Continuing with the last
post, with the help of Romans Chapter 14 and other Scriptures, I want
to explain some of the reasons there are many arguments about
doctrines and denominations as well as the need we have to refrain
from judging our brothers and sisters. Only God can determine who
will stand and who will fall before Him and God calls us to not
quarrel over opinions or look down on those who are weak in faith
(Romans 14:1).
Romans 14:4 says, Who are
you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own
master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord
is able to make him stand. ESV
One example is observed in
Romans 14:5-9. It says that while one person may esteem one day above
others, another may esteem all days alike. Therefore, in everything
we do, we should be fully convinced in our own mind that what we do
and what we believe honors the Lord and we are thankful to Him. For
we do not live to ourselves, but to the Lord.
Romans 14:10-12 admonishes, 10
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why
do you despise your brother? 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 confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. ESV
There are more admonishments from this chapter that are important for us to understand that arguments and judgments of one denomination against another is not the will of God for us.
Verse 13
exhort us to refrain from passing judgment on one another and from
becoming stumbling blocks that hinder the way of our brothers and
sisters. It explains, 13
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but
rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way
of a brother. ESV
Because the Lord gives us a measure of
faith (Romans 12:3) that we are required to grow and develop by
hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), and by seeking first the
Kingdom of God and all His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), those that
have received revelations at one level of faith and have not grown to
other levels, should not be stumbling blocks to those who come to
drink from the water of the word and the wine of the Spirit and thus
receive revelations at higher levels because to whom much is given
much is required (Luke 12:48). On the other hand, those that attain
higher levels of revelations should not look down on those who
operate at lower levels of faith (Romans 12:3). Please see my blog
posts titled “The Extravagant Drink” 1 and 2 published in May of
2012 to go even further in this explanation.
Unfortunately,
many who started strong in their walk with God and pursuit of truth,
became deceived by other doctrines that were indeed demonic and
humanistic. That is why Revelations chapters 2 and 3 give us examples
of these doctrines of demons and the deception of many who were
called to lead God's people, and of others who took it upon
themselves to teach out of their abominable, deceptive, and lying
influence. It is important for us to continue to obey God's word to
pursue truth because on judgment day we will be held accountable for
the truth we knew and obeyed as explained in the last post. Galatians
6:7 also warns, Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for
whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ESV
One
important reason for us to pursue truth and unity in the body of
Christ is explained in Galatians 6:1-4, 10. It says that those of us
who are spiritual should help restore those that are overtaken in any
trespass, but this should be done in a spirit of gentleness and
meekness lest we are tempted. We are to bear one another's burdens
and this way fulfill the law of Christ (which is the law of love).
Otherwise we are deceived if we think of ourselves to be more than we
really are.
Instead,
we should examine our own work and rejoice in doing good to all,
especially those of the household of faith.
As it is mentioned in Ephesians 4:13 the
goal that we need to aim for individually as well as corporately is to
help each other till we
all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ; NKJV
Romans 14:16-19 confirms it this
way, 16
So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18
Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then
let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. NKJV
Joshua 12:24 adds what we are to do to
fulfill our calling to help each other come to the unity of faith and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man (whose main
objective is to serve God and his brethren to fulfill the law of
Christ—the law of loving God and his neighbor as himself) that we
may attain the full measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
(as kings that fight against any anti-Christ influence and remove the
government of Satan to expand and defend the establishment of the
Kingdom of heaven in our circumstances and as priests that extend
mercy and grace to the lost of the world and the fallen in the house
of God), It says, Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in
sincerity and in truth,
and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of
the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! NKJV
Colossians 1:28-29 also ratifies the
importance of becoming spiritually mature in Christ, so we can teach
others the same, 28
So we continue to tell people about Christ. We use all
wisdom to counsel every person and teach every person. We are trying
to bring everyone before God as people who have grown to be
spiritually mature in Christ. 29
To do this, I work and struggle using the great strength that Christ
gives me. That strength is working in my life.
Thus, this way we will help others behold and partake of the reward
of the glory of the Lord that transforms our lives. Just as we did in
the last post, we will use 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 to explain that what
God has planned and purposed for His people is for them to be
transformed by His glory and experience freedom in Christ. It says,
12 We are so
sure of this hope that we can speak very openly. 13
We are not like Moses, who put a covering over his face. He covered
his face so that the people of Israel would not see it. The glory was
disappearing, and Moses did not want them to see it end. 14
But their minds were closed. And even today, when those people read
the writings of the old agreement, that same covering hides the
meaning. That covering has not been removed for them. It is taken
away only through Christ. 15
Yes, even today, when they read the Law of Moses, there is a covering
over their minds. 16
But when someone changes and follows the Lord, that covering is taken
away. 17 The
Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. 18
And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we
are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and
more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ERV
To Him alone be all the glory.■
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