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GOD THE ONLY JUDGE

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 20, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 33.

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GOD THE ONLY JUDGE.

Since the fourteenth chapter consists wholly of practical instruction in Christian living, and has no direct dependence upon the exhortations that have preceded it, we need not now take time to review the previous chapters, but will proceed at once with the text. Let it not be forgotten that this chapter, as well as those which precede, is addressed to the church, and not to those who do not profess to serve the Lord. In the sixth verse it is plainly shown that all who are spoken of in this chapter are those who acknowledge God as their Lord. The chapter therefore tells how we should regard one another as

Servants of One Common Master.

“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 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. 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. One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 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. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 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. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” Rom. 14: 1-13.

Questions on the Text.

Who are we not to shut away from our company?
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye.”
But how are we not to receive him?
“Not to doubtful disputations.” Or, as indicated in the margin, and rendered in some versions, “Not to judge his thoughts.”
What illustration of differences of opinion does the apostle give?
“One believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, eateth herbs.” “One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike.”
In what state should every man be?
“Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.” R. V.
How are those who differ in opinion not to regard each other?
“Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth.”
Why not?
“For God hath received him.”
What is that man doing who judges another man?
He is judging “another man's servant.”
To whom is the servant responsible?
“To his own master he standeth or falleth.”
But will he really fall, if he is indeed a servant of God?
“He shall be holden up.”
Why?
“For God is able to make him stand.”
What is the lesson that we are to learn in all this?
“None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
To whom do we live and die?
“Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord.”
Whose, then, are we under all circumstances?
“Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.”
For what purpose did Christ die and rise again?
“That he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”
Why should we not judge or set at naught our brother?
“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
What proof is cited for this?
“It is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
What, then, must every one of us do?
“Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Since God is to judge us all, what reasonable exhortation is given?
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more.”
What should we rather judge?
“That no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”