![]() ![]() It is a key element of his teaching in the book of Romans. "Faith" is perhaps one of the best examples of this. Throughout his work Paul is redefining some metaphysical terms. The weaker brother hamstrung by legalism must mature in his understanding of liberty and the mature brother must be willing to constrain his liberty for the sake of the weaker brother. What it does NOT mean is, "If you believe something is ok, then it is ok." No! Just the opposite (again, Rom 2)! It means, "If you believe something is NOT ok, then it is NOT ok FOR YOU." We must strive to conform our consciences to the law of God. That is not an action proceeding from faith. You believe that it would be a sin if you did it, yet you did it anyway. So when Paul says, "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin," what he has in mind is that it is sin if you do something that you believe is wrong. And if the mature Christian put that weaker Christian in the position to do that, it is condemnation for him because he was not loving (at worst) or unwise (at best). So if he ate it while believing that, it actually WOULD be sin for him because he did something he thought he shouldn't do (see also Rom 2). ![]() What's happening is that the weaker brother thinks it is sin to eat this meat. So he is primarily addressing the mature Christian - the one who knows that it is ok to eat the meat in principle, but it would cause his weaker brother to stumble. Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. Judgment on himself for what he approves. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass ![]() The faith that you have, keepīetween yourself and God. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything thatĬauses your brother to stumble. ![]()
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