TEXT:  Rom. 14:1, 13;  15:1, 7

INTRODUCTION:

A.      EASY TO UNDERSTAND, HARD TO APPLY

          1.       What goes in there?

          2.       Not knowing has led to error on top of error.  "Unity in diversity."

B.      NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS CHAPTER & HOW TO APPLY.

I.      WHAT ARE DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS?

A.      WORD MEANINGS:

          1.       doubtful disputations;  dialogismos, diakrisis  "(not for decisions) of doubts"

                    (lit., "not unto discussions or doubts," which is perhaps a suitable

                   rendering)-Vine.

          2.       "Groundless scruples," "Private and personal liberties in things inherently

                   innocent"( Cecil Douthitt, Guardian of Truth, 2/7/'91, p. 76 ).

B.      WHAT IS SAID IN THE TEXT?( Rom. 14:3, 14-17, 18, 20 ).

          1.       God did legislate on meats and feast days!

          2.       God legislated freedom.

C.      WHAT IS SAID ELSEWHERE?( 1 Cor. 8:4-8;  Col. 2:16-17 ).

D.      IRRELEVANT!( Rom. 14:16-17 ).

E.      WHAT THEY CANNOT BE.

          1.       That which is legislated against, therefore sinful( 1 Cor. 6:12-20 ).

          2.       In Romans, that which obeys fleshly desires( Rom. 13:11-14 ).

          3.       That which goes against apostle's tradition( 2 Thess. 3:6 ).

II.     WHO IS WEAK?

A.      HOW DO THESE REGARD EACH OTHER?

B.      vs. 13.  WHO IS LIKELY TO STUMBLE?( vs. 15, 20 ).

C.      1 Cor. 8:7, 12.  IGNORANT, UNINFORMED CONSCIENCE( Rom. 14:2 ).

III.    WHAT DUTIES ARE ENJOINED HERE?

A.      vs. 1-12.  JUDGING.

          1.       Receive in fellowship( vs. 1 ).

          2.       vs. 3.  Judge not.  Don't condemn in abstinence from liberty.

          3.       vs. 5.  Be assured in your own practice( vs. 23;  vs.  10-12 ).

B.      14:13 -- 15:13.  OUR BROTHER'S WELFARE.

          1.       No stumblingblock.  What is that?  Occasion of stumbling, cause of offense.

                   a.       Destroy faith or fellowship.

                   b.       Tempt to sin or violate conscience( 1 Cor. 8:7-13;  vs. 21-23 ).

          2.       Proper perspective( vs. 16-17 ).

          3.       Peace( vs. 19 ).  Compromise in liberties - Give them up!

          4.       Edifying( 15:1-3 ).  Build up, make strong, teach!

          5.       Unity( 15:5-7 ).

IV.   ABUSES( Rom. 14:22 ).

A.      SANCTIFIED TERRORISM.

          1.       Hostage to one man's opinion:  circumcision, veil, 1 cup, flowers, singing and praying to Jesus.

          2.       Where does it end?  What will be the end?

B.      LIBERTY FOR LIBERTINES -- UNITY IN DIVERSITY.

          1.       Divorce and remarriage( Matt. 19:9 ).

          2.       Institutions( Acts 14:23;  20:28 ).

          3.       Instruments( Eph. 5:19;  2 John 9 ).

          4.       2 John 9;  Eph. 5:11;  2 Cor. 6:14-18.  see vs. 11-13.

CONCLUSION:

A.      THIS PASSAGE THE CENTER OF A FIRESTORM.

B.      IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ACCEPTING SO MUCH OF WHAT IS APPLIED TO.

C.      WHERE GOD HAS BOUND, THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT APPLY.

          1.       Only where God has not legislated, or

          2.       Where God has loosed us to our own decisions.