2.
Receiving
one another with understanding
The second basic principle in the
application of the law of liberty is to receive one another with understanding
for we have been duly instructed saying; “Receive one who is weak in the faith,
but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all
things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise
him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for
God has received him” (Romans 14: 1-3)/
The crux of the matter is, “Food
does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we
do not eat are we the worse. But instead, we have been duly admonished saying;
“Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those
who are weak.” In addition to this, we
should not let our good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not
eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (1
Corinthians 3: 8-9; Romans 14:16-17).
The logical advice therefore
given to all believers is, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;
only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
one another” (Galatians 5:13).
This perception applies not only
to eating and drinking but also when it comes to worship For this is what we
have been duly admonished saying: “One person esteems one day above another;
another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He
who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the
day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he
gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and
gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself”
(Romans 14:5-7).
But the
question is, does this liberty give one the freedom to worship God when and how
one desires? Absolutely not because there are specific guidelines and protocol
on how God ought to be worshiped for we have been duly admonished saying; “For
whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans
15:4).
We have also been admonished
saying; “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the
glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the
circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For
this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your
name."
And again he says: "Rejoice,
O Gentiles, with His people!" And again: "Praise the LORD, all you
Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" (Romans 15: 7-11).
But the crux of the matter
according to Jesus Christ is, “You worship what you do not know; we know what
we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the
Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth"
(John 4:22-24).
And so the logical question for
every believer is, the rationale, the objective, the purpose, the manner and
the day that we set aside to worship God is it in spirit and in truth! Is it in
accordance to the word of God because Jesus Christ said quite explicitly; “It
is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak
to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63)?
Yes we do have the liberty to
observe or not to observe but if we choose to observe are we observing the days
which honors and glorifies the Lord as the Lord or are we giving honor and
glory to another so called god? For thus says the Lord; “You shall keep My
Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).
Therefore, although the law of
liberty gives one the freedom to live with one another with understanding,
nevertheless, if we are to worship the One and only true God in spirit and
truth we are to appear before Him and worship Him on the days He has ordained.
To be continued
https://www.amazon.com/dp/145385777X
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
No comments:
Post a Comment