(#461) Romans 14 - Do You Whack People Over the Head with Your Knowledge?

Class Outline:

---

Does your lifestyle make Christianity look bad?

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To 

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a small and intimate Christian Church with worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We make a difference by teaching the Word of God from God’s perspective, and not from man’s perspective. 

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Whack People Over the Head with Your Knowledge?

 

Quite often the worst people to work with, both in business and in the church, are the smart people. In my experience, the smartest people in a room are always the “broke-est” people in the room.  In addition, smart people are usually lousy at winning people’s hearts…terrible at gaining willing cooperation…because they are always whacking people over the head with their knowledge.  Smart people don’t understand why the rest of us don’t “get it.”  In so thinking, smart people don’t “get it.”  In the spiritual realm, it’s a shame when smart people turn people off to God and His Word.  

 

In today’s lesson, our study of Romans, Chapter 14 continues with a look at how knowledge puffs us up…we can come off as arrogant.  Instead, unconditional love is the answer in our interactions with others.

 

In the opening of every lesson at Barah Ministries we learn something about God.  In recent weeks we have learned that God is FORGIVING…He is JUST…He is RIGHTEOUS…He is SOVEREIGN…He is OMNISCIENT… He is OMNIPRESENT…He is OMNIPOTENT…He is IMMUTABLE… and He has VERACITY.  Today we learn that God is ETERNAL.  

 

God was not created…He is not a creature…instead, He is the Creator of all

things…He has always existed.  Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1…

 

GENESIS 1:1

In the beginning (not a beginning) God (Jehovah Elohim…the Lord…God the Son) created the heavens and the earth.

 

The beginning described in Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1 is not the beginning of God…it is simply the beginning of the earth and the universe as we know it.  John, Chapter 1, Verse 1 and Verse 3 confirm this idea…

 

JOHN 1:1

In the beginning was the Word (the Lord…God the Son)…and the Word (the Lord…God the Son) was with God the Father…and the Word (the Lord… God the Son) was God.

 

JOHN 1:3

All things came into being through (the Lord…God the Son)…and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

 

Revelation, Chapter 4, Verse 11…

 

REVELATION 4:11

“Worthy are You…our Lord and our God…to receive glory and honor and power…for You created all things…and because of Your will they existed and were created.”

 

God is beginning-less and endless.  He exists now…He has always existed…and there never will be a time when He doesn’t exist. In other words, God’s is eternal…in His very nature.  Isaiah, Chapter 57, Verse 15…

 

ISAIAH 57:15a

For this is what is said by the high and exalted One…the One who inhabits eternity…the One whose name is Holy…

 

God has always been there for us…eternally…and He will always be there for us...eternally.  Welcome to a place where you can learn about a God whose being and whose kingdom has no end…through the study of His exact thinking…the bible…the Word of God.

 

Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 1 says…

 

HEBREWS 4:1

…if we are to fear anything…let us believers in Christ fear…that while a promise remains of entering God’s rest…any one of us may seem to have come short of resting in Him.

 

You have an OMNISCIENT God who knows everything about you. And when no one else seems to understand you, remember there are things that GOD ONLY KNOWS…here is For King and Countryto sing about it…

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

GOD ONLY KNOWS

For King and Country

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Thank you, Father…for encouraging us to live in a way that is supportive of others…through God the Holy Spirit, teach us how to orient to the needs of others, and how to put their welfare before our own…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Whack People Over the Head with Your Knowledge?

 

Often, the word “church” traumatizes people, and today, people are leaving churches in droves! Believe it or not, all the theatrical productions…the bands…the musicians…the coffee bars and the worldly ministries (the singles ministry…the divorced ministry…the transsexual ministry) are becoming transparent to people.  Simply stated, most churches are so much like the world that people are thinking they can get the world in the world… they don’t need to go to church to get another dose of the world.  

 

Have you ever reallywondered why people are leaving churches? Maybe it’s you.  Have you ever told someone that they will go to hell if they don’t believe in the God you believe in?  Have you ever had that thought?  Maybe you’re the reason people aren’t attracted to church.  Maybe your lifestyle is misrepresenting the God you serve.

