Verse by Verse

²² Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

faith — liberty, as in verse 2. Faith is necessary and good, but it’s not to be displayed to show superiority.

Happy is he — similar to verse 5 “convinced in his own mind.” Happy for not using his rightful liberty to cause a brother to stumble.

Verse 23 is a warning to the weak.

¹⁹ Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

²¹ It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

We can only build each other up if we are at peace.

destroy = pulling down, as opposed to building up

work — spiritual grown

“We have no right to give up our dearly-bought liberty, but we do have the liberty to give up our rights.” (Bultema).

1 Corinthians 8:9 — But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

The food and drink mentioned here were previously offered to idols and then sold in the market. This offended some new Christians. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. … Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled (1 Corinthians 8:4, 7).

Things that make for disunion, that cause trouble in churches: An unforgiving spirit. Self-seeking. A legalistic spirit. Playing God for others. Hypocrisy. Failing to appreciate others’ gifts. Failing to make allowances for one another (Ephesians 4:1-3; James 2:12). Lack of patience. Not sympathizing with others’ infirmities or, perhaps, their lack of gifts that we possess. Evil speaking (James 4:11; Titus 3:2). Assuming, without grounds, that others are at fault (James 5:9). Pulling one another to pieces. Suspecting the motives of another. A domineering spirit. A rebellious spirit. Snobbery. Hatred. Grumbling, arguing, murmuring. Maliciousness. Being a busybody. Greediness. Bitterness. Resentment. A sense of inferiority (i.e., not resting in the Lord, not being satisfied with the gifts He has given). Lack of security. Instability. Timidity. Spite. Laziness. Economic sponging. Lying and slander. Jealousy. Thinking too highly of oneself. A critical spirit toward others. Carrying on controversy. Being ill-informed about the position of another.

Goals toward which we should move in our lives: Willingness to be in subjection to one another. Considering others better than oneself. An understanding spirit. A sense of intimate relationship with Christ. Not insisting on our rights. Willingness to confess a wrong spirit. Sincerity. A generous spirit. A sympathetic spirit. Trusting others. Having faith in Christ, not necessarily in others, but expressed as trust to others, knowing that we belong to Him. Joyfulness. Prayer. Discretion. A critical spirit toward oneself. A gentle and quiet spirit (2 Timothy 2:25). Humility (1 Peter 5:5). Using our gifts for one another. Remembering our own mistakes (James 3:2). Christ-centeredness. Love, in word and deed. Fair dealing. Integrity. Recognizing one’s place. A forgiving spirit. Doing things decently and in order. Conscientiousness. Faithfulness. Being responsible to perform the tasks assigned to us. Not misusing the authority over others. Being willing to follow those in authority over us. — Barnhouse, page 21-22.

¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

kingdom (here) — sphere of God’s rule — where His rule is acknowledged — His rule over our hearts.

The unsaved will see the outward effects when one is experiencing righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit.

The kingdom is not rules.

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.

¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

¹⁴ I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

resolve this = let this be your decision

convinced by the Lord — not from his own reasoning

of itself = of its own nature

Our conscience isn’t always the best guide to right and wrong, but it’s always wrong to go against it.

unclean — ceremonial — not referring to moral impurity

¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

¹¹ For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

why do you judge — addressed to weak brother

why do you show contempt — addressed to stronger brother

judgment seat (Bema) = a platform

2 Corinthians 5:10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15 — For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

We will account for ourselves, not for others.

Quote in verse 11 is from Isaiah 45:23 — I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

bow — recognition of and subjection to authority

confess — acknowledgment of the right to judge

⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

⁹ For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

We must live with others in light of our relationship with the Lord. Our actions should bring glory to Him.

Verse 7 is referring to our relationship with Christ.

The defining principle in every case is that Christ is Lord.

none of us — Christians

⁵ One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

⁶ He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

day — Sabbath and other Jewish observances. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (Colossians 2:16). Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years (Galatians 4:10).

esteems every day — consecrates every day to the Lord

and he who does not observe … not observe it — not in older manuscripts.

Galatians 5:1 — Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

³ Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

⁴ Who are 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.

The strong shouldn’t despise the weak for not eating, the weak shouldn’t judge the strong for eating.

Don’t criticize about matters not covered in Scripture.

God hath received him — at salvation, by faith in Christ

Verse 4 is speaking to the weak.

Stand or fall — remain upright or sin in using liberty

The believer stands in Christ’s power, not his own.

Liberty (without law) without the power of Christ will result in falling.

Galatians 5:13 — You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

² For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

in the faith — should be “in faith.” Not referring to Christianity (the faith) but to reliance.

weak — lacking in understanding of Christian liberty with faith in Christ alone — having scruples about unimportant matters — not moral weakness

not to doubtful disputations — unreservedly and not for the purpose of judging or criticizing

receive = embrace