Introduction: “Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, the blue whale. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface, through the water column, and down to and below the seafloor.” (Ocean Literary Principle 5, Exploring Our Fluid Earth) https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/standards-alignment/ocean-literacy-principles-olp/olp-5-ocean-supports-great-diversity-life-and

 

While not coming close to the sheer diversity of life of the ocean, the diversity of the body of Christ is amazing as well (ethnicity, language, families, career, economic, social, physical, age, interests, dislikes, gender). With this blessing of diversity, however, comes the challenge of pursuing unity.

 

“How do we keep unity in the midst of diversity?” This is the question that Romans 14 seeks to answer. In this section of Romans (12:1-15:13), Paul has been writing about a new kind of community. Unity is the fourth characteristic of this new kind of community (the other three characteristics are spiritual worship, authentic love, and citizenship).

 

Christian unity is important for four reasons. First, our unity reflects the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit (brings God glory). Second, our unity shows the power of the gospel (unites a world of differences).

 

Third, our unity provides support and encouragement for one another (brings people together). Fourth, our unity helps us to accomplish our ministry objectives and goals.

 

Because Rome was a city full of diversity, it’s not surprising that the church reflected a diversity too. Within the church of Rome, you had two major positions—group one believes that their convictions are biblical and the other (group two) is mistaken and group two who believes that their convictions are biblical and the other (group one) is mistaken. But, are we any different today?

 

So, in the midst of such diversity, how should the church pursue unity? Romans 14 provides five answers to this question. First, unity welcomes one another (14:1-4). Second, unity honors different convictions (14:5-9). Third, unity doesn’t judge (14:10-13). Four, unity focuses on Christ, love, God’s kingdom (14:14-19). Fifth, unity pursues faith (14:20-23).

 

Unity Welcomes One Another (14:1-4)

14:1-2: We have already seen how God addressed the Jews and Gentiles from a theological perspective (chapters 9-11). Romans 14, however, calls attention to unity in light of the issues of food, sacred days, and drinking wine.

 

Paul’s use of “weak” isn’t a judgment of a person’s lack of faith, lack of love/passion for God, or inability to persevere through hardships. Rather, a weak person in this context is someone who is “unable to grasp the reality of the new covenant Christ has established.” (Osborne, 356) In contrast, a “strong” person has understood that Christ has brought freedom from the law.

 

In this historical context, the weak person was primarily referring to a Jewish Christian while the strong person was primarily referring to a Gentile Christian (of course, several Jewish Christians like Paul and Peter understood that they were free from the law in Christ). For our study, we will interchange the terms strong/mature in faith and weak/young in faith to refer to Paul’s two classifications.

 

The strong is to “welcome” the weak without arguing (14:1). Thus, this welcoming is without any strings attached! The mature Christian recognized that he/she was free to “eat anything” (cf. Jesus’ teaching in Mark 7:1-23 and Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9-23) while the young in faith believed that he/she should only eat vegetables (14:2; cf. Leviticus 11 commands us to refrain eating from pork, shellfish, scavenger birds, etc.).

 

The issues that Paul was addressing in the church of Rome were eating meat, sacred days, and drinking wine. Although we are two thousand years removed from the first-century, we should note several topics that are currently debated in many churches:

 

In our study, we mention drinking alcohol and dancing to illustrate Paul’s teaching points about strong/mature Christians in relation to Christians who are weak/young in their faith. Due to space limitations, I have not argued for drinking alcohol and dancing as “permissible” (in a limited fashion). If you disagree, please read my words with grace when I use them for the strong/mature position.

 

14:3-4: Those who understood their freedom from the law (the strong) should not “despise the one who abstains” (the weak in faith: 14:3). And likewise, the one that “abstains” (the young in faith) should not “pass judgment on the who eats” (14:3) because “God has welcomed” him (the strong in faith). When we welcome others and suspend judgment of others we encourage unity in the body of Christ.

