Down an Unfamiliar Road

A REAL SURPRISE CHRISTMAS GIFT

The person who wrote this touching story did not leave their name. But it sounds very real and I hope it will bless you. Christmas is more about giving than getting. After all, that was the day our Father in heaven gave the whole world the greatest gift they could have ever received, His Son Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.

This lady tells about going for some last Christmas shopping at Walmart. As she breezed through the automatic doors an elderly greeter with an elf hat perched merrily on his head cheerfully called out, “Happy Holidays!” Although Christmas was just two days away, the store was still decked out for the season: red garlands strung through the aisles, displays of twinkling lights and plastic Santas, and directly in front of the entrance, a big, tall fir tree, its branches hung with colorful ornaments.

All the shoppers around her seemed to be full of the Christmas spirit. She wished she could have felt it too, but this year her gift list was one name shorter than it should have been. Her Dad had died a few days ago and that was all she could think about.

After his doctor diagnosed him with leukemia at the age of 69, he refused to let it get him down. Up until he took his final breaths he kept smiling, trying to keep everyone upbeat. He knew he was going to a better place, he said, though he couldn’t imagine any place better than here with his wonderful family.

People would tell the lady, “Your dad, Preston, is the happiest person I know.” And they were right. She couldn’t remember a time when there wasn’t a smile on his face. It came from his generous and giving spirit – he got joy out of helping others, even if he sacrificed some things himself. He had a deep faith in God and believed the best about people. Even people who didn’t know him well would always smile when they saw him coming down the sidewalk with a big smile on his face.

Pushing her shopping cart past the greeter and looking down at her list it was all she could do to keep her composure. She always loved buying gifts for her Dad. He got so excited looking at a new shirt or shoes that she had picked out for him. Even when one Christmas she mistakenly bought him the same shirt as last Christmas. He told her how much he loved that shirt, and now with two, he could wear it twice as often. But now, she’d never experience that joy again.

In the center of one of the larger aisles, she noticed a tall Christmas tree. White tags hung from the branches in between the ornaments. It was one of those “Angel Trees,” she thought. Shoppers could choose a tag and buy a gift for a child of a prison inmate. But it didn’t seem to fit well with what she was feeling right then. So she started to walk on.

That’s when a sign in front of the tree caught her eye. “Be a Santa for a Senior.” Huh? She’d never heard of that program. She stopped. Something told her to grab a tag. Before she knew it, she reached out and grabbed a tag, and went looking for the items she came to buy.

While walking she turned the tag over and read: For a senior named Preston. Gift: shirt, size XL; pants, waist 42; and shoes or socks, size 12 – 12 ½. Preston! That was her dad’s name, and he wore the same size shirt, pants, and shoes. She whipped her shopping cart around and headed to Men’s Clothing. She would be able to buy a Christmas gift for a senior with the same name as her dad! She wished she could see the joy on Preston’s face when opening his gift. Suddenly, the Christmas spirit was alive in her heart.

We are all in the habit at Christmas time of buying a gift for our family and friends. But maybe this Christmas can be different if we think about giving a gift for someone we don’t even know, and someone who may not receive any gift unless we take the time to do so. It doesn’t have to be a shirt, it can be a meal, a smile, or even a Merry Christmas to a person who looks like they just need someone to treat them with love and respect. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

TO ALL MY STUDENTS, READERS, AND FRIENDS

Little did I know that when we started our study of Romans, chapter 14, that we would finish just before Christmas. God sure has a way of arranging things. I hope you learned something and enjoyed the study.

Next comes the heart touching Chapter fifteen of Romans. But Paul has a few things to say about his subject in chapter fourteen before he begins his closing farewell in verse five. From the beginning of this letter, he knew what he wanted he wanted to say, he said what he wanted to say, and he was glad he had said what he wanted to say.

Now he could take a deep breath of relief. Just like when any of us write a letter of instruction, he hoped that those who read it would understand what he wrote, like what he wrote, and would respond positively to what he wrote.

No doubt that’s why Paul’s prayed for the following blessings to become a reality for his Roman brothers and sisters in Christ at Rome. He prayed that God would give them endurance, encouragement to follow Jesus with all their heart and with one voice. They were to accept one another without prejudice or bias. And glorify God for his grace and mercy.

To express himself Paul uses the words of Moses, Samuel, David, and Isaiah. He speaks of joy, peace, trust, and hope. He is happy that God called him to be an Apostle to the Gentiles.

Then he shares his desire to visit Rome in person, and then go on to new territory in Spain. But as of now, he was headed for Jerusalem so he asks them to pray that he would have a safe journey and that God would protect him from those who still might be out to silence him.

We learn a lot about Paul in this fifteenth chapter. It gives us something to measure ourselves and show what true feelings he had for those in Rome that he knew and those he wanted to meet. I’m sure you will enjoy looking deeper into the personal life of this great Apostle.

As any professor would do in any university, he and his student would take their Christmas and New Years break. So that’s what we are going to do. We will commence our study of Romans 15 when we get back on January 4, 2019. So until next year, may God bless you and give you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the glory and honor of God our father, Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit our Comforter and Guide. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (Lesson XXVIII)

What Paul is saying here about being true to your conscience may sound very elementary to many believers, but not when it is applied to every situation they might face. That’s why Canadian/American Bible teacher Harry Ironside specifies that if any believer has such faith that they feel free in doing what their conscience allows them to do, just keep it to themselves and God. Don’t go around flaunting it before other believers who don’t feel so free. But at the same time, when a believer is not sure and would feel self-condemned if they did participate, don’t end up pretending that it’s alright just to appear spiritually strong. That will bring an even worse sense of guilt. Not only are they acting wrong before others, but they are acting wrong before God. When we stand before the judgment seat of God, not only will we be judged by what God said was right or wrong, but also those things that we believed to be right or wrong. God will not say, it was alright with Me so you could have gone ahead and participated. He will ask since you believed it was wrong why did you go ahead and do it anyway? Even if there was nothing morally wrong in your behavior, you were really sinning against conscience and thus against God.¹

Why is this so important? Because since God seldom speaks to anyone verbally, He does speak to all of us through our heart and conscience, and He gave us his Holy Spirit to us so that He can best interpret what God is saying. So if we go against our conscience, we may be going against the advice of the Holy Spirit. In professor F. F. Bruce’s opinion, if a person does something about which their conscience is uneasy, their heart will condemn them and they will feel a sense of guilt. That’s because their action did not harmonize with their convictions.² But when a believer does something that they know is not only permissible but positively right, they do so in faith.

Dr. Bruce tells us that he found this principle applied in an incident recorded in one of the apocryphal work called the Codex Bezae³ (which is not included in many English translations), which tells how our Lord “Seeing a man working on the Sabbath, said to him, ‘Man, if indeed you know what you are doing, you are blessed; but if you do not know [what you are doing], you are accursed and a transgressor of the Law.’”⁴ The implication of this statement clearly shows that any action performed against the voice of conscience, even if it is alright for others to do, can never be right.⁵

One Jewish writer gives his impression of this last verse. For him, the flow of the text indicates that the above verses, including this verse 23, continue to be aimed at the “strong believer” and not the “weak believer.” The weak Synagogue Jews⁶ believed that “situational faith” spoken of in the Talmud was legitimate and honored by God. However, Paul is supporting a principle found written in the Torah. That is, what we perceive as “our rights” take a back seat to the higher principle of being leaders of God’s people. The writer talks about where, in the Jewish Talmud, Rabbis were discussing when and under what conditions a person may nullify a vow. For instance, a couple planned to get married and each had to agree to live together, Rabbi Kahana issued a legal opinion that said if she declares that having her husband live with her was unacceptable, but she would grant him that right anyhow. Or, if she declared that her living with him was unacceptable, then he need not grant her the right to do so because no one should force another to go against their conscience. So the groom had every right to annul the marriage vow.

