Romans 14:19-15:13 (WEB)
So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.
It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.
Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,
but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations;
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.
Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
Again he says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
Again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Let all the peoples praise him.”
Again, Isaiah says,
“There will be the root of Jesse,
he who arises to rule over the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
🔑 Key Points
1. Peace and Edification Are the Aim
Paul turns from the debate itself to its goal: “follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.” Sproul stresses that in the church we are not called to win the argument over disputable matters but to pursue the peace and the upbuilding of the brother standing next to us — the kingdom is not food and drink but righteousness, peace, and joy.
2. Liberty Is Never a License to Wound
All things are indeed clean — Sproul insists on that, refusing any slide into legalism — yet it is evil for a man to use his freedom to put a stumbling block before his brother. Love voluntarily limits what it may lawfully do. To destroy God's work over a matter of meat or wine is a monstrous trade: you keep your right and lose your brother.
3. Faith, Doubt, and the Conscience
“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.” Sproul reads vv. 22–23 as a warning about acting against conscience: the man who eats while doubting is condemned, for “whatever is not of faith is sin.” Conviction kept quietly before God is blessed; a conscience bulldozed into a freedom it cannot yet hold is sin — which is why the strong must be patient with the weak.
4. Christ Is the Pattern: He Did Not Please Himself
“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves” — grounded not in etiquette but in the cross. Sproul points to v. 3: Christ did not please Himself; the reproaches meant for us fell on Him. Bearing with the scruples of a weaker brother is a small imitation of the great self-giving of the Savior.
5. Scripture, Unity, and the God of Hope
From v. 4 on, Sproul lifts the argument to doxology: the Scriptures were written for our learning, giving perseverance and encouragement and therefore hope. God grants like-mindedness so that with one mind and one mouth His people glorify Him, and we are to receive one another exactly as Christ received us. The benediction seals it — the God of hope filling us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit — the same mercy extended to Jew and Gentile alike.
💬 Discussion Questions
Where has your liberty or conviction become a stumbling block for someone else, and what would it look like this week to choose their upbuilding over being right?
In v. 22 the believer is told to keep his faith between himself and God. How do we hold real convictions firmly while refusing to make them a test of fellowship for others?
Paul grounds our patience in Christ's own refusal to please Himself (15:3). What would change in our home or church if the cross, rather than self-interest, set the standard for how we treat one another?
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing today, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
