the sacrificial life involves sacrificing freedom for fellowship

THE SACRIFICIAL THE SACRIFICIAL LIFE INVOLVESLIFE INVOLVESSACRIFICING SACRIFICING

FREEDOM FORFREEDOM FORFELLOWSHIPFELLOWSHIP

Romans 6:19-22Romans 6:19-22I put this in human terms because you are weak in I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Would you sacrifice some of your Would you sacrifice some of your freedoms in Christ, for your Christian freedoms in Christ, for your Christian

brother’s sake, to promote brother’s sake, to promote fellowship?fellowship?

I. What’s the Secret to Establishing I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity? Genuine Christian Unity? - v13-20- v13-20

A. By not allowing your freedom in A. By not allowing your freedom in Christ to Christ to hurthurt others. others.

Romans 14:13-15 - Therefore let us stop passing Romans 14:13-15 - Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s wayin your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord . As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in loveyou are no longer acting in love. Do not by your . Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.

I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian I. What’s the Secret to Establishing Genuine Christian Unity? Unity?

1. What’s freedom in Christ?1. What’s freedom in Christ?


1. What’s freedom in Christ?1. What’s freedom in Christ?a. It is not compromising a a. It is not compromising a

matter of principle.matter of principle.


1. What’s freedom in Christ?1. What’s freedom in Christ?a. It is not compromising a a. It is not compromising a

matter of principle.matter of principle.b. It does mean opinion b. It does mean opinion

matters matters are non essential are non essential issues of issues of life.life.


2. Examples:2. Examples:a. How to dress.a. How to dress.


2. Examples:2. Examples:a. How to dress.a. How to dress.b. What to eat.b. What to eat.


2. Examples:2. Examples:a. How to dress.a. How to dress.b. What to eat.b. What to eat.c. What kind of entertainment c. What kind of entertainment

you use.you use.


3. Bible Example: 3. Bible Example: The Food The Food Eating QuestionEating Question..



a. No food is spiritually a. No food is spiritually uncleanunclean

- Acts 10:9-16- Acts 10:9-16


3. Bible Example: 3. Bible Example: The Food The Food Eating QuestionEating Question..b. Some couldn’t break away b. Some couldn’t break away from the Jewish Kosier lawsfrom the Jewish Kosier laws

Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But unclean in itself. But if anyone regards if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is something as unclean, then for him it is uncleanunclean..



Romans 5:1 - We who are strong ought to bear Romans 5:1 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.please ourselves.

Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But unclean in itself. But if anyone regards if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is something as unclean, then for him it is uncleanunclean..


4. What happens when you offend 4. What happens when you offend a brother?a brother?

Romans 14:15 - If your brother is distressed Romans 14:15 - If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, because of what you eat, you are no longer you are no longer acting in loveacting in love. Do not by your eating . Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. destroy your brother for whom Christ died.


4. What happens when you offend 4. What happens when you offend a brother?a brother?

Romans 14:20 - Romans 14:20 - Do not destroy the work of God Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of foodfor the sake of food. All food is clean, but it . All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.causes someone else to stumble.


Romans 14:16-20 - Do not allow what you Romans 14:16-20 - Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of foodwork of God for the sake of food. All food is . All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to anything that causes someone else to stumble.stumble.


A. By not allowing your freedom in A. By not allowing your freedom in Christ to Christ to hurthurt others. others.

B. By conducting yourself in a way B. By conducting yourself in a way so no one could so no one could speakspeak against against your lifestyle.your lifestyle.


1. What is the kingdom of God?1. What is the kingdom of God?Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not

a matter of eating and drinking, but of a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousnessrighteousness, , peacepeace and and joyjoy in the Holy in the Holy Spirit . . .Spirit . . .



a matter of eating and drinking, but of a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousnessrighteousness, peace and joy in the Holy , peace and joy in the Holy Spirit . . .Spirit . . .

a. Living in righteousness a. Living in righteousness means means giving to God &giving to God & people what they people what they

deservedeserve..



a matter of eating and drinking, but of a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, righteousness, peacepeace and joy in the Holy and joy in the Holy Spirit . . .Spirit . . .

b. Living in peace means b. Living in peace means whatwhat makes for a person’smakes for a person’s

highest goodhighest good..