One of the Rabbis who was listening asked Rabbi Kahana, “Who is the author of what you are teaching?” Don’t you know that this is already a part of our teachings, that when something is acceptable to one person yet is unacceptable to another, they cannot annul the other person’s right to do what they find acceptable? This same Rabbi then asks Rabbi Kahana again, “Who authored this opinion?” Rabbi Kahana replied, “It was the revered Rabban Gamaliel who said this. He stated that it is written that a person shall not break their vows.” So the groom had every right to annul the marriage because otherwise it would have forced him to do something he was against and his bride to do something that she was against.

No person can erase their convictions just because it is convenient. In other words, they are not justified in going back on their word by forgiving themselves that they made a certain vow.⁷ We must remember, that Gamaliel was Paul’s teacher while he studied in Jerusalem.⁸ So Paul’s teaching that once a person is convicted that something is not permissible for them and they vow to abstain, they cannot exempt themselves from doing what their conscience is telling them to do or not to do just for convenience sake, may have its roots in Gamaliel’s teaching.

The writer goes on ask everyone to keep in mind that to Paul, the term “brother” included both his traditional Jewish kinsmen (regardless of their position on Yeshua) and the new Gentiles coming into the faith of Israel. This section of Paul’s letter comes immediately after he addresses Gentile arrogance toward Israel in chapters 9-11. The immediate literary context is important here. These verses reveal the characteristics of the “strong” believer in that although they have disdain for certain practices of the “weak” believer, they should abstain for their sake so they won’t stumble by trying it themselves. The indication is that these are Gentile believers who do not see any need for the Torah of Israel as kept by their Jewish neighbors – whether they are followers of Yeshua or not. These Gentile converts were coming into their new faith directly from a very anti-Semitic Roman culture, one particularly critical of the customs of the Jews and their Torah. So it was a hard task that Paul took upon himself but he performs it admirably in this fourteenth chapter.⁹

SUMMARY OF ROMANS CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Let me share some of the things that I understood and some things that other scholars point out that are part of the larger context of this letter. The Apostle Paul contrasts those who are “weak” with those who are “strong.” From all that Paul has to say, we can safely draw the conclusion that the strong are those who have a greater degree of understanding their Christian faith. The stronger faith was that characterized by a more precise understanding of Christian doctrine

The stronger (more knowledgeable) faith, for example, perceived that certain meats, formally “unclean” under the Mosaic Law were no longer forbidden to those in Christ. These saints understood that certain “days,” formerly esteemed as “holy,” would from now on be viewed as such under the law of Christ.

Furthermore, the strong Christian must exercise patience so as to understand that the weak have not reached their same level of knowledge. Therefore, the strong must extend compassion and patience by allowing the weak person time to grow, thus reaching a level of comprehension wherein they can move forward in Christ without violating their conscience.

Paul then goes on to strongly admonish the brethren to be united in matters that do not affect the integrity of the Christian faith, e.g., the eating of certain foods or the honoring of particular days. Those who conscientiously refrain from eating “unclean” meats were not to be condemned. Even though their knowledge was incomplete, they meant well; and their efforts, though misguided, were aimed at bringing glory to God. Similarly, the man who refused to labor on the Sabbath, even though that restriction was abolished in Christ, was doing so with the purest of motives – to honor their Creator.

These Christians with sincerely held differences, with varying levels of knowledge, and with distinct degrees of conscious awareness were admonished to strive for oneness in Christ. The cause of Jesus and the worth of a soul must be paramount, and in many cases brothers and sisters in Christ must be willing to yield to one another rather than cause heartache and heartbreak.

Does this mean that fundamental truths may be pushed aside for the sake of accommodating heretics or placating every mumbler and complainer in the church? No, it doesn’t Such a low view of this exalted text would force the scriptures into self-contradiction in many places. It would nullify all passages requiring discipline and, when necessary, sever all ties of friendship and fellowship with those who pursue degenerate lives and/or who advocate anti-Christian teachings. Christians must follow after things that make for peace; we must strive to build up one another, not the reverse. All of this, of course, is to be accomplished in an atmosphere of loyalty to the truth.

The inspired apostle cautions each child of God not to be a stumbling block nor to put one in his brother’s way. They must be aware of the value of each soul and why Christ paid such a high price to redeem them. We are not required to live in self-imposed isolation. What one does affects others. If the Christian has a calloused disregard for the weakness of a brother or sister, and knowingly wounds their conscience with little regard for that person’s soul, the result may be the “destruction” of the weak brother or sister. Wouldn’t that make the work of Christ on behalf of that precious soul to have been in vain? And who wants to share the blame for their loss of faith and backsliding?

That’s why Paul admonishes that when a Christian proceeds with a certain action, they must “be fully assured in his own mind,” so that what they are doing does not violate their conscience. The conscience is a sensitive instrument and is a person’s most valuable endowment in keeping them on course as they grow in the knowledge of Christ and His teachings. The conscience is not the final expert on what is right and wrong. That comes from education and learning. Yet, in its proper place, it is a prized gift from God, and the Christian must guard against it becoming hardened.

This is why, at the conclusion of the chapter, Paul cautions against doing something in violation of one’s conscience. It’s not so much what the Bible says about what type of behavior is permissible or not permissible but what it doesn’t say. One must be able (in the case of eating “meat,” for example) to eat or drink with a clear conscience. A clear conscience does not make a wrong act right, but a violated conscience can make a right act wrong for certain individuals.

That’s why no Christian has the ability to look into the heart of another child of God, and judge the motives behind their actions. Therefore, in many matters, final judgment must be left up to God who will always do what is right. In the ultimate reckoning, we are responsible first to the Lord, then to our fellow man, and lastly to ourselves.

With that being the case, we are not required to conform our entire lives to the personal convictions of our less-informed kinsmen in Christ. Were that the case, we would have no church buildings, no baptisteries, no Bible classes on the Lord’s day, no Bible literature, no individual communion cups, no fully supported preachers, no corporate orphan homes, no church benevolence to non-Christians, etc. Over the years, well-meaning but misguided brethren have opposed these expediencies. Yet, we do have the responsibility not to deliberately wound their spirits and engage in public, frivolous acts that could jeopardize another’s salvation. There is a delicate balance here, and much wisdom is required in pursuing it. For Paul, the protection of the consciences of the weak was of far greater value than placating the insensitive criticisms of their Pharisaical brethren who attempt to strain out the liberal gnats while restrictions and rules like camels were stuck in their throats.

As one writer put it: Let us all pray that God will help each of us to inhale the fragrant aroma of Romans 14, to digest the principles of this magnificent narrative, and thus be willing to divest ourselves of our petty inclinations of self-interest for the ultimate goal of increasing heaven’s population. The motto of every Christian should be: To have “Compassion without compromise.” – Dr. Robert R Seyda

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (Lesson XXVII)

John Calvin really hit the nail on the head by pointing out that the important thing Paul is aiming at here is to get the Romans to believe that they “must” be persuaded by their conscience and their right standing before God that what they are doing is right. There is nothing more disturbing about a believer’s behavior than when they are constantly vacillating. Later, scholars noted that Calvin is interpreting the Greek verb diakrinō which means “to make a distinction, discriminate, try to decide,” and by using the Latin verb dijudicat which means “to make a judicial decision,” or “to judge between things, to discern,” in his commentary, it leaves no room for being undecided. This is why some English translations read: “He that doubts,”¹ or “He who is undecided,” may give the reader the wrong impression. I like the way Edgar Goodspeed translates it: “…is not following his convictions,” The believer must be fully convinced of what their conscience is telling them, otherwise, they will be stuck in a quandary trying to decide whether they should listen to what their conscience is telling them to do or not do.

John Bengel makes the point that the reason why the strong Christian ought to be careful about offending a weak brother or sister is because though it may start with one question about whether something they are doing is permitted or not, if it doesn’t matter to them what their weak Christian brother or sister thinks, then they will continue offending them even after being informed that they feel hurt by their actions. A true believer is one can stand firmly on the foundation of their faith while at the same time being conscious of the standards other believers have on the subject.² When seen this way, again we can confirm what Jesus said: That true believers first live for God, and then live for others before they live for themselves..³

Adam Clarke takes note of the fact that there are some who believe such discernment on the part of a believer can lead to sin if it does not proceed from a pure motive. Clarke points to one of the “Articles of Religion” in the Anglican Church that teaches that any charitable works a person did before they were saved are not acceptable to God as are the works they do now by the grace of Christ and the Inspiration of His Holy Spirit. And because they were not done as part of their faith in Jesus Christ, neither do they make the doer eligible to receive grace, or deserve the grace of being united in Him. Furthermore, because they did not follow the guidelines laid down by God on what grounds these works should be done, there is every reason to believe that pride was behind what they were doing⁴.⁵ This is another way of saying that once a person becomes a true believer in Christ, their lifestyle and manner of conducting themselves must change from doing their will to doing God’s will.

