CHRISTIAN LIBERTY: ROMANS 14 - CHRISTMAS,THE SABBATH, HEBREW ROOTS, & ALCOHOL

WHAT ABOUT ROMANS 14?

Some try to use Romans 14 to support the philosophy of “in non-essentials liberty,” but
Romans 14 does not say that some Bible doctrine is non-essential.

The only “non-essential doctrine” is a doctrine not taught in Scripture. When we are
dealing with such things as diet or the order of service or the time and the day of prayer
meetings or the number of deacons or the time and frequency of the Lord’s Supper or a
thousand other such things, we are dealing with opinion and tradition rather than the clear
teaching of God’s Word, and each church must make up its own mind in these matters.

These are the types of things that are “non-essentials.”

What doctrine should we be willing to stand for? Jude instructs the believer to “earnestly
contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). As he did not delineate what
part of the faith is to be defended, the obvious meaning is that we should defend whatever
aspect of the faith is under attack at a particular time.

The fact is that once an individual adopts the “non-essentials” philosophy, his list of
“non-essentials” tends to grow as time passes and as his associations broaden. It is a
slippery slope
(We will cover essentials vs "non-essentials" in more detail in another show)

ROMANS 14

(read all of Rom. 14 then go back and break it down)

"[1] Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

[2] For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

"For one believeth that he may eat all things,.... He is fully persuaded in his mind, that there is
nothing in itself common, or unclean; that the difference between clean and unclean meats,
commanded to be observed by the law of Moses, is taken away; and that he may now lawfully
eat any sort of food; every creature of God being good, and none to be refused, because of the
ceremonial law which is abrogated, provided it, be received with thanksgiving, and used to the
glory of God:" - John Gill
"One believeth that he may eat all things; i.e. one that is informed aright of his Christian liberty,
is fully persuaded, and that upon good grounds, that he may eat any thing that is wholesome,
though forbidden by the ceremonial law; that there is now no difference of clean and unclean
meats" - Matthew Poole

"another who is weak eateth herbs; meaning not one that is sickly and unhealthful, and of a
weak constitution, and therefore eats herbs for health's sake; but one that is weak in the faith,
and who thinks that the laws concerning the observance of meats and drinks are still in force;
and therefore, rather than break any of them, and that he may be sure he does not, will eat
nothing but herbs, which are not any of them forbidden by the law: and this he did, either as
choosing rather to live altogether on herbs, than to eat anything which the law forbids; or being
of opinion with the Essenes among the Jews, and the Pythagoreans among the Gentiles, who
thought they were to abstain from eating of all sorts of animals. " - John Gill

"Another, who is weak, eateth herbs - Certain Jews, lately converted to the Christian faith, and
having as yet little knowledge of its doctrines, believe the Mosaic law relative to clean and
unclean meats to be still in force; and therefore, when they are in a Gentile country, for fear of
being defiled, avoid flesh entirely and live on vegetables. And a Jew when in a heathen country
acts thus, because he cannot tell whether the flesh which is sold in the market may be of a clean
or unclean beast; whether it may not have been offered to an idol;" - Adam Clarke

Daniel did the same thing when he drank water and ate pulse to avoid being defiled by the king's
meat. We will cover more on meat offered to idols in the next section.

[3] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge
him that eateth: for God hath received him.

[4] Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.
Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

[5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every
man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

