As we conclude our study in Romans 14 this morning, the more I look at what The Holy Spirit is saying here, the more I realize that the underlying message is one of love conquering a judgmental, legalistic attitude (Romans 14:15).
Oh how Koinonia Fellowship needs to hear this! We all have this legalist bent inside of us in one area or another, don’t we? However, we also have those areas where we are not the least bit bothered by doing something that drives another saint up the proverbial wall.
As was said before, but needs to be clear, we are not talking about sin issues, but issues of differing scruples or convictions. So, how do we keep from flaunting a liberty that could cause a weaker brother or sister in that area to stumble? How do I stop making my personal convictions on non-sin issues the 11th commandment for the entire body of Christ? By walking in the love of God (Romans 13:10). The love of God is not legalistic and it does not offend others. The love of God is more concerned with pleasing The Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:1) and blessing others (Acts 20:35) than with pleasing self. Love takes up the cross; it doesn’t toss it aside to prove a point or display how free I am in Christ to do this or that (Luke 9:23).
May each and every one of us really take to heart how we apply Romans 14 in our homes, on our jobs, in our schools, and in this church family; and may we do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). As James tells us, the real sin in Romans 14 is knowing what is the right thing to do and refusing to do it (James 4:17).