Robert Haldane offers his conclusion on what Paul said about the Apostle’s doubts whether or not a person who eats foods which their conscience is unwilling to accept should feel condemned even though such foods are not forbidden by the law? For Haldane, it all boils down to the question of whether eating such foods only offends them, or do they also offend God? The first thing an individual must be certain of is that anything that offends God is off-limits to all believers because it is sinful. But when a believer starts questioning whether or not God’s command to abstain from such things should be followed or not, that’s the real sin.

A believer must obey what God says about staying away from certain things of this world. Only when a believer is convicted by their conscience that something they thought of doing is wrong, even though it is alright with God, it is still wrong to them. On the other hand, if someone persuades them that it is alright with God, if they then go ahead and do it with a guilty conscience, that is also a sin. Haldane says that this principle does not merely apply to food and drink but to the everything in a believer’s life. When a believer discovers that something is acceptable to God, their decision of whether or not it is acceptable to them means that it is not God who is judging them, it is they who are judging themselves.⁶

Charles Hodge gives a doctrinal summary of what he believes Paul is saying here. To him, when a believer does something that does not harmonize with their faith in the Gospel, it’s a sin to them. But it is also true that only after one puts their faith in Christ, it can be considered a sin. For instance, before Paul’s conversion to Christ, he thought that it was right to persecute Christians; the Jews thought they did God a great service by throwing Christ’s disciples out of the Temple and forbid them to preach that Jesus was the Messiah. None of these things were forbidden in God’s Word, so they did not feel that they were guilty of going against God’s will.

It wasn’t until some of them were converted, including Paul, they realize how wrong they had been because they were showing contempt for the divine authority that inspired the disciples to preach that Jesus was the Messiah. Now, however, were they to continue persecuting Christians, they would already know ahead it is wrong. So it comes down to motive. Even when we do something that is in harmony with our faith and God’s Word, but it is done with ulterior motives, that makes it wrong.⁷

Albert Barnes has the same view that whatever is not done by a believer without being fully convinced that it is right, it is a sin against their sanctified conscience. But this does not simultaneously affirm that all or any of the actions of unregenerate and unbelieving people are sinful because to them and their conscience they are doing what’s right. So it is clear that Paul is not writing this for unconverted and unregenerate individuals. This pertains to the children of God. That puts everything on a higher spiritual level.

Barnes believes that what Paul is trying to point out here is that a believer should not do anything when they are doubting its correctness according to God’s Word or their own enlightened conscience. That’s why some people of this world are perplexed when a believer tells them they can’t participate with them because it goes against their conscience. Sinners just laugh because for them they have no such conviction, it is normal behavior. At the same time, when a believer does something they feel strongly persuaded is the right thing to do, sinners just shake their heads because to them it makes no sense.

For instance, after paying your bill at a restaurant or grocery store, you notice that the waiter or clerk failed to charge for one of the items served to you or was in your basket. So instead of considering this as good luck because it’s the restaurant or store’s fault, you take it back in and return it or pay for it. Sinners just don’t understand this kind of thinking. But even sinners agree that if you do something you know ahead of time is wrong, then you should be charged with a crime. Barnes says the same thing was true of many persecutors of the Apostles,⁸ and the murderers of the Son of God.⁹ Even though they may have been ignorant of the truth about Christ, yet there were judged as guilty of enormous crimes because their charges were made up with lies¹⁰.¹¹

Charles Ellicott sees it another way. If a person is spiritually enlightened enough not to be inhibited by differences of opinion on such small things as food and drink, they still should not treat them lightly. Even though they can pick and choose, there are other believers whose faith is not that strong. So when they are convinced that a certain way is right but they chose a different way because it is something that strong believers do with ease, this will not excuse the weak believer being condemned by their own conscience.¹² Ellicott also agrees with Paul that whatever goes against one’s faith, it is a sin to them. And where the conscience is in doubt, informed faith can help in choosing what is right even though before their conscience would not allow it. Nothing is said about those cases in which conscience is either not appealed to at all, or approve of what is being done.¹³

Charles Spurgeon also makes the point here that even though the thing you do is right as far as the law is concerned, if you do not believe it to be right it is not right for you. For instance, the Law says that when a person reaches the age of 21 they can enter a tavern and drink. But if that person is a Christian who believes in abstinence from alcohol, it’s the wrong thing to do. However, if they are persuaded to go in and have a drink anyhow – even though the law allows it, it is then a sin for them. But if they are with a friend who was also a Christian but they believe it was alright to have a drink now and then, the abstainer should not condemn the imbiber for going in and having a sip as being wrong, especially since it is allowed by law. That means the “law” is not the deciding factor here, it’s their conscience.

Therefore, the person who believes it is wrong must refrain and the person who believes it is okay may go ahead, but keep in mind that what is right for one is not necessarily right for another. This is where the real test comes in. The strong or more liberal-minded believer is the one that can show real maturity by not trying to persuade the abstainer to just have one drink but instead decides to not to go in and drink for their friends’ sake. In Paul’s day in the Roman church, it wasn’t about taverns and drinking age but about foods and drink offered at meals. Paul had already made the decision that since an idol is involved it’s nothing to worry about.¹⁴

After all, whatever is sold in the marketplace that was often used as sacrifices to these meaningless idols, he asked no questions of whether or not he should eat that food because his conscience didn’t bother him.¹⁵ But if others had not yet reached that level of freedom in their thinking, Paul would refrain eating it for their sake. He would not be doing anything good just because it was right for him, if it wasn’t right for others, that’s what takes precedent in such cases. That’s why Paul cautions the Romans that if the Scriptures confirm that this is something God permits and they can do it because He allows it,¹⁶ it is alright to go ahead. But even if the Scriptures do not say that it is good or bad if it goes against their conscience anyhow, then don’t go ahead and do it.¹⁷

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (Lesson XXVI)

Albert Barnes also has something to say about maintaining a clear conscience. Many people indulged in practices which their conscience condemns, and in many acts which leave their conscience in doubt. Barnes points out quite clearly, the best way to be content and happy is to have a “clear conscience” in what one says or does. In other words, if a person has doubts about a certain type of conduct, it is not safe to even dabble in it. Leave it alone until a better understanding is achieved. Many people are engaged in “businesses” or “work” about which they are unsure of the ethics involved. Many Christians are uncertain about various career paths that are available. When in doubt, choose the one about which there is no doubt of whether it is proper for a Christian or not.

Sometimes, a single inquiry can settle all debate in regard to these things. During Dr. Barnes’ lifetime (1872-1951), there were still slave-dealers, makers of moonshine, or hard liquor, and theaters that featured burlesque shows and other forms of erotic entertainment. So Barnes asks how could anyone be involved in these things and still believe that they were imitating their Lord Jesus Christ, or that it was being done with any desire to honor Him and His Kingdom? In today’s world Barnes might ask, how could anyone be a porn star and proclaim, like some professional football and baseball players have rightly done, that they want to thank their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity of being so successful in their job? But the Apostle Paul already has the answer: “Happy is the person who feels no condemnation of conscience when they choose to do something.”¹ In other words, never go with the crowd if it will cloud your clear conscience.²

Frédéric Godet focuses on how a person should understand being happy with a clear conscience. For him, it is a feeling of gratitude and not of pride with which a person ought to be inspired by the degree of faith, and the level of liberty in faith they have reached. Godet says that here in verse 22, as elsewhere, the Greek verb krinō (“condemneth” KJV) should be translated as “judge.” For a person to condemn themselves in what they feel is alright with them would be contradictory. The subject in question is a simple inquiry on whether a course of action which the person has decided to make a part of their spiritual lifestyle given them peace of mind? The person who no longer feels any qualms in their heart or has any doubts in their mind can be a happy Christian.³

Charles Spurgeon shares his feelings on what Paul is saying here. For him, any child of God must have noticed a difference between any sins they may commit as a believer and the sins they committed as an unbeliever. Also, one cannot help but observe, day by day, if they look within, that divine grace has made a change in how they now understand those sins which their sinful tendencies struggle with the most. Still, the best thing any believer can do is to stay as far away from giving in to their sinful tendencies as long as possible. Spurgeon warns those who go around saying “I may be a child of God, yet I can do so-and-so.” No! Any believer who is a co-heir with Jesus of heaven’s riches will have no interest in even thinking about doing anything that is sinful and jeopardizes their future with Him.

