Romans for Youth
Commentary by Pastor Ron Beckham

Romans Chapter 14

Verse 1.  “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.”

You may think somebody is “weak” in their faith.  But you are to ACCEPT them and not judge them.

Verse 2.  “One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.”

The Jews of that time were only allowed to eat certain foods.  You may believe you can eat ANY kind of food, but a person “weak” in faith, may NOT be able to eat what you can.

Verse 3.  “The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.”

We are NOT under God’s Law if we TRUST in Christ, except for this: we are to LOVE one another (and accept them) – even when they do things differently than we do.

Verse 4.  “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

When someone believes in Jesus, but goes to a church where they worship differently – we are NOT to judge them.  The LORD is our judge and He is the one who can bring us (and them) through.

Verse 5.  “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Some worship God on Saturday and others on Sunday.  You may worship Him EVERY day.  The Holy Spirit does not lead us to all be the same.  Worship God when and how YOU know it is right for you.

Verse 6.  “He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.”

When you follow your conscience and honestly thank God and serve Him the best you know how, He will be pleased with you and what you have done.  He also loves those who don’t give thanks exactly like you do.

Verse 7.  “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;”

We live for the Lord and we will go to be with Him when HE chooses.  We were created to love others, and we show our love by ACCEPTING them, even when they believe and act differently than we do.

Verse 8.  “for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.”

Whether we keep on living or not, we are the Lord’s.  We live for Him and our lives are His.  We don’t need to worry about OTHERS who love Him, for they are His, too.

Verse 9.  “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”

Jesus Christ didn’t need to die, but He did – He died for you and me.  Through dying and returning to life, He showed us He is Lord of us all, whether we are alive or have gone to be with the Lord.

Verse 10.  “But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

As Jesus said, we are NOT to be “judges” of each other, and we should not have bad thoughts about others – we are no better than they are.

Verse 11.  “For it is written, ‘as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

This verse quotes Isaiah 45:23.  We are to love the Lord God and worship Him.  We are to praise Him and not worry so much about what other people are doing.

Verse 12.  “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

God is our judge, and each of us will be judged by HIM, not each other.  We will have to explain it to God, if we have mean thoughts about others.

Verse 13.  “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.”

Because God is our Judge (not you and me), it’s time to ACCEPT others.  Don’t think or say bad things about them.  He loves them as much as He loves you.

Verse 14.  “I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”

If others love Jesus, but worship Him differently than you do – don’t worry!  It’s GOD who decides if we (and they) are clean and pure inside.  Trust in Jesus for it’s HIM who makes us clean.

Verse 15.  “For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.”

Someone believes that certain foods are wrong for them in the sight of God.  That’s OK – Christ died for them, just like He did for everybody else.  We are to be NICE to others who are in Christ, even if they are DIFFERENT than we are.

Verse 16.  “Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;”

Don’t nag at others to be like you are.  You may be free to do what others cannot do, but if you try to make them be like you, it will cause harm.

Verse 17.  “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

It isn’t what you can or cannot eat or drink that is important.  If you trust in Christ; if you know God’s peace and are full of joy in His Holy Spirit – THAT’S what is important in the kingdom of God.

Verse 18.  “For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

If you are right in Christ, if you have His peace, if you have received His Holy Spirit and know His joy; DON’T try to force others to be just like you – Accept them!  It will please God, and other people will like you.

Verse 19.  “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

Our job in Christ is to HELP others, “building” them up, not tearing them down.  We are to be at PEACE with others who love Jesus Christ.

Verse 20.  “Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of foods.  All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.”

God is creating love in the hearts of His people.  You can do what is right in the sight of God for you, but don’t “rub it in” to others or force them to be just like you.

Verse 21.  “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.”

You have FREEDOM in Christ, but somebody else who loves the Lord as much as you do, may have a different “freedom” from you.  Don’t do anything that will lead others into what is “sin” for them.

Verse 22.  “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”

When you trust (have faith) in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God is with you.  He helps you know what to say, what to think and what to do.  Doing what is right for you will make you happy.

Verse 23.  “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”

“Faith” is trusting the Holy Spirit, who is “telling” you what will please God and is helping you to not “sin” (do bad things).  If He wants you to do or not do something, like eating or not eating a certain food, then do what He wants. (You'll be happy if you do - Verse 22).

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org