"One man esteemeth one day above another,.... This is another instance of the difference of
sentiments in this church, about the observation of rituals; and is not to be understood of days
appointed by the Christian churches for fasting, or abstinence from certain meats, either once a
year, as the "Quadragesima", or Lent; or twice a week, as Wednesdays and Fridays; for these are
things of much later observation, and which had never been introduced into the church of
Rome in the apostle's time; nor were there any disputes about them: much less of days of
Heathenish observation, as lucky or unlucky, or festivals in honour of their gods; for the apostle
would never say, that a man who regarded such a day, regarded it to the Lord; nor would have
advised to a coalition and Christian conversation with such a man, but rather to exclude him
from all society and communion: it remains, therefore, that it must be understood of Jewish
days, or of such as were appointed to be observed by the Jews under the former dispensation,
and which some thought were still to be regarded; wherefore they esteemed some days in the
year above others, as the days of unleavened bread, or the passover; particularly the first night,
which was a night to be observed throughout their generations; and in their service for it to this
day, use these words, "how different is this night from every other night"? and the feast of
tabernacles, especially the last and great day of the feast, and the day of Pentecost; also
one day in a month above others, the first day of the month, or new moon; and one day
in a week, the seventh day sabbath: now there were some, who thought that the laws
respecting these days were still in force, particularly the latter, and therefore esteemed it
above another: but let it be observed, that the man that did so was one that was weak in
faith; the same man that ate herbs, because he would not be guilty of violating those
laws, which ordered a distinction of meats to be observed, the same weak man
esteemed one day above another, imagining the laws concerning the distinction of days
were still obligatory, not rightly understanding the doctrine of Christian liberty, or freedom
from the yoke of the ceremonial law: " - John Gill

[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.

"He that regardeth the day, regardeth it to the Lord,.... The apostle strengthens the above
advice with this reason, because what is done both by one and the other, is done unto the Lord.
The weak brother that esteems one day above another, and regards the passover, pentecost, and
feast of tabernacles, a new moon, or a seventh day sabbath, does it in obedience to the
commands of the Lord, which he thinks are still binding, not knowing that they are disannulled
by Christ; and the worship performed by him on any of those days is done in the name and
strength of the Lord, with a view to his glory, and as believing it was pleasing in his sight; and
whether he is right or wrong, it is to the Lord he does it, and to his own master he stands or falls.
The following clause is omitted in the Alexandrian copy and some others, and in the Vulgate
Latin and Ethiopic versions, but is in most Greek copies, and retained in the Syriac and Arabic
versions.

And he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it; believing it is the will of
the Lord, that all distinction of days should cease; and that the law of commandments contained
in ordinances, respecting such Jewish days, is abolished by the Lord Jesus Christ; and that it is to
the honour the Lord not to observe them: for to regard the days of the feast of tabernacles, is
tacitly to say, that the Word has not tabernacled among us; and to observe he days of the
passover, is virtually to deny that our passover is sacrificed for us; and to keep the day of
Pentecost, is all one as to affirm, that the firstfruits of the Spirit have not been given; and to
regard a new moon, is in effect to say, that the church has not received evangelical light from
Christ, the sun of righteousness; and to keep a seventh day sabbath, is a strong insinuation, as if
Christ the true sabbath, in whom we have our spiritual and eternal rest, is not come; however, it
is to the Lord that the stronger brother and more confirmed believer disregards any of those
days; and it is to his own master he stands or falls, nor is he to be judged of man's judgment: and
the same is the case of the eater, or non-eater of meats forbidden by the law: " - John Gill
- Read Galatians 4:9-11 first and then break it down

"[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to
the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

[10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

[11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." - Galatians 4:9-11

"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Lest the apostle should be thought to
suggest, without foundation, the inclination of these people to be in bondage to the ceremonies
of the law, he gives this as an instance of it; which is to be understood, not of a civil observation
of times, divided into days, months, and years, for which the luminaries of the heavens were
made, and into summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, which is not only lawful, but
absolutely necessary; but of a religious observation of days, &c. not of the lucky and unlucky
days, or of any of the festivals of the Gentiles, but of Jewish ones.

By "days" are meant their seventh day sabbaths; for since they are distinguished from months
and years, they must mean such days as returned weekly; and what else can they be but their
weekly sabbaths? These were peculiar to the Israelites, and not binding on others; and being
typical of Christ, the true rest of his people, and he being come, are now ceased.

By "months" are designed their new moons, or the beginning of their months upon the
appearance of a new moon, which were kept by blowing trumpets, offering sacrifices, hearing
the word of God, abstaining from work, and holding religious feasts; and were typical of that
light, knowledge, and grace, the church receives from Christ, the sun of righteousness; and he,
the substance, being come, these shadows disappeared.