Spurgeon goes on to admit that many believers are still wanting to know if this or that is right or wrong? He says the best thing to do when questions about the propriety of this or that is to leave it alone. Does not the Apostle Paul next in verse 23, that anything that does not harmonize with one’s faith is a sin? In other words, whatever a believer cannot do with full confidence that what they are doing is right will feel as though they have sinned. Though the deed may be right to other people, if they have any doubt about it themselves, it is wrong to them.⁴

Spurgeon goes on to illustrate by asking that if there was a leper colony anywhere in England, would he want to want to build his house next door? No! Or would he send for a physician and ask him, “Hey Doctor, how far do you think the effect of this disease might spread? I would like to get as near as I can without actually catching the disease.” No, no! He would look for a plot of land for sale where there is no disease prevalent in the neighborhood. Likewise, it is best to get as far away as possible from unholy living. Just like leprosy, it can be contagious if you get too close. Then Spurgeon prays, “O may God separate us from evil in this world, as we hope to be separated from it in the world to come! There will be a great gulf fixed between it and us in the next world, may there be a wide demarcation now.”⁵

Douglas Moo echoes many of the same truths that we have read in the writings of the early church and Reformation scholars. He, too, sees the Apostle Paul urging the strong to keep their convictions about the matters in dispute to themselves. There is no need for them to broadcast their views or to be continually trying to convince unsure fellow believers how right these things are. He notes that the words at the end of verse 22 should be every believer’s guideline. They should live and act in such a way that they have no reason to condemn themselves with respect to the practices that they feel comfortable in doing. Paul wants those, who like himself, to internalize the truth about the freedom of conscience a Christian has about the way they use their freedom. It should be done out of love and concern for the edification of the spiritual community.⁶

14:23 But anyone who eats something, without being convinced that it is right, is doing wrong. That is because they now do not believe it is right. If you go ahead and do anything that you know for sure is not right, that is a sin.

The Apostle Paul, having stated unequivocally that if a person is content and their conscience controlled by the Holy Spirit does not convict them that something they are eating, drinking, or participating in is wrong, then go ahead and enjoy yourself but don’t be braggadocios about it. Do it in moderation and without taking any chances that it might offend someone who doesn’t see things your way. However, if you do, either through instruction and by enlightenment began to feel that what you once accepted as being fine now bothers you, then, by all means, drop it fast. Don’t do it now just because you didn’t have any problems with it before.

Paul explained to the Corinthians that by being belligerent and unwilling to change could actually affect your eligibility to participate in the Lord’s Supper: “Anyone who eats the bread or drinks from the cup, if his spirit is not right with the Lord, will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. This is why a man should look into his own heart and life before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. Anyone who eats the bread and drinks from the cup, if his spirit is not right with the Lord, will be guilty as he goes ahead and participates. It shows that he does not understand the meaning of the Lord’s body.”⁷ Paul goes on to say that if a person is willing to judge themselves first, then there will be no need for the Lord to judge them. This is a vital factor in one’s spiritual growth and becoming more mature in Christ.

This verse was very controversial even in the early church and spawned several comments among early church scholars. For instance, we read where Bishop Basil declares that if all that is not of faith is sin, and since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, then everything done outside what’s written in Holy Scripture is sin.⁸ Then Bishop Gregory announces that every word or deed or thought which does not honor and lift up Christ, honors and lifts up the ideas of those who oppose Christ – which are Satan-like ideas. Since it is not possible for anything removed from any source of light to exist in anything except utter darkness. In the same way when a person who by what they think, do, or say runs from the righteous light of Christ, will be lost in the darkness of lies and deceit.⁹

Ambrosiaster agrees that if someone thinks it is wrong to eat certain foods but does so anyway, they are rightly condemned. For they make themselves guilty when they do what they think they ought not to.¹⁰ If someone acts against their better judgment in a matter of conscience, then Paul knows from personal experience that it is a sin to them.¹¹ This is followed by Chrysostom who preached that once again Paul shows what greater harm some people will cause if they force other people to do things which goes against their conscience. When a person does not feel sure that something is scripturally allowed or prohibited, yet goes ahead and does it anyhow, they have committed a sin.¹²

Then we have Constantius who accepts that if one believer has doubts about another believer’s actions and charges them as having eaten something that is forbidden by Scripture and should be condemned, obviously have little or no faith. For it is not someone’s faith that should be condemned just because they have different opinions about what should or should not be eaten.¹³ This is followed by Pelagius who points out that when one believer destroys another believer’s confidence in their decisions, that should also be considered a sin.¹⁴

Martin Luther notes a situation that may involve a believer having qualms about something they are still doing even after becoming a born-again Christian. Their fear is that even though it didn’t bother them before, now they are afraid that their actions may offend Christ their Savior. For Luther, everything done that is contrary to a person’s belief is a sin because it goes counter to their spiritual ethics and conscience. That’s why everyone must be aware with all possible zeal that we may not violate our conscience. As a result, notes Luther, we must be even more diligent in seeing that our actions do not cause a weaker brother or sister to join us by going against their own conscience. Rather, we must strengthen them and build them up in order that they may grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ¹⁵.¹⁶

As British theologian Gerald Bray says his summary of this section: “By offending the weak we condemn ourselves. Do nothing that would cause another to stumble. Let all that you do be for the neighbor’s upbuilding. Do not judge harshly. Let your actions proceed from the premise of faith, not sin.”¹⁷

Johnny Unitas, the former great quarterback for the Baltimore Colts (1956-1972), and considered one of the premier quarterbacks ever to play professional football, was once quoted as saying, “Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.”

One Christian psychologist I read said that some people mistakenly think that confidence is something you either have or don’t have. That is not true. Every one of us can build and grow confidence. Even if you feel insecure and lack self-confidence, it is possible to work on yourself to acquire it. You are not damaged goods. In fact, you have unlimited and unknown potential deep inside yourself. Access your inner confidence with these six techniques.

Develop Awareness of Your Soul

Your soul is absolutely secure and brimming with self-esteem. But life in this insecure world — experiences that hurt us — can conceal and disconnect you from your soul and its inherent confidence, and leave you feeling fearful and threatened in a hostile world. To access your secure soul you need to connect to the soul; to be aware of it. The deeper your awareness, the more profound your confidence will manifest. You must become confident with confidence, so to speak; confident with your own inner soul confidence. To achieve that you need to have a relationship with your soul. By communing with your soul – through study, prayer and good deeds – you can glean energy from the soul’s inherent confidence.

Change Your Routines

Sometimes when we cannot access the inner resources that lay beneath the surface, we need to scrape away the outer crusts that conceal the energy within. Psychologically this is called behavioral change: external change brings internal change. Shift your routines and this will, in turn, shift your inner moorings. Shift breeds shift. Change your habits.

Make Changes by Faith

One way to create such a shift is to have faith it is already happening – project and believe in the possibility even when you are not in the mood. To act confident even when you may not feel that way. You’re not being a liar; you are transcending how you feel and transcending your limiting beliefs, which in turn free up your inner strengths.

Need Support? Seek and You Will Find.

