Romans 14 ~ Romans 14

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1 H im that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

If there is someone whose faith is weak, be kind and receive him. Do not argue about what he thinks.

2 F or one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

One man believes he may eat everything. Another man with weak faith eats only vegetables.

3 L et 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.

The man who eats everything should not think he is better than the one who eats only vegetables. The man who eats only vegetables should not say the other man is wrong, because God has received him.

4 W ho 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.

Who are you to tell another person’s servant if he is right or wrong? It is to his owner that he does good or bad. The Lord is able to help him.

5 O ne man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

One man thinks one day is more important than another. Another man thinks every day is the same. Every man must be sure in his own mind.

6 H e 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.

The man who worships on a special day does it to honor the Lord. The man who eats meat does it to honor the Lord. He gives thanks to God for what he eats. The other man does not eat meat. In this way, he honors the Lord. He gives thanks to God also.

7 F or none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

No one lives for himself alone. No one dies for himself alone.

8 F or 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.

If we live, it is for the Lord. If we die, it is for the Lord. If we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

9 F or to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Christ died and lived again. This is why He is the Lord of the living and of the dead.

10 B ut why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Why do you try to say your Christian brother is right or wrong? Why do you hate your Christian brother? We will all stand before God to be judged by Him.

11 F or it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

The Holy Writings say, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me. And every tongue will say that I am God.”

12 S o then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Everyone of us will give an answer to God about himself.

13 L et us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

So you should stop saying that you think other people are wrong. Instead, decide to live so that your Christian brother will not have a reason to trip or fall into sin because of you.

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

Christ has made me know that everything in itself is clean. But if a person thinks something is not clean, then to him it is not clean.

15 B ut if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

If your Christian brother is hurt because of some foods you eat, then you are no longer living by love. Do not destroy the man for whom Christ died by the food you eat.

16 L et not then your good be evil spoken of:

Do not let what is good for you be talked about as bad.

17 F or the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

For the holy nation of God is not food and drink. It is being right with God. It is peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit.

18 F or he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

If you follow Christ in these things, God will be happy with you. Men will think well of you also.

19 L et us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Work for the things that make peace and help each other become stronger Christians.

20 F or meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Do not destroy what God has done just because of some food. All food is good to eat. But it is wrong to eat anything that will make someone fall into sin.

21 I t is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Do not eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it would make your Christian brother fall into sin.

22 H ast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Keep the faith you have between yourself and God. A man is happy if he knows he is doing right.

23 A nd he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

But if he has doