Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him 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 God is able to make him stand.
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The Epistle to the Romans is considered by most to be the greatest writing by the apostle Paul, both in its importance and in its length. It is a letter to the church in Rome, the capital city of the Gentile world and a mixed community of Jews and Gentiles. St Paul is not the founder of this church nor had he ever visited it, but it clearly had problems. Paul, as always, stands firm in the faith of the church when he declares in the first chapter: I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everything that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
The letter itself seems to be written at Corinth, during the latter part of his third missionary journey, roundabout 57 to 58 A.D., and before the apostle’s brief visit to Jerusalem. The letter systematically and logically sets out the correct doctrine for the people to follow. Paul deals extensively with the old covenant and how Gentiles can become full members of the new covenant by grace through faith.
Paul begins Chapter 13, verses 1 to 10 by focusing on the life of the Christian in the world, with emphasis on his relationship with the civil authorities and all mankind. By verse 11 he gives warning as to the approaching end of all things. Hence there is every reason to prepare yourself and be vigilant for the second coming. We must live our life in a state of expectation and be not lethargic. We must wake up from sleep. Paul seems to be concerned that some of the believers in Rome may have relaxed their expectation and go about their day-to-day lives in the same way as their unbelieving neighbours. Instead of living in the light of day, they are living in the darkness of night, and hence he exhorts them to awaken from sleep so they can be saved.
Now, those of us who are in the night of spiritual darkness, ignorance and unbelief are extolled to put on the armour of light. This is redolent of the Gospel of John, Chapter 9 verse four, where Christ says “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” To emphasise this, Paul tells his readers to “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ. What is envisaged is not the once only rite of baptism, but something which can be repeated, that one may live their life in Christ with an intensity of dedication to the risen Lord.
In Ephesians 5:8, Paul describes the believers in Christ thus: “for you were sometimes darkness but now you are light.” Christ is the true light who lights every man coming into the world. However, godlessness dominates the world. It is all the more reason why we need to be ready. Moreover we need to avoid evils such as revelry and drunkenness, lewdness and lust. These are the ways of the devil and make us fall into sin; evil is all around us. But if we are true Christians and have put on the Lord Jesus, then we reject all these temptations because there is no provision in Christ for the flesh to fulfil its lust. And we, as Christians, need to live and behave as if the day of the Lord has already come, living consistently with the newness of life which became ours as a result of our baptism. The Christian reflects the joy, the hope and assurance that he has in anticipation of the coming of the light. Therefore, you need to commit and commit fully to Christ.
Paul then recommends how to receive your neighbour that is weak in faith – show him tolerance when he manifests a moral or spiritual weakness. Be an icon for him. Remember, some have a need for spiritual milk because they cannot stand strong meat. In other words, some understand the basic principles but not the higher principles of Christ and his priesthood. We need to be patient in Christian love.
It must be remembered that at that time, Gentiles were being attracted to the faith and there was still a dispute with the Judaisers who were reluctant to give up the dietary prescriptions of the law whilst others, who feared that they would fall into sin by eating meat sacrificed to idols, only ate vegetables and fruit. Finally, there were those who ate everything in view of the Lord’s teaching that nothing is unclean by nature. After all, Christ said in Mark’s gospel, “hear me, all of you and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him: but the things which come out of a man are what defile him.” And further, he declared… “Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?” Thus he declared all foods clean. And he declares that which comes out of a man is what defiles him from within, out of the heart of man come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slanderer, pride, foolishness. “All these evil things come from within and they defile a man.” (Mark 7: 17 – 23)
Here is the nub of what Paul is saying: do not enter into pointless disputes over opinions as to who is right. Let every person live their life as they will in matters that do not involve Christian dogma and do not compromise the faith. For to do so leads to disputation and disputation leads to separation. No, let everyone live as they will for each is a servant to God. God, as Master, will declare and judge the actions of each and every one. We will all render account to God, no one will escape this. And if we are all servants, how can we possibly judge a fellow servant just because they do things a little bit different than we do? Our job to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord and not worry about what we eat or what we drink or what our neighbour eats and what he drinks.
Everybody can lead their live as they will. Provided that they give praise to God then they are God’s and, if God’s, then how can we show contempt for our brother in Christ? If we show contempt to our brother we are in effect showing contempt of God. Now that is food for thought.
