www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411May 8, 2011

Romans 14:13 Let us notnot therefore judge one another any more:

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Do you think God means what He says?

I know He doesI know He does..It's high time that Christians lovelove one another, encourageencourage one another, build upbuild up one another.

We have no right and no reason to judgeto judge one another; GodGod is the Judge.

This does not meannot mean that we should not judge wordswords and deedsdeeds to be right or wrong.

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If the Bible says a thing is good, it is good, and to be obeyed.

Worship

If the Bible calls it evil, it is evil, and to be shunned.

13 Let us notnot therefore judge one another any more: but judge this ratherjudge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

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1 Corinthians 11 31 For if we would judge our-our-selvesselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastenedchastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemnednot be condemned with the world.

I need to examineexamine my own lifemy own life, submittingsubmitting to God's Holy Spirit, to knowknow that I am doing right.

When if find myself wrongfind myself wrong, I need to repent.

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Psalms 37 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way. 24 Though he fall, he shall nothe shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lordthe Lord upholdeth him with His hand.

13b but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

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Be very careful not to hindernot to hinder a brother or sister in his or her walkwalk with the Lord.

Don'tDon't try to convince anyoneconvince anyone to go against his or her conscience.

Don't discourageDon't discourage anyone or put anyone down.

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

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Matters of conscienceMatters of conscienceMatters about which the Bible is silent.

When the BibleBible clearly speaks, all things are settled; God's Word is absoluteabsolute.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitablycharitably (agape). Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

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Back to the original example of foodexample of food.

And the concept of Christian loveChristian love.

Whether we eat meat or noteat meat or not is not an issue.

But to hinderhinder our fellow Christians, by flaunting flaunting our libertyour liberty, is a major issue.

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Don't be that person who causes another to stumble or fall.

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

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To focus on any of the temporal thingstemporal things of this world -- food, drink, clothes, cars, pleasures --

Is to miss the bestmiss the best of the Kingdom of God.

1 Peter 3 (NIV) 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peaceseek peace and pursue itpursue it.

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Nothing evilNothing evil is going to bring peacepeace to your soul or joyjoy to your heart and mind.

Doing the Will of GodWill of God with all your all your heartheart will bring peace and joy.

To the Will of God

Nothing of this worldthis world will bring lastinglasting peacepeace or happinesshappiness to any of us.

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John 15 10 If ye keep My Commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's Commandments, and abide in His love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that My JoyMy Joy might remain in you, and that your joyyour joy might be full.

Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow afterfollow after the things which make for the things which make for peacepeace, and things wherewith one may edify anotherthings wherewith one may edify another.

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Too many Christians focusfocus on the points about which we may disagreedisagree,

While ignoringignoring the many points on which we agreeagree.

19 Let us therefore follow afterfollow after (pursue) the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

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The subjectsubject throughout this passage is

matters of consciencematters of conscience.

We are not discussing the Biblical absolutesBiblical absolutes of rightright and wrongwrong.

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.

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Don't major in the minors.The spiritual welfarespiritual welfare of our brothers and

sisters is far more important than whatwhat we eat or drink.

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 whatsoever isis not of faith is sin not of faith is sin.

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Anything that brings guiltguilt into your heart -- don't do itdon't do it.

A good test: Can you give God thanksgive God thanks for it?

Other things that are clearly not of faithnot of faith: Fear, doubt, worry, giving up,

On matters of consciencematters of conscience I should not try to force another

person into my moldmy mold;

That destroys the harmonydestroys the harmony among us.

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We should all obeyall obey the Word of God in everything.

I have been teaching ChristiansChristians how to live in harmony.

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But, if you are not savednot saved today, the most vital thing you can do is acceptaccept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Put your faithfaith and trusttrust in the GodGod of the Bible, and His SonHis Son, Jesus Christ.

AskAsk God, in the Name of Jesus, to save yousave you, from the bondage of sinsin and the torments of hellhell.