By "times" are intended the three times in the year, when the Jewish males appeared before
the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the three feasts of tabernacles, passover, and pentecost, for the
observance of which there was now no reason; not of the feast of tabernacles, since the word
was made flesh, and tabernacled among us; nor of the passover, since Christ, our passover, is
sacrificed for us; nor of pentecost, or the feast of weeks, or of the first fruits of the harvest, since
the Spirit of God was poured down in a plenteous manner on that day upon the apostles; and
when the firstfruits of a glorious harvest were brought in to the Lord, in the conversion of three
thousand souls.

And by "years" are to be understood their sabbatical years; every seventh year the land had a
rest, and remained untilled; there were no ploughing and sowing, and there was a general
release of debtors; and every fiftieth year was a jubilee to the Lord, when liberty to servants,
debtors, &c. was proclaimed throughout the land: all which were typical of rest, payment of
debts, and spiritual liberty by Christ; and which having their accomplishment in him, were no
longer to be observed; wherefore these Galatians are blamed for so doing; and the more,
because they were taught to observe them, in order to obtain eternal life and salvation by them.
" - John Gill

- Read Colossians 2:14-17 first and then break it down

"[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us... it signifies the ceremonial
law, which lay in divers ordinances and commands, and is what, the apostle afterwards speaks of
more clearly and particularly; and may be called so, because submission to it was an
acknowledgment both of the faith and guilt of sin; every washing was saying, that a man was
polluted and unclean; and every sacrifice was signing a man's own guilt and condemnation, and
testifying that he deserved to die as the creature did, which was offered in sacrifice: and the
whole law of Moses is intended, which was the handwriting of God, and obliged to obedience to
it, and to punishment in case of disobedience;" - John Gill

[15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing
over them in it.

[16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the
new moon, or of the sabbath days:

"Let no man therefore judge you... they are not to be the servants of men, nor should suffer any
yoke of bondage to be imposed upon them; and should they be suffered and condemned by
others, as if they were transgressors of the law, and their state bad, for not observing the rituals
of the former dispensation, they should not regard such censures, for the judaizing Christians
were very censorious, they were ready to look upon and condemn a man as an immoral man, as
in a state of damnation, if he did not keep the law of Moses; but such rigid censures were to be
disregarded, "let no man judge" - John Gill

"in meat or in drink; or on account of not observing the laws and rules about meats and drinks,
in the law of Moses; such as related to the difference between clean and unclean creatures, to
abstinence in Nazarites from wine and strong drink(and anything made from the grape vine),
and which forbid drinking out of an uncovered vessel, and which was not clean; hence the
washing of cups, &c. religiously observed by the Pharisees. There was no distinction of meats
and drinks before the law, but all sorts of herbs and animals, without limitation, were given to be
food for men; by the ceremonial law a difference was made between them, some were allowed,
and others were forbidden; which law stood only in meats and drinks, and such like things, but is
now abolished; for the kingdom of God, or the Gospel dispensation, does not lie in the
observance of such outward things, but in internal ones, in righteousness and peace, and joy in
the Holy Ghost; it is not any thing that goes into the man that defiles, nor is anything in its own
nature common or unclean, but every creature of God is good, so be it, it be used in moderation
and with thankfulness: " - John Gill

"or in respect of an holyday; or feast, such as the feast of the passover, the feast of tabernacles,
and the feast of Pentecost; which were three grand festivals, at which all the Jewish males were
obliged to appear before the Lord; but were never binding upon the Gentiles, and were what the
Christians under the Gospel dispensation had nothing to do with, and even believing Jews were
freed from them, as having had their accomplishment in Christ; and therefore were not to be
imposed upon them, or they condemned for the neglect of them." - John Gill

How can the word "holyday" apply to Christmas, a Catholic holiday stolen from paganism?
What does the word holy mean?

holy - perfect, free from sin, pure, set apart for sacred use or the service and worship of God

How would the word "holyday" have been applied at the time Paul wrote Colossians???

