ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER
Do Not Expect Others to Live by Your Rules
1 Tim 4:1-6 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
In the last days false teachers will try to place us under bondage of some law in order to keep us feeling guilty and defeated.1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: The devil cannot take our salvation from us, but if he can keep us under the bondage of some law and feeling guilty because we do not always keep that law perfectly, we will not be as mature and fruitful as we could be otherwise. Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. We are completely free in Christ; we are not under any law. Laws, rules, do’s and don’ts are not from the Lord but they are from the minds of those who are weak in faith. Every false religious system has some set of rules which a person must obey in order to be accepted by their god, but in Christianity we are completely free from spiritual laws.
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Our salvation is not earned by us, we do not deserve it. Salvation is a totally free gift from God, given to those who do not work, but believe in Jesus Christ.
Col 2:16-23 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
The word of God should be our guide, not the opinionated teachings of men. God has set us free and has given us all things to enjoy. We should not allow anyone to place us under any kind of bondage. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. We know that laws are from men and not from God because Jesus Christ has set us free from the Law; therefore, we should stand firm in the freedom we have and not allow anyone to place us under any man-made laws.
Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.(KJV)
Rom 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, {but} not for {the purpose of} passing judgment on his opinions. (NAS)
Rom 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. (NIV)
When the word of God makes a statement about a subject, that subject is not a disputable matter, or a matter of opinion. The word of God is our only authority and must be accepted for what it says. On the other hand, if the word of God does not make a statement on a subject, that subject is a disputable matter and open to opinion.
If a fellow Christian does not share the same opinion we have on a particular disputable matter, we should not reject him or judge him in any way. We should not think it is our responsibility to convince him to be of the same opinion as we are. It does not matter who is right or who is wrong. Unity and love are more important than opinions. Who knows, the other person’s opinion may be right and our opinion may be wrong; or perhaps both of us may be wrong. The word of God instructs us to accept the person with an opinion that differs from our own.
Rom 14:2-4 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
All Christians are servants of Christ and He is our only master. We are not to lord it over anyone. God is more than able to correct the Christian that has a wrong opinion, if that wrong opinion is of any consequence, He will. If God has accepted the one with a different opinion than our own, who are we that we should reject that person. God is at work in each of us to conform us to the image of Christ, and when we get to heaven we will all be like Christ, perfect in every way. Then we will know fully; but it will no longer matter who was right or who was wrong, and no one will care.
Rom 14:5-9 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
It does not matter whether we observe one day above another. It does not matter if we eat meat or not. The only thing that matters is that in everything that we do, we can give thanks to God for it. In other words, if we are convinced in our own mind that the thing we are doing is pleasing to the Lord, then we can truly give thanks to God for the privilege of doing that which is pleasing to Him. Because we belong to the Lord, we should always, in all things, seek to please Him. Since Christ died for us, our only purpose should be to please Him in life and even in death.
When we try to force a fellow Christian to think or to believe as we do about a disputable matter, we are only seeking to please ourselves. If necessary, God is more than able to correct our brothers and sisters, for whom Christ died. If a Christian should ask another for his opinion then it would be right to state an opinion, but not to force the other Christian to conform to that opinion.
Rom 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Unbelievers will be judged for their sins because they reject Jesus Christ. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The Christian is not guilty of sin because Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself and paid the penalty for them. His blood has cleansed us from all sin. Therefore, it is our works and not our sins that will be judged to determine if they are gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw.
1 Cor 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Therefore, in all that we do, if we are motivated by love and if we give thanks to God, believing that we are pleasing Him, we shall receive reward for serving Him. The Lord is the only one who is able to judge any man’s work, He is the only one who knows our true motives. No one has the right to judge his brother in Christ, God is the only one who has the right to judge anyone.
Rom 14:13-18 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
We are not to judge another in the matter of his opinion; that is, if God’s word does not condemn an action, then neither should we. On the other hand, if God’s word does condemn a certain behavior; it is our responsibility to do the same.
1 Cor 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
We are not to live in sin, nor are we to accept the sin of others. We are not to have Christian fellowship with those who continue to live in sin. We should be pursuing righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We should make it our goal to practice righteousness according to the teachings of the word of God. We should always be on the alert to help our brother if he should stumble. The pursuit of righteousness involves all Christians. On the other hand, we should be at peace with our brothers, and not at odds over matters of opinion. We cannot have joy in the Holy Spirit when we are arguing over matters of opinion.
Rom 14:19-21 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
I am free in Christ, but my freedom does not give me the right to disregard my brother in Christ. Moreover, I have a responsibility to build him up, and not to tear him down. 1 Cor 10:23-33 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. I am free in Christ Jesus, but only free to love God and others; I am not free to destroy anyone.
Rom 14:22-23 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
If a person does something that he thinks is wrong, then it is wrong for him to do that thing. That is why we should be careful not to encourage others to do as we do, in matters of opinion. If we believe without a doubt that the thing we are doing is pleasing to God, then it is right for us to do it, but it may be wrong for another person because he may think it is wrong. Also, if we think we may be displeasing to God in the thing we are doing, then it is wrong for us to continue to do it.
We must all live by faith obeying the word of God, but when the word of God does not give us instruction about a disputable matter we must do that which we believe to be pleasing to God, and not try to force our opinions upon others.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24