1. What is the kingdom of God?1. What is the kingdom of God?Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a

matter of eating and drinking, but of matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and righteousness, peace and joyjoy in the Holy in the Holy Spirit . . .Spirit . . .

c. Living in joy means c. Living in joy means sharingsharing the happiness with othersthe happiness with others..

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselvesconsider others better than yourselves..


2. What is the result of this type 2. What is the result of this type of living?of living?

Romans 14:18 - . . . because anyone who Romans 14:18 - . . . because anyone who serves Christ in this way serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God is pleasing to God and approved by menand approved by men..



II. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the II. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative? Initiative? - v21-23- v21-23

A. Because he can’t participate A. Because he can’t participate without without committingcommitting sinsin..

Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and not from faith; and everything that does not everything that does not come from faith is sincome from faith is sin..

I. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative? I. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative?

A. Because he can’t participate A. Because he can’t participate without without committingcommitting sinsin..1. Example: 1. Example: The Instrument in The Instrument in

Worship IssueWorship Issue..


A. Because he can’t participate A. Because he can’t participate without without committingcommitting sinsin..1. Example: 1. Example: The Instrument in The Instrument in

Worship IssueWorship Issue..Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is Romans 14:23 - But the man who has doubts is

condemned if he eats, because his eating is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and not from faith; and everything that does not everything that does not come from faith is sincome from faith is sin..


A. Because he can’t participate A. Because he can’t participate without without committingcommitting sinsin..

B. Because you can B. Because you can abstainabstain without without committing sin.committing sin.

Romans 14:20-21 - Do not destroy the work of Romans 14:20-21 - Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumblecauses someone else to stumble. It is better . It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to anything else that will cause your brother to fall.fall.



II. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the II. Why Can’t the Other Guy Take the Initiative? Initiative? - v21-23- v21-23

III. So - How Can You Take the III. So - How Can You Take the Initiative? Initiative? - 5:1-6- 5:1-6

A. By deciding who you want to A. By deciding who you want to please.please.

Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”insult you have fallen on me.”

I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative? I. So - How Can You Take the Initiative?


Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and bear with the failings of the weak and not to not to please ourselvesplease ourselves. Each of us should please . Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”insult you have fallen on me.”


2. Example: 2. Example: The Social Drinking The Social Drinking IssueIssue..



I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, men worthy of respect, sincere, not not indulging in much wineindulging in much wine, and not pursuing , and not pursuing dishonest gain.dishonest gain.



I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be I Timothy 3:8 - Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, men worthy of respect, sincere, not not indulging in much wineindulging in much wine, and not pursuing , and not pursuing dishonest gain.dishonest gain.

I Timothy 5:23 - Stop drinking only water, and I Timothy 5:23 - Stop drinking only water, and use a little wineuse a little wine because of your stomach because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.and your frequent illnesses.


3. The Lord didn’t please Himself!3. The Lord didn’t please Himself!Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to Romans 15:1-3 - We who are strong ought to

bear with the failings of the weak and not to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even For even Christ did not please himselfChrist did not please himself but, but, as it is written: “The insults of those who as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”insult you have fallen on me.”



B. When you live to please your B. When you live to please your brother you encourage his faith.brother you encourage his faith.

Romans 15:2 - Each of us should please his Romans 15:2 - Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, neighbor for his good, to build him upto build him up..


Will you sacrifice some of your Will you sacrifice some of your freedoms to win another person freedoms to win another person or encourage a brother’s faith?or encourage a brother’s faith?

the sacrificial life involves sacrificing freedom for fellowship

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