 

We should welcome and not judge one another for three reasons. First, we should welcome one another because God has welcomed both (weak, strong). Second, we can only “stand” and “be upheld” (sustained) because of the Lord’s grace and strength. (14:4) Third, it doesn’t matter whether we are young in faith or mature in faith because both are servants of the Lord (14:4).

 

Unity Honors Different Convictions (14:5-9)

14:5-6: In addition, the “weak” Christian believed that one day was more significant than the others (a Sabbath day for worship and rest: Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). On the other hand, the “strong” Christian surmises that “all days” were equally significant (Mark 2:28/John 5:17-18; Colossians 2:16-17). Regardless of one’s view, Paul notes that each person needs to “be fully convinced in his own mind.” (14:5) Our conviction must be from God.

 

While Paul believes that the “strong” person is correct, it’s important to note that unity should be pursued in the midst of these differences. We should welcome one another because both the “weak” person (observes one day, abstains from meat) and “strong” person (eats meat) honor the Lord in their convictions. ​

 

14:7-9: “The problem of both the weak and the strong is that the purpose of both systems is to prove the superiority of their movement rather than to glorify the Lord.” (Osborne, 362). As Christ-followers, we don’t live for ourselves (none of us lives to himself) and we don’t die for ourselves (none of us dies to himself).

 

Rather, we live (if we live, we live to the Lord) and die for Jesus (if we die, we die to the Lord). Thus, we belong to Jesus (we are the Lord’s). Jesus’ death makes him sovereign over our death and his resurrection makes him sovereign over our life.

 

Unity Doesn’t Judge (14:10-13)

14:10-12: We should refrain from judging and despising one another because everyone will “stand before the judgement seat of God.” (14:10) The judgment seat of God (see 2 Corinthians 5:10) is not a reference to our salvation. Rather, it’s a reference to God’s universal judgment in the future.

 

Quoting Isaiah 49:18 (As I live) and 45:23, Paul highlights two elements relating to God’s universal judgment. First, we will submit (every knee shall bow to me) to God’s sovereign authority, power, knowledge, and wisdom to judge the world. Second, we will recognize and profess (every tongue shall confess to God) that God possesses sovereign authority, power, knowledge, and wisdom to judge the world.

 

Everyone will give an account of our lives—words, thoughts, and deeds (14:12). No one and nothing will escape God’s judgment. He judges us for our faithfulness (or lack of faithfulness). Those who are faithful receive crowns (righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8; life: James 1:12, Revelation 2:10; glory: 1 Peter 5:4).

 

14:13: Because God is the ultimate judge (we leave all judgement to His sovereign authority, power, knowledge wisdom), Paul concludes (therefore) that we should “not pass judgment on one another any longer.” (14:13)

 

He also adds that judging one another will impede our brothers and sisters’ spiritual growth and maturity (stumbling block, hindrance). We impede their faith because he/she is convicted that a particular action is sinful (e.g., drinking alcohol, dancing) and yet they see us participating in these very things.

 

Unity Focuses on Christ, Love, God’s Kingdom (14:14-19)

14:14-16: As noted earlier, Jesus himself pronounced all food clean (Mark 7:1-23; cf. Peter’s vision: Acts 10:9-23). While all food is (ceremonially) clean it still remains “unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean” (14:14: the young in faith).

 

Unity, however, does not come easy. There are sacrifices to be made. In 14:15, Paul reminds us that the freedom we champion (drinking alcohol, dancing) may grieve (their consciences) and destroy (impede their spiritual growth) others and thus bring judgment on us (good be spoken of as evil) (14:15-16).

 

Although we have freedom in Christ, Paul grounds the idea of limiting our freedom and pursuing unity in light of Christ’s death and “walking in love.” (14:15) Christ’s death unites us because he died for all of us. Jesus’ death has made our spiritually community possible. The body of Christ cannot exist without his death.

 

When we walk in love, we’re patient and kind toward one another. We don’t boast in our freedom, nor are we arrogant or rude in proclaiming our freedom. When we walk in love, we won’t insist in our freedom.