Peer support is also an important factor in gaining confidence. Beginning from early childhood, the support we get from our parents (and also the lack of it) directly affects our level of self-confidence. When a child is acknowledged and encouraged, assured and complimented, the child builds courage and learns to trust him/herself. As a child explores its surroundings, observe how she or he looks for affirmation from parents and adults. Even if your childhood resulted in a lack of confidence, there is always hope. Find supportive friends and mentors who can support you in making your unique contribution to the world.

Be Around Confident People

Another powerful way to behaviorally build self-confidence is to be around confident people. Confidence is contagious. Spending time with secure people will always nurture your soul’s inner confidence, just as hanging around insecure people will always feed your insecurities.

Make Other People Feel Confident

It’s a mirror image: Confidence breeds confidence; security feeds security. You usually make others feel as you are; you project what you are and you are what you project. Confident and secure people make others feel the same. Insecure people make others feel insecure. Help others feel confident, and it will come back and bring you confidence in return.

It is good to read books on how to develop confidence, but the Word of God is not silent on this subject. It begins by telling us that our confidence comes from the Lord. King David knew what it was to face troubles and trials each day, but he also knew that His God walked along by his side. He knew that God cared for him because it was God who created him. He was not the result of chance, God put him together in his mother’s womb as an intricate human being.¹

That’s no doubt why the wise King Solomon advised us, that to be confident we should seek God’s will in all that we do, and He will show us which path to take.² He then goes on to say that with the Lord being our source of confidence, He will see to it that we don’t get tripped up by every little thing in our pathway.³

And the Apostle Paul went where no preacher of the Gospel had ever gone before. He ran into obstacles that at first glance seemed impossible to get past. But instead of relying on his own talent and abilities to get him through, he states proudly that he relied on the power of the Holy Spirit. He did this so that his confidence would not rest solely human wisdom, but wisdom and power of God.⁴

Because of the way God gave him strength he was able to write to his young protegé Timothy and tell him to also lean on the Spirit of God for confidence because God did not send His Spirit to dwell in us to make us timid but to give us power, love, and self-discipline.⁵

So by knowing who we are in Christ guides us on the path He chose for us to follow. I like the way the New American Standard Bible renders the words of the writer of the Book of Hebrews: “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”⁶

So, as we grow in faith, our confidence in God grows. He is always there for us. He is our strength, our shield, our helper. Growing closer to God means growing more confident in our beliefs. That’s why we can tell everyone who may admire our willingness to stick with it despite the problems along the way is because the Lord is helping us we’re not panicking like others do, It what God can do for us not what opposition can do to us that counts.⁷

Remember, if your confidence depends solely upon some source that might fail, you will find it hard to be absolutely confident in what life brings you to handle. So why not put your confidence in someone who will never fail? That’s why the Bible tells us that God never fails anyone. He is the one who called us, and He plans to keep us both now and throughout eternity. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

THE PERFECT MISTAKE

There was no name attached to this article so I don’t know who to credit or thank for sharing this inspiring story with us. It just shows us how God works sometimes in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. I hope you enjoy it as I did.

This individual told about their grandfather on their mother’s side who worked as a handyman around town. The church they attended was planning to send some crates filled with donated goods to the victims of a terrible typhoon in Asia. So they asked Grandpa Bill to construct some crates for items they were planning to ship. After finishing the crates, it was time for packing them with shoes, socks, clothes, blankets, toys, etc. Once they were packed, they were sealed and ready for pick up by the shipping company. After getting home, Bill reached into his shirt pocket to get his glasses for reading the newspaper, but they were gone. He looked everywhere but could not find them. He even went back to the church to see if they had fallen on the ground or someone had turned them in to the church office but found nothing.

He had just purchased those glasses and didn’t have the funds to replace them because handymen didn’t make that much in those days. But he kept mentally retracing his steps and replayed where he had been and what he had done. Suddenly, he came to the conclusion that somehow the glasses must have slipped out of his shirt pocket and fallen into one of the crates. His brand new glasses were already headed for Asia!

Grandpa Bill was an independent man, so any offer from this man’s mom to replace them was graciously turned down. He wanted to earn enough to pay for them himself. But he was still somewhat upset at himself for not paying attention and regretted that his glasses had been lost. In fact, one day he looked up to heaven and said, somewhat kiddingly, “Lord, I was building those crates for you. I did it as my contribution to missions. At least You could have helped me notice when my glasses fell into one of those crates!”

Many months later, the director of the orphanage in Asia was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported his work there, so he came to speak one Sunday at the church where Grandpa Bill attended. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. “But most of all,” he said, “I must thank you for the pair of glasses you sent. You see, the typhoon that just swept through that area, destroy part of the orphanage, including the office where I had left my glasses. We were quite far from any shopping center where I could get them replaced. And I needed to stay there with the children as we tried to clean up as best we could and I needed my glasses desperately for reading. So I borrowed a pair from one of the workers, but they were not right for my vision.

That was until the crates arrived. When my staff began removing the contents, they found a pair of glasses wedged between some blankets and some clothes in one of the crates. The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: “Folks, when I tried on those glasses, it was as though they had been custom made just for me! So I want to thank you for being a part of such a great miracle.

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But those who had packed the crates were sure that the missionary must have confused their church with another. None of them remember stuffing any glasses between the blankets and clothes. That was, except for Grandpa Bill. He was sitting quietly in the back with tears streaming down his face. Grandpa Bill, just an ordinary carpenter, realized that the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way. So instead of blaming God for losing his glasses, he looked up and thanked God for letting him lose them.

There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him! Perhaps that is something we ought to try more often. We don’t always understand when things don’t go our way; when we didn’t get the job we applied for; when our car broke down at the wrong place and the wrong time; when our nice carpet got stained with spilled strawberry Kool-Aid and had to be replaced. But what we don’t know is that the job we didn’t get went to someone who needed it more than we did; that the garage mechanic who fixed our car needed that extra money to pay his rent; or the owner of the store where we bought the new carpet was blessed by the profit they made on the sale because it helped them pay one of the workers they were planning to let go.

So instead of being upset and blaming God for not taking care of you the way you thought He should, just look up and say, “Lord Jesus, thank you for not letting me get what I wanted, but I’m sure there had to be a good reason that ended up helping someone else who needed what I didn’t get more than I did. In other words, think of these things as “perfect mistakes.” Just remember, God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.¹ – Dr. Robert R Seyda

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (Lesson XXV)

One Jewish writer notes that he sees Paul’s teachings follows in the footsteps of his Jewish teacher, Rabbi Hillel, who said: “Be disciples…loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people, and drawing them near to the Torah.”¹ Compare this also to Paul’s message to the Ephesians where he wrote of Jews and Gentiles being built up together in the faith of Israel with its Torah.² This mysterious “work of God” is found in Yeshua.³ Just because Bible scholars share different views and interpretations of what the term “work of God” means, it does not indicate that they disagree. The Word of God is multifaceted, which requires that we look at all aspects of what it says to get the complete picture.

French Bible scholar Frédéric Godet admits that he finds Apostle Paul’s idea that the salvation of an immature believer is something that can be compromised by disagreements on clean and unclean foods, astonishing! How can one knowingly or unknowingly do anything that can get between Christ and a believer enough to separate them? Furthermore, it seems that Paul is also saying that if this mistake is not quickly corrected, the offended believer may continue in such a state of moral condemnation and guilt that it will result in their spiritual death. Godet answers his own question. First of all, Paul is talking about strong believer’s who eat certain foods that may cause a scandal. The fact is, if a weak believer is misled into eating foods that go against their conscience, that is the real scandal! Paul is not focusing here on strong believers and what this does to them, but on what they did that caused a weak brother or sister to be carried away into sin.⁴

Spurgeon told them that when they hear of disturbances in the church they need not work frantically to suggest a change between the members but get the members to make a change in themselves! When a person goes out to gather figs, (in my case, mangoes) they need not be concerned about getting pricked by thorns. Likewise, conflicts and fights would never spring up among believers if they were not carnally-minded and unsanctified in their conduct. If they were more spiritually-minded they would be more ready to forgive and less likely to offend or to be offended. Paul once asked the Corinthians if they were not being worldly-minded by some saying “I’m on Paul’s side!” and others “I’m with Peter!” and so on?⁵ But let the God of Peace sanctify each believer and then they will seek to do what is for their brother or sister’s good. This is the thing that will bring peace. When you pray for the peace, remember that you can promote it by holding tight to holiness.⁶

14:22  You should keep your personal beliefs about these things a secret between yourself and God. It is satisfying to be able to do what you think is right without feeling guilty.

