Romans 15:1-2 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.Although Paul has hinted at belonging to what he designates as “strong” (Gr. dunatos) believers (those who rest assured in their freedom in Christ), here in 15:1, for the first time, he is explicit. Addressing h...  Read More

1 Corinthians 8:7-13 …Some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled… 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble....  Read More

Romans 14:19-23 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own convictio...  Read More

Romans 14:16-18 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.Divisions inside a church almost always make their way outside the church and cause the church in general to be scoffed a...  Read More

Romans 14:15b Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.One ramification for Christians who flaunt their freedom in front of their weaker brothers in Christ is that it can actually “destroy” (Gr. apollumi) the weaker brother. Contrary to acting in a loving way, these Christians act in a most hateful way. In so doing, they miss an opportunity to minister to one “for whom Christ died.” ...  Read More

Romans 14:13-15a Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love.Addre...  Read More

Romans 14:9-12 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 ...  Read More

Romans 14:5-8 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for hi...  Read More

Romans 14:2-4 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to mak...  Read More

Romans 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.Divisions in churches have existed since the Church began. Among the earliest divisions concerned certain Christian freedoms with regard to eating (14:2), observing some days as holier than others (14:5), and drinking (14:21). Although there were some Christians who understood their fre...  Read More

John 20:29b-31 “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” 30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.            Whereas those who walked with Christ and saw Him ris...  Read More

Mathew 12:40 “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”       If the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:40 are taken at face value, then He would have been in the grave for 72 hours after His crucifixion. That means, as some have espoused, that Jesus could not have died on a Friday and ...  Read More