Romans 14:23

_ _ And — rather, “But”

_ _ he that doubteth is damned — On the word “damnation,” see on Romans 13:2.

_ _ if he eat, because he eateth not of faith — On the meaning of “faith” here, see on Romans 14:22.

_ _ for whatsoever is not of faith is sin — a maxim of unspeakable importance in the Christian life.

_ _ Note,

_ _ (1) Some points in Christianity are unessential to Christian fellowship; so that though one may be in error upon them, he is not on that account to be excluded either from the communion of the Church or from the full confidence of those who have more light. This distinction between essential and non-essential truths is denied by some who affect more than ordinary zeal for the honor and truth of God. But they must settle the question with our apostle.

_ _ (2) Acceptance with God is the only proper criterion of right to Christian fellowship. Whom God receives, men cannot lawfully reject (Romans 14:3, Romans 14:4).

_ _ (3) As there is much self-pleasing in setting up narrow standards of Christian fellowship, so one of the best preservatives against the temptation to do this will be found in the continual remembrance that Christ is the one Object for whom all Christians live, and to whom all Christians die; this will be such a living and exalted bond of union between the strong and the weak as will overshadow all their lesser differences and gradually absorb them (Romans 14:7-9).

_ _ (4) The consideration of the common judgment-seat at which the strong and the weak shall stand together will be found another preservative against the unlovely disposition to sit in judgment one on another (Romans 14:10-12).

_ _ (5) How brightly does the supreme Divinity of Christ shine out in this chapter! The exposition itself supersedes further illustration here.

_ _ (6) Though forbearance be a great Christian duty, indifference to the distinction between truth and error is not thereby encouraged. The former is, by the tax, made an excuse for the latter. But our apostle, while teaching “the strong” to bear with “the weak,” repeatedly intimates in this chapter where the truth really lay on the points in question, and takes care to call those who took the wrong side “the weak” (Romans 14:1, Romans 14:2, Romans 14:14).

_ _ (7) With what holy jealousy ought the purity of the conscience to be guarded, since every deliberate violation of it is incipient perdition (Romans 14:15, Romans 14:20)! Some, who seem to be more jealous for the honor of certain doctrines than for the souls of men, enervate this terrific truth by asking how it bears upon the “perseverance of the saints”; the advocates of that doctrine thinking it necessary to explain away what is meant by “destroying the work of God” (Romans 14:20), and “destroying him for whom Christ died” (Romans 14:15), for fear of the doctrinal consequences of taking it nakedly; while the opponents of that doctrine are ready to ask, How could the apostle have used such language if he had believed that such a catastrophe was impossible? The true answer to both lies in dismissing the question as impertinent. The apostle is enunciating a great and eternal principle in Christian Ethics — that the willful violation of conscience contains within itself a seed of destruction; or, to express it otherwise, that the total destruction of the work of God in the renewed soul, and, consequently, the loss of that soul for eternity, needs only the carrying out to its full effect of such violation of the conscience. Whether such effects do take place, in point of fact, the apostle gives not the most distant hint here; and therefore that point must be settled elsewhere. But, beyond all doubt, as the position we have laid down is emphatically expressed by the apostle, so the interests of all who call themselves Christians require to be proclaimed and pressed on every suitable occasion.

_ _ (8) Zeal for comparatively small points of truth is a poor substitute for the substantial and catholic and abiding realities of the Christian life (Romans 14:17, Romans 14:18).

_ _ (9) “Peace” among the followers of Christ is a blessing too precious to themselves, and, as a testimony to them that are without, too important, to be ruptured for trifles, even though some lesser truths be involved in these (Romans 14:19, Romans 14:20). Nor are those truths themselves disparaged or endangered thereby, but the reverse.

_ _ (10) Many things which are lawful are not expedient. In the use of any liberty, therefore, our question should be, not simply, Is this lawful? but even if so, Can it be used with safety to a brother’s conscience? — How will it affect my brother’s soul (Romans 14:21)? It is permitted to no Christian to say with Cain, “Amos I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

_ _ (11) Whenever we are in doubt as to a point of duty — where abstinence is manifestly sinless, but compliance not clearly lawful — the safe course is ever to be preferred, for to do otherwise is itself sinful.

_ _ (12) How exalted and beautiful is the Ethics of Christianity — by a few great principles teaching us how to steer our course amidst practical difficulties, with equal regard to Christian liberty, love, and confidence!