don mcclainw. 65th st. church of christ - 8/21/2005 1

Don McClain W. 65th St. church of Christ - 8/21/2005

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• Cannot draw lines of fellowship narrower OR wider than God has!

• All matters of liberty or indifference emanates from authority.

• Must recognize the need to abide in the doctrine of Christ which includes proper attitudes.


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• "In matters of faith, unity; In matters of judgment, liberty; In all things, charity.“

• BUT - For many today:"In matters of faith, "In matters of faith, LIBERTY; In matters of LIBERTY; In matters of judgment, liberty; In all judgment, liberty; In all things, TOLERANCE.“ things, TOLERANCE.“

(except for those who (except for those who oppose this motto)oppose this motto)


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• Has been grossly abused by those who are teaching or defending error . . .

• Tolerance and Forbearance for brethren who differ with one another in matters of indifference to God . . .

• No Tolerance for Sin - "Not for an hour" (Gal. 2:4-5)


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Any Attempt to Put Any Attempt to Put Sinful Doctrine or Sinful Doctrine or

Practices into Romans Practices into Romans 1414

• Violates the Context

• Puts God in Fellowship with Sin

• Brings Sin into the Church

• Provides Basis for Open-Ended Fellowship with Sin


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The Text -

• Matters Clean, Good, Pure v. 14, 16, 20

Immediate Context

• Rom. 6:1,6,7, 10, 12, 13, 19, 22

• Rom. 7:3

• Rom. 8:6-8

• Rom. 13:11-14 (no moral sins)

• Rom.16:17-19 (no doctrinal sins)

Attempts to put Attempts to put sin in the text sin in the text violates Text violates Text and Context:and Context:


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Distant Context

• Gal. 5:19-21 (works of the flesh)

• Col. 3:5-11 (put to death)

• Eph. 5:13-14 (reprove)

• 2 Jn 9-11 (no fellowship with sin)

• 2 Cor. 6:14 (unequal yoking)

There Should Be No There Should Be No Dispute On This!Dispute On This!

Attempts to put Attempts to put sin in the text sin in the text violates Text violates Text and Context:and Context:


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• Matters of Indifference are those beliefs or practices which are not specifically regulated by Scripture:

• They are things that are neither commanded nor forbidden, - 1 Cor. 9:5

• They are things that are authorized and allowed – Rom 14:5,6, (Matters Clean, Good, Pure v. 14, 16, 20)

• To engage in an authorized liberty one is neither the better or worse - 1 Cor. 8:8

• Just because a thing is an authorized liberty doesn’t mean that it is always expedient - 1 Cor. 11:17


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Romans 14:1-3 (NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes

over doubtful things. [2] For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only

vegetables. [3] 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.

Weak:Weak:

Uninformed, unable to

practice, poor understanding, doing it not to

the Lord, convinced in

own mind, gives God thanks.

Danger: Judge his brother,

violate his own conscience.


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Romans 14:1-3 (NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes

over doubtful things. [2] For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only

vegetables. [3] 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.

Strong:Strong:

Informed, able to practice, right understanding, doing it to the

Lord, convinced in own mind,

gives God thanks.

Danger: Cause weak to

stumble; set brother at nought.


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Romans 14:1 (NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful

things.

Doubtful . . . Doubtful . . . Διαλογισμος - dialogismosThayer Definition:1) the thinking of a man

deliberating with himself1a) a thought, inward reasoning1b) purpose, design

2) a deliberating, questioning about what is true

2a) hesitation, doubting2b) disputing, arguing

Vines: <N 1261,dialogismos>expresses reasoning or questioning hesitation, 1Ti_2:8.


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Disputing. . . Disputing. . . Διακρισις - diakrisisThayer Definition:1) a distinguishing,

discerning, judging

• The strong were not to judge the weak brother as being unworthy of fellowship because of their lack of understanding regarding matters that were indifferent to God.

Romans 14:1 (NASB-U)

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but

not for the purpose of passing judgment on his

opinions.


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• One's mistaken concept of what is included in "The Faith" does not change a matter of indifference into "The Faith.”

• We must come to the absolute certainty in our mind that a thing is a matter of faith, and this certainty must be the result of an objective and diligent study of God’s word.

• God has not left "The Faith" in Doubt: (Eph. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:5,21)




opinions.


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Romans 14:23 (NKJV)

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats,

because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

• Do not condemn another based on your lack of understanding – (bind where God did not). (3,4)

• Be fully convinced (5)

• To practice or not is your choice, but whether you do or not – make sure it is for the purpose of serving the Lord (6)

• All will stand before the Lord, He is the judge (7-13)

• Nothing is unclean in itself (14,20)

• Pursue peace (19)

• Not to violate his conscience (23)


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• Do not judge i.e. condemn the weak brother because of his lack of understanding. (1,13)

• Do not despise. (3)

• What you do – make sure you are convinced it is right & do it to the Lord - You will give account to God (5-12)

• Not to put a stumbling block in your brothers way – (13,21,22)

• Not to destroy your brother with your food (15,16)

• Pursue peace – teaching the weak brother the truth – (19)




opinions.


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• MDR• Drinking Modern

Alcohol• Immodest dress• Gambling• Idolatry • Observing holidays

religiously• Traditions as doctrine• Circumcision


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• Eating of meats• Observing holidays non-

religiously• Family customs• Marriage• Women wearing pants• Women working• Bible classes• # of cups• Circumcision

• Different Races• Different Cultures• Different family history• Different educational

backgrounds• Different religious

backgrounds• Different professions• Different knowledge• Different abilities


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1 Cor. 1:10 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there

be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


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Withdraw Fellowship -2 Thes 3:8Withdraw Fellowship -2 Thes 3:8Continue In FellowshipContinue In Fellowship

Contend - Jude 3Contend - Jude 3Do Not ContendDo Not Contend

Preach The Faith Gal 1:23Preach The Faith Gal 1:23Keep "faith" to SelfKeep "faith" to Self

Cannot Continue Rom 6:1, 15Cannot Continue Rom 6:1, 15Continue in PracticeContinue in Practice

God does not accept2 Cor 6:14-18

God does not accept2 Cor 6:14-18

God accepts both - (Practitioner, Non-practitioner)

God accepts both - (Practitioner, Non-practitioner)

Sinful, Violation of God's willSinful, Violation of God's willPure, Clean, GoodPure, Clean, Good

"Have no fellowship“ Eph 5:11"Have no fellowship“ Eph 5:11"Receive""Receive"

1 Thes 5:14; Jude 22; Mat 181 Thes 5:14; Jude 22; Mat 18Romans 14Romans 14


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• Cannot draw lines of fellowship narrower OR wider than God has!

• All matters of liberty or indifference emanates from authority.

• Must recognize the need to abide in the doctrine of Christ which includes proper attitudes.


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• "In matters of faith, unity; In matters of judgment, liberty; In all things, charity.“

• Tolerance and Forbearance for brethren who differ with one another in matters of indifference to God . . .

• No Tolerance for Sin - "Not for an hour" (Gal. 2:4-5)


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don mcclainw. 65th st. church of christ - 8/21/2005 1

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