Romans 14:1-15:13

Romans 14:1-15:13

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity”

1. There is such a thing as an essential Christian belief

A Christian Must Believe…
~ God exists (Hebrews 11:6)
~ God cares (Hebrews 11:6)
~ Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2)
~ Jesus is who He claimed to be (John 8:24)
The Messiah (1 John 5:1)
The Son of God (John 20:31)
The Lord (Romans 10:9)
~ God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9)

2. There is such a thing as a non-essential Christian belief

Examples
~ Are all foods permissable? (2)
Should Christians keep Kosher laws?
Should Christians meat offered to idols?
~ Are all days equal in value? (5)
Should Christians observe O.T. holy days?
Should Christians maintain the Sabbath?
*But this was not purely a Jewish/Gentile division. Some Jews (like Paul) felt free. Some Gentiles (vegetables & wine are not really 'Jewish' issues) felt restrained (The meat b/c of idols, the wine b/c unclean people might have sipped it).

3. How to deal with the non-essential differences

Do’s
~Accept the other person as a brother/sister in Christ (1, 19)
~Realize that people don’t answer to men, but to God (4, 10, 12, 22)
~Think through the issue and have strong opinions (5, 12, 14, 22)

Don’t
~Don’t do anything that goes against your conscience (14, 23)
~Don’t look down on or condemn the other person (3, 10, 13)
~Don’t cause your brother/sister to stumble (13, 15, 20, 21)