Romans 14,15 - Receiving

"Now him who is weak in faith receive, ..." (Rom. 14:1)

The local church receives those strong in faith and those weak in faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is the requirement for participation in the Body of Christ.

If a believer is weak in the faith and for example, is not sure that there was a world wide flood or that Adam was the first man, he is not turned away.

If Christ has received him then the local church should receive him.

"Therefore receive one another, as Christ also received you to the glory of God." (Rom. 15:7)

Back to Romans 14:1. Don't receive with an eagerness to debate on the believer's issues.

"Now him who is weak in faith receive, but not for the purpose of passing judgments on his considerations." (14:1)

Then Paul gives some examples.

Paul gives examples.

"One believes that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables." (v.2)

Receive the sister or brother, the apostle says.
He is a vegetarian, he has faith, receive him. Christ has received him.
She believes she should restrict herself to a certain sacred diet.
If Christ has received her the church should receive her.

[b]"He who eats, let him not despise him who does not eat; and he who does not eat, let him ot judge him who eats, for God has RECEIVED him." (v.3)

In our inner being we can usually (but not always) discern that Christ has come to live in someone. Christ has received the one weak in faith or with doctrinal differences from the elders of the church or has particular considerations important to him.

The Body of Christ consists of those who have the LIFE of Christ.
The church is practicing to have the Body of Christ and receives all who are the members of Christ.

Paul goes on.

Do not be eager to teach your consideration against his consideration. For reception into the church life and meetings it is good enough that Christ has received one.

"Who are you who judge another's household servant? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." (v.4)

Don't go find a "Meat and Vegetables Church".
Don't go and start a "Vegetables Only Church".
This is where the enemy of God has gained the upper hand and the saints have shot themselves in the foot.

For the riches blessing from the Spirit is in the unity.

I am not to judge you. You are not to judge me.
The Lord has received us both.
The Lord Jesus is able to make us stand.

Receiving is a TEST to the local saints.
Receiving one another is a TEST to both the coming ones and the receiving ones.

Some believers regard a PARTICULAR day as more sacred then another. Others regard all days alike. There can be unity.

Your private consideration is your own. Go along with the fellowship if you can do so. No need to make an issue of your private consideration of the importance of certain days.

"One judges one day above another; another judges every day alike. Let each be fully persuaded in his own mind." (v.5)

It extends to things like WHEN the rapture might occur.
It extends to whether to wear head covering or not.
It extends to what one should say when someone is being baptized.

There is room for each to be persuaded in his own mind fully.
Do not for the sake of your conviction before God cause division in the local church.

If the elders baptize saying "We baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ" do not desent and say "I cannot meet here."

If the elders baptize saying "We baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" do not leave and say you cannot meet with these Christians.

If the elders should baptize saying "We baptize you into the death of Christ!" that's ok. Don't dissent. If you are called to baptize you pray out to God what you wish, only in faith.

if the deacons should say "We baptize you into the Body of Christ" that is wonderful. That too is scriptural.

If the saints pray out "We baptize you into one Spirit" that's biblical also.

Be persuaded in your own mind about these peripheral matters.

The overseers of the local assembly may make the decision to immerse. This is good. I just go along with their decision. Don't start a Baptist Church. Don't react to cross the street to find a Sprinkling Church.

If we learn to go along in keeping the oneness of the Spirit God will GROW in us. Christ will in us. The very forbearance you exercise will cause Christ to grow in you and the growth of Christ goes to the building up of the Body of Christ.

It is not always easy for Christians. But we have the grace of Christ to empower us through. The Holy Spirit must be allowed to finally have the last say. He will adjust all that needs to be adjusted.

"He who regards that day, regards it to the Lord; and he who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not eat, does not eat to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.

For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself;

For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or we die, we are the Lord's.

For Christ died and lived again for this, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." (vs. 6 - 9)

Our convictions (as long as they are not concerning committing sinful acts) should be unto the Lord. We have these considerations to the Lord because we are His. We live to the Lord and we die to the Lord.

Paul goes on to explain that all of us who live unto Christ will appear before His judgment seat to use our lips to give an account of our Christian walk.

"But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you, who do you despise your brothers? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God, ..." (v.10)

Elsewhere the judgment seat of God is called the judgment seat of Christ. It is the same. Christ is God. God is in Christ.

All the saved people will stand before Christ to give an account of their own Christian service and life to Him directly.

How will Jesus do this for millions of people? I don't know.
He is God. He may be able to do everyone simultaneously for all we know.

But the point is we live and die to the Lord, so do not be quick to judge other believers. Receive them.

One Christian believes we should only vote Democratic.
Another believes that a Christian should only vote Republican.

For them to receive one another in the church will cause them both to grow in Christ.

The very forbearance they exercise in Christ will be the catalyst to cause them each to GAIN Christ.

To put up with each other in Christ and by the power of Christ is the very catalyst that causes them to GROW in Christ. And the GROWTH in Christ is the building of the Body of Christ. And the emergence of the Body life is the very thing to CRUSH the devil under our feet.

The church is the extension of the cross.
The cross means "Deny yourself and instead ENJOY Christ living in you."


The local church is the extension of the cross to cross OUT the old man. The cross in the Spirit crosses out the old man and brings in the new man in resurrection.

The community of resurrection is what will crush Satan under the feet of the church.

"Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:20)

What a wise principle Paul wrote about the receiving of believers of one another.

"Now him who is weak in faith receive, ..." (Rom. 14:1)