Paul is not advocating here that believers should have secret lives to go along with their church persona. He is simply advising that if there is something one has no remorse about overeating, drinking, or participating in, don’t go around bragging about how spiritually strong one is. In fact, Paul tells the Galatians it should be the other way around: “Brothers and Sisters, if a person is discovered being involved with sinful behavior, you who are spiritually stronger should guide them back onto the right way. But do so with humility. Be careful because you too may be tempted to do the same.”⁷ This is something the Apostle James would say “Amen!” to.⁸

On the subject of keeping one’s liberties to oneself and not imposing them on others, Origen advises that as long as it is right between you and God, leave it that way. It’s reward enough to have God’s approval. However, there are some who start off with good intentions, for instance, they decide to live a celibate life, but over time, either by negligence or desire, what they originally decided to do gets spoiled and corrupted. They become an unhappy person and confess that they feel defeated in what they tried to do. So they become their own judge and jury and condemn themselves. However, a happy person is one who gets forgiveness, makes corrections, and continues to strive to do what God called them to do. They don’t waste time constantly judging themselves. Let God be the Judge.⁹

Ambrosiaster emphasizes that if you are happy to eat because you know that everything God made is good, there is no need to judge anyone else. Rather, you should be at peace with your brother and sister for this is what God wants.¹⁰ Sometimes this requires certain people to swallow their righteous pride and let their brother or sister enjoy what they feel God has provided them for their sustenance. That’s why Chrysostom calls on everyone to resist vanity. It seemed to him that Paul is gently warning the stronger ones against the temptation of vanity. He does not want them to go around boasting of their superiority, but be happy they have a clear conscience.¹¹

Augustine believes that by offending the weak we condemn ourselves. This should be read in connection with verse 16 above. Let us make good use of what we have, lest we offend a weak brother or sister by laying a stumbling block in their path. For when we offend the weak, we condemn ourselves by using the very freedom-faith God has given us in an offensive way.¹² Pelagius puts it another way by saying we should not weaken another’s faith because of what we feel free to eat. If we consider ourselves faithful in this matter, eat in such a way that nobody is weakened by our example. The person is truly blessed who, in demonstrating their own strength, don’t think only of themselves but of the preservation of the weak¹³.¹⁴

John Calvin speaks on the purpose of someone exercising their faith in matters pertaining to beliefs. He states that there is an advantage for some Christians in the liberty of doing what is acceptable to them and God, but they must also learn how to make the right use of their liberty. Just because a believer has peace of mind over such matters they need not go around bragging about it. Calvin also notes, it is clearly evident how perverted some make this passage by concluding that it is not important how devoted anyone may be to the observance of foolish and superstitious ceremonies as long as their conscience remains pure before God. For Calvin, Paul intended nothing less, as the context clearly shows. Ceremonies are appointed for the worship of God, and they are also a part of our confession of faith. But when someone removes faith from the ceremony or confession, and make the celebration of the event instead of its purpose, it’s like taking sun’s heat away.¹⁵ What good is the sun if it has no heat? In other words, no matter how much we may revere and practice certain ceremonies, if there is no true faith involved they become worthless activities.

That’s why Adam Clarke reminds believers who act according to the full persuasion which God has given them concerning their conduct, will enjoy peace of conscience. That’s why those who allow themselves to practice anything for which their conscience upbraids and accuses them are miserable because of their own actions. Clarke offers what he feels is an excellent maxim, and every genuine Christian should be careful to test every part of his conduct by it. It goes like this: If a person has no peace in their own heart, they cannot be happy; and no person can have peace who sins against their conscience. If a person‘s passions or appetite allow or motivate them into practicing or participating in a particular thing, let them make sure that their conscience approves what their emotions will allow, and that they do not become the subject of continual self-condemnation and reproach. Even the person who has a strict scrupulous conscience had better, in matters that are still questionable, obey what their conscience tells them rather than violate their moral standards. This will only lead to having a miserable life as they condemn themselves for doing or not doing what they should have or should not have done.¹⁶ In other words, if in your mind you are not fully convinced of the logic of doing or not doing something, go with your heart.

This is why Robert Haldane says that any Christian who acts according to what their conscience says is the best for them, can enjoy peace of mind. Furthermore, such a Christian will be made even happier when they discover that what is acceptable to them does not cause some other believer, who has not made the same choice, to stumble.¹⁷ No wonder that Jesus, Peter, James, John, and now Paul all preached that first, we should love one another as we love ourselves.

Charles Hodge is of the opinion that by Paul presenting the idea in this verse that concession of some principle or renunciation of some truth is not required, he does it more distinctly than he did before. He asked them not to label something as sinful which was not sinful to others or to shackle their own consciences with the ethics-chain of their weaker brothers and sisters. He simply requested them to use their spiritual liberty in a considerate and careful way. There are two ideas included in this concept. The first, keep it private. In other words, do not parade it around or make it a point to show off how you are above the weak thinking of your fellow believers. The second, that this faith or firm conviction does not need to be renounced just to please a weak believer. If it is founded on the truth of God’s Word, then keep it! As long as God sees and recognizes it, it need not be exhibited before others as some form of super-spirituality. It is to be cherished in our hearts and used in a manner acceptable to God.¹⁸

Albert Barnes also has something to say about maintaining a clear conscience. Many people indulged in practices which their conscience condemns, thereby leaving their conscience in doubt. The way to be content and happy is to have a “clear conscience” in what the person says or does. In other words, if a person has doubts about a certain course of conduct, it is not safe to even dabble in that type of behavior. Leave it alone until a better understanding is achieved. Many people are engaged in “businesses” or “work” about which they are unsure of the ethics involved. Many Christians are uncertain about particular careers that are being offered. When in doubt, choose the one about which there is no doubt of whether it is proper for a Christian or not.

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (Lesson XXIV)

Other early church writers see the “work of God” in different ways. For instance, after Ambrosiaster states that mankind is the “work of God” by creation, that his renewal through regeneration is also “God’s handiwork,” so also is food “God’s work” as well. But mankind was not made for food; food was made for mankind, which is very different!¹ And Pelagius comments that the “work of God” means, “a human being, created by God.” Paul repeats what he said above in verse 14, so no one would think that he is condemning God’s creation. When it comes to food, what is clean in itself is clean, it only becomes unclean if someone else takes offense that it is being used by a fellow believer.² And Oecumenius, eleventh century Bishop of Krikka (now Trikala, Greece), hears Paul saying this to those who will not relent in consideration of a weak brother or sister: “God did the work for them on the cross, but now you are destroying it.”³

14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that hurts the faith of your brother or sister.

There are those today who rightfully seek advice on things that they are not sure is the right thing to do. As long as they keep receiving negative or ambivalent responses from those they ask, they should not stop seeking an acceptable answer. However, there are others who want what they are doing to be right, and they will go from one person to another until finally, they find someone who agrees with them. To those who give uncertain and foggy advice to seekers, these verses are a bitter pill. But when it comes to gauging and guarding one’s rules of conduct based on their conscience, a good rule to follow is this: If your heart says “yes,” but your mind says “No,” don’t do it. If your heart says “No” but your minds says “Yes,” don’t do it. Only when both heart and mind agree should you pray and proceed.

