DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS
Romans 14 Him that is weak in faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who are thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: and whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For unto this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 15:1-7 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
JUDGING OTHERS ON FOOD AND THE KEEPING OF DAYS
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It's all about you.....Jesus
If you eat nothing but vegetables, that is fine. If you eat meat, in your diet, that is fine. I will certainly not condemn any brother or sister for their choices of food. That is a stumbling block. If you or I condemn a brother or a sister in Christ for what they eat or drink, we will be judged as we judge.
If you desire to call one day over another more holy, that is fine. I personally do not hold any day of the week as any more holy than another. I
pray and praise my Lord every day of the week. Our Lord owns every day and every moment! Judging others in these matters amounts to nothing more that religious legalisms. When a human thinks only in terms of the law. It mumbles: "This I have done, this I have not done." But faith looks to Jesus Christ, given unto death for the sins of the whole world. To turns one's eye away from Jesus means to turn them to
the law.
Some will object that the law is divine and holy. Let it be divine and holy to them. The law has no right to tell me that I must be justified by it.
The Law has the right to tell me that I should love God and my neighbor, that I should live in chastity, temperance, patience, etc. The law has
no right to tell me how I may be delivered from sin, death, and hell. It is the Gospel's business to tell me that. I must listen to the Gospel. It
tells me, what Christ has done for me. The middle wall of partition has been broken and God dwells inside of us! Let a brother's obedience to the Lord, be between him and the Lord.
There were considerable misunderstandings between the Jewish and the Gentile Christians at Rome, relative to certain customs which were
sacredly observed by the one and disregarded by the other. The principle dispute was concerning meats and days. The converted Jew, retaining a veneration for the law of Moses, abstained from certain meats, and was observant of certain days; while the converted Gentile, under-
standing that the Christian religion laid him under no obligations to such ceremonial laws, had no regard to either. (Clarkes commentaries)
These are internal matters and are better left to the only judge that counts. Jesus Christ! Each and every one of us will bow down before him on the day of judgement, and we will give an account of ourselves. Do not find yourself in a position of being holier than thou.
Eating of meat or not, is not what the kingdom of God is all about. Which day we call a holy day, is not what the kingdom of God is all about.
It is about righteousness. The kingdom of God is not about outward things. We are to lift one another in edification. .We are to be likeminded in Christ. As the body of Christ we are to give all glory, honor and praise to him!
We are, each of us, on a journey with the Lord. Where will it go? The choices we make, will effect each persons destination. Every one of us
are on a path. We will come to a fork in the road at some point in that journey. Will you continue to follow after Christ, or will you take a wrong
turn and begin following a different path.
If you judge others in disputational matters, you have chosen the wrong path.
Food and drink and keeping of days, are doctrines that each individual chooses to keep or not to keep. If you are convicted to do either or both, then you must do it. But, you cannot judge others if they do not. Nor can you judge if they do. These things are best kept, between God and the individual.
Your Brother in Christ
David
Copyright © 1994, 2008 David Coble No material within this site may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written consent from holder(s).
1 Corinthians 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty (in Christ) judged of another man's (conviction) conscience?
The ceremonial laws that were given to the people of Israel, were never given to the Gentiles. Not even in the gospels. The gospels went to the Gentiles three and one half years after Christ died upon the cross. That one and final perfect sacrifice of Jesus ended the sacrifical system.
This "finished" the requirement to obey ceremonial law. Jesus Christ replaced these. He did not destroy them, He fulfilled them. He stated on
the cross with His final breath, "It is finished." He became the cure for sin, and sin is the breaking of any commandment (moral law), that we
are given in the gospels. It is through only one whose name is Jesus the Christ, that we are saved. Where ceremonial law was the forerunner,
or, a Christ type. These laws were in the tabernacles built of hands. All these things were done to atone, or push forward the sins of the nation
of Israel, until the sacrifice of that perfect lamb of God; who died for the sins of the (entire) population of the earth, then and now!
Colossians 2:13,14 And you being dead in your sins and the uncircimcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
The "handwriting of ordinances", refers to the old Mosaic covenant that was made with Israel. Those who would suggest that we need to keep
the Old Covenant ordinances, are making equal the suggestion that we should remain in our sins. This is a suggestion that cannot be
tolerated. This suggests that the sacrifice Christ made upon the cross, is invalid and of no use.
Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
That which decayeth and waxeth old, is the Old Testament. It is replaced with the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ has
all power as our mediator. Not a bunch of old and decayed ordinances.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he (Christ) is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of
death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were UNDER the first testament, they which are
called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Now read:
Hebrews 10: 9,10 Then said he, Lo, I come to do they will, O God. He taketh away the first (old),
that he may establish the second (new). By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all.
At no time, was it ever intended for man to be under the bondage of the law, for all time. It was intended as a temporary system with a limited
time frame. When Jesus Christ died upon the cross, he fulilled the Old Law and brought forth the New Covenant. We must listen to the teach-
ings of the New Covenant.
Galatians 4:1-7 Now, I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant,
though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when
the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the
law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba,
Father.
Galatians 4:21-31 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is
written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by the bondmaid, the other by the freewoman. But
he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai,
which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answer
to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is
free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break
forth and cry, thou that travailest not for the desolate hath many more children than she which
hath an husband. Now we, brethern, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he
that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the
bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brether, we are not child-
ren of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Friends in Christ. Do not judge anyone for what they are eating or not eating. Do not judge anyone for what day they are keeping or not
keeping. The law is the schoolmaster that brings us to Christ! Before we have Christ in us, we are under the law. Christ in us finishes
the law. Circumcision or uncircumcision means nothing.
Please do not try to tell me otherwise. Christ is not a liar.
One of the main arguments I hear, is that Jesus Christ (Yahu'shuah), kept the ordinance laws. This is true. He was born in the flesh,
Jewish! To be sinless, he had to follow tradition to the letter. Because the one perfect sacrifice had not been made, that would abolish
forever, those same ordinances.
He died upon Calvary, that we could be free of bondage. There is no salvation under the works of the law. He was that final and perfect
sacrifice. The precious blood of the lamb. The sacrifice of the blood of the testator. The blood of God!
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain.
The simple truth is this: If law is believed by us as contributing in the smallest degree, towards God accepting us, then the gospel of
grace is of no value. If we rely in any respect upon keeping with law, for our salvation, then Christ will profit us nothing.
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are
fallen from grace.
Do not think I am saying, you can break the law. That would frustrate grace. That would be saying it is okay to break the command-
ments of God. We who are buried with Christ are keeping the law by Christ in us. Would you murder? Would you commit adultry?
Would you despise your neighbor? Would you covet your neighbors belongings? Would you lift another God above the one and only
true God? As a Christian, the answer is no. If, as a Christian you do any of the above, you are no longer under grace but have placed yourself back under the judgement of the law.
We must guard grace from the adulteration of legalism and universalism, and we must guard law from the depredations of those who
would say because we are saved, we are free to commit every imaginable act of vice and sin. The latter is called antinomianism.
1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murders of mothers, for manslayers.
John 1:17 The law was given by Moses... Moses received the law from God, and through him it was given to the Jews.
The law of Moses, however excellent in itself, was little in comparison to the Gospel: as it proceeded from the justice and holiness of
God, and was intended to convict men of sin, that the way of the Gospel might be the better prepared, it was a law of rigour, condemn-
ation, and death. (Clarke Commentaries)
Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
2 Corinthians 3:7-15 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his
countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be
rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation (law) be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness (Christ in us) exceed glory. For if that which was done away was
glorious, much more that (grace) which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, (under the law there was no hope in salvation), we use great plainness of speech. And not as
Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end
of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail
untaken away in the reading of the old (law) testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is (still) upon their heart.
It was a law of shadows, types, and figures:
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
The law is incapable of expiating sin by its sacrifices:
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in his flesh:
Christ brought grace through his sacrifice, which is opposed to condemnation, and he is himself the spirit and substance of all those shadows:
There is no salvation in the works of the law. The law is the schoolmaster that brings us to Christ. Christ in us is our rest. He is our
sabbath. We lift him above all things, giving him all the glory, honor and praise! One cannot be saved by the works of the law!
We are dead to the law of Moses, joined to the law of Christ!
Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ,
that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring
forth fruit unto God.
Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
The law of Christ is this:
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets.