 

To be fair, most of the criticism directed at Christianity is really being directed to its counterfeit…religion.  Christianity is blamed because the bondage of religion often wears a Christian label.    

 

As a former Roman Catholic, I can’t see why anyone would go to a Roman Catholic mass or why they would be attracted by the tyranny of Roman Catholicism.  Not now.  Not ever. The Roman Catholic religion does not reflect the thinking of God in any way (except on the surface).

 

More often, the repulsion people feel toward church relates to you.  They see you getting high, and then talking about how close you are to God. They see you in illicit relationships, and then talking about how close you are to God. To unbelievers, that does not compute.  I’ve heard unbelievers say many times that WHO Christians are speak so loudly, they can’t hear anything a Christian says.  Unfortunately, unbelievers often think God and Christians are the same being…they have their eyes on people, and not on God.  Therefore, if we aren’t representing God well we become a stumbling block for others.

 

As Christians, we know we are hypocrites, and over time we become comfortable with it.  In addition, we understand the lifestyle of freedom, and we have become comfortable with it.  

 

Unbelievers think that Christianity is supposed to change a person noticeably so they no longer do anything wrong.  This incorrect perception of reality may be misguided, but until an unbeliever gets exposed to the Word of God long enough to know that Christians are usually worse after salvation than they ever were before salvation, the reality of our situation leaves unbelievers thinking they don’t need God.  What a pity.

As Christians, we ask ourselves…does our conduct turn people off to God, to His Word, and to Christianity? And then we get a sick feeling in our stomachs.

 

The answer is YES…yes it does.  

 

We continue our study of Romans, Chapter 14 with the second passage, which extends from Verses 13 to 23. When you really think about this passage and this chapter in your silent moments of reflection on it, you’ll find it to be one of the most encouraging “spankings” found anywhere in the bible.  The Lord is encouraging us to notice the impact our faith has on others.  Here are the conclusions of this chapter… 

 

ROMANS 14:13

Therefore…let us not keep on judging and condemning one another…rather, let’s determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block (something another trips over) in a brother’s way.

 

All we need is LOVE. Do you get it?  J

 

ROMANS 14:14 

I (Paul) know (as one who is The Strong in Faith)…and I am convinced in union with the Lord Jesus…that no food (nor any other thing) is unclean in itself… but to him who thinks anything to be unclean (The Weak in Faith)…to him it IS unclean.

 

Those who are new to Christianity are still dealing with the remnants of legalism and lasciviousness that they have been delivered out of…and these concepts are operating loudly within these people.  So how is The Strong in Faith to treat The Weak in Faith?

 

ROMANS 14:15 

For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to a lifestyle of unconditional love. Do not destroy the one for whom Christ died (either believer or unbeliever) with your food (preferences). 

 

In other words, don’t whack people over the head with your freedom.  Don’t whack people over the head with your knowledge.  

 

ROMANS 14:16 

Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you (The Strong in Faith)…be spoken of as evil (blasphemed by The Weak in Faith)…

 

ROMANS 14:17 

…for the kingdom of God is not merely about eating and drinking …but the kingdom of God is about the righteousness (in your walk with God) and peace (in your relationship with others) and joy (in yourself) in (union with) God the Holy Spirit.

 

Said another way…don’t destroy the reputation of Christianity with your abuse of knowledge…with your own freedom.  There is more to Christianity than food choices and days of celebration.

 

ROMANS 14:18 

For he who keeps on serving Christ in this way (displaying righteousness, peace and joy) is acceptable to God the Father and is approved by men.

 

ROMANS 14:19 

So then as believers in Christ we are to keep on pursuing (literally “hunting down”) the things which make for peace and the things that lead to the building up of one another (mutual edification).

 

Pursuing peace means refusing to engage in negativity and selfish conflict.  Or said in the negative sense…

 

ROMANS 14:20 

Do not tear down the work of God the Father for the sake of food (and days). All things indeed are clean (for The Strong in Faith)…but they are evil for the man who eats and takes offense (The Weak in Faith).

 

ROMANS 14:21 

It is good not to eat meat…or to drink wine…or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

 

 

ROMANS 14:22 

The faith which you (who are The Strong in Faith) have…have it as your own conviction before God…because happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

 

ROMANS 14:23 

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats…because his eating is not from faith…and whatever is not from faith in God is sin.

