Calvary Road Baptist Church
“PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND”
Romans 14.5-13
My first memory of attending Church was, I think, an Episcopalian or Lutheran Church on the Fort Totten Indian reservation. I seem to recall squirming throughout the service, my mother later finding out that I had been loaned some lice from friends whose hats I had worn.
My next memories of a Church service came from attending two or three services at a Baptist Church in the city of Plantation, Florida. There I responded to one of the invitations to come forward and was baptized the next Sunday, having no idea what I was doing or why. I think I went to Sunday school two or three times. And although I was baptized, I was unconverted and would certainly have gone to Hell had I died.
In high school, in the state of Oregon, my best friend attended an Episcopalian Church and was really involved in youth activities and liked his pastor. I, on the other hand, attended a Baptist Church with my folks perhaps five or six times. It was in a small town and quite boring, and I went from there to the military and later to college essentially an atheist.
When I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior I had virtually no legitimate experience with Churches. And what experience I had with Baptist Churches was unpleasant and disappointing. Why, then, am I a Baptist? I am a Baptist as a result of reading the Bible and comparing what is taught in the New Testament about Church life and practice and beliefs with actual Churches of the past and some Churches in the present.
In my readings, I discovered that there are four basic branches of Christendom, excluding cults such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and 7th Day Adventists, of course. There is Roman Catholicism. There are the Orthodox Churches of the Greek, Russian, Armenian, and Syrian variety. There are Protestants. And if you discount the Coptics of Egypt and Ethiopia, with a few on our East coast and some few in SoCal, there remains only the Baptists.
The Protestants, of course, split from Romanism behind the leadership of Martin Luther in the 15th century. And the Orthodox Church branched off from Romanism in the great schism.[1] Before that, the Roman Catholic Church began to take its present form somewhere around the time Constantine was emperor of Rome in the early decades of the fourth century after Christ. So, we have the Roman Catholic Church beginning around three hundred years after Christ, the Orthodox Church and the Protestants splitting off long after that. But what about the Baptists? Historians can’t find out precisely where they started; our origins are so ancient.
If you want to discover the origins of the Baptists, you have to turn to the pages of the New Testament.[2] On the pages of the New Testament you will find distinctives of first-century Churches and Christians that are also distinctives, not of Rome, nor the Orthodox Churches, nor of the Protestant denominations, but only of Baptists. When most people think of the Baptists of history they normally think of those who refused fellowship to anyone who was not born again and to anyone who was not immersed after they were converted. Additionally, Baptists, historically, are associated with complete independence and autonomy from both governments and Church hierarchies.
To this day, the Catholics and Orthodox Churches, as well as most of the Protestants, do not require conversion for membership, as do the Baptists. How can you when you christen infants? And only in recent decades have some Protestants begun to immerse and to establish congregations independent from denominational hierarchies. There are, to this day, real and important characteristics that clearly define Baptists as being distinct from the other three ideologies.
But in today’s text, we will take a look at another real distinctive of Baptists. It’s a distinctive that untold numbers of Baptists have died for over the centuries since our Lord ascended to His Father’s right hand. That distinctive is the priesthood of the believer. There are several passages in which the priesthood of the believer is declared in the New Testament, but the passage before us today is an application of this great truth to everyday Christian life, Romans 14.5-13:
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
To recap, in verses 1 and 2, Paul rebuked the strong in the faith for despising, and the weak in the faith for judging. The strong, you’ll remember, had complete liberty in Christ regarding their diet, but the weak were wrongly convinced that eating meat was contrary to God’s will. Quite apart, however, from the issue of what they ate, both groups were wrong for their attitudes toward each other. Then, in verses 3 and 4, Paul gives his rationale for rebuking the weak in the faith, reminding them that no one has the right to judge another man’s servant. And since the Christian is the Lord Jesus Christ’s servant, only the Lord Jesus has the right to judge our service to Him. The weak, then, needed to stop judging the strong.
In today’s text, Paul reflects on the issue confronting the Roman Christians and gives us a principle that has a far wider application than differences at the supper table. What we learn from Paul’s reflections on the Roman problem is that Christians must be given, by other Christians, the freedom to live according the dictates of their consciences. This Biblical principle is one of the most outstanding characteristics of Baptist belief and behavior down through the centuries. But it is not a principle historically held to by the Church of Rome, the Orthodox Churches, or Protestant denominations.
There are four personal determinations that Paul urges the reader to make, that are related to the priesthood of those believers who differ on what are, obviously, nonessentials. What are these four determinations?
First, DECIDED. EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST, IN HIS OWN MIND, BE DECIDED
Communicating only to people trusting in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul speaks to them about personal convictions related to nonessential things. That is, issues of significantly lesser importance than, say, the inspiration of Scripture, the deity of Jesus Christ, the tri-unity of the Godhead, the reality of Hell, the freeness of salvation ... things like that.
On things like these, all parties to whom Paul is communicating are in complete agreement. But since no two people are in complete agreement about everything Paul describes the causes of the present situation.
