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When Christians Disagree

When Christians Disagree. Chapter 12 Romans 14:1-15:7. Disunity, a major problem with God’s people Ps 133:1 – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Problems from backgrounds of the believers in the churches

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When Christians Disagree

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  1. When Christians Disagree Chapter 12 Romans 14:1-15:7

  2. Disunity, a major problem with God’s people • Ps 133:1 – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. • Problems from backgrounds of the believers in the churches • Keep convictions to himself rather than to criticize and judge one another • Believers can disagree on non essentials and still maintain unity in the church

  3. Receiver One Another (14:1-12) • Begins and ends with the same admonition: receive one another • Strong in faith & weak in faith • Strong: understood the spiritual liberty & were not enslaved to diet & days • Weak: immature Christians who felt obligated to obey the legalistic rules concerning the diet & days • Strong Christians were despising the weak • Weak Christians were judging the strong Christians • God receives us (1-3)

  4. Not our responsibility to decide the requirements for Christian fellowship • Augustine: In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity • Peter: Acts 11 & Gal. 2:11-13 • Fellowship is not based on food and days • God sustains His own (4) • Wrong for the weak Christians to take place of God • God the Master, the Christians the servants • Success doesn’t depend on the opinions or attitudes of other Christians • Servants should be busy for the Lord and not judge or condemn other Christians • Jesus Christ is the Lord (5-9) • Lord 8 times in v. 5-9 • No Christians has the right to play God in the lives of other Christians

  5. We relate food & day to the Lord • “fully persuaded in his own mind” (5) • Let every man see to it that he is really doing for the Lord’s sake, and not merely on the basis of prejudice & whim • Some standards & practices in our local churches are traditional, but not necessarily scriptural • John 21:15-25: “What is that to thee? Follow me.” • Paul’s emphasis on believers’ union: Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s (8) • Jesus is the judge (10-12) • Both weak & strong will stand at the judgment seat (bema) of Christ (I Cor 9:24-27) and be judged for the works, not sins • How we build our ministries (I Cor 3:10-15) • How to prepare

  6. Making Jesus Lord of his life and faithfully obeying Him • Judge ourselves rather than other Christians (Luke 12:41-48, Heb 13:17, I John 2:28) • Sin keeps us from serving Christ • Loss of reward (I Cor 3:15) • Lot & Abraham • Give account of ourselves • Principle of Lordship • Spurgeon & Parker • “I have learned that God blessed people I disagree with” • Edify One Another (14:13-23) • The emphasis on brother relationship, not master-servant • Principle of brotherly love

  7. Christians affect one another (13-15) • Christian can cause other believers to stumble, grieve others, or even destroy others • Knowledge & love (I Cor 8:1): “Knowlwdge puffs up, but love builds up. • There is nothing unclean of itself (14) • Issue is not “How does it affect me?”, rather “If I do this, how will it affect my brother?” • Christians must have priorities (16-18) • Christians major in minor things • Division over insignificant matters • Eternal matter, not external must be first in our lives: righteousness. peace & joy • Spiritual priorities essential to harmony in church • Christians must help each other grow (19-21) • Strong believers need to grow in love • Weak believers need to grow in knowledge

  8. The weak must learn from the strong; strong believers must love the weak • Result: peace & maturity to the glory of God • Christians must not force their opinions on others (22-23) • Certain truths all Christians must accept because they are the foundation for their faith • If conviction from God, keep to yourself • Conscience is strengthened by knowledge • Knowledge must be balance by love • Please one another (15:1-7) • Basic problem with strong Christians: selfishness • True Christian love seeks to share with others & make them happy • Sources of spiritual power to please others • Word of God (4) • Prayer (5-6)

  9. Patience vs impatience • The local church must major in the Word of God & prayer • Acts 6:1-7 – Deacons were chosen • Result: glory of God • Abraham’s words: “Let there be no strife … for we be brethren.” (Gen 13:8) • Jesus prayed for the unity in John 17:20-26) • Receive one another, edify one another, & please one another to the glory of God

  10. Psalm 69:9b – The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me (15:3) • Measure your sacrifice by Christ’s sacrifice • Person’s spiritual maturity is revealed by his discernment • Willing to give up his right to help others grow • Blessing rather than burden

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