ROMANS # 357, Ignorance of Bible doctrine plays a major role in disobedience to God. (8-27-24)

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Romans 13:14 But put on (v.amm) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision (v.pmm) for the flesh, in regard to its lusts.

Expanded Verse:
Romans 13:14 But you obey the command to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and keep on obeying the command to make no provision for the flesh (body), in re-gard to its lusts.

We have two commands in this verse: One is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and the other one is to give no opportunity for your body to give in to its lusts. This is where the rubber meets the road!

John 12:46 "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in dark-ness.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

John 12:35 Jesus therefore said to them, "For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk (an ongoing command) as children of light.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.

A believer who is conformed to this world and to his former lusts is a disobedient child of God. Notice how ignorance plays a major role in disobedience. Most people, believers included, have no idea what they forfeit by defying God.

Different types of lusts:
Ambition/Competition Lust
Approbation Lust
Chemical Lust
Criminal Lust
Crusader Lust
Money Lust
Power Lust
Revenge Lust
Social Lust
Sexual Lust

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Read: Ephesians 6:10-20

CHAPTER 14

“Christians are at different levels of spiritual maturity. They also have diverse backgrounds that color their attitudes and practices. The first lesson to learn in living harmoniously with other Christians, therefore, is to stop judging others.” John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 492.

Romans 14:1 Now *accept the one who is *weak in faith, but not for the purpose of *passing judgment on his opinions.

*accept - PROSLAMBANO, προσλαμβάνω, (v.pmm); ④ to ex-tend a welcome, receive in(to) one’s home or circle of acquaintances

is *weak – ASTHENEO, ἀσθενέω, (part.pa); ② to experience some personal incapacity or limitation, be weak of weakness in general.

*passing judgment – DIAKRISIS, διάκρισις, (n.apf); ② en-gagement in verbal conflict because of differing viewpoints, quarrel

Expanded verse:
Romans 14:1 Now keep on obeying the command to accept the one who keeps on being weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over your differing viewpoints.

Spiritually strong believers should know how to engage weak believers. Below are a few dos and don’ts:

DON’Ts
1. Don’t act superior to them and don’t judge them.
2. Don’t bring up complicated doctrines that are over their head which is usually done to show off.
3. Don’t correct them over every little verbal error.
4. Don’t argue with those who disagree with you.
5. Don’t tell them they’re wrong. It would be better to say that what they said is unbiblical.
6. Don’t roll your eyes or be contentious towards them if they have a hard time understanding you. Be patient.
7. Don’t make a big deal out of something that is insignificant. Ex. Making a big deal about whether submersion or sprinkling is correct for baptism.

DOs
1. Be friendly with them so they will feel at ease with you.
2. Keep your conversation upbeat.
3. Ask them questions.
4. Encourage them to keep taking in Bible doctrine.
5. If there is a disagreement over scripture, ask them what their belief is based on.
6. When a believer insists that he is right when he is wrong, let it go, maybe you will have another chance to persuade him at another time.
7. Pray before and after you have a conversation with them.

Romans 15:7 Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Luke 15:2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes be-gan to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

One area of differing opinions pertains to food, in particular the
eating of meat that had been offered to heathen idols.

Romans 14:2 One man has faith (v.pai) that he may eat (v.aai) all things, but he who is weak eats (part.pa) vege-tables only.

Expanded verse:
Romans 14:2 One man keeps on having faith (v.pai) that he may eat all things, but he who keeps on being weak, keeps on eating vegetables only.