Sermon Notes - Romans 14:1-12 - Littleby Baptist Church - May 25, 2025

 1.       There has been a lot of discussion about how we as Christ followers are to act towards others.

a.       How we are to treat fellow believers.

b.       How we are to treat those who hate us.

c.       How we are to respond to those in need.

d.       Even how we are to interact with those in the government.

2.       As we move into this next section of Paul’s letter to the Romans

a.       The focus is mostly on how we are to interact and treat fellow Christ followers.

b.       Remembering that we each are on different Sanctification paths.

c.       Meaning that God works in each of us differently.

d.       Our sins are different.

e.       What we struggle with are not the same.

f.         And how we shed sin will be different.

g.        One of the things we need to remember is to show each other some Grace.

h.       Especially on the things that Scripture is not black and white on.

i.          The smaller items.

j.          Some of which Paul writes about in these verses.

k.       They are not salvific in nature.

l.          They do not impact whether we are saved or not.

m.    But they can add a lot of tension between Christ followers if we do not show the Grace we should be showing.

3.       Paul uses a couple of examples.

a.       But the principles apply to other items.

b.       Things that are preferences or traditions, but not Biblical imperatives.

c.       Things that may be from our different cultures or backgrounds.

4.       Romans 14:1

a.       As Christ followers we are told that we are to make disciples.

b.       We are to build each other up.

c.       If we think about it, there is always someone we can learn from.

d.       Someone whose faith we believe is stronger than our own.

e.       As we want them to be welcoming to us as we want to learn from them and grow.

f.         We need to do the same for others so that they can learn and grow.

5.       Those of us who prepare to teach, can share that we learn a lot from our preparation.

a.       We learn more than we can possibly share.

b.       We do not know it all.

c.       We are learning each week in order to share with each other.

6.       Knowing that we are all learning from each other.

a.       We are gathering to grow.

b.       When we get together.

c.       Don’t argue or judge about disputed things.

d.       There are some things that are absolutely critical.

e.       We cannot stray from them.

f.         Such as:

g.        Who Jesus is.

h.       What He did for us.

i.          What it means.

j.          The fact that He is coming back.

k.       And that He is the Only way.

l.          There are other teachings the Bible is clear on.

m.    Certain things that are key to our faith.

n.       Some things that are absolutely sins that we must avoid.

7.       Paul is writing to the Roman church about a few that were not worth the debates they were getting.

8.       Romans 14:2-3

a.       The reason for eating or not eating meat is not shared here.

b.       In 1 Corinthians we read about meat being shared with believers that had been offered before pagan idols.

c.       To some that was a major issue.

d.       To others since the pagan little ‘g’ gods were nothing, it meant nothing.

e.       This could be the reason Paul mentions it.

f.         It could also be that some of the meat being talked about did not meet with OT guidelines.

g.        Yet in Acts we read about Peter’s vision.

h.       Acts 10:9-16

i.          There may be strong opinions one way or the other.

j.          Some may believe avoiding these things or following the law matters.

k.       God made it clear that there was nothing wrong with eating what had previously been seen as unclean meat.

9.       Romans 14:4

a.       Who are we to judge God’s servants?

b.       If God has saved someone, who are we to condemn them?

c.       We do not have the authority to pass judgement on others.

d.       Only God can do that.

e.       If He has accepted their faith, we are to accept them.

f.         We have to remember, this portion of the letter is about smaller non-salvation-based items.

g.        We are not talking about items that Scripture clearly tells us to distance ourselves from.

h.       We are not talking about items where we are to separate from those who refuse to repent.

10.  So far, we are talking about food.

a.       Talking about things that might be a hinderance to some but are not a sin.

b.       With things like this, where God’s Word has not given us clear guidance.

c.       Where Scripture does not tell us to judge or separate ourselves from those who call themselves believers yet live in certain sinful behaviors… then we need to show grace.

d.       It is not our place to judge God’s servants.

e.       Our fellow followers of Christ.

f.         When God’s Word does not tell us to.

