The Epistle of ROMANS

Chapter Fourteen

1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Literal: Him that is weak in the faith, you must receive him but not to judge his doubtful thoughts.

New English Translation -- If a man is weak in his faith you must accept him without attempting to settle doubtful points.

Interlinear: But him being weak in the faith receive not for decisions of reasonings.

The word 'disputation' means "a deciding, a distinguishing, a discerning clearly".

2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak [in the faith], eateth herbs.

Literal: For instance, one man will have faith enough to eat all kinds of food if, while another who is weak in the faith, eats only herbs (vegetables, greens).

3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Literal: He that eats, let him not despise the man who does not eat, and he who does not eat must not pass judgement on the man who does: for God has received him.

Colossians 2: 16 – Therefore (starts the verse) let no man judge you in meat (for eating and drinking), or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath. (‘days’ is in italics – scratch it out)

4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Literal: Who are you to pass judgement on someone else’s servant? Whether he stands or falls is his own master's business. Yes, he shall be able to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

This verse also contains the Figure Of Speech 'CORRECTION' which is "A recalling of what has been said, in order to correct it by an afterthought." The last part of the verse starting with "Yea" or "Yes" to the end is the correction. This is where God marks important points in His Word. In this verse also is the figure ‘APOSTROPHE’ which is "A turning aside from the direct subject matter to address others." This is illustrated by the word 'thou' in the first part of the verse. Remember, in this figure, the speaker turns away from the auditory whom he is addressing, and speaks to an imaginary one. It is a sudden breaking off in the course of speech, diverting it to some new person or thing. Now we know that there are two (2) figures of speech in this one verse which stresses its importance.

5. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Literal: One man regards one day more highly than another, while another man regards all days alike. Let every man be fully persuaded or fully assured in his own mind.

Most born again believers worship on Sunday because they wish to do so. In our age, under the Church Administration, every day is sacred according to the Word of God and not one day more so than any other day. Each day should be lived unto the Lord. However, in our tradition most Christians have set aside Sunday especially as a day of rest and special worship.

6. 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.

Literal: He that regardeth (observes, minds, cares for) the day has the Lord in mind in doing so, and he that regards not the day to the Lord, regards it not. He that eats, eats to the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks.

7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Literal: New English Translation -- For no one of us lives, and equally, no one of us dies, for himself alone.

II Corinthians 5: 15 -- And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

We are not to live for ourselves but we are to live for Jesus Christ always doing God's will. You can only experience the truth of this statement if you make a serious attempt in your life to do God's will and to keep God first. Once you do this, you will see that God gives you the best way to live and that to live by the senses is only a counterfeit existence. It is very difficult to teach this to someone who refuses to put God first. By the five senses, it makes no sense at all to your mind. But when you learn to walk by the spirit, it will make sense to you. There is no real life or peace outside of God's Word. It is all a lure and a trap and a temptation and leaves a person in a constant state of dissatisfaction and false hope constantly striving but never realizing their goals. If we would only do our best to keep God first, God would then be able to show us the more than abundant life which is promised in His Word. God simply will not overstep a man's free will. We have to decide on our own to give God the place that He rightly deserves in our lives -- FIRST.

8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we lived therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Literal: For whether we live, to the Lord we live; and whether we die, to the Lord we die.

This is the Figure ‘DOUBLE ENCIRCLING’. ENCIRCLING is the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning and end of a sentence. When this occurs at the beginning and end of successive sentences, it is called DOUBLE ENCIRCLING.

New English Translation -- If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.

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

Literal: This is why Christ died and rose from the dead to live again -- to establish his Lordship over the dead and the living.

10. 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.

Literal: But you, sir, why do you pass judgement on your brother? And why do you hold your brother in contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.

This judgement seat is a step or a raised place, a tribune to speak from in a public assembly -- the elevated seat of a judge.

Remember, it is between God and that person if a person chooses not to walk with God. It is not for you to judge any other person, that is God's job. So don't waste your time and energy any longer doing something the Word commands you not to do. Don't allow yourself to be tricked into judging other people. People may have circumstances in their life that you are not aware of. They may have problems that you have no knowledge of whatsoever. It is always best to think the best of everybody. We should discipline our minds until it becomes a habit never to think evil of anyone and never to say a bad word about anyone. Bad thoughts have even been proven to affect your physical health in a negative manner. Remember, to think what the Word says in Philippians 4: 8 -- "true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report." If you do this, you will stay in fellowship and you will also feel better mentally and physically. Some things from the Word of God are so simple that we can miss them for years and years. Don't let the world complicate and confuse you -- you can never make something too simple.

