Freedom

Freedom
Pastor Steve Anderson | 1.29.25 

Romans 14:13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it IS wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.  22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

Problem 1: Freedom in such matters can tend to create an attitude of superiority. 

One who does not eat everything must not sit in judgment upon the one who does:

Matthew 7:1   “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

James 4:12  God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

Problem 2: “Weaker” brothers might be talked-into it and so violate their conscience because of what others said or expected….to “stumble.”

A believer ought NEVER to become the occasion for another to violate and weaken their conscience before God.

Application: We must be AWARE and CONSIDERATE of others in these matters.

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Heart: your mind, will, seat of conviction

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

James 1: 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[a] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

1 John 2:15  Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

“LIBERTY IS NOT LICENSE OR EXEMPTION

You ARE free: John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.”

But Don’t go LOOKING for reasons to justify what you want to do.

1 Peter 2:16  For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

(ESV) Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.

We are free, but we are slaves:   

Romans 6:18 “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Romans 6:22 “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”

1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world

This passage is about our liberty from legalism and cultural expectations.

But, Ultimately, This Passage is About Others….Not Us

Galatians 6:1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

Romans 15:1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

NOTES

Join us Sunday @ 9 or 11am
Give Here
Follow Us On Instagram Here