ESSENTIALS AND NON-ESSENTIALS.
By M. C. W.
FROM a correspondent, we have received the following:—
“Please explain the fourteenth chapter of Romans, especially the fifth verse, through the SIGNS. This chapter is one of the stumbling-stones of the unregenerate. It matters not how strong may be the reasons and proofs for the perpetuity of God's law in all its entirety, he who wishes to avoid the unpleasant and unpopular duty (to the carnal heart only) of the observance of the fourth commandment, finds in this, he thinks, an excuse for thus doing. So he “turns away his ear from hearing the law,” tramples under foot its fourth precept, simply because it is said in Rom. 14 that everyone should be persuaded in their own mind as regards the observance of certain days. Those who love God's law have no stumbling-block (Ps. 119: 165, margin), while those who transgress it, stumble at noonday as in the night (Isa. 30: 10)—stumble because they are disobedient. 1 Peter 2: 8. The apostle does not refer to moral duties in Rom. 14. If so, he would not be so indifferent concerning it, neither would he give such instruction to the church. He has before declared that the reason why men do not obey the law is because their hearts are “carnal” (Rom. 8: 7); he states emphatically that the law is established by faith (Rom. 3: 31); and this law to which the apostle refers is the law which points out sin (Rom. 3: 20)—the decalogue (Rom. 7: 7.) But while the law cannot justify, grace can; and that same grace will so transform men that they will fulfill the righteousness of the law. Further he declares that he who has received the grace of Christ does not thereby have license to sin; but if we commit sin, that is, transgress the law, we are servants of sin. Rom. 6: 13-16. But lest men should get the idea that this justification had reference to sins against God alone, the transgression of the first four precepts of the law, the apostle shows in Rom. 13 that every precept guarding our duty to man is also included. “Love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13: 10); “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14: 15); “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5: 4. And the apostle concludes his wonderful argument on grace and its results in the following words: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Rom. 13: 14. But lest the members of the church should judge one another with respect to eating and drinking, the apostle writes the instructions of chapter 14. The weak in faith are to be received, even though they may have doubts as to whether they ought not to continue in former observances not required by the gospel. One believed that he could eat all things allowed of God for that purpose, another thought that he ought not do this at all times. They were not to sit in judgment upon each other, God had accepted them, and that was sufficient. Some of the Roman Church were from among the Gentiles, some from among the Jews. The latter brought with them many customs made dear by sacred association, and by commandment and blessing of God. Among these were such days as those of the passover, pentecost, etc. While they did not hold them as means of justification, and yet could not see clearly just how these feasts were met in Christ, they were not to be condemned. One still regarded the passover, and ate his bitter herbs (Ex. 12: 6-8), and did it for the Lord's sake; while another, with clearer knowledge and stronger faith, saw all these types met in Christ. One should not condemn the other. “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” in regard to these matters. If the Jew still thought that the day of atonement was better than other days, and kept that day by fasting and prayer, he should not be condemned by a brother who did not regard that day. But does not the apostle use the words, “every day”? and does not “every day” include the Sabbath? No; for the Sabbath is among the settled things belonging to God. What belonged to God was not counted with things common. So the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, because they belonged to the Lord. Num. 2: 33. Even so when the Lord told the children of Israel, “And thou shalt say, I will eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after,” he did not include all meats, only the clean. (See Lev. 11 and Deut. 14.) Yet the objector could take this general statement, and say, “That means all beasts, clean and unclean,” with just as much show of truth as he could say that the “every day” of Rom. 14 included the Sabbath. Again: In Ex. 16: 4 it is said that the people should go out and gather manna “every day;” but this does not include the Sabbath, because no manna fell on that day. Some of the rebellious evidently thought it did, but were rebuked. Verse 27. The “every day” of both Ex. 16: 4 and Rom. 14: 5 includes only those days which in their very nature are alike and equal. These are “the six working-days;” the Sabbath is not to be counted among them. Like the Levites, it belongs to the Lord. The typical, yearly holy days of the Jews fell on different ones of the “six working-days.” They were then better by reason of this than the others until Christ came. But aside from this, all were on an equality. It was originally so, it has been so in the Christian dispensation. But the seventh day of the week has from the creation, will be through all time to come, the holy rest-day of the Lord our God. This is the lesson of the chapter. We must not condemn the conscience of our brethren in non-essentials. As long as they are meeting God's requirements to the best of their knowledge, deal with them charitably. To God they stand or fall. And we should also be careful to give them no cause to stumble by any course we pursue. It may not seem sin to us to indulge in sweet wine or cider, but “it is good not to do” that, or aught else, “whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” Verse 21. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.” Chap. 15: 1, 2. Error will not edify, or build up, love will. But pleasing God is first; and the things which he approves, which are more excellent, are revealed in his will, his holy law. Rom. 2: 18. These are essential. But let us remember that it is only possible to obey this law through our Lord Jesus Christ.