Romans "The Body of Christ"

The Body of Christ is united and empowered by Holy Spirit. Jesus did not leave us alone. By grace through faith we are saved and that not of our doing but of Him who called us. Rooted and grounded in our love of Jesus we honor God who graciously offers us salvation in Him. Accept those that God has called…even if they are different from you. Who are we to judge another persons faith in Christ? 

Our belief in Jesus Christ unites us… not our Church doctrine.

I do not ask to see the reason for it all;
I ask only to share the wonder of it all.
Rabbi Abraham Heschel

Romans

One purpose involved Paul’s understanding that the believers needed to “be established”. Paul wanted to give them a well-instructed faith. His letter is a kind of syllabus of Paul’s apostolic teaching. Romans is a masterful presentation of God’s plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

He may be referring to spiritual gifts or some spiritual understanding of Paul’s mission and message. Ultimately, it will benefit the believers.

The Greek word used here, stērizō, describes making someone more resolved in belief or attitude. Faithlife Bible.

To impart … some spiritual gift does not mean that Paul would bestow spiritual gifts like teaching, healing, or prophecy. It means that he would exercise his spiritual gift and in so doing would bless them. NKJ Bible.

Paul deals with the practical aspects of being together in one body. Paul hammers home his central theme: The righteous God justifies and ultimately glorifies both Jew and Gentile by grace through faith.

Romans 1:14 

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. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

The weak likely refers to Christians who remained committed to observing certain parts of the law, such as food laws and the Sabbath. The strong believers probably refers to those who were able to eat and drink all things with a clear conscience. 

Christians should use their freedom in Christ to show love and respect to fellow believers since He died for all people—both the living and the dead, the strong and the weak. Faithlife Bible.

Jesus clarifies that is it not what a person eats that defiles, but actions toward others. Also, the Lord revealed to Peter that He made all meat ritually clean. By this revelation, God also indicated that Peter should no longer regard Gentiles (non-Jewish people) as ritually unclean and outside the realm of His salvation. ” The person who judges assumes the role of God. Paul points out that such judgment is inappropriate because God has accepted all people who believe. Paul uses an analogy to indicate that believers answer to God. The law required Jews to observe special days, such as the Sabbath,  Jewish festivals,  and the new moon. Here, Paul refers to Christians who honor these observances. Paul emphasizes that each person must operate with a clear conscience, regardless of his or her practice. Elsewhere, Paul advises believers not to let others judge them with regard to special days.

Paul encourages the believers to be thankful  to God regardless of their food customs. He emphasizes dependence on God and unity among believers. The believer’s purpose is to serve and please God. Paul affirms that neither life nor death can adversely affect the believer’s union with Christ. Faithlife Bible.

The strong in the faith are told to receive the weak and not to dispute over doubtful things, which literally means “reasonings” or “opinions.” The mature believers were not to pass judgment or to enter into dispute with those who were less mature.

The strong are not to despise the weak, that is, to treat them with contempt. The weak are not to judge the strong by attempting to place excessive prohibitions on them. The exhortation does not mean it is wrong to have strong convictions, but that all people have a right to their own convictions.  This principle is basic in dealing with disputes.

Days and diets are not the issue, but whether what is being done is committed to the Lord. Believers belong to the Lord. They live and die in relation to Him. Therefore Christians should aim to please Him. The weak are not to judge, and the strong are not to show contempt. One day everyone will submit to God’s authority. He will judge all people before His great throne. If anyone considers some activity to be unlawful, then it is wrong for that person to engage in that activity. NKJ BIble.

We are all apt to make our own views the standard of truth, to deem things certain which to others appear doubtful. Thus Christians often despise or condemn each other, about doubtful matters of no moment. A thankful regard to God, the Author and Giver of all our mercies, sanctifies and sweetens them. 

Let every man search his own heart and life; he that is strict in judging and humbling himself, will not be apt to judge and despise his brother. We must take heed of saying or doing things which may cause others to stumble or to fall. The one signifies a lesser, the other a greater degree of offence; that which may be an occasion of grief or of guilt to our brother. Matthew Henry.