MSB ROM Chapter 14

The Law of Liberty

(Matthew 7:1–6; Luke 6:37–42)

14 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on [his] opinions.[fn] 2 For one [person] has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats [only] vegetables. 3 The [one who] eats [everything] must not belittle the [one who] [does not], and the [one who] does not eat [everything] must not judge the [one who] [does], for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To [his] own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for God[fn] is able to make him stand.

5 One [person] regards [a certain] day above [the others], while someone [else] considers every day [alike]. Each [one] should be fully convinced in [his] own mind. 6 He who observes [a special] day [does so] to [the] Lord. And he [who] {does} not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe [it].[fn] He who eats [does so] to [the] Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains [does so] to [the] Lord and gives thanks to God.

7 For none of us lives to himself [alone], and none [ of us ] dies to himself [alone]. 8 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. 9 For this reason Christ died and rose[fn] and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both [the] dead and [the] living.

10 Why, then, {do} you judge your brother? Or why {do} you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.[fn] 11 It is written:

“[As surely as] I live,

says [the] Lord,

every knee will bow before Me;

every tongue will confess to God.”[fn]

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.[fn]

The Law of Love

(Ezekiel 14:1–11; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13)

13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put [any] stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in [the] Lord Jesus that nothing [is] unclean in itself. But if [anyone] regards something as unclean, [then] for him [it is] unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed by [what you eat], you are no longer acting in love. {Do} not by [your eating] destroy your [brother], for whom Christ died.

16 {Do} not {allow} what you [consider] good, then, to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not [a matter of] eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in [the] Holy Spirit. 18 For whoever serves Christ in these things[fn] [is] pleasing to God and approved by men.

19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 {Do} not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All [food is] clean, but [it is] wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. 21 [It is] better not to eat meat [or] drink wine [or to do anything] [to cause] your brother to stumble or to be hindered or weakened.[fn]

22 Keep your belief [about such matters] between yourself [and] God.[fn] Blessed [is] the [one who] does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the [one who] has doubts is condemned if he eats, because [his eating is] not from faith; and everything that [is] not from faith is sin.

Doxology

(Jude 1:24–25)

24 Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to [the] revelation of [the] mystery concealed for ages past 25 but now revealed [and] made known through the writings of the prophets by [the] command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience [that comes from] faith[fn]—26 [to the] only wise God [be] glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.[fn]