Righteousness, Peace and Joy 130210

Romans 14:13-19, 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. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

During the latter days of his ministry Jesus was asked a question, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child to himself and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Now Paul tells us that we should decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I believe Paul's teaching grew out of Jesus' illustration.

To be like a little child is to be trusting and accepting rather than doubtful and rejecting. Sadly, we live in a world that causes children to no longer be childlike. Between the abuse of some parents, TV and movie plots, and violent video games, children are often brought up with a twisted view of what the world is like. Or rather, what their world should be like!

Paul calls on the church in Rome, and us, to not be judgmental but rather to be trusting and accepting. Obviously there are times when we have to make a judgment call but it should be a serious matter not a matter of personal preference. We need to remember who the Master is and that nothing is unclean of itself.

We are to…

Never pass judgment.

In a matter of personal preference. Listen while I read 1 Corinthians 8:8-13, Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

The example Paul uses for the Corinthian church is more detailed than his statement to Rome. Christians were surrounded by a pagan world represented by idols and idol worship. Possibly the best meat to be found in that day was meat from a sacrifice to an idol. It may also be some of the best meal prices could be found in the idol's temple. I don't know because I don't have available to me a menu with prices from either Rome or Corinth. A believer who had become convinced that the idol was meaningless because the god did not exist might feel free to go into the idol's temple and take advantage of good meat at a good price and, by the way, maybe this would be an opportunity to witness to people in the idol' s temple. I recall a college student many years ago who told me about her experience of going out partying with friends. I was amazed when I heard her justify her actions by saying that she would be able to witness at the bar but only if she participated. I assured her that we are not to be in the world's parties and then try to witness. We must not be like the world even though we are in the world. The Christian lifestyle should reflect a higher quality of life. We're not to pass judgment in matters of personal preference but we are to take a stand that will clearly point out who our Master really is. And all of our life we are to…

Remember who the Master is. Look at what Paul had said a little earlier in Romans 14:1-4, As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 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.

While we are not to pass judgment in matters of personal preference we are to remember that we do have a Lord and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ! We are to accept those who are weak in the faith. We are not to despise another person because they disagree with us as to what we should eat. We have a responsibility to love one another and gently deal with any matters of disagreement. The head of the church is Jesus Christ not the pastor, nor the leadership, nor any self-appointed individual or group. The one who eats does so to the glory of God. The one who abstains the does so to the glory of God. Fellow Christians can only be judged by God through Jesus Christ. Let's be sure that our disagreements do not lead to division because…

Nothing is unclean of itself. Listen to what Paul wrote to Timothy 1 Timothy 4:4-5, For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Everything created by God is good. Everything serves a purpose for God in our lives. Why do we give thanks when we eat? Or, do we give thanks when we eat? We recognize that God is the provider of all things and we glorify him by expressing our appreciation before we eat. It is so easy for a church or individual members of the church to get caught up in some kind of rulemaking. Whether it's about meat versus vegetables or honoring one day about another or how we dress when we come to church the same rule should apply. Whatever we do we should do it for the glory of God and in relation to one another we should…

Walk in love.

We must be open to all. After having dealt with the divisiveness caused by honoring one person over another or eating meat sacrificed idols Paul came to the heart of the issue with regard to how we treat others. Listen while I read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

What was Paul's goal? Was it that more people will agree with him with regard to matters of eating or honoring a day? No! Paul's goal was the same as Jesus' goal when he said that he had come to seek and to save that which was lost. Paul said that he became all things to all people, that by all means he might save some. He lived his life for the sake of the gospel.

When I first came into this area I set out to find all the closed church buildings and try to determine what had happened to them. There were a lot of different stories and they were all sad. One in particular sticks in my mind. I was told about a farm family who decided they would begin to attend church. The church nearby was on its last legs and could have been blessed by this family's attendance. Certainly the family could have been blessed by hearing the gospel and coming to faith in Christ. The family it had no experience with church and I suspect the church had little experience with new people showing up. This particular farm family were not noted for cleanliness and in order to be at church on time they had to rush through their morning chores then they arrived in church smelling of the barn. Now I don't advocate coming to church dirty but I do advocate coming to church. To make a long story short, they were soon made to understand that they were not welcome.

