For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. Romans 14:9-13

Jesus Christ Is Lord! This should be the foundational belief of every Christian, Jesus should be the Master of your life, because Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead on the 3rd day, defeating sin and death forever! Chirist is Lord of both the dead and the living, so why do you pretend that you are The Lord? We seen this yesterday in the comments sections, Christians condemning other Christians for the days they worship on or the foods they eat, do you not read the teachings given to us by the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit?

Paul reveals “For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ” Everyone will stand before Jesus and give an account for their life, including myself, are you ready?  “every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36) Lets stop condemning your brother and sister in Christ, because its going to condemn you! Its one thing to teach and correct, its another thing to condemn your brother and sister as if they are a child of the devil. 

The reality is this, “Every knee shall bow to Christ, and every tongue confess to God” As the Apostle Paul reveals “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10) I want you to notice here, every knee will bow to Jesus, including everyone in Hell (under the Earth) will bow to The Lord , every knee in Heaven, every angel and demon including Satan, every human good and evil, will submit to The Lord Jesus Christ!  

“and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11) Not only will every creature that ever existed bow to Jesus, but every creature will acknowledge Christ Is Lord! Every creature, including ourselves, will confess that Jesus Christ is ruler , Creator, Master, and God over everything including ourselves! Are you ready to bow to The Lord Jesus Christ? 

Knowing that Christ Is Lord, the Apostle Paul pleads “Let us not therefor judge one another anymore” (v13) Jesus Christ Is Lord, we are not, bow to the King of all Kings, The Lord of All Lords, submit to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(Titus 2:13) Amen!

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:5-8

The Apostle Paul continues to teach, we as Christians are under the Law of Liberty and not the Law of Moses. Holidays and Sabbaths are still a big contention within the Church, many Christians have even divided because of the days they worship, this is divisiveness caused by Satan. As Paul teaches “One person esteems or considers one day above another, another esteems or considers every day alike” So who is correct here? The Holy Spirit answers “Let everyone be fully convinced in his own mind”

Christmas is a great example of a divisive holiday. I personally love to celebrate the Christmas season with my family, I love the time to reflect upon the incarnation of Christ, a beautiful mystery that without it none of us would be saved! However there are some who refuse to celebrate Christmas because they believe it has pagan roots. We have a family in my Church that doesn’t celebrate Christmas, and somebody came to me and asked what should we do about this? I said nothing, nobody is obligated to celebrate Christmas, as I use this text for my discernment. As the Apostle Paul states “He that regarded the day, regarded it unto the Lord”

The Apostle Paul also wrote the warning to the Church of Colossae “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17) The Holy Spirit warned not to judge other Christians based on what day they are worshipping or observing, so why has the Church divided over this matter? Because Satan knows as Jesus warned “A house divided will not stand” (Mark 3:25)

Paul gives us a great revelation, all of these feast days and Sabbaths are a shadow of Christ! Jesus is our Sabbath Rest (Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4) without Jesus you will never enter into the Rest of God! Now some of you may disagree with me, and that’s alright, as long as we give this day to The Lord, and not to observe for legalism. 

One thing to remember, that Christ Is Risen on Sunday Morning (Mark 16:9, John 20:1, Luke 24:1, Matthew 28:1) All four gospels tell us Jesus rose on a Sunday morning, this is why we as a Church worship on Sunday. The early Church also began to worship on Sunday morning because of the resurrection of Christ “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7) There is nothing pagan about worshipping on Sunday morning, because as the Apostle Paul said “If Christ isn’t Risen, our faith is useless” (1 Corinthians 15:17) 

So whatever day you worship or observe, or whatever you may eat, do it for Jesus Christ, your Lord. “For if we live, we live for The Lord” (v8) Amen!

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4

One thing Satan likes to do is divide the Church, and there are many unnecessary divisions within the body of Christ. One thing we need to remember you are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8) You are not saved by “Keeping The Law” as nobody can keep The law. You need to understand as a Christian you live under the Law of Liberty which is Christ (James 1:25, Galatians 5:1)

So there are some brothers and sisters in Christ who still try to keep parts of the Mosaic Law , including the dietary laws. The main example we will use here is pork, eating swine was considered unclean and forbidden under the Mosaic Law. But we have to remember you are in a New Covenant with Christ (Luke 22) not under the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus said  “So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” (Mark 7:18-19) Christ taught its the sin in our hearts the defiles us, not the things from the outside such as foods.

God gave the Apostle Peter a vision of the New Covenant “And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:13-15) The Lord was trying to teach Peter he was in a New Covenant , not the Mosaic Covenant, as Peter was hesitant to preach the gospel to Gentiles and was still trying to Keep The Law.

So back to the Apostle Pauls teaching, there are still some Christians convicted not to eat pork, and as Paul is teaching us, That’s OK, if they don’t want to eat pork because of their conscience then they dont have to, if you want to eat pork, go ahead, as its the heart that defiles us and not foods. There are going to be Christians who think a little differently than you, show them love and respect, rather than getting into useless arguments! As Paul says “Not to disputes over doubtful things”

“For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables” If a Christian believes as The Lord taught all food is purified, then let them eat, if a Christian wants to try and Keep The Law, let them go.  “Let not him who eats despise him who does not” Don’t have divisions over secondary issues. If Jesus is our Lord, He is our Master, we answer to him! “Who are you to judge anothers servant”? Be united at The Lords Table, Christ is our sacrifice, our Lord, by his body and blood we have been redeemed and made Children of God! Amen!