Liberty and Conscience
Scripture: Romans 14:7-8 - “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
A renowned gospel preacher once declared that if he was ever marooned on a tropical island and could have only one book of the Bible with him, it would be that of Romans. One doesn’t have to read very far into that part of the Scripture to identify with his choice: it is most informative about what it means to be a Christ follower; it contains the famous “Romans Road,” a pathway of verses that even a new believer can use in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:10, 23, 26; 5:8, 5:12; 10:8, 9, and 13) These verses are relatively easy to understand for one whose heart is opened by God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:6) Even so, another seemingly overlooked chapter has become one of my favorite in this wonderful Book: Romans chapter 14.
While there are many specific, rather “black and white” behavioral principles in the Word of God, (e.g., the Ten Commandments, the command to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all of our soul, and with all our mind and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, (Mark 12:29-31), just to name very few), Romans chapter 14 seems to magnify our Lord’s grace in its recognition of the various levels of growth in different individuals’ Christian walk. The Word teaches that each person is to be “fully convinced in his own mind. (v. 5) “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord….” (14:6)
A thoughtful recognition of the different levels and stages of growth within the body of Christ should restrain us from becoming dogmatic about areas of Christian living that are not as sharply defined as those mentioned earlier. There may be some “gray areas,” again where Scripture is not so “crystal clear,” and other Christian believers’ observances may be slightly different from that of our own little group. The bottom line is presented in verses 10(b) and 12: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” and “each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Areas such as what one eats, (Rom. 14:3), what day they’ve consecrated for worship (v. 5), and all of our behavior, should be performed with conscience toward our Savior. The entirety of Romans chapter 14 seems to be summarized in verse 22(b)—Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the liberty Christ Jesus died to give us; only lead us to that place where we consistently live with a Christ-honoring conscience, as described in Your Holy Word. Amen!
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)
A renowned gospel preacher once declared that if he was ever marooned on a tropical island and could have only one book of the Bible with him, it would be that of Romans. One doesn’t have to read very far into that part of the Scripture to identify with his choice: it is most informative about what it means to be a Christ follower; it contains the famous “Romans Road,” a pathway of verses that even a new believer can use in presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:10, 23, 26; 5:8, 5:12; 10:8, 9, and 13) These verses are relatively easy to understand for one whose heart is opened by God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:6) Even so, another seemingly overlooked chapter has become one of my favorite in this wonderful Book: Romans chapter 14.
While there are many specific, rather “black and white” behavioral principles in the Word of God, (e.g., the Ten Commandments, the command to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all of our soul, and with all our mind and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, (Mark 12:29-31), just to name very few), Romans chapter 14 seems to magnify our Lord’s grace in its recognition of the various levels of growth in different individuals’ Christian walk. The Word teaches that each person is to be “fully convinced in his own mind. (v. 5) “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord….” (14:6)
A thoughtful recognition of the different levels and stages of growth within the body of Christ should restrain us from becoming dogmatic about areas of Christian living that are not as sharply defined as those mentioned earlier. There may be some “gray areas,” again where Scripture is not so “crystal clear,” and other Christian believers’ observances may be slightly different from that of our own little group. The bottom line is presented in verses 10(b) and 12: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” and “each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Areas such as what one eats, (Rom. 14:3), what day they’ve consecrated for worship (v. 5), and all of our behavior, should be performed with conscience toward our Savior. The entirety of Romans chapter 14 seems to be summarized in verse 22(b)—Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the liberty Christ Jesus died to give us; only lead us to that place where we consistently live with a Christ-honoring conscience, as described in Your Holy Word. Amen!
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)
Archive
2022
January
Dissing Double MindednessCome-to-Jesus MomentNew Year, Same God!Is God Real?O Me of Little FaithNot Another Password!Lamb of GodA Tale of Two SongsGod WinksJesus Working Through MeA Real Friend with BenefitsGod is Trying to Tell Us SomethingEven the Lord, RestedGod’s Word to the RescueLiberty and ConscienceHaving a Made-Up MindMarch Like a SoldierThe Reality of UnityLostMiracle on the Roman RoadA Reference Point, Not a ResidencePromised TranquilityListening/Obeying ChristOf ValueHeart FlowThe Implications of “Won’t He Do It”
February
March
STANDING IN VICTORYSelf WillWho are you?Wait a MinuteNOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 1)NOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 2)NOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 3)God Given IdentityHe Knows Our Heart!Witnessing FalselyBut God; the Believer’s SemicolonGod’s Fingerprint – The Living WordHeart OwnershipDeception Among BelieversAn Extraordinary ManEven IfHe Saw the Best in MeNot Quite, Almost, Nearly \"NOPE!\"Jesus’ Teaching About WorshipTHE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PRAYER (Part I)THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PRAYER (Part II)Fruits of the SpiritDifferent Time but Same AgendaI Am the GreatestTrusting the FatherListen, God is Speaking to You
April
What’s in A Name?I’m DelightedWhat a Friend We Have in JesusGod Promises a Life of New BeginningsChrist Formed in YouSlow to SpeakThe Eternal God is Our RefugeHis Marvelous Grace and Omniscience!Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!WHEN FAITHFULNESS BARES IT\'S THROAT!Things Change in His PresenceESCAPE THE WOE!Declare the Lord’s Immutability!WAS THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, A DONE DEAL?Jesus Needing a Drink"Yisemah Adams" And The Day Of Many 'Likes'"Yisemah Adams" And The Day Of Many 'Likes' - Part 2THE Greatest TRUE Story (Part 1)THE Greatest TRUE Story (Part 2)He Dropped the ChargesWho’s the Big Deal!Don’t Just Marvel: BELIEVE!Treasures Found in Your Dark SeasonsOpen the Eyes of My HeartDAYS AS HANDBREADTHS?
May
Awaiting A Divine SequelWorship - Being in the Lord’s PresenceOpen the Eyes of My HeartJESUS SAVIOR, PILOT MEDoubt Your DoubtsGod Directs Our PathsLifeLiving as Children of GodHe Foreknew MeThe Act of LoveBEFORE 'YONDER'BEING USED OF GODOur Lord, the Master Engineer of Every ThingWhen Faithfulness Bares Its Throat (Part 1)When Faithfulness Bares Its Throat (Part 2)The Act of LoveYour Close Friendship CircleI Got Everything I NeedI Won’t ComplainONE MIGHTY SOUNDLESS SOUNDYOU ARE WITH MEEmpowered by Worship