Notice the estimation of the weak. Paul indicates that “One man esteemeth one day above another.” Those weak in the faith felt certain days were holy and certain days were not. This means that differences in dietary considerations weren’t the only differences that were to be observed. The weak in the faith, then, were not overly scrupulous about the eating of meat only, but also about the sanctity of certain days.
Notice the estimation of the strong. “Another esteemeth everyday alike.” Those strong in the faith felt no day was more holy than any other day. This does not mean that those strong in the faith did not believe that Sunday should not set aside for worship and service to God, just that Sunday was not inherently of a different quality than other days.
Now notice the exhortation to the reader: “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Paul is here commanding his readers to be completely settled in what they believe. Understand that Paul is not indicating that it doesn’t matter what you believe, or that each person believes what they want to believe about cardinal doctrines. There are certain things you must both believe and do to be right with God. But there are other issues, such as dietary considerations that are not related to what you believe about salvation, that you are free to decide on yourself. Only be decided in your mind. And be fully persuaded. Don’t go this way or that because Alan does or because Darla does. Do your thinking when it comes to what you believe and the way you behave. But be careful when you do, brother, because that’s Baptist behavior. Search the writings of the Catholics, the Orthodox writers, or the Protestants. I’d be surprised if you ever find such a position advocated by any of their theologians.
DEVOTED. Second, EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST, IN HIS OWN MIND, BE DEVOTED
Can Christians differ about nonessential things and still be devoted to the Lord Jesus? Sure, they can. Two examples:
First, in the first sentence of verse 6, concerning the day being devoted to the Lord:
“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.”
Do you realize that both the person who thinks a certain day is especially holy, as well as the person who thinks it’s just like any other day, can do so “to the Lord”? What that means is that their devotion to Christ is not dependent upon whether they think that particular day is or is not especially holy. In both cases their belief and their practice regarding that day are “to the Lord.”
Second, in the second sentence of verse 6, concerning the diet devoted to the Lord:
“He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
Notice what we have here. The man who can freely eat anything is thankful to God for every single thing he eats. But the man who feels constrained by conscience to eat less is still thankful to God for what he feels free to eat. In both cases, the Christian either eats or does not eat “to the Lord,” and is thankful to God. But ask yourself what kind of behavior is typically thankful? Is it not Spirit-filled behavior? Is it not behavior in which the Word of Christ dwells richly in the believer? Sure it is. Though these Christians may differ about holy days and diet, though one may have a huge Christmas tree and the other may choose to do without a big Christmas display, it is entirely possible that both of them are doing what they do “to the Lord” and are, in fact, spiritual people. This particular type of diversity about nonessentials, all the while having spiritual unity based upon agreement about essential things, is Baptist talk again. The problem with many Christians nowadays is their wrong insistence on pretending that everything is nonessential and that diversity on truly important Biblical truths is both tolerable and desirable when, in actuality, it isn’t. The key then, agreeing on essentials and agreeing to disagree on nonessentials, is to be personally devoted to the Lord in whatever you do.
DEDICATED. Third, EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST, IN HIS OWN MIND, BE DEDICATED
Notice the progression of Paul’s thinking in verses 7-9:
First, there is a denial of independence; verse 7:
“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
Ever hear someone stand up on a soapbox and talk about how independent they are? How don’t they need anyone? How they only need live for themselves and no one else? It’s simply not true. And it’s so obvious that it’s not true that even the ancient Greeks realized how foolish such a statement was. They were convinced, as wicked as they were, that only the incredibly selfish person could and would live only for himself. The Christian, of course, recognizes the truth of this and realizes that he is not his own and that because he is bought with the precious blood of Christ he is obligated to glorify God in his mind and in his body, which are God’s, First Corinthians 6.19-20. So, no one lives to himself or dies to himself, least of all a child of God. Everything you do, such as choosing to have fun instead of serving God or choosing to have fun after serving God, affects other people ... for good or for bad.
Then, there is a declaration of dependence, verse 8:
“For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
Christian. Who bought you? Jesus Christ. And who sustains you? Jesus Christ. Paul said,
“The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.”[3]
And when you die, where will you go and Who will you be with? Jesus Christ. Amen? So, whether by life or by death, you are dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And not you only, but every single blood-bought and blood-washed child of God. You, me, we, are dependent upon Jesus Christ. The question is, do you act like you are dependent upon Jesus Christ? Did you act like it yesterday? And do you plan on acting like it tomorrow?
Bringing us to the declaration of Christ’s achievement, verse 9:
“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”
What Paul is referring to here is a relationship with both living and dead Christians that is not the result of Him being our Creator, though Jesus is our Creator. In one sense, it can be said that the Lord Jesus Christ has mastery over us because of His creative acts in the beginning. But the context of this passage shows that the phrase “both of the dead and the living” refers only to Christians. What is in view here is a special relationship that exists between the Son of God and living and dead believers and which does not exist between the Son of God and unsaved people. What is in view here is a relationship based upon redemption, upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus Christ went to Calvary’s cross and died and shed His blood, and then when He rose from the dead three days and nights later and ascended to offer His blood a ransom for our sins, He established with us a unique relationship. This relationship is such that, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. He is our Lord, our sovereign, especially because He purchased us from the marketplace of sin with His precious blood. Paul’s thinking in verses 7-9 is along this line: We Christians are not independent. Quite the contrary, we are completely dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is as He planned it, for to this end He died and rose again, that He might be our Lord, whether we are still alive or have gone to heaven. Because, then, we are devoted in this way to Jesus Christ, being purchased and thus owned by Him, lock, stock, and barrel, we should, therefore, be dedicated to Him. Amen?