 

Don’t whack people over the head with your knowledge.  Whack them over the head with your love.  You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.  Are you one who whacks people over the head with your knowledge? Or do you love?  Quite often people turn away from God because of people. 

 

When people turn away from God, in their minds they turn away from an entity…like “the church” …in reality, they are turning away from people, and they can easily be turned off to God.  

 

When we return from our five-minute break we’ll see what conclusions are suggested by the final passage of Romans, Chapter 14.

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

Unconditional Love

Donna Summers

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Whack People Over the Head with Your Knowledge?

 

The Lord guides us in the matter of giving.  We do well when we hear His guidance.  We do even better when we follow His guidance.  Let’s welcome Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 9:11

…you believers in Christ will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Whack People Over the Head with Your Knowledge?

 

The Lord is the One who makes us stand…here’s Josh Baldwin to tell us where we stand with God with his song…STAND IN YOUR LOVE.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

STAND IN YOUR LOVE

Josh Baldwin

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Whack People Over the Head with Your Knowledge?

 

Welcome back!  

 

The second passage of Romans, Chapter 14 starts with THEREFORE…a transition word.  It transitions to several conclusions we can make from this chapter of Paul’s letter.  Let’s put it all together in our minds.

 

Distinction of meats (as under Judaism) is entirely gone in the Church Age.  Distinction of days (as under Judaism) is entirely gone in the Church Age.  The coming of Christ and His work on the Cross changed everything.  It is only to those who lack of knowledge about the change that are still living under slavery to sin and bondage to the Law.

 

This is not an invitation for those of us who are spiritually mature to whack spiritually immature believers (those who are not quite ripe yet) over the head with freedom and knowledge.

 

Those who are strong in faith and mature in Christianity have to use discretion when in the presence of those who are growing in the faith.  Discretion keeps us from causing The Weak in Faith to stumble.

 

The Strong in Faith are to notice their impact on The Weak in Faith…often this noticing requires The Strong in Faith to forfeit freedoms to which they are entitled. 

 

If you don’t get it that there was a time when you didn’t get it then “you forgot where you came from.” Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 13 says…

 

EPHESIANS 2:13

But now in union with Christ Jesus…you believers in Christ…who formerly were far off (back when you “didn't get it”)…have been brought near by God the Father thorough the blood of Christ.

 

Be careful what affect your sins have on yourselves…be even more careful what effect your sins have on others.

 

Whacking people over the head with your knowledge and with your freedom does not draw people to Christ…it draws attention to you.  What draws people to Christ is LOVE.  Second Timothy, Chapter 1, Verse 13…

 

SECOND TIMOTHY 1:13

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me…in the faith (in God) and the unconditional love (of others) which are (the possession of those) in union with Christ Jesus.

 

We are to build others up, and we are not to tear them down.  Ephesians, Chapter 4, Verse 29 says…

 

EPHESIANS 4:29

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

 

Now that you have heard the do’s and don’ts…let the Holy Spirit teach you these things.  Don't bother to feel guilty…simply learn and move on.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The closing moments of our study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU. 

 

What God wants you to know is that thirteen words tell the story of how to be saved!  The first word is GOD.  There is one and only one God…Isaiah, Chapter 45, Verse 5…

 

GOD
 

ISAIAH 45:5

“I am the Lord and there is no other…besides Me there is no other God.”

 

Our amazing God reveals Himself in ways that make sense to human beings.

The next word is MANKIND, a name for all of God’s creatures, and God created them all.  John, Chapter 1, Verse 3…

 

MANKIND

 

JOHN 1:3

All things came into being through the Lord (God the Son)…and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

 

So if you are a creature, and you are, God created you.  The next word is SIN.  All mankind were born is a state of sin.  Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 23…

 

SIN
 

ROMANS 3:23

…for all creatures have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

 

Romans, Chapter 3, Verse 10…

 

SIN

 

ROMANS 3:10

…as it is written, “There is no creature who is righteous…not even one…”

 

First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22…

 

SIN 

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a

For all in union with Adam at physical birth (and that is every human who comes to earth) are set to die the second death in the Lake of Fire…

 

As a result of sin, all mankind needs a Savior.  The next word is JESUS…the Name above all names…that magnificent Name…The God-Man…the Christ…the Messiah…the Savior of the world.  John, Chapter 3, Verse 17…

 

JESUS

 

JOHN 3:17

For God the Father did not send God the Son into the world to judge the world…but the Father sent the Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.

