Expound: Romans 13-14:13 - Part C

We will be charged for Christ. Towards the kingdom based upon our faith was what God has called us to do now were saved by grace you have in your works is finished work. I know that your position in the is the term by your faithfulness to God is so important as God's people trying to impose convictions on others today on connect.

Skip Skip shares loving encouraging neighbor to a fellow believer and focus on God's calling for you right now to tell you about a recent discover the Bible's extraordinary relevance in transforming power in this world record has again confirmed the selling of all time, research, and portions of Scripture been translated into 3500 different languages but there's a difference between having access to God's word and allowing it to change your life to death about practical Bible study from Skype.

I think observation was legal interpretation which must lead to application somebody once but if you want to meet in the street you take good Bible truths and shoe leather unknowns where the rubber meets the road. You do what Jesus said to increase the effectiveness of your personal Bible study how to study the Bible and enjoy it. This practical guide is thanking you when you get $25 or more to help keep teaching ministry on the air. Get your copy today and take the mystery out of studying Scripture, 892 1888, or get online securely connect.com/offer Romans chapter 13 as we join skip-there were 10 Commandments Jesus comes along and turns them from negative and positive and reduces them to. He said love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. On these to hang all the law and the prophets. So instead of…… Shall not use it. Just do this love God with all your heart, mind, soul, love your neighbor as yourself. You cubital that he really reduced down to one when he gave the golden rule do unto others as you would have others do to you now again it's put in the positive love verse 10 does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

I just want to touch on something if I can briefly and I say if I can say no you can't, but you'll notice in verse nine how he sums it up with that summary verse I just mentioned, you shall love your neighbor as your self. What does that mean you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

And the reason I asked that is because there has come a teaching I've heard it over the last couple of decades, but it resurfaces every few years and it goes like this. If you really want to love your neighbor, you have to first begin by loving yourself, you will be able to love others until you are in love with yourself and once you learn to love your self and your equipped to love your neighbor and I've even heard this, and equipped to love God, you can't love God.

They say unless you love yourself first because were told to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

You begin with self-love and then you love God and you love your neighbor well all accessorizing. First of all, never, is there a commandment in the Bible to love yourself to Commandments were given by Jesus is not treated as a love yourself and the love God with all your heart mind soul and strength in the luggage neighbor as yourself. That's never there and and and then second when it says love your neighbor as your self. It's because it presupposes the love your love your neighbor as you love yourself. That's the presupposition the presupposition of the truth is that you arty do love yourself. And because you already love yourself and everybody on earth knows that we all love ourselves based on that love others with that same kind of care that same kind of interest that you have been yourself turn that outward others, it presupposes that everybody already does love your self so loving your self is not the solution. Loving yourself is the problem and yet this teaching has come into the church to teach you how to love yourself so that you can love others, you arty love yourself.

Paul said you love yourself, you wouldn't nourish your flesh, you would eat you wouldn't you wouldn't put perfume on somebody's dress up nicely perfume. Oh I hate myself really.

I couldn't tell. So it's a presupposed fact and often the very root of the problem so love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law and do this, knowing the time, but now it is high time to wake out of sleep for now. Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. If you are saved 20 years ago. Your 20 years closer to heaven. Then you were that I know, that's pretty obvious, but I do believe first of all, I do believe in the last days and I can make any prediction of that's been done to the detriment of the church for years, but Paul always believed and taught in the New Testament teaches the imminent return of Jesus Christ and for us. Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness. Let us put on the armor of light.

Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust, always using a picture of a word picture that was familiar, a Roman soldier would get up and would strip himself of his common clothes and put on his battle gear and then at night he would put off his battle gear put on his sleeping clothes etc. so the ideas let's likewise strip ourselves of the things that are wrong and hold us back in and I love this put on the Lord Jesus Christ put on Jesus invite Jesus everywhere you go during the day. In fact, ask yourself if I know that Jesus is sitting next to me during this activity. I'm about to engage in what he approve I'm invite him. I'm in a not just bring a minimum of put them on when you put Jesus on your fine he's a perfect fit. He fits you perfectly and you'll find it to be a perfect fit in every situation so so like that.

Like the soldier who would who would put off the works of darkness and put on his armor for the fight, put on Jesus and every situation in chapter 14 as we get into this all continues this practical section. What he is going to be dealing with what we would call gray areas of the Christian life.

There's no specific that's right, that's wrong, but it could be right.

It could be wrong, depending on who's doing it and for what reason the boundaries aren't as clear so you'll notice is received one who is weak in faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things.

