Romans 14:7

Immediately these thoughts come to mind –

I am not my own. I belong to my Creator. I belong to my Redeemer. I belong to my Rescuer / Savior. I belong to my Commission. I belong to my Co-habitant.

Why? 13:11 says, The time is short… salvation is nearer than when I first believed

The latter part of the Letter to the Romans – after Paul has made such a strong case for the Need of salvation, the Means of salvation, now he talks of the Result or the Matter, if you will. He says, let’s live in an honorable way and not hinder the gospel.

He talks in chapter 13 about good citizenship, being respectful, honorable, that people of love will naturally keep the rest of the commandments. He says, discard the deeds of darkness… walk in decency… put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

That ends chapter 13 and chapter 14 begins – “Welcome…” that word, proslambano = receive, accept, take aside.

We don’t have to read too much social media, or listen to come conversations, church included, to know that we place parameters on our acceptance.

Paul is particularly addressing how the church was arguing “non-essentials’ like what they ate or didn’t eat, how they lied out things like the sabbath or observance of holy days…

… And Paul says, welcome anyone who is weak in faith. I personally don’t even think he thought they were weak, but was saying “if they don’t do it how you do it, still accept them, but also recognize they are new at this.

Discipleship is all about training and development and is interactive and relationship oriented. Paul also recognizes that in non-essentials, “disputed matters” – that is areas that are not clear “black and white” issues, ultimately, they will answer to the Lord.

This doesn’t mean we ignore clear violation of clear scripture, but we go the route of relationship over religion.

As I lead a church, we recognize that membership vs attendance, may have different expectations.

v5b – “let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 whoever observes the day, observes it to honor the Lord… eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 10:30, If I partake with Thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thinks?

So from this place, v7 – For (because of this) none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself

What does 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 say, you are not your own… for… you are bought with a price… so glorify God

So back to Romans – v8 if we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

In relationship with those we want to disciples

1. Bring them to faith in Jesus – FIRST
2. Then walk with them in growing in faith. Be sure that instruction is based on scripture and seasoned with love and grace.
3. Regarding issues ask questions like, “what does the Bible say about this?” And “Have you prayed about this?”, and “what is God saying to you?” – I find that people who are seeking God, he’s already been telling them what to do, they just want to know if they should.

then v9 Christ died and returned to life for THIS: that he might be Lord over both the living and the dead 10 but you, why do you judge… why do you despise… all will stand before the judgment seat of God… says the Lord: every knee will bow to me (Isaiah 43:23)

Then v13 …decide never to be a stumbling block or a pitfall in the way of your brother or sister…

I am convinced that 1) many fail or are delayed in placing their faith in Christ because we try and “fix” them rather than lead them to Faith in Jesus. Then 2) many young believers get sidetracked from growth because we placed too much on them immediately, rather than helping them grow. It’s like slapping down a steak on the table in front of a newborn and saying, “eat up”, or taking a toddler and saying, “Run!” or “Carry this Load”.

I’d encourage you to read the rest of this chapter and look within first… but let’s commit to this today, “I do not live for MYSELF”. If I am the common denominator, maybe I need to rethink the hill I’m climbing or the hill I am fighting to capture or get someone else to climb.

I try and be reminded there are 3 different categories 1) Biblical Commands 2) Personal Convictions, and 3) Personal Preferences – each of those have increasingly different expectations for others. If the Bible clearly says it, it is true for all, but someone else mind need some love, help, and grace getting there. If it is a Personal Conviction from the Lord, then I AM responsible but someone else might not be. If it is a Personal Preference, well, that’s not always important for others.

Let’s go back to where I started

I am not my own

• I belong to the Creator who Made me, he had a plan for me, am I on point?
• I belong to my Redeemer – he bought me at a great price, I belong to him.
• I belong to my Rescuer – Savior – gratitude should drive my from freedom to responsibility
• I belong to my Commission – am I being a Witness? Am I giving love as love has been given to me?
• I belong to my Co-habitant in the world and in the family of God? We are in this together. Are we moving toward Jesus? If they do not follow me, ok. But if they do not follow him, well let’s start there. I need to earn the right to speak into their life.

Then Paul closes out v19 So then, let us Pursue what Promotes peace, and what Builds Up one another. Three strong words of question / definers – Pursue / Peace / Build – Those Greek words – dioko, eirene, and oikodome – do mean, chase after, peace as the end, and build – but that word for building is compound – oiko = house and dome = roof –

So – Let’s ask, “What am I chasing here?” “Is there peace as the end game?” “Will this build the house, cover it with a sheltering roof?” or “will this tear it all down and leave them out in the cold?”

Come on Church Folks – if this didn’t matter Paul wouldn’t have talked about it. How DOES matter often as much as what or why.