When Christians Disagree

 Romans 14:1 – 15:7

“Disunity has long been a major problem with God’s people. Even the Old Testament records the civil wars and family fights among the people of Israel, and almost every local church mentioned in the New Testament had divisions to contend with.

“The Corinthians were divided over human leaders, and some of the members were even suing each other (1 Cor. 1:10-13; 6:1-8).  The Galatian saints were “biting and devouring” one another (Gal. 5:15), and the saints in Ephesus and Colossae had to be reminded of the importance of Christian unity (Eph. 4:1-3; Col. 2:1-2). In the church at Philippi, two women were at odds with each other and, as a result, were splitting the church (Phil. 4:1-3).  No wonder the psalmist wrote, ‘Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity (Ps. 133:1).’

“Unfortunately, we have similar problems today with many gray areas of life that are not clearly right or wrong to every believer.  Some activities we know are wrong, because the Bible clearly commands them. But when it comes to areas that are not clearly defined in Scripture, we find ourselves needing some other kind of guidance.”  Warren W. Wiersbe, “Be Right: How to Be Right with God, Yourself and Others,” pp. 161-162.

“Martin Luther said, ‘A Christian man is a most free lord of all, subject to none.  A Christian man is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all.’  Under the lordship of Christ, we are to balance Christian freedom and Christian responsibility.  A number of principles informing us how to strike the delicate balance may be gleaned: (1) we dare not be judgmental in disputable or gray areas (14:1-5).  (2) We must all stand ultimately only before God (14:10).  (3) Each individual should be convinced in his own mind as to the rightness or wrongness of action (14:5).  (4) One must not put a stumbling block in the way of his brother (14:13).  (5) One must always act in love (14:15).  (6) One must pursue actions which promote peace (14:19).  (7) One must seek to edify others by his own actions (14:19).  (8) One must do only that which can be done in faith (14:22, 23).  (9) One must seek to glorify God (15:6).  (10) We must always accept one another, even when we disagree over doubtful things (15:7).” Believer’s Study Bible, p. 1618.

When we spend our time trying to correct everyone else, we fail to get our-own-selves right before God. As recorded in Matt. 7:5, Jesus spoke to this very issue when He taught, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” 

A thorough study of Romans 14 and 15 reveals the real freedom that each believer holds under the grace of God.  In Rom. 14:10, Paul said, “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”  Look back to what Martin Luther said, ‘A Christian man is a most free lord of all, subject to none.  A Christian man is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all.’  We are responsible to God, subject to no one else, yet at the same time we are to be a servant to all.

Paul wisely closed this section in verse 7 of Chapter 15 where he wrote, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”.

God is Not Through with Israel

In a study of Romans 11, the apostle Paul writes to the Jews in the church in Rome to encourage them by asking a rhetorical question in verse one, "...has God rejected His people?"  He then uses a double negative translated "By no means!"  Just as he wrote in chapter 6, verse 2, his use of the double negative is a form of speech which might be translated, "No! Not Never!"  Now we know that an English professor would likely frown at saying it like this, but what Paul is trying to do is to get the Jews attention. You Jews, Paul writes, have not been rejected by God, nor will you ever be rejected.

God's choice of Abraham, the progenitor of the people of Israel was never to be a short term election.  Rather, His promises to Israel have never changed as some might believe. God has future plans for the people of Israel in a future kingdom over which "King Jesus" will rule for 1,000 years.  Romans 11 reassures them that God is not through them, nor will He ever be through with them.

"When, in the fulness of time, God sent His Son"... as a Jew, born of a woman to redeem all people by means of His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection.  This selfless act of God's love made it possible through His choice of Israel, and through His Son, to extend His mercy and grace, not only to the Jews but to all people.

In the old times, God's plan was always to extend mercy and grace to those who would believe in Him.  Following Jesus' sacrificial payment for sin, God fulfilled His promise to all who would believe...that promise would be fulfilled in adding many millions to His family.  "Mercy and Grace" have come from God and when Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church at the rapture, that is when He calls us home to be with Him, there will be a cleansing through great tribulation, Satan will be defeated and all who reject Him will eventually be judged.  God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David will be complete. 

Paul's words of encouragement to Israel...to the Jews...is that God never fails to keep His promises.  And, to those of us who are not Israel, we can take great comfort from this fact.  If God fulfills His promises to the Jews, we can be assured that He will fulfill His promises to all of us: "If you will confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)  "There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)  "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

These are wonderful words of encouragement for the Jews, and for us.  By them we can be confident that whatever God says, He will do.  You see, God is not finished with Israel!