For one, believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat.

Let not him who does not need judge him who eats God is received in core, you to judge another's servant to his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand for God is able to make him stand.

There are issues that are secondary issues that are not issues of salvation there not issues of major points of doctrine like the deity of Christ, the character or nature of Christ of God, etc. there secondary things dieting and days of worship are a couple of here's what's interesting about this in the context of this chapter the week brother. The weak sister is the legalistic brother usually would think, well, you know, weak person, you know, just sort of is just not eats whatever he wants is in everyone's worst at whatever days they want, but strong believer somebody who has those strict parameters of this and that that does not seem to be the context here the stronger believer receives the weaker more legalistic believer who was hung up on diet and hung up on days of worship received that is receiving the fellowship one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things out so don't bring them in and then point your finger at the corner them because you're there to straighten out their life just keep the essentials essential you love Jesus you walking in fellowship with him.

You keep the basic tenants of the Christian faith. And then when it comes to diet and days you received them in the faith. You receive them, and in the corporate faith in which we have when I was still living at the beach in California. I remember I was out in my front yard one day. I've used this analogy before but my my mind went back to it this week.

I was in the front yard. I don't remember what I was doing but I think I was either cleaning the salt off my wet suit or waxing my surfboard. One of the two, but I was in the front yard and I'm I'm working and I see a shadow of a person stop writing from. I looked up and I kid you not.

There was a man in a flowing white robe with a beard and long hair. Well, I'm a young person.

What am I to think I think this is it.

He's come for me personally, I am here is I almost want to say what is it, Lord. But I looked up there I said hello and is first the first words out of his mouth was a question do you eat meat, hard me hello what is your name nice to meet you. That's kind of a common thing you per se not do you eat meat, but you read me and I said well you have from time to time I made a vitamin for a good hamburger all pick it out needed and then he went into a little tirade about how that I as a follower of the Lord should not eat meat and he was just really hung up on diet and he seemed to be very rigid and very strong recording this recording that he was somebody weak in the faith. If he was in in the faith at all.

I didn't have the lava conversation. He got mad. We found out that I didn't mind eating hamburgers or stormed off after that. In the New Testament. Unlike the Old Testament there are no dietary regulations. There's no kosher pallet or menu.

There are not specific days of worship that you are bound to like in the Old Testament you rested in worship on the seventh day, the Sabbath does not seem to be the case in the New Testament. You remember acts chapter 10 peters on the rooftop in Joppa.

He sees a vision all these animals let down in the white sheet before them in the Lord's dispute arise and eat them. Those not so Lord I've never touch anything common or unclean, as if to say, I've only eaten kosher my whole life. God said what I've cleansed, don't call common or unclean know you didn't know that what he was getting at was not diet per se, but at admitting Gentiles who he called common unclean allowing people of faith into the church. The same basic principle so that there aren't the same credit regulations as in the Old Testament see one of his week in the faith, not to dispute over doubtful things one believes he may eat all thanks right that's a lot of us. I know you might not want eat certain things because of what it does to your physique or your hips or or your weight or your complexion, but other than that, you probably don't have a religious hang upon somebody else says he was weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has received. Who are you to judge another Mansour. I've always found it interesting that there seems to be a kind of worldliness in circles in Christian circles that I would describe as geographic worldliness. So among fundamental Christians in America, they would say no we don't break we don't smoke right we don't chew I don't smoke I don't chew I don't go with girls or do you know we have our little set of things we save you do that that's worldly drinking and smoking would be on the list and yet we might eat, to the point where it's unhealthy and were obese of rubber that one not eating.

I'm not drinking or smoking, you might break the speed limit, but I'm not drinking or smoking, you might do a lot of things that are wrong and sinful and worldly, but I'm not drinking and smoking DL Moody loved Charles Haddon Spurgeon read his sermons always wanted to meet him. I remember reading the story to just loved. So on one occasion, Moody was in England had the chance to visit with Spurgeon knocked on the door and wouldn't you know it, the one who answered the door was Moody's hero Charles Haddon Spurgeon in the flesh. He opened the door is hero was there. The problem was. Spurgeon had a big old cigar hanging out of his mouth.

He loves cigars, was a cigar smoker. He found no problem doing so open the door. Good night hello, I was really more Australian and Moody wish look back and in any instinctively pointed it. Spurgeon said how can you as a man of God that in the Spurgeon was witty and he was quick.

