May 24, 2020
Review
Lesson 1 Romans 1:1-15 Introduction- Paul had longed for the opportunity to preach the
gospel in Rome but was prevented from going, so he wrote a letter.
Romans 1:16-17 The theme to the book- The righteousness of God is revealed in
the gospel.
Lesson 2 Romans 1:18-32 Gentiles are exposed to the general revelation of God thru
creation yet reject God and worship idols and creation rather than the Creator.
Lesson 3 Romans 2:1-29 The self-righteous Jews who have the advantage of God’s Law
do not earn favor with God by keeping the rituals of Jewish tradition and the Law.
Lesson 4 Romans 3:21-31 Righteousness through faith—Jews and Gentiles alike receive
the righteousness of God by faith (believing) in Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for the sin of mankind.
Romans 4:1-25 Abraham is the example of being justified by faith before the
Law and circumcision.
Lesson 5 Romans 5:1-11 The benefits of those who have been justified.
Lesson 6 Romans 6:1-14 The Christian’s position is dead to sin, the Christian’s walk is to
become like Christ.
Romans 7:14-25 A description of the struggle believers have with sin.
Lesson 8 Romans 8 Living by the Spirit.
Romans 8 begins with no condemnation—Ends with no separation.
Justification—Sanctification—Glorification.
Assurance that God will not reject believers in the end.
Lesson 9 Romans 10:5-15 Human responsibility (Jew and Gentile) to the gospel and with
the gospel after it is believed.
Lesson 10 Romans 11 God’s promises to Israel are irrevocable. God will redeem Israel
after the fullness of the Gentiles has come.
Lesson 11 Romans 12 Living out the gospel.
Lesson 12 Romans 13 The Christian’s civil, social, and personal behavior.
Lesson 13 Romans 14 The Christian’s responsibility to fellow Christians with differing
convictions.
The difference between the ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ centers
around their level of faith at this point in their Christian walk.
The faith factor is pointed out in verses 1-2, 22-23.
Lessons Learned
Romans 14:1-14
1. Chapter 14 deals with how Christians should relate to one another on issues not relating to explicit fundamental doctrine for which there is no scriptural commandment.
2. Paul’s main point is that we are to accept one another and not judge or look with
contempt on those who differ with us over non-essential matters.
3. The strong are liberated brothers and sisters in Christ who fully understand what it
means to be free in Christ—they don't cling to meaningless traditions and forms of
religion. John MacArther
4. The weak are those individuals continue to hang onto the rituals and ceremonies of their past, refusing to let go. They don't believe they have freedom in Christ to do otherwise.
John MacArther
5. The weak, in this case, does not infer that they were susceptible to temptation or living in sin.
6. The ‘weak’ are those who have not yet grasped the full implication of their faith. Give
the Holy Spirit time to grow their faith, don’t be critical. (Remember, GINFWMY, God
is not finished with me yet.)
7. Four reasons why someone may be weak. David Guzik
They may be a babe in Christ—their faith is immature.
They may be sick or diseased by legalism—they feel they must follow rules to
please God.
They may be malnourished—lack of good teaching.
They may lack exercise—they need exhortation (coaching).
8. Paul lays out three principles to guide believers with differing convictions.
Mature Christians are to receive weak Christians into the fellowship and refrain from
ridiculing them.
The weak Christians are not to judge as sinners those whose faith allows them to eat
‘forbidden’ food.
Each believer is a servant of God. Only God knows their motives and is entitled to
judge His servants.
9. Verse three warns of two dangers:
The stronger condemning the weaker—looking down on the weak and treating them
with scorn or ridicule.
The weaker judging the stronger—distinguishing between good and evil.
10. Paul teaches that people should not ignore their conscience.
11. If you train yourself to ignore your conscience, you will have problems because the
Spirit of God leads subjectively through a person's conscience. John MacArther
12. Special days were Sabbath and feast days on the Jewish calendar of Old Testament
traditions.
13. The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath (7th day) to keep it holy. Ex. 20:8
14. The Old Testament Sabbath (Saturday) was a day of obligation.
15. In the New Testament the 1st day of the week is a day of privilege that is set apart in a special way for worship and serving the Lord. William McDonald Believers Bible
Commentary
16. The Lord’s Day (1st day of the week) stands out in the New Testament.
It was the day of the Lord’s resurrection. Luke 24:1, 6
Jesus appeared to his disciples on the 1st day of the week. John 20:19, 26
The day of Pentecost was on the 1st day of the week. (50 days, 7weeks + 1day after
Passover-always on the Sabbath). Leviticus 23:16
The disciples gathered to break bread on the 1st day of the week. Acts 20:7
Paul instructed the Corinthians to take a collection on the 1st day of the week.
1 Cor. 16:2
17. It is wrong to condemn or judge someone on issues that are not expressly addressed in scripture.
18. In debatable matters, what is your motive?
Are you doing what you are doing for Jesus?
Will what you are doing give God glory?
19. Verse 5. Every person is to be fully persuaded in their own mind and not be observing days or eating meat because someone else says this is what should be done.
20. “It is not what is on the table, but what is in the heart that is noted by God.”
J Vernon McGee
21. "If you read history you will find out that the Christians who did most for the present
world were precisely those who thought most of the next." C. S. Lewis
22. Romans 8:1 says believers are under ‘no condemnation’ yet Romans 14:10 says we
will ‘stand before the judgment seat of God’. The Bible is clear, believers will not be
condemned (experience God’s wrath). However, your works will be judged, some
works will be rewarded (1 Cor 3:14) and some works will burn (1 Cor 3:15) resulting
in loss of reward.
23. Jesus died to be our Savior. Romans 4:25
Jesus rose to be our Lord.
Jesus is Lord of the living and the dead. Romans 14:9
24. Each believer has an appointment with God as judge. Therefore, no man should judge the actions of others because you do not know their motives.
25. Each Christian should resolve in their heart to not be the cause of a Christian brother or sister to stumble. The literal meaning of ‘stumble’ is an occasion to sin.
