Romans 14: We are Not Our Own

Key Verses
7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
 
Meditation
Viewing God’s mercy reshapes how believers live with one another. We belong to the Lord, freed from living for ourselves and no longer needing to prove, protect, or impose our preferences. Grace directs us to serve others, pursue peace, and build up the body of Christ, especially in areas where we disagree.

In today’s reading, Paul addresses tensions within the church over non-essential matters such as food, drink, and special days. These disagreements had become sources of division serious enough to “destroy the work of God” (v. 20). Paul redirects their focus: “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (v. 19). Rather than dividing over disputable matters, believers unite in what is essential. “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (v. 17). Gospel clarity recalibrates our priorities; relationships in Christ outweigh personal convictions on secondary issues.
 
In Christ, we are no longer our own. “Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (vv. 7-8). This identity reshapes how we treat one another, neither judging nor despising (vv. 9-12). Instead of pressing our freedoms, we walk in love by willingly limiting our liberty if it would cause a brother or sister to stumble (vv. 13-15).
 
Jesus gave Himself to secure a people, not merely individuals. Therefore, those secured by His grace gladly give themselves for the good of His body. In view of God’s mercy, mature faith is not marked by asserting rights but by building others up. The gospel frees us to hold convictions with humility, extend welcome without judgment, and pursue peace.
 
Today’s Reading
 
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially Paul’s re-orienting perspective that points to higher truths of our security in Christ (vv. 7-9) and the focus of His Kingdom (v. 17)?
 
-How do these gospel truths empower Christians to live at peace with one another, freeing us from focusing on non-essential beliefs that can break Body relationships?
 
-Where do you need to live out of this security in Christ for more unity in Christ’s Body, that is, to live more at peace with other believers? Be specific.
 
Key Verses
7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.