Romans 14 Devotional Bible Study

Romans 14

Principles for Shutting Your Mouth Christian Unity

I don’t want to talk too much about the examples Paul gives in this chapter. Let it suffice to say that some groups of Christians had different convictions than others. The differences may have been due to the Jewish believers still trying to honor the Old Testament Law, or Gentile believers avoiding meat sacrificed to idols.

 

What I want to focus on are the principles Paul gives of how Christians are to handle differences in convictions. 

 

• We’re to accept them and not fight over people’s convictions.
• We’re not to judge them. God has the only right to judge them. He is their Master, not you.
• Whatever convictions we hold should be motivated by a desire to honor God.
• We should be concerned about ourselves as we prepare to face God’s judgment.
• We shouldn’t do something in front of others that they consider wrong.
• At the same time, we shouldn’t let others tell us what we’re doing is wrong if we’re doing it to honor God.
• If you break your conviction, you are sinning. (You might be persuaded to change your convictions, though.)
• Keep your convictions a personal matter between you and the Lord; don’t force them on other people.
• Remember, you might be wrong in your convictions.
• The goal is to build each other up, not tear each other down with judgment.