Romans 14:15-16

15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

destroy — present spiritual life ruined — deprive of ability to do God’s will

The sacrifice of Christ in dying is contrasted with selfishness of doing something that will hurt a weaker brother.

good — liberty

The Greek word here translated destroy, cause the ruin, or, as I have rendered it, cause the loss, was used by our Lord to convey the idea of loss of reward. Whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward (Matthew 10:42). This Greek word was also used by John in his second epistle, where we read, Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward (2 John 8).

The true believer, then, should enjoy complete liberty in Christ without digressing to the side path of libertinage. He is not answerable to the pastor, the session, or the other members of the congregation. He is answerable to God alone. — Barnhouse, page 9.

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