The whole purpose behind what Paul has been saying is that every Christian should be cautious and mindful of what they say or do, no one wants to cause a young or weak believer to stumble. After all, those were the instructions given to Moses and taught by the Scribes and Rabbis during the First Covenant period. Nevertheless, in the final book of the First Covenant, we find a sad commentary on the priesthood of Levi: “‘You have turned aside from the true way. You have made many fall by your teaching. You have sinned against My agreement with Levi,’ says the Lord of All.”⁴ So we can see that it was time for God to prepare His Son to bring the Word, but it would take some 400 years, just like the Hebrew’s captivity in Egypt, before a second Moses could come and lead them out of spiritual bondage.⁵

However, even after Yeshua came and taught His disciples for some three years, there were those who still insisted on doing things their way. For instance, although Jesus had foretold that He would suffer and die but be raised to life again, when He began to instruct His disciples on His soon crucifixion Peter pulled our Lord to the side and scolded Him for thinking such thoughts. Jesus turned to Peter and said: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are standing in My way. You are not thinking how God thinks. You are thinking how human’s think.”⁶ The term “Satan” used here can be employed in two ways. One, in reference to an adversary who opposes someone’s purpose or intention, of which the prince of evil spirits, the devil, is the chief. Or two, someone whose opposition or interference is “Satan-like.” Thayer, in his Greek lexicon, says that Jesus used the term Satan here to imply that Peter was acting Satan-like. So I think it goes without saying, that to act in the same manner as Peter did is not very Christ-like.

In fact, Jesus said that such Satan-like actions were so offensive to God that once you find out what’s causing it, get rid of it.⁷ And later on, Jesus said that anyone who doesn’t modify or get rid of what causes others to miss the mark and go astray, it would be better for them if someone tied a large millstone around their neck and dropped them into deep water.⁸ No wonder then that Paul prayed this for the Philippians: “That your love may more and more overflow in fullness of knowledge and depth of discernment, so that you will be able to determine what is best and thus be pure and without blame for the Day of the Messiah, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah — to the glory and praise of God.”⁹

Yet, Paul knew that making such adjustments in attitude, actions, and motivation did not come easy. Just like the writer of Hebrews so clearly explained: “All discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness. So, strengthen your drooping arms, and steady your tottering knees;¹⁰ and make a level path for your feet;¹¹ so that what has been injured will not get wrenched out of joint but rather will be healed.”¹² It is a known fact that it has been proven over and over again down through both human and church history that any person who is unwilling to learn and be disciplined will never grow into their full potential. As Paul told young Timothy: “Growing strong in body is all right but growing in God-like living is more important. It will not only help you in this life now but in the next life also.”¹³

Early church scholar Origen makes the point that eating meat and drinking wine should not become matters of such great concern that they cause fractions to form. They may be discussed, but never debated. Even wicked people, says Origen, may abstain from these things, and some idol worshipers, in fact, did so for reasons which have nothing to do with faith. Likewise, quite a few heretics in Origen’s day promoted similar practices. The only reason abstinence of this kind is good is because of health reasons or that it may help to avoid offending a brother or sister.¹⁴

Then Ambrosiaster notes that although the issue here involved only meat, Paul adds drink as well in order to nurture those who abstain from both of these things so that they will not be hurt by those who eat and drink on the grounds that they are comfortable doing so. Paul gives those who have trouble accepting the other person’s behavior by telling them to only make decisions about themselves and put an end to a small disagreement which can develop into a large dispute. Maybe this will bring them peace of mind. No one should be against making any of these options into law. What God created for our use in sustaining us physically involves voluntary usage. There is no necessity to imposed anything on anybody in one way or the other.¹⁵

Chrysostom spoke on this same subject. He contends that if we force someone to do what they are uncomfortable in doing they will be immediately embarrassed and turn around and condemn us. Not only that, but they will be more convinced than ever to stick with their original decision to abstain. But if we seriously considered their stance as valid for them, then they will love us and will not suspect us of trying to teach them something that goes against their conscience. Afterward, we will discover that we have been given the opportunity of sowing in them more spiritually enlightened views. But once they start despising us, we have closed that door of opportunity for no reason other than our pride. We should not compel them but go slow for their sake. Not whether or not they consider food or drink as clean or unclean, but because we might become offensive in our efforts. Doing this may cause them to love us all the more.¹⁶ And Constantius adds the historical note that in this passage Paul not only praises one’s choice in abstaining from certain meat and wine but much warns us even more that we must abstain from food and drink that the ungodly advertised as part of their lifestyle so as not to cause our brother or sister to stumble.¹⁷

Martin Luther notes, that it is not the first time the Apostle Paul has referred to a believer being as “a work of God.” In his letter to the Corinthians, he asks: “Are you not my work in the Lord?”¹⁸ Paul also likens the believer as being the Temple of God’s Spirit. He also told the Corinthians: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.”¹⁹ Luther then says: To destroy the work of God for food means not only to insult God but also to fight against God by tearing down what He has built up.²⁰ And one thing Paul didn’t want for some believers in Rome to do was be at war with God.

John Calvin sees Paul listing three things in a particular order: those that cause a believer’s faith to weaken; those that cause them to stumble, and those that cause them to fall. Calvin explains that have one’s faith weaken is less disruptive than when one stumbles, and to stumble is less critical than a fall. A believer may be said to have weakened in faith whose conscience wavers with doubt. When a believer stumbles it is because their conscience is overcome by some great perplexity. And when a believer falls it is because they have become alienated from their original faith.²¹ Therefore, being inconsiderate to a less mature believer by eating foods that go against their conscience can be a stumbling-block, and that stumbling-block can then become a fall that seriously injures the believer’s faith. We must note here that such foods have nothing to do with dieting or to procure better health, but are thought of as spiritually offensive to the teachings in God’s Word.

Adam Clarke sees the stumbling-block and fall as hindering the progress of an immature believer coming to a fuller understanding of the Gospel. It isn’t so much that the more mature believer has done anything wrong by eating foods they approve of, as it is wrong to knowingly become offensive to the less informed believer. Clarke is convinced that the believer who either eats contrary to their own conscience or causes themselves much grief and possibly stumbling by doing something that does their conscience harm, no matter how lawful a thing may be in itself, will not be a valid alibi. Not only will their conduct be displeasing to them but will not please God.²² The Jews found all of their restrictions on food and drink in the First Covenant and later on in the Mishnah. There are very few, if any, found in the Final Covenant.²³

Robert Haldane agrees with Luther in saying that the believer is called a “work of God,” the same way that a believer is referred to as a Temple of the Holy Spirit.²⁴ But Haldane also points out that Jesus said: “This is the work of God: that you believe in the One He has sent.”²⁵ However, Haldane doesn’t want anyone mistaking the term “work” here to mean “faith.” As Haldane reckons, faith is not good works, but it is something that God requires after a person has accepted salvation by faith.²⁶

Albert Barnes also has some notes on the, “work of God” being the construction of a believer’s faith. In his mind, the work of God is what God does, and especially refers to His work here in raising up His Church. As such, Christians are regarded especially as the “work of God,” as God renews their heart and makes them what they have become. That’s why they are called God‘s “Temple,”²⁷ and His “handiwork” accomplished through Christ Jesus that result in all the works and charitable giving being done in His name.²⁸ Because of this, they are designated “a new creation;”²⁹  The meaning is this: Do not conduct yourself with regard to the distinction of clean or unclean foods in any way that may cause a brother or sister to violate their conscience. That might impair or ruin the work of faith which God is carrying on in their souls. Therefore, this expression of being God’s work, does not refer to a person as being the work of God, but to their “living right” that God, by His Spirit, makes possible in their hearts and minds.³⁰

John Stott also weighs in on the “work of God.” He agrees that the work of God could mean the individual believer, but in this context it seems to refer to the Christian community. “Surely” says Paul, “we shouldn’t wish to undo God’s work for the sake of a plate of meat!³¹ Already three times Paul has used a little irony to expose the incompatibility of valuing food above peace; the health of one’s stomach above the health of the Christian community. Now he stresses a fourth irony: Are you strong believers really prepared to cause distress to a brother or sister because of what you eat? Are you willing to risk damaging them spiritually by your eating, to prize your eating and drinking above God’s kingdom? Are you willing to demolish God’s work for the sake of food that is eaten and then eliminated just to prove that you are “right?”³² There must have been some red faces among the strong as they listened to Paul’s letter being read in the assembly at Rome. His gentle sarcasm exposed their out-of-line perspective. They would have to re-value their values, give up insisting on their liberties at the expense of the welfare of others, and put the cross and the kingdom first.³³

