Is Romans 14 simply a long winded way of saying let your conscience be your guide?

Romans 14:1-23(NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 

He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 

For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

For it is written:      “As I live, says the Lord,     Every knee shall bow to Me,     And every tongue shall confess to God.” 

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 

Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 

Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 

It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 

Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

"And on some have compassion, making a distinction…"

Um, that would require a judgement wouldn't it?  :)

Jude 1:22-23(NKJV)

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 

but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Great reminder!

I've always loved the way these verses remind us that we all have different gifts.  But even with different gifts the key is highlighted in yellow.  :)

Romans 12:4-8(NKJV)

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 

or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 

he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

This is a bit confusing.

I never noticed this dichotomy between John and Paul before.

Paul gets quite deep in to the thing about living either by faith or by the law but not both and that the whole law can be summed up with "love God will all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself". 

Now I come across these verses.

1 John 5:2(NKJV)

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 

1 John 5:3(NKJV)

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 

2 John 1:5-6(NKJV)

And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Here is what I find confusing about it.  In all three verses John refers to God's commandments.  In all three cases he uses the plural of the word commandment.  That makes me think that John is referring to the 10 commandments which puts us back under the Law doesn't it? 

Is John closer to the position of Jesus than Paul is?  It was Jesus who said something like 'I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it'.  But was Jesus talking about continuing to live under the law or was Jesus referring to Himself fulfilling the law from the aspect of he was paying the final blood price for all of us?

Seems a bit ambiguous at this point but it is sure something to ponder in my daily study.  The one thing I do know and have absolute confidence in.  When the Holy Spirit decides it is time for me to understand this dichotomy, He reveal it to me. 

Trusting and following God is just so cool!

So this is where it is first said!

I finally found it!  The place where it first says "confess with your mouth…..and believe in your heart.".  Wouldn't you know it was written by Paul.  

As you may recall, this time through the NT I have been comparing what Jesus said about what we need to do to be saved vs. what the rest of the NT says.  What I have found interesting is that I can't find any place where Jesus said we had to verbalize anything.  With Jesus it seemed to be 100% a heart issue.

On the other hand here is the first place I have found where the "requirement" to verbalize is added.  Hmm.  Interesting.

Romans 10:5-13(NKJV)

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”  

But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”  (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 

or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’”  (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”  (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

This seems odd to me. Wonder if it is in the translation?

This Scripture seems odd to me and I wonder if it is in the translation?  Take a look and then I will explain what I mean.

1 Peter 2:17(NKJV)

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

All people?  Really?  Even rapists and murderers and thieves?  Honor them????

Now contrast that with other Scripture that tells us that we are to abhor evil.  That we are to stand against evil.  How and more importantly why would we honor people like that when Scripture tells us we need to stand against them? 

Maybe my confusion comes from the word honor.  Let's take a look at the definitions.

Honor

noun

1.

honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions:

a man of honor.

2.

a source of credit or distinction:

to be an honor to one's family.

3.

high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank:

to be held in honor.

4.

such respect manifested:

a memorial in honor of the dead.

5.

high public esteem; fame; glory:

He has earned his position of honor.

6.

the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, organization, etc.:

to have the honor of serving on a prize jury; I have the honor of introducing this evening's speaker.

7.

Usually, honors. evidence, as a special ceremony, decoration, scroll, or title, of high rank, dignity, or distinction:

political honors; military honors.

verb (used with object)

13.

to hold in honor or high respect; revere:

to honor one's parents.

14.

to treat with honor.

15.

to confer honor or distinction upon:

The university honored him with its leadership award.

16.

to worship (the Supreme Being).

17.

to show a courteous regard for:

to honor an invitation.

18.

Commerce. to accept or pay (a draft, check, etc.):

All credit cards are honored here.

19.

to accept as valid and conform to the request or demands of (an official document).

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/honor>

Nope.  That doesn't help. 

Here is my interpretation.  I think it means be polite and respectful to all in our personal interactions.  As an extreme example a jailer deals with a lot of pretty dishonorable people.  But that doesn't mean he has to be disrespectful to them.  He can still treat them with dignity. 
 

But honor them?  Seems like the wrong word to me.  That is why I wondered if it was in the interpretation. 

Oh well, another one of those things to ponder.

Nice phrasing!

 

Zephaniah 3:17(NKJV)

    The Lord your God in your midst,     The Mighty One, will save;     He will rejoice over you with gladness,     He will quiet you with His love,     He will rejoice over you with singing.”

I just love the way that sounds!