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Presented, September 17, 2006 pm

ACTING WITHOUT DOUBTING

Romans 14:22-23

                In our continued study of Romans we have spent the past several lessons addressing the text of Romans 14.  We have noted the following in this chapter.  First, in understanding its use we must NOT misuse it to justify unscriptural activities.  Paul’s purpose here is simply to address differences in matters of liberty, that is, matters about which God is indifferent.  WE have noted the importance of considering our brethren as we act in these matters (and we must consider them in all we do), that the stronger brother is not any better than the weaker brother (this description has simply to do with whether or not someone is comfortable doing something), that each of us will stand independently before God and give account for our own actions, and that such is determined in the fact that each, in what he does, does it to the Lord.   Having established each of these points, tonight we wish to conclude our study of this chapter by noting the final two verses.  In these verses Paul deals with how we must act toward our own convictions – namely, we must not condemn ourselves in what we do.   Tonight we want to deal with the importance of our conscience in what we do and notice how it applies to our context.

I.                     Our Conscience

a.        What is the conscience?
To understand our text, we need to understand this.
Random house dictionary defines the word first as, “1. The inner sense of what is right and wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action.” (www.dictionary.com)
“That faculty of mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct.” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
What is interesting to notice about the Biblical definition here is reference to an inborn sense, meaning it is something within us that we are BORN WITH.  While in time it develops, we need understand it is a gift from God that separates us from animals. 
We often hear of one training the conscience.  That idea is not totally accurate (but I know what is meant): The conscience comes from God and it simply WORKS, unless we do something to it.  It makes us feel bad and guilty when we do wrong and it makes us feel good when we do right.  However, it works BASED ON what we have learned to be right or wrong.  So we can have a clear conscience and still be wrong – because we don’t have the proper knowledge.  That is why we must CONSTANTLY study God’s word to ensure we are right with Him.  This cannot be stressed strongly enough!
Romans 2:15 gives us insight into what the conscience does, “who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.”  When we do what is right it excuses us and when we do what is wrong it accuses us.

b.       Passages that deal with the conscience
2 Samuel 24:10, after David numbered the people his heart condemned him and he went to the Lord and said, “I have sinned.”
Matthew 27:3, Judas Iscariot realized what he had done was wrong – he was remorseful and brought back the 30 pieces of silver.
2 Timothy 1:3-4,  “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,”
Acts 24:16, “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”   This is the goal of our conscience, as much as possible to live peaceably with both God and men.
1 Peter 2:19-20, “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”  We have to follow our conscience even when it is not popular or what we really want to do.
1 Peter 3:15-16  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience , that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”  In the end you have to feel good about yourself and what you are doing, so that when others malign or accuse you – you can live with yourself.

c.        The conscience can be abused:

                                                   i.      1 Timothy 4:2- It can be seared – reaching a point where it doesn’t work anymore –

                                                  ii.      Titus 1:14-15 - It can be defiled – “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.”

                                                iii.      It can go beyond scripture – 1 Corinthians 4:6 warns us to learn “not to think beyond what is written, than none of you be puffed up against the other.”
While the word is not specifically mentioned, consider the example of the Pharisees as they added to the word of God.  For example, Matthew 12:1-2, they accused Jesus and His disciples of breaking the law because they plucked grain on the Sabbath.  However, their rules were not found under the Old Law – their conscience took them BEYOND God’s law and they BOUND IT on others.
Is that not what Paul is dealing with in Romans 14?  Brethren who bound what God did NOT bind (such as eating certain foods and observing certain days)?
Do we not also need to guard against that today as well?  We have to be careful to not accuse brethren of that which God has not bound.   Just because our conscience demands that we do something does NOT mean that everyone else reasons the same way.  Therefore, if something is not specifically spelled out by proper rules of authority, we best be careful before we demand it of others.

II.                   The context

a.        Do you have faith?  Have it to yourself.  As the term faith is used here, it means ones individual convictions – or we might say one’s opinion of a particular matter of liberty.  Paul says if you have an opinion, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.  That is not to say it should not be discussed or studied, but don’t condemn the one who doesn’t agree with you. 
Why? Ultimately you will answer only for yourself when you stand before God.  And so will your brother.  So you better stand with your convictions, even if others don’t like it.

b.       Do not condemn yourself in what you do.   
The word “happy” as used here actually means, “blessed.”   WS Dictionary of the N.T. notes that it speaks of one who is in possession of the favor of God.   WHEN we don’t’ condemn ourselves in our actions, God is pleased with us. 
In this text, an example would be for one who believes it to be wrong to eat certain foods, but he does it anyways – because his brother pressured him into it.  It was easier to violate your own conscience than to deal with a contentious brother.  HOW truly sad it is when things deteriorate to that point.
Consider 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 where Paul is dealing with conscience and such matters as these.  He says, “However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But 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 beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.  Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

c.        When in doubt, DON’T do it!  IF you doubt and do something anyway – you are condemned.  You are not pleasing to God in this.  Why is one condemned? Because his actions are NOT from faith. 
We ALL need to consider this in dealing with our differences.  I wonder if we take enough time to try and find out where our brother is coming from in his views!

d.       Finally Paul concludes, “For whatever is not from faith IS SIN!”

Truly in all that we do, we need to give consideration to our conscience AND the conscience of our brethren.  When we all do this possessing the concern and love we ought to have for one another, we truly can pursue peace and edification.  Paul concludes his argument in 15:1 where he says, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”  Think about that!