Adjusting Soul Liberty
8 December 2013 AM – Romans 14:13-23 – Romans – Scott Childs
Introduction: In the first half of Romans 14, Paul instructed the church at Rome regarding soul liberty. In the last half of the chapter, he instructs them to adjust their soul liberty instead of demanding it.
If you are driving your car down the proper side of the road and ahead you see a child riding his bike in your lane coming your way, though you have the right of way, you should adjust your rights and go around the child. This is what Paul is going to teach us about soul liberty.
Transition: To help us understand how to adjust our soul liberty, God gives us five imperatives that we must obey.
I. We Must Not Put an Obstacle in a Brother’s Way (13)
A. God forbids us to do anything that can trip others
1. A stumbling block is an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls.
2. An occasion to fall is literally a snare with a stick trigger that springs the trap if tripped over.
B. In context, the obstacle is our soul liberty
1. Last week we learned that we have soul liberty to do what we believe is right as long as we do not disobey God’s commands or principles and we do not hurt others.
2. Sometimes we might choose to do something that is fine to do, but which will offend another Christian. If we defend our soul liberty and do it anyway, we are placing an obstacle in his path to trip him.
3. If we know that our choice will trip another Christian brother or sister, we should not do it.
II. We Must Not Destroy a Brother over Food (15)
A. Paul is still talking about foods (14)
1. The word “unclean” refers to foods that should not be eaten because of Old Testament dietary law.
2. The law is now complete and its dietary laws do not apply to Christians. No food is unclean except when a person considers it unclean.
Colossians 2:16 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:
3. If a Jewish Christian still believed in his heart that pork is unclean, then in his mind it is unclean.
B. It is wrong to destroy a brother over food.
1. If a Christian knows his Jewish Christian friend still believes it is sin to eat pork, then to invite him to a pig roast would grieve him and you would not be walking in love.
2. Do not destroy him or shatter his faith by insisting on eating pork in front of him. We must remember that Christ died for him just as He died for us. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We should not want to hurt other Christians in any way.
III. We Must Not Let Our Good be Evil Spoken of (16)
A. Our soul liberty is good
1. God is not condemning our soul liberty. If we have rightly proved an issue according to 1Th 5:21-22 and held fast only that which is good, then we have the soul liberty to do that.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
2. God is not saying that proper soul liberty is bad.
B. Our soul liberty is evil spoken of if we offend
1. Though our soul liberty is good, if we use it when we know it will grieve another Christian, it becomes wrong for us to do.
2. If we do it anyway, the one grieved will think or speak evil about what we did. He will be hurt deeply inside.
3. The kingdom of God (17) is the present kingdom of Christ reigning in the hearts and lives of his children. God’s kingdom is not about eating and drinking (as it commonly was among the heathen religions), but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
4. Doing right, maintaining peace, and having joy in our hearts from the Holy Spirit not being grieved are very important. Serving Christ in these ways pleases God and men (18).
5. For this reason, we must follow things that make peace and which edify or build up others (19).
IV. We Must Not Destroy God’s Work over Food (20)
A. Carelessness can destroy God’s work
1. The word destroy is different from the one used earlier. This one means to tear down, to overthrow. It is the opposite of building up. Rogers
2. A careless Christian who eats things that offend other Christians will tear down God’s work. This we must not do.
B. Even pure things can become evil
1. Though eating pork, rabbit, or a prawn is pure and good, if we know it offends a Jewish Christian present and we do it anyway, the pure becomes evil.
2. We must not consume any food or drink that can cause another person to stumble, be offended, or become weak spiritually (21).
V. We Must Have Faith in Ourselves Before God (22)
A. Keep offensive soul liberties private.
1. It is okay to enjoy your soul liberty privately if you know it offends others.
2. However, you must have faith that the activity is truly pleasing to God. This does not justify sinful activities that the Bible condemns by command or principle. It only allows activities that truly pass God’s proving test in 1Th 5:21-22.
3. You will only be truly happy when you do not condemn yourself by knowingly offending another.
B. Doing a questionable activity will condemn you.
1. The word translated “doubteth” means to hesitate or to waiver. Rogers
2. The word “damned” does not mean sent to hell. It means to be condemned or made liable for judgment. It makes you guilty before God.
3. When God says, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”, He is saying that we must truly believe that what we are about to do pleases God is passes God’s proving test. Our choice must be based on confident faith that it is right. If we are not sure of this and do it anyway, we commit a sin. It is sin because we chose to do what we knew might not be right. God does not want us to choose the questionable, but the clear. Another way to say this is, “If in doubt, don’t!”
4. Here are some practical ways we can apply this principle.
a) If you listen to music that you are not sure pleases God, you will be sinning.
b) If you wear something that you are not sure is modest in God’s sight, you will be sinning.
c) If you look at a video or website that you are not sure is wholesome, you will be sinning.
d) If you read a novel that you are not positive God would read, you will be sinning.
If we doubt and do it anyway, we are guilty before God.
Conclusion: A Christian’s soul liberty is not just about his right to do things that are not forbidden. Soul liberty must be adjusted if it offends another Christian. We must not destroy a fellow Christian or tear down God’s work by exercising our soul liberty. In addition, we must be very sure that our activities pass God’s proving test. If we have any doubts, we must not do them.
If you have not been concerned about causing others to stumble by your actions, you need to ask God to forgive you and make you more loving.
If you have been doing things that you know in your heart are questionable, God says that is sin. You need to confess it to the Lord and begin acting only by faith.
Song: Cleanse Me – 166