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THE KING’S BUSINESS
brother—the one who severely condemns the stronger because he does things which the weaker brother’s conscience does not permit him to do. The apostle deals with certain funda mental principles in this chapter: First, he tells us that instead of judging others, whether they be strong or weak, we ought to be thinking of the fact that we. ourselves are to appear before the judgment bar of Christ; that Christ will scrutinize each indi vidual ; that He will examine me, and not me for my brother, in that great day. Sec ond, that men must settle these questions for themselves before God. No one else can finally settle these things for us (unless, of course', there be a distinct teaching in the Word of God on these questions). No man can come between God and the indi vidual Christian. Third, there may be many things right in themselves which an indi vidual believer may be able to do without scruple of conscience, but which, if he is filled with the spirit of Christ, he will not do because "they offend the weak brother and do serious damage to his faith. The weaker brother cannot demand of the stronger that he surrender these things, but it is the privilege of the stronger, for Christ’s sake, to forego participation in them for the weaker brother’s sake. The man of robust faith must not despise him of weak faith; nor should the weak
brother be censorious of the conduct of the strong. Each man must make up his mind as to what he can do in the presence of his Master. In life and death we are Christ’s, for have not His death and resurrection made Him Lord of all? To Christ, and to no one else, shall the Christian be called upon to give account; but we must avoid censoriousness, and we must not despise the weak. We should not place obstacles before our fellow-men. The obligation of love makes self-denial a paramount duty and privilege. Meats and drinking and festival days are secondary things. It it not worth while for the sake of these to undo the work of Christ in a brother's soul. Keep the robust faith with which you are blessed to yourself and God (14:20* 22). Do not try to impose your views as an article of faith on others. Remember that to hesitate or doubt and then to par ticipate is to incur guilt: “He that doubt- eth is damned if he eat.” This spirit of consideration of others receives as its motive-moving cause the example of our Lord Jesus Christ (15:1- 13). C onclusion (15:14-16:27). The conclusion is occupied with personal matters and with greetings from the Apos tle Paul to the Christians at Rome.
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