Romans 14:5-9

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Paul has shown us that believers have different levels of faith in the example of food. Now he turns to the Sabbath to continue the illustration. It’s the same idea: Don’t look down on one another or condemn one another. Regarding the Sabbath, Paul is not denying the importance of the Lord’s Day. He’s saying to the Jewish Christians who still observe the feast days and the Jewish Sabbath that the Gentile Christians don’t have to do that. Everyone stills observes the Lord’s Day. So perhaps it’s more like our being legalistic about attending the Wednesday night service or something. See Galatians 4:10-11 and Colossians 2:16-17. You mustn’t observe the Lord’s Day so that I will see you observing the Lord’s Day. Observe the Lord’s Day for the Lord! If you don’t see me observing the Lord’s Day, don’t think critically of me. I am accountable to God for my Lord’s Day observance. You don’t know my motives, but Jesus does, and He’ll reveal that on Judgment Day. We are to live for each other, to build each other up, not to tear each other down, so encourage me to attend and participate in community worship, but don’t condemn me if I’m not there. And I’ll not invite you to skip church to play golf if I know that you’d be offended by that.

“Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” This is important statement “A” in Paul’s explanation of these principles. Some time ago, Albert Mohler wrote on and discussed Christians and birth control. This topic is of special interest to me; and his conclusion was that of Paul’s. If you’re a believer, be fully convinced in your own mind on these “minor” issues. If I’m fully convinced that birth control is okay, then it is. If I’m fully convinced that birth control is not okay, then it is not. Is that correct thinking? Perhaps it is, but Scripture doesn’t discuss condoms or the pill; and that’s why it fits here. But what about issues on which Scripture is clear? What should we watch out for with this type of thinking?

A good principle here is that the more mature brother must protect the conscience of the weaker brother; and the weaker brother must seek to have his conscience in Christ and informed by Scripture. In other words, we should all seek to have our consciences on every matter confirmed by Scripture, and we should all prayerfully seek the advice of those we deem stronger in faith. And thus, we should make decisions on “disputable matters” as follows: Be (1) fully convinced that what you are committed to is (2) not sinful, as validated by the Word of God, (3) honoring to Christ (glorifying to God), and (4) the best way you can think for yourself to act in the given situation. Regardless on our differing decisions, Paul wants us to be aware that the weak are not self-exalting in their abstinence or dissention, and the strong are not self-indulgent in their liberty or affirmation. Both are doing what their consciences have allowed, even commanded. Both are glorifying God. Yet, it’s very difficult to see how this is truly possible. How can eating and not-eating (abstaining or fasting) in the same circumstance both glorify God equally? Paul explains that in light of living and not-living (dying) as both glorifying to God.

“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.” This is important statement “B” in Paul’s explanation of these principles. It is not enough to be fully convinced in one’s own mind about certain behaviors. We must also commit to doing everything “for the Lord” or “to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Those two important statements summarize our behavior in Christ. After all, we were bought with an expensive price; we belong to the Lord! Are we worshipping and serving and resting on the Lord’s Day to the glory of Lord? Are we playing golf on the Lord’s Day to the glory of the Lord? If there is no explicit violation of being Christ-like, then we ought not condemn or look down at anyone.

This is our Christian liberty: we are free to serve Christ. Paul refuses to set up a specific rule to solve the issue at hand. He appeals to this general principle. He longs for the Christian to be captive to God’s Word and to God’s will, and he presses home this great principle of God’s ownership of us. No believer “lives or dies to himself alone” (v7). Our living is through Him, with Him, in Him, to Him, and for Him. And better still, our dying is the same. To die is gain, and, as Paul says, “For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” Christ died and rose to life so He could be LORD OF ALL! No one else has conquered the grave. No one else deserves to be Lord. Christ alone is worthy.