren's masters, and do in effect usurp the throne of God, when we take upon us thus to judge them, especially to judge their thoughts and intentions, which are out of our view, to judge their persons and state, concerning which it is hard to conclude by those few indications which fall within our cognizance. A strong emphasis in Spurgeon's preaching was God's grace and sovereignty over man's helpless state. Luke-Acts 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Might I limit the sense of them, it should be thus:As to God, our great concern is righteousnessto appear before him justified by the merit of Christ's death, sanctified by the Spirit of his grace; for the righteous Lord loveth righteousness. Denney says " You, in contrast with the one Lord and Judge of all. The matter is left at large. Qui credit, vescatur quibusvis: qui autem infirmus est, olera edit. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Whereas they should have pitied them, and helped them, and afforded them meek and friendly instruction, they trampled upon them as silly, and humoursome, and superstitious, for scrupling those things which they knew to be lawful: so apt are those who have knowledge to be puffed up with it, and to look disdainfully and scornfully upon their brethren. Our work is to bless the sons of men. In doubtful things, it is good keeping on the sure side of the hedge. 5. , Zealous, But Wrong It will be good for us to put this question to ourselves, when we are tempted to behave scornfully towards our brethren, to disdain and censure them: "Hast not God owned them; and, if he has, dare I disown them?" For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. of 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? These are some of the essentials of Christianity, things in which all the people of God are agreed, in the pursuit of which we must spend our zeal, and which we must mind with an excelling care. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Do not let your good be spoken of as evil: Our liberty in Jesus and freedom from the law is good, but not if we use it to destroy another brother in Christ. When Jesus was here among men, the world saw him in a certain sense, but yet in truth it did not see him at all. 23. Those who were weak, and durst not use their Christian liberty, judged and censured the strong, who did, as if they were loose Christians, carnal professors, that cared not what they did, but walked at all adventures, and stuck at nothing. 2. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Now in this chapter we are furnished with the sovereign balm of Gilead; the blessed apostle prescribes like a wise physician. Sin is the transgression of the law. (Romans 14:13) Summary: dont make it an issue of judging, but dont use your liberty to stumble another brother. Romans xiii. [1.] i. Given to hospitality. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, and it is a dangerous thing to debauch and put a force upon conscience, though it be under a mistake. The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. Of grief to our brother, "One that is weak, and thinks it unlawful to eat such and such meats, will be greatly troubled to see thee eat them, out of a concern for the honour of the law which he thinks forbids them, and for the good of thy soul which he thinks is wronged by them, especially when thou dost it wilfully and with a seeming presumption, and not with that tenderness and that care to give satisfaction to thy weak brother which would become thee." We must take heed of saying or doing any thing which may occasion our brother to stumble or fall; the one signifies a less, the other a greater degree of mischief and offencethat which may be an occasion. I QUESTION whether any man understands himself, and I am quite certain that no Christian does so. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. General Epistles Righteousness, peace, and joy, are very comprehensive words; and each of them includes much, both of the foundation and the superstructure of religion.

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