 

Jesus Christ is God and He wants you to be saved.  The next word is CROSS.  The Lord Jesus Christ chose to become a sin sacrifice for you by shedding His blood on a Cross so you wouldn’t have to die for your sins.  Philippians, Chapter 2, Verse 8…

 

CROSS

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:8 

Being found in appearance as a man…the Lord Jesus Christ humiliated Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…even death on a Cross.

 

John, Chapter 3, Verse 16…

 

CROSS 

 

JOHN 3:16

“For God the Father loved the world unconditionally…and He loved the world so much…that He gave His uniquely born Son (the God-man…the Lord Jesus Christ…to be crucified on a Cross)…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
 

The next word is RESURRECTION.   Three days after Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, He proved Himself to be Deity…just as He said…by being resurrected from the dead…in Luke, Chapter 24, Verses 5 and 6, an angel asks…

 

RESURRECTION 

 

LUKE 24:5-6

“…why do you seek The Living One among the dead ones?//Jesus is not here…but He has risen (from the dead…just as He predicted)...

The next word is SALVATION.  Acts, Chapter 4, Verse 12 credits Jesus Christ with the salvation of the human race… 

 

SALVATION

 

ACTS 4:12

“And there is salvation in no one else…for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (except the name of the Lord Jesus Christ).”
 

If you have salvation then you are saved from destruction in the Lake of Fire.  The next word is GRACE.  Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…

 

GRACE 

 

EPHESIANS 2:8

For by God’s grace you have been saved through faith (in Christ for salvation)…and that grace and that faith and that salvation are not from the source of yourselves…it is the gift of God….

 

GRACE

 

EPHESIANS 2:9 

…therefore, being saved is not as a result of works (deeds you have done in self-righteousness)…so that no one may boast (about saving himself).

 

A gracious God provides your salvation free of charge.  The next word is FAITH.  Mathew, Chapter 17, Verse 20…

 

FAITH 

 

MATTHEW 17:20

“…if you have faith the size of a mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds…and you do)…you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move…and nothing will be impossible to you.”

 

God gives you faith to spend on your own salvation.  The next word is REPENTANCE.  Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9…

 

REPENTANCE 

 

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of, but instead He is patient toward you unbelievers…not wishing for any of you to perish (in the Lake of Fire) but for all of you to come to repentance. 

 

When you repent, you have a change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The next word is RIGHTEOUSNESS. Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 21 says…

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS 

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:21

God the Father made Jesus Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God the Father in union with Christ Jesus.

 

Righteousness is your admission ticket to heaven.  The next word is TRUTH.  John, Chapter 8, Verses 31 and 32…

 

TRUTH 

 

JOHN 8:31

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine…”

 

TRUTH 

 

JOHN 8:32 

“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

 

Thirteen words tell the story.  There is a GOD…He is the creator of all MANKIND…and SIN separated mankind from having a relationship with Him.  Jesus saved the day by dying on a CROSS to pay for the sins of all mankind.  His RESURRECTION from the dead three days later proved that He is God.  As a result, we have a “so great” SALVATION, provided free of charge by means of God’s GRACE.  By spending our gift of FAITH we can be saved.  Through REPENTANCE, we change our minds about having a relationship with Christ, and God credits His absolute righteousness to our account…a righteousness that is our admission ticket to heaven.  When you know this TRUTH, it will set you free from the slavery of sin and bondage to the law.  The thirteen words can be summed up in one…BELIEVE.  Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

BELIEVE

 

ACTS 16:31 

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

Heed the warning in John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

BELIEVE

 

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

 

Here’s June Murphy to invite you to respond to the salvation call of our Sovereign God in her song CALLING YOU TO FREEDOM.

 

CLOSING SONG

 

CALLING YOU TO FREEDOM

June Murphy 

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

www.barahministries.com