Romans Episode 28

apostolicbiblestudytime@gmail.com 

facebook.com/apostolicbiblestudytime 

@1godpodcast 

This episode is going to be a bit controversial. We are all on different places on our walk, with our understanding, in our manner of life. To paraphrase what the apostle Paul says in this chapter, “Who are we to judge another man’s servant” 

I’ve had the Holy Ghost for approaching the 30 year mark. I don’t understand why, but this is one of the hardest things for a lot of us, including myself, to learn. If you are baptized in His name, if you are full of the Holy Ghost, we may differ in some beliefs, but you are still my brother or sister. I despise what is referred to as the “holiday season”. Many things that are done for the sake of tradition I have found to be from very old customs that have nothing to do with Christ. You may keep those traditions. I can’t make you not my brother or sister because we disagree. Yahweh will be the Judge, plain and simple. 

I’ve come to the same conclusion whether it be a baptist, church of Christ, I don’t agree with them, and I surely hope they are still seeking, as we all should be, but I’m not going to treat them as my inferior even though we disagree. I will try my best to show them that nobody was ever baptized in the titles of Matthew 28:19. The book of Acts tells us clearly the baptism was in the name of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians makes it plain, that as ancient Israel was baptized unto Moses, even so we must be baptized into Messiah. 

But it’s with this attitude that I would like to ease into chapter 14 of the book of Romans. I’m going to do this a little differently this time, as I’m going to read the whole chapter and then go back and make commentary on particular verses. So here we go; 

Romans 14:1-23 KJV  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  (2)  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  (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.  (4)  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  (5)  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  (6)  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. 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.  (7)  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.  (8)  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.  (9)  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.  (10)  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  (11)  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  (12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  (13)  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.  (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.  (15)  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.  (16)  Let not then your good be evil spoken of:  (17)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  (18)  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  (19)  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  (20)  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  (21)  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.  (22)  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.  (23)  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 

­____________________________________________________ 

Romans 14:2 KJV  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

On the surface, it appears the early church in Rome had an epidemic of vegetarian-ism. Eating herbs, vegetables. Being weak, you only ate vegetables because Yahweh is offended if we eat meat. I’m just going to use scripture to make sense of scripture here though. 

1 Corinthians 10:25-28 KJV  Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:  (26)  For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.  (27)  If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.  (28)  But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 

The shambles is just another name for the butcher shop, meat market, what ever you want to call it. Many of the sacrifices that were made to pagan deities ended up in the shambles. You may be eating a steak that was sacrificed to Zeus. 

Paul’s point here is, the idol is nothing. There is One God, 

1 Corinthians 8:4 KJV  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 

So, the first few verses are telling us that some people at that time would not eat meat, for the simple fact they were afraid it had been sacrificed to an idol. This is Rome, they didn’t have their own cattle, or a place to grow their own food. Mostly they were crammed together into the metropolis and bought everything needed for the market. At this point in society, everyday life was mixed with the pagan religions, so they truly had a right to be concerned. Remember the letter sent from Jerusalem; 

Acts 15:24-29 KJV  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:  (25)  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  (26)  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (27)  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  (28)  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;  (29)  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

Romans 14:5-6 KJV  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  (6)  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. 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. 

This seems like it should fit into the question of holidays, or no holidays, but then why would it be in the conversation that is dealing with what food we eat? It would be out of context. So again, let’s use scripture to figure out what the apostle was talking about. 

The Roman church was made up of Jews, and converted gentiles. The largest sect of the Jews at that time were the Pharisees. Jesus tells us something about the regarding the day in a round about way so let’s look at that first; 

Luke 18:10-12 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

We know from history, the Pharisees fasted on Mondays and Thursdays (although the Pharisees would have called them 2nd and 5th days, they were forbidden to mention false gods and our calendar is full of them!). 

So, in all likelyhood, the apostle wasn’t talking about keep a certain day as a holiday, he was talking about people set on fasting on certain days, and just as a reminder, 

Acts 24:5 KJV  For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 

At this point in time, the church was still considered a sect of the Jews. It was only later that a clear split was made as the believers of the Messiah began trying to distance themselves from the Jews as the Jews were seen as seditious and rebellious. 

Truly, so much of what we have to do in our day and hour is decipher 1700 years of the Roman Catholic influence on the church. They have effected baptism, what we eat, our holy days, our calendar, practically every aspect of our lives has had the Roman Catholic Church’s influence on it. Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic priest. John Calvin was a Roman Catholic Priest. Practically all of the reformers were Roman Catholic. That’s how the influence came with them into what was not meant to be catholic. 

(ad lib here, could have been burned at the stake etc) 

So many of the things we believe scripture is saying is read through that Roman Catholic lens. 

Romans 14:10-12 KJV  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  (11)  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  (12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 

We, as a movement, the apostolic pentecostal movement, have some of the most judgmental, impossible to please people on the face of the earth. I’m going to warn you about watching the world’s entertainment. I’m going to tell you that that half naked girl you are watching at the movies or on your screen is someone’s daughter. What would you do if it were yours? I’m going to tell you that all that violence you see is going to desensitize you in ways you cannot even imagine and that it will come between you and your Maker. Ultimately, I can’t judge you for it. You will be judged before the Ultimate Judge, but all I can do is warn you. 

In the book Pilgrim’s Progress there is an old expression that takes a lot of thought to catch the meaning, but it’s so very true; 

“Every tub must sit on its own bottom” 

You are, in the end, responsible for you. We can squabble over every little detail, we can hate one another, I don’t like the length of your sleeves type stuff, but in the end, our man created standards aren’t going to amount to anything. The One that will be judging you already has His measure; 

2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 

We have to, again as the apostle Paul tells us, 

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 

1 Corinthians 11:31 KJV  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 

Compare yourselves to the measure of scripture, not church doctrine, not the preachers manual, but compare yourselves, ourselves, to scripture. 

Philippians 3:12-14 KJV  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  (13)  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

apostolicbiblestudytime@gmail.com

facebook.com/apostolicbiblestudytime 

@1godpocast 

Colossians 2:9 KJV  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.