26th October 2023

26th October 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 14v4-9)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Passing judgement is something that we do from time to time. It is an incredibly seductive thing to watch someone’s life and then quietly judge their actions or choices. Nevertheless, Paul would not have us confused about this act and so he asked the blunt question “who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another?” (v4) There are obviously times that passing judgement is required. For example, if a new preacher comes to town and proclaims “another gospel” then wise and sober judgement is essential, but in these verses the argument is about Christian liberty and conscience. In such a scenario there can be no room for harsh judgement and division.


We have already seen in chapter fourteen that there was a difference of opinion between the Christians in Rome. Some had no qualms about eating whatever was in front of them while others (probably Christians coming from a Jewish background) ate only vegetables. Paul’s counsel was that neither group should pass judgement on the other - both should concern themselves with the Master’s approval. The Lord is our Master and as we exercise our Christian liberty it is before the Lord that we will stand or fall (v4). Encouragingly, we can be confident that both the weak and strong will be enabled to stand by the Lord (v4b).


Although there were differences of opinion in Rome, there was still an underlying unity. One man believed that one day was more important than another. His fellow Christian believed all days were the same. Another individual ate everything on his plate whilst his friend abstained from certain foods. Where was the unity? In the fact that all of these people were exercising their Christian liberty to the glory of God. They were convinced in their own minds (v5b) and behaved in a manner that they believed brought honour and glory to God.


You and I might have different opinions on a range of issues and my Christian walk might differ from yours. Nevertheless, we are united by faith and a desire to live to God’s glory alone. Do you know the famous poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley? It ends with the line “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” I fully understand that this is a rousing note of bravado, but it is nonsense. None of us are islands, none of us are the master of our fate, none of us live without account.


The Christian understands this and knows that he/she neither lives nor dies to self (v7). The Christian lives to the glory of God and the Christian dies to the glory of God (v8). In both life and death we belong to Jesus (v8) and in this regard Jesus is the Lord of both the living and the dead, just as He lived and also tasted death (v9). Jesus is the master of our fate and the captain of our soul.


There were bigger issues in Rome than the eating of meat or the observing of days and the Christians in that great city were not to be spending their days at each other’s throats over differences of opinion. Brothers and sisters, we would do well to heed this passage. How often have we divided over issues that should be left to the conscience of the individual Christian? Each one should be convinced Biblically about their position and live to the glory of God alone. No room should be left for pettiness, gossip or the judgement of other Christians. All of us have the same Master and His name is Christ, therefore all of us have the same cry and it is “Soli Deo Gloria”


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q80 What is required in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, and all that is his.
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