Finally, EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST, IN HIS OWN MIND, BE DETERMINED
From these things, Paul has taught us about being decided in our minds about certain things, about being devoted, about being dedicated, what should you be determined to do? Let’s quickly move to the answer to this question by taking four logical steps:
First, the step of interrogation, verse 10:
“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
We have a different tone here, entirely than in verse 3. Verse 3 was let not him despise or let not him judge. But here Paul is confrontational. To the weak he says, “But why dost thou judge thy brother?” And to the strong he says, “or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?” This is very direct. And why do you suppose Paul is so direct? Because he has just shown us, in no uncertain terms, that Jesus Christ is each believer’s lord and master. Therefore, who do we think we are to, as he mentioned in verse 4, judge another’s servant? Though he has been dealing pretty exclusively with those weak in the faith for several verses, he’s now back to dealing with those who are despising as well as those who are judging, the weak and the strong in the faith.
Second, the step of evaluation, reading the final statement of verse 10 again, and verse 11:
10 ... for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
There is coming a time when each and every one of you will be scrutinized as you have never been scrutinized before. And those of you who delight in despising those who are weaker in the faith or judging those who are stronger in the faith had better be very careful. This is because, whenever someone steps in and judges another man’s servant, and despising is a kind of judging, you are usurping the Master’s authority with His servant. But there will be a place (it’s called the Judgment Seat of Christ) in which every Christian’s knee shall bend, and every Christian’s head shall bow, and confession shall be made to God. Did you catch that? At the Judgment Seat of Christ His authority will not be usurped; it will be acknowledged. You shall not judge His servants; you shall be judged as His servant.
One other thing. Though it is the Judgment Seat of Christ where these things will take place, confession will be made to God. An inconsistency? Not if you recognize that Jesus Christ is God. So, Christian, you want to spend your time evaluating other Christians about nonessentials, about things that Paul declares, are not supposed to be matters important enough to fuss about, break fellowship about, or worry about? Go ahead. You evaluate now, and you will be evaluated then. Act like you are some Christian’s lord now, holding them in contempt for some shortcoming or error, and see what that Christian’s real Lord thinks of your behavior when you stand before His Judgment Seat and bend your knee and bow your head to Him.
Third, the step of summation, verse 12:
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
No comment is needed. Do you think that Christian needs to give an accounting? He will. But if you try to make him give an accounting to you, you will give an accounting of your own. And again, Christ’s deity is in view here. When you stand before Christ’s Judgment Seat you will give an accounting to God because Jesus Christ is God.
Finally, the step of exhortation, verse 13:
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”
To paraphrase Paul: “Fellas, let’s not judge each other anymore. Okay? It’s just not wise. It’s just not worth the grief you’re asking for. You need to do everything you can, instead of judging each other and critiquing each other, to make sure you do nothing that hinders another Christian’s service or life in any way.” Purpose to make sure that, concerning nonessentials, you keep our hands off each other. Amen? Though we are to believe the same things when it comes to those profoundly important doctrines in the Bible, such as sin and salvation, baptism and belief, the Bible and the blood, we dare not minimize these and other great truths by magnifying the importance of relatively trivial things. About the less important things, we must yield to the priesthood of the individual believer and his accountability to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christian, if you are sorry for your sin of maligning another Christian, harshly judging him or despising him, take note of Second Corinthians 7.11:
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
Notice the lengths the Corinthians were willing to go to remedy the effects of their sin when they truly repented. When you apply this message to your life and personal conduct, I am willing to meet with you in private to suggest some ways to remedy the effects of judging or despising others. Just reach out to me.
Unsaved friend? You will bend your knee and bow your head and confess before Jesus Christ. But if you die without Christ, it will not be before Christ’s Judgment Seat in heaven, as Paul just mentioned. It will be before Christ’s Great White Throne, at the entrance to Hellfire. Revelation 20.11-15:
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
If you are here without Christ, far more important things than how you treat Christians confront you. What confronts you is how you are going to explain to Jesus Christ why you rejected His free offer of salvation. Christians, it’s repentance time for judging Christians who differ with you in nonessential matters. Unsaved friend, it’s time to prepare to meet thy God. Let me show you how your sins will be forgiven by Jesus Christ.
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[1] Earle E. Cairns, Christianity Through The Centuries, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, Revised 1967), page 215.
[2] John S. Waldrip, The Church of Jesus Christ: 28 Truths Every Christian Ought To Learn, (Monrovia, CA: Classical Baptist Press, 2019), pages 23-31.
[3] Galatians 2.20
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