 

Walking in love doesn’t mean we rejoice in the spiritual immaturity of others, but we rejoice in the truth of God’s Word. For the sake of our brothers and sisters, we will bear, believe, hope, and endure in all things in our pursuit for Christian unity. Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; cf. Romans 13:8; Ephesians 4:2-3; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:11; 3:18; 4:12-13).

 

14:17: Most of this passage has focused on pursuing unity in the midst of our diversity (issues like eating meat and sacred days for Rome and drinking alcohol and dancing for us today). In 14:17, Paul provides an important perspective: God’s kingdom transcends these issues of Christian liberty.

 

Righteousness. Peace. Joy. These three (and much more!) highlight the Spirit’s presence and power in the lives of God’s people. Our justification (God declares us righteous on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness being spiritually accredited to us) is at the heart of Romans 3:21-31. We can’t become righteous through living a good life, but only by placing our faith in Christ.

 

Because we have been reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins, we now have peace with God (Romans 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 1:20-23). Formerly, we were enemies (Romans 5:10), but have now become friends of God (John 15:14-15).

 

We have peace with God because we are no longer condemned for our sins (Romans 8:1) nor stand guilty before God (no guilty conscience for our sins: Hebrews 10:22; Titus 3:5; 1 John 1:9).

 

Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). While the Christian life is full of brokenness, pain, and trials, there’s also joy in the journey because of God, the gospel, the Word, prayer, worship, our family, the body of Christ, the beauty of creation, and much more! We are exhorted to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4).

 

Although there are many verses that speak about joy, I want to briefly highlight Psalm 126 with three observations. First, joy comes from remembering God’s work (126:1-2). Second, we rediscover joy when we remember the great things of the Lord (126:3). Third, there’s joy when we restore our brokenness (126:4-6). 

14:18-19: By limiting their freedom, the strong in faith are “acceptable to God and approved by men” (the weak in faith: 14:18). Because the strong are the mature in faith, they should pursue that which “makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Thus, limiting our freedom for our “weaker” brothers and sisters will edify and build them up (rather than becoming a stumbling block or hindrance to them).

 

Unity Pursues Faith (14:20-23)

14:20-22: Strong/mature Christians should not exercise their Christian liberty (e.g., drinking alcohol, dancing) because it will destroy (hurt, damage, break down, weaken) the work of God (the body of Christ created via the gospel, cross, resurrection, Spirit’s work).

 

Mature Christians know that their actions are not sinful but only perceived as sinful by their Christian brothers and sisters, who are young in their faith. Therefore, they have “no reason to pass judgment on” themselves in light of their Christian liberty (what he approves: 14:22). Yet, on the other hand, it’s “good” if the strong/mature in faith refrain from actions that will stumble those who are weak/young in their faith (14:21).

 

14:23: Paul ends this chapter with one final warning to Christians, who are weak/young in their faith. If their convictions include the belief that eating meat, drinking alcohol, or dancing are sinful, then they will be condemned by their own consciences by participating in such lifestyle choices.

 

These actions, in contrast to the strong/mature in faith, “would not be done in faith…but in doubt, that is, eating [drinking, dancing] without the faith that is right before God. Paul’s point is that everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Osborne, 374).

 

1. Who are the “weak” and “strong” in Romans 14:1-23? What do they believe and how are these convictions played out in this passage?

 

2. What are some present-day examples that could be identified as “grey areas”—theological beliefs, convictions that challenge the church’s (not necessarily limited to Pathway) pursuit of unity?

 

3. Are you more likely to “welcome” people into unity and spiritual community? What are Paul’s reasons for welcoming people into unity? (14:3-4) How do you become a welcoming presence to others?

 

4. To what extent have you “despised” or “passed judgment” on others? Share your experiences. Why do you think you took these actions?

 

5. How does the death of Christ and walking in love encourage you to pursue unity? (14:14-16)

 

6. What’s the relationship of the kingdom of God (righteousness, peace, joy) to Paul’s overall thought process in this passage? Explain its significance.

 

7. How will you encourage unity at your church and small group? To what extent do you need to limit your Christian freedom in order to pursue unity?