11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Literal: For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow (used of the knee in worship or prayer) to me, and every tongue shall praise or acknowledge God (Interlinear -- confess to God).

This is a quote from Isaiah 45: 23.

12. So then every one of us shall give [an] account of himself to God.

Literal: So, you see, each of us will have to answer for himself to God.

The Word says and means that everyone shall give an account of himself. To have God's approval we must study the Word and study it in the right way. The right way is the right cutting of the Word of Truth to have the true Word. Jesus Christ rightly divided the Word dividing the Old Testament into the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

13. 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.

Literal: Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but rather make this simple judgement: that no obstacle or stumbling block be placed in a brother's way.

[See I Corinthians 8: 13 and 10: 32].

14. 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.

Literal: I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus as a Christian that nothing is common or impure of itself; only if a man considers a thing to be common or impure, then to him it is impure.

15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Literal: If your brother is outraged by what you eat, then his conduct shows that he is not walking with the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. Do not judge, destroy or bring disaster to a man for whom Christ died because of what he eats or because of what you eat!

16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Literal: What for you is a good thing must not become an occasion for slanderous talk.

17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Literal: For the kingdom of God does not pertain to eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the new birth through Holy Spirit.

This particular usage of 'pneuma hagion' (Holy Spirit) means ‘spiritual abilities given by God’. We experience this righteousness, peace and joy by operating the manifestations of Holy Spirit. God is really stressing this point of not judging people in all areas of life including what they eat! You are to be likeminded spiritually and not necessarily in any other way. YOU MUST DISCIPLINE YOUR MIND NOT TO THINK EVIL NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION OR NO MATTER WHO IS THE PERSON . THE LOVE OF GOD THINKS NO EVIL. THE LOVE OF GOD JUDGES NO ONE. THE LOVE OF GOD DOES NOT SAY OR THINK BAD THINGS ABOUT ANYONE AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON. WITHOUT THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU ARE NOTHING!

If you really think about it, this is a great way to live, with pureness of thought and according to God's Word and imitating Him. As mentioned previously, it is the most beneficial thing you can do not only for your mental health, but even for your physical well-being. If everyone would learn to apply this principle of never thinking evil of anything or anybody, there would be no need for psychologists or psychiatrists.

18. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Literal: He who thus shows himself a servant of Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Literal: Let us therefore follow after (pursue after with zeal) the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify one another.

We are to build up one another no what the situation or regardless of what the senses register.

II Timothy 2: 22 -- Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

We are to enthusiastically pursue after the things of God. This allows us to push aside fleshly thoughts and emotions and build up one another. This requires a totally unselfish attitude.

20. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Literal: Don't destroy the work of God for the sake of food. Everything is pure in itself; but it is bad or evil for that man who by eating causes another man to fall;

Titus 1: 15 -- Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

If you can do something that you feel is not a sin, then it is not as long as it does not say so in the Word. Another person may do the same thing and it is sin to that person.

21. 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.

Literal: It is a good thing to abstain from eating meat or drinking wine, or doing anything which causes your brother to fall or stumble, or offends him, or causes him to be weak or ill.

This is Christian etiquette in the greatest degree. Not only with eating, but in all things, you are never to do anything to make a person feel uneasy or uncomfortable or to offend them. Remember, there are exceptions to most rules. If you were speaking the Word to an unbeliever or in the presence of unbelievers, and the Word of God offends them, that doesn't mean that you stop speaking the Word.

22. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Literal: New English Translation -- If you have a clear conviction, apply it to yourself in the sight of God. Happy is the man who can make his decision with a clear conscience. (He does not judge or condemn himself in what he approves.)

Be concerned about what God thinks and not about what people think. Take your reproof not from what people say, but from what the Word says. Where we are believing and acting wrongly, the Word reproves us. Remember, that if you are doing the Word to the best of your ability, you are only to be concerned about standing approved before God, not before men. Many people will get offended by the Word if they are not renewing their mind and not making an attempt to walk by the spirit.

23. And he that doubeth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith [believing] is sin.

Literal: But a man who has doubts is guilty or condemned if he eats (to be in strife with one's self, hesitate, waver), because he eats not of believing with confidence towards God: for whatsoever is not of believing is sin.

You must stop doubting your decisions no matter how trivial they may appear to be. You must make a decision and be confident that you have made the right one. Do not second guess your decisions if you have prayed about them. At times, when you are making great strides and progress in your renewed mind, you may experience pressure. Just don't give up and faint in your mind.

Galatians 6: 9 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

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