NEW TESTAMENT CONTEXTUAL COMMENTARY

Dr. Robert R. Seyda

EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (Lesson XXIII)

John Bengel had an interesting insight when he said that the study of the nature of God (Theology) is meant to be peaceful and designed for edification. However, sometimes we know it can cause disputes and disharmony. This is especially true when believers argue and debate minor things such as which foods or drink to consume or abstain from.¹ Adam Clarke also sees the same intent on the part of the Apostle Paul. Instead of the Romans continually contending about food, drink, and festival times, in which it is not likely that the Jews and Gentiles will soon agree, they should endeavor with all their power to promote peace and unanimity. Why be instrumental in tearing down one another when they can use the same effort in edifying each other? This will help in removing obstacles to spiritual growth instead of putting stumbling-blocks in each other‘s way.²

Robert Haldane points out the list of characteristics that are part of any Christian who by faith serves God and Christ: They live by doing right, that brings peace to their surroundings, it fills them with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and they are pleasing to God. You can’t pick and choose, you must have all three to be of any value to God and the world. As Haldane sees it, when Christians live the way the Gospel says they should, they are providing non-believers a living testimony. The conduct Paul recommends here is important to a Christian’s place in society and will certainly be noticed by even the most ungodly around them.³

Charles Hodge notes that in these verses the Apostle explains more fully what is meant by saying “he felt honored or esteemed.” It was all because God had allowed great success to be produced by his ministry which substantiated his claim that he was a divinely commissioned preacher of the Gospel. That’s why they need not compare his ministry to that of other Apostles. He was satisfied to rest his claims on the results of his own labors and the testimony of God. However, Paul took no credit for the things that were done through his anointed ministry. Christ and the Holy Spirit received all the credit and glory for every effect of the Gospel and the miracles people saw taking place before their very eyes. In other words, Hodge believes that what Paul is really saying is that there was nothing done through his ministry for which he would take the credit, it is all attributed to Christ who gave him strength.⁴

The contrast, therefore, is not between what he had done and what others had accomplished, but between what he may have tried to do and what Christ actually did by using him as a vessel. He wanted no praise or applause for anything that was completed, even those things that were humanly possible. His desire was that all the light shine on Christ as the source of his strength to accomplish anything that had been brought to fruition. The conversion of the Gentiles was Christ’s work, not Paul’s. Therefore, Paul could glory in it without lifting himself up for recognition. It is to be remarked that the Apostle represents himself as merely an instrument in the hands of Christ for the conversion of sinners. Any skillfulness involved he ascribed to his Redeemer.⁵ This should be the attitude of every servant of God and Christ.

Albert Barnes notes an important factor here we should keep in mind. In verse 19 Paul uses the Greek noun oikodomē – [“to edify” – KJV], which means properly to “build,” as a house; then to “rebuild” or “reconstruct;” also to “adorn” or “decorate;” then to do anything else that will make it more likely to grow and blossom. When applied to the Church, it means to do everything through teaching, preaching, ministering, counseling, etc., which will promote its great objective: To aid Christians by enabling them to overcome difficulties which removes their doubts and misgivings and calms their fears.⁶ In these expressions the idea of “building” is retained, held together by a firm, tried, and tested Cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ.⁷ To be the Church is then regarded, according to Paul‘s noble idea,⁸ as one great temple erected for the glory of God, having no goal or purpose other than to do all that is possible, that each member of the royal priesthood⁹ be suited to carry out their assigned ministry and perform their functions appropriately in perfecting and adorning this Temple of God.¹⁰

Frédéric Godet points out that the Kingdom of God consists of those who willingly and lovingly serve their Heavenly Master. Developing goodwill toward God and all mankind comes only to those who cultivate the ethics and virtues of Christ in their lives. Godet contends that it would be normal to say that the person who serves Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit is acceptable to God. We must understand, however, this does not apply to everyone who calls themselves a Christian, but to those who seek to understand another person’s heart and is looked upon as someone to respect even through the eye of a critic. Everyone, Christian or non-Christian, recognizes them to be a person really animated with power from above. They are the opposite of a fool or a boaster. An approved Christian is one who has been tested and tried and proven genuine.¹¹

One Jewish writer notes that Paul says not only would a person who does what’s right please God but also be admired by others. He asks a question related to the Church in Rome, “Who else might critique the behavior of these converted Gentiles?” He suggests that this could be converted Jews who were still tied to Synagogue rules who watched these former heathens to them to see if they were either acting like righteous Gentiles coming to faith in the God of Israel through Yeshua, or pagans following a false Messiah. Paul teaches that these Gentile believers were to “serve Yeshua” in a fashion approved by even non-believing Jews. He goes on to point out that Paul’s comments in this section reflect back to what he has said in previous chapters and indicate that he has been building his case to reach this conclusion. This is especially true of what he taught in chapter 12, which comes on the heels of his warning to Gentiles in chapter 11.¹²

14:20 Don’t let the eating of food destroy the work of God. All food is right to eat, but it is wrong for anyone to eat something that hurts the faith of another person.

Now Paul focuses on a point of contention that existed between the Jewish church members who required kosher foods, and their objection to the Gentiles who ate the same food bought at the market that was offered in idol worship. As he told the Corinthians: “Food was meant for the stomach. The stomach needs food, but God will bring both of them to an end.”¹³ In other words, the resources for food was provided by our Creator for our existence here on earth. Once we get to heaven it won’t be necessary anymore. So there is no such thing as a sanctified diet that will bring us closer to God.¹⁴ However, just because what you eat doesn’t bother you, don’t brag about it in order to tease someone who has trouble with consuming such foods.¹⁵ By being careful not to offend a less tolerant brother or sister in the Lord, we do so in honor to God.¹⁶

Whatever your lifestyle, says Paul, don’t insist on anything that may end up bringing discord and injury to the work and body of Christ. This is true even today. There are some churches who use communion wine and others grape juice for the Lord’s Supper. But this should not be a factor in keeping them from fellowshipping together. After all, Paul told the Ephesians we are God’s handiwork; He created us through Christ so we could do the work He has called and prepared us to do.¹⁷ This was Paul’s hope and prayer for the Philippians: “I am sure that God who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again. It is right for me to feel like this about all of you. It is because you are very dear to me.”¹⁸

To show the minimal effect a kosher diet has on the spiritual life of a believer, and to show how vital it was that believers be cognizant of those around them, Jesus told His disciples: “It is not what goes into a man’s mouth that makes his mind and heart sinful. It is what comes out of a man’s mouth that makes him sinful.”¹⁹ There are some people who are more worried about the external condition of their bodies than they are of the internal status of their souls. But Paul also knew that there were those even in his day who took this to the extreme by saying that it doesn’t matter all at what a person puts into, or on, their body because it is destined to decay in the grave. Remember, Jesus did not die to save our bodies, He died to save our souls. All that counts then is the soul. But, as the Apostle Peter instructed his readers: “Do not let your beauty come from the outside. It should not be the way you comb your hair or the wearing of gold or the wearing of fine clothes. Your beauty should come from the inside. It should come from the heart. This is the kind that lasts. Your beauty should be a gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight, this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it.”²⁰

On the subject of not destroying the work of God in verse 20, Clement of Alexandria remarked, “It is the mark of a silly mind to be amazed and stupefied at what is presented at vulgar banquets after having enjoyed the rich fare which is in the Word of God.”²¹ In other words, spending more time drinking in the Word at God would result in spending less time drinking at worldly parties. Chrysostom, on the other hand, believes that when Paul uses the phrase “work of God” here in this verse, he means the salvation of a brother or sister. For some people were so far away from building others up that they were prepared to destroy what God had started, and not for any good reason but over something very trivial. It is not the eating which is unclean but the ulterior motive behind it. If a super-spiritual believer entices a less-certain believer to eat something that goes against their conscience, they do it for no good purpose, they will only things worse. Thinking that something is unclean is not as bad as actually eating it even though you know it is unclean. In that case, you are committing two errors: first, by increasing the other person’s opposition by your quarrelsome attitude, and second, by getting them to taste what they believe is unclean. If you are unable to persuade them with spiritual insight, don’t try to force them.²²