He quickly looked at DL Moody was quite rotund, quite large, physically is a fat man and when Moody said, how can you as a man of God do that he patted Moody on the belly and said the same way you was a man of God can do that so what you eat or what you smoke it might be unhealthy for you, but it's not doesn't make you far or near in terms of your relationship with God. So you receive one who is weak in the faith. Why because they're in the faith. Now he goes on one person esteems one day above another, another steams every daylight. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord, you does not observe the day to the Lord.

He does not observe you eats each to the Lord. He gives God thanks. He who does not eat to the Lord. He does not eat, and gives God thanks for none of us lives to himself and no one dies to himself. We live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we die to the Lord.

Therefore whether we live or die. We are the Lord's. So the debate as well, which today is the right data worship, which is the real Lord's day in the Old Testament.

The data worship is what it Saturday.

Actually, sundown Friday sundown Saturday night Shabbat that's the day of rest. That's the day of worship the Lord's day in the New Testament, there really isn't such a date became a practice of the early church to meet on Sunday the first day of the week because of what it stood for. So the seventh day of the week speaks of a finished creation. The first day of the week speaks of a finished redemption and because Jesus rose on the first day of the week ceiling. That redemption early church members worship met together on the first day of what every now and then I'll have a cemetery in that is somebody who says you have to worship on Saturday not Sunday. You know, get a hold on you and and and kinda cornering, so you worship on Sunday. I believe Saturday is the only torture I say well I invite you to our Saturday service you're welcome to come Saturday Sabbath service.

While we don't call the Sabbath service but it begins at 4 o'clock in the encyclical you can come 637 so I believe horse runs out of the buildings underwhelming tape at the two service. We haven't sent it now. I love the way Paul handles this is this is the right day of the week you just let each be persuaded in his own mind figured out side here you had your heart so for me Sunday is the data worship.

So is Monday and by the way, so is Tuesday and then Wednesday I'll be sick.

Is it we are than Thursday, Friday and Saturday every day is a data worship and why I think it's dangerous to take one day and said this is the Lord's day because when you only say this is the Lord's day you are inferring the rest of the days are yours, and none of us lives or dies to himself, where his.

He bought all of us. All of our time belongs to him. So I am persuaded in my mind that every day is exactly the same for the Lord. We should worship him every day the week so the Sabbath didn't change in the early church. They met on Sunday, the first day of the week because it spoke of a finished redemption for none of us lives himself known none of his guys, and so verse nine order this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that he might be the Lord about the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother, why do you show contempt for your brother.

We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. The work they must see the raised platform often used in the Olympics to give rewards to the runners. Paul in first Corinthians 9 said don't you know that all of us to all those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize so Ron that you might obtain it so we will be judged before Christ and given rewards in the kingdom based upon our faithfulness to what God has called us to do now were saved by grace you go to heaven, not by your works but by his finished work right.

We know that, but your position in the kingdom is determined by your faithfulness to what God has called you to do two different issues completely famous seat of Christ, for it is written as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me every tongue shall confess to God, so that each of us shall give an account of himself to God is quoting Isaiah 45 to show the universality of God's sovereign jurisdiction, and to use the verse to say this, you're going to give an account one day for your self not for anybody else not for your husband, not for your wife for your adult children not not for your neighbor for the question on the street you need this right now. You will give an account for them will give an account only for yourself and you'll give it to God, not to a committee not your neighbor, not anybody else but only to God that that's the point of this. That's the thrust of each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or to cause to fall in our brother's way certain things we have the freedom to do might actually be an impediment. If others see us do them now when it comes to diets and days.

Let each be persuaded in their own mind, but there is a caveat. There is a consideration that might change our involvement in certain things and and understand with that caveat is for next week include Skip message from the series expound right now we want to let you know about a special opportunity to pursue biblical studies in a way that works with your schedule going to church is a great way to learn about God. But what if you want to learn more deeper Calvin College offers classes in biblical studies courses like worldview apologetics learn how to defend your faith on your schedule evening classes on campus for online transfer credits to Cambridge University Veritas international diversity for an accredited college degree that will impact your spiritual life for the rest of your life.

I know I tell the church college.com from cover to cover. The Bible proclaims God anything left for you and we declare that powerful message all around the world still being that you get the gift right now to help keep these teachings you have on the air make it possible for more people to experience A life-changing, not just as a connect with.com/ticket.com/Downey 492, 1892 different scenes in alliance with the tuning tomorrow is six years lived by the law of love that his mother's higher than