And when the day that is dawning has risen to its full, then, not
till then, may we put off the armour and put on the white robe, lay
aside the helmet, and have our brows wreathed with the laurel,
sheathe the sword, and grasp the palm, being 'more than conquerors
through Him who loved us,' and fights in us, as well as for us.
THE LIMITS OF LIBERTY
'So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God. 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any
more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumblingblock, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's
way. 14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus,
that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that
esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now
walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy
meat, for whom Christ died. 16. Let not then your good
be evil spoken of: 17. For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost. 18. For he that in these things
serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of
men. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify
another. 20. For meat destroy not the work of God. All
things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man
who eateth with offence. 21. It is good neither to eat
flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy
brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.
Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing
which he alloweth. 23. And he that doubteth is damned
if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for
whatsoever is not of faith is sin.'--ROMANS xiv. 12-23.
The special case in view, in the section of which this passage is
part, is the difference of opinion as to the lawfulness of eating
certain meats. It is of little consequence, so far as the principles
involved are concerned, whether these were the food which the Mosaic
ordinances made unclean, or, as in Corinth, meats offered to idols.
The latter is the more probable, and would be the more important in
Rome. The two opinions on the point represented two tendencies of
mind, which always exist; one more scrupulous, and one more liberal.
Paul has been giving the former class the lesson they needed in the
former part of this chapter; and he now turns to the 'stronger'
brethren, and lays down the law for their conduct. We may, perhaps,
best simply follow him, verse by verse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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