In the early days of this church we had a fairly well attended Sunday evening service. A young lady came to know the Lord and became a part of our congregation. She was part of a group who met at the gym on Sunday afternoon and wanted to attend church as well. So, she showed up at church in her shorts and halter top. I wanted her to be at church and I also did not want her to be offended. Not knowing what else to do I simply said to those who ask, "Pray for her and see what God does." Very quickly she changed her way of dressing as she observed those around her. We could have offended her and ran her off while feeling pretty good about ourselves but we would have been wrong. The goal of our instruction must be love from a pure heart and a desire that everyone have the opportunity to come to faith in Christ. In order to do that…

The strong must support the weak. Listen while I read Galatians 6:1-2, Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

There are several things to watch for in dealing with disagreement, or transgressions. The "spiritual" person is the one who sees the transgression in another. And many times, because they think of themselves as being better than the other, they exhort the offender sternly rather than seeking to restore gently. When we think of someone else as less than us we need to guard ourselves that we don't fall in the same trap as the other has. Gentle caution will allow us to encourage and strengthen others. We need to bear one another's burdens not through condemnation and judgment but instead in obedience to the law of Christ. We are to…

Fulfill the law of Christ. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus found in John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

I have no doubt in my mind that when Paul referred to "the law of Christ" he was talking about these words that Jesus had given his disciples towards the end of his ministry. He gave it as "A new commandment" when in reality at first glance it appears to be the "old commandment" from Leviticus, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." What's new about it? Simply this, we are not just to love our neighbor as ourself we are to love one another as Christ has loved us. How much did he love us? He loved us enough to leave heaven's glory and come to earth's gloom. He loved us enough to walk on earth as a man. Think of it! The creator of the universe became a man and experienced hunger, thirst, tiredness, rejection, abuse, and above all else — he who knew no sin became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in him.

Edward Mote wrote these words nearly 200 years ago:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I do not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Jesus became our righteousness. All our personal righteousness is as filthy rags. He became our righteousness in order that we might be righteous in him. Self-righteousness is judgmental, harsh and angry! His righteousness is gentle, compassionate and willing to die for those he loves. That is the kind of love we are to have for one another. Love that bears burdens, avoids judgment and goes the second mile in order that another person might come to faith in Christ.

We are to never pass judgment. We are to walk in love and in so doing fulfill the law of Christ. You see,…

The kingdom of God is…

Righteousness. Remember what Paul wrote the Corinthians? 2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Miss Bertha Smith, a lady missionary that I came to admire greatly, used to say that this verse was the "dirtiest" verse in her Bible. During her long career as a missionary in China she had come to follow the Chinese pattern of running your finger along the passage you are reading. As she did this the oil and dust on her finger transferred to the paper. She simply meant that this was the most read verse in her Bible. We have no righteousness of our own that has any value at all in the spiritual realm. But Jesus is the righteousness of God expressed in human flesh. He became sin for us so we could become righteousness in him. So the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. And he is our…

Peace. Listen while I read Philippians 4:5-7, Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We live in an increasingly unsettled, violent time. Division is on every hand and people are driven increasingly by hatred and anger. Church, it is not supposed to be that way with us we are to be known to be reasonable by everyone around us. We are not to be anxious about anything. In the sermon on the Mount Jesus said the same words and gave us a reason: our Heavenly Father takes care of us. We use the example of God feeding the birds so we should not worry about what to eat. He gave the example of the beautiful flowers that God clothes so we should not worry about what to wear. Instead, we should seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things would be added unto us. Paul gives us a way of accepting this peace that comes from God. By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving we are to let our requests be made known to God. Then, and only then, the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. The kingdom of God's righteousness, peace and…

Joy. Righteousness is a gift from God not from our good works and peace and joy are part of the fruit of the Spirit. Listen while I read Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Joy in the Holy Spirit is something we have because we belong to him. It's not a happiness based on our feelings it is instead a confidence based on our relationship to the living God. The fruit of the Spirit is manifested in the life of the believer. And yet we still need to appropriate what we have. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and we have the peace of God indwelling us. Now we need to rest in him. Listen while I read Romans 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The Christian believer has the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life. Part of the fruit of joy and peace in our life is the presence of the Holy Spirit allowing us to abound in hope. Because, you see, it is the God of hope that fills us with all joy and peace in believing. We must remember that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We must walk in love in our day-to-day life. We must be open to all that by all means some may be won. We must support and encourage the weak and fulfill the law of Christ. We must never pass judgment because others answer to God not to us. Remember, there is another who passes judgment.

The Accuser, Satan, is a roaring lion roaming the earth looking for those people he can devour. He is the accuser of Christians and he usually uses other Christians to do the accusing. We need to remember that we have been chosen by God for his reasons not ours. None of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, remember, Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of the dead and the living.

Is he your Lord? If not, if you feel any desire to be saved from your sins, call on the Lord while he's near. If he is your Lord, make a new commitment today to never put a stumbling block before another believer.

All scripture quotes from:The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.