11.  Romans 14:5

a.       Another non-critical item.

b.       The day we gather is not important.

c.       Some churches gather on Sundays.

d.       Some on Saturdays.

e.       Some other days of the week.

f.         The day we set aside to honor our God is not critical.

g.        What is absolutely critical is that we do set aside time to honor God.

h.       That we do set time aside to gather with fellow believers to grow together.

i.          When is not important.

j.          The prioritizing of the time is.

12.  Romans 14:6

a.       None of these ultimately matter.

b.       What matters is that we honor God.

c.       Follow Him.

d.       Follow our conscience.

e.       Don’t judge, argue or dispute with fellow believers over these types of issues.

f.         They are not critical.

g.        They will not impact our salvation or theirs.

13.  Romans 14:7-8

a.       As a follower of Jesus…

b.       All that we do is seen by our Lord.

c.       All that we do should be in Service to our King.

d.       He is the Judge of all of it.

e.       He knows our hearts.

f.         Man does not.

g.        No matter what we do.

h.       No matter what…

i.          Our actions

j.          Our thoughts

k.       Our lives

l.          Our eternities

m.    They all belong to our God.

n.       We are His.

o.       He is our Master.

14.  Romans 14:9

a.       Thank you, Jesus.

b.       He died paying for our sins.

c.       He rose again giving us new life.

d.       He is the Lord of All.

e.       He is the Lord of those who have died.

f.         He is the Lord of those who are alive.

g.        He is our Lord and Savior.

h.       It is that simple.

i.          He is our Lord.

j.          We belong to Him.

k.       We are to love Him with all that we are.

15.  Romans 14:10

a.       Who are we to judge?

b.       We are not Jesus.

c.       We are flawed.

d.       We have not died to pay for the sins of others.

e.       We have not defeated death so that others have eternal life.

f.         We have not been granted the authority to bring judgement.

g.        Only Jesus has.

h.       We have been tasked with calling out certain sins.

i.          In effort to help our brothers and sisters pick themselves up.

j.          Even at times separating them from the church if they are unwilling to repent and change their ways.

k.       There is a time and place for that.

16.  But what Paul is addressing here are not those types of things.

a.       Scripture has shown us that gathering and honoring God is important, but not a given day.

b.       We obviously need to eat, but what we eat has been left fairly open.

c.       These are not things in which we have been given the authority to judge on.

d.       We have been given grace in them.

e.       We have to be careful about that grace, but that is a conversation for next week.

17.  Romans 14:11

a.       Quoting Isaiah.

b.       Everyone will stand before Jesus one day.

c.       There will be a point that they will realize who Jesus is.

d.       Some on this side of eternity.

e.       Some when it is too late.

18.  Romans 14:12

a.       Al believers will be judged in how they have served our God.

b.       They will answer in how they treated their fellow followers of Christ and how they served our God and those in need.

c.       When looking at these smaller things.

d.       We will give an account on if we believed what we said we believed.

e.       Did we practice what we said we believed.

f.         On the flip side did we believe what we practiced.

g.        Were our actions and our beliefs in alignment with each other and God?

h.       1 Corinthians 3:12-15

i.          Are we good stewards with what we have been given?

j.          Did we do what God has called us to do.

k.       Love Him with all that we are.

l.          Love Others as ourselves.

m.    Carry forth the mission that our God has given us?

19.  Scripture tells us that things like adultery and other forms of sexual impurity should be called out.

a.       These are some of the sins that are to not be a part of a church body.

b.       There are other sins that fall into this category.

c.       These are also may that have been chalked up as sins over the years.

d.       Many that are simply cultural differences.

e.       Personal preferences.

f.         Or maybe even different interpretations.

g.        As Christ followers we have to make sure we are relying on God’s Word.

h.       Not our preferred ways of doing things.

i.          Not on what we have always done.

j.          Not on our traditions.

20.  It is only then that we can…

a.       Do the work of God.

b.       Be used by Him to reach those who are different than us.

c.       Help our weaker brothers and sisters.

d.       Please Pray that God shows you as an individual and us as Littleby where we are letting preferences get in the way of being used by Him.

e.       Ask Him to show us, individuals and Littleby, if we are turning our wants into judgements.

f.         Then ask our Lord and Savior to change our hearts.

g.        Asking Him to use us to reach those who need to hear His truth.

21.  If you don’t know Jesus, I would love to talk to you.