[17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." - Colossians 2:14-17

"Which are a shadow of things to come,.... By Christ, and under the Gospel dispensation; that is,
they were types, figures, and representations of spiritual and evangelical things... now these
were but shadows, not real things; or did not contain the truth and substance of the things
themselves, of which they were shadows; and though they were representations of divine and
spiritual things, yet dark ones, they had not so much as the very image of the things; they were
but shadows, and like them fleeting and passing away, and now are gone: " - John Gill

All is fulfilled in Christ, He is the substance.

...now back to Romans 14:

[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.

This is not saying never to judge other Christians because 1 Corinthians 5:12 clearly says, "do not
ye judge them that are within?". It is referring to our attitude toward issues like clean and
unclean meats, OT feast days, etc. making sure that we don't jump down each other's throat and
have no grace toward one another. It does not refer to judging things that are clearly shown to
be sinful in the word of God.

[14] I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to
him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

" that there is nothing unclean of itself; that every creature, as originally made by God, is good;
that what is eatable, or fit for food, may be eaten, whatever the Mosaic laws, being now
abrogated, say to the contrary; and that whatever physical or natural difference there may be
between the creatures of God, one being naturally fit for food, and another not; yet there is no
moral distinction between them, there is nothing in any of them that can morally defile a man by
eating them; nor indeed is there now any ceremonial distinction between them, and so no
ceremonial pollution by them. This was not a bare conjecture, nor a mere opinion, but a point of
certain knowledge, a matter of faith, and of full assurance of faith; the apostle was thoroughly
persuaded of the truth of it, and had not the least doubt nor difficulty in his mind about it; he
was as fully assured of it, as he was of his salvation by Christ, and of his interest in the love of
God, from which he could never be separated, and therefore expresses it in language equally as
strong; and this he came to the knowledge and persuasion of, "by the Lord Jesus"; by his express
words, Matthew 15:11; or by a revelation from him, in which way he had the whole Gospel: he
might be informed of this matter in like manner as Peter was, by a vision from heaven, Acts
10:10, or he knew this through the abrogation of the whole ceremonial law by Christ, who
abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances, and so these laws relating to the
difference of meats among the rest; and he knew, that all the creatures in their original creation
were good, and though cursed, for man's sake yet Christ had removed the curse, and sanctified
them for the use of his people, who, under the Gospel dispensation, might make use of them at
pleasure, without distinction: and the Jews themselves own, that what before was unclean, shall
in the days of the Messiah be clean: so they explain Psalm 146:7; "the Lord looseth the
prisoners", which they would render, "the Lord looseth that which was forbidden"; and give this
as the sense

but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean; such a man
that thinks the laws concerning clean and unclean meats are still in force, and binding
upon him, ought to refrain from eating them; because he would act contrary to his
conscience, and so violate and defile it; wherefore though the apostle was so fully
satisfied in his own, mind, yet he would not have weak and scrupulous consciences do
themselves any hurt through his faith; for if they ate doubtingly, and without faith, it was
an evil." - John Gill

[15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not
him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

[16] Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

[17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost.

[18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one
may edify another.

[20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man
who eateth with offence.

[21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother
stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

What I think is amazing about this is that many of those who celebrate Christmas, or are casual
drinkers THINK they are the ones stronger in the faith, yet they don't care at all how their
activities cause their supposed weaker brother to stumble. If they were the stronger in the faith,
wouldn't they abstain from these things just based on that reason alone? Instead of doing that,
they flaunt how much "liberty" they have and condemn all who disagree with them as
Pharisaical legalists.

[22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in
that thing which he alloweth.

[23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is
not of faith is sin." - Romans 14:1-23

Not ONE commentator mentioned Christmas!

How is it then that today, Christians use Romans 14 to justify Christmas as if it is the obvious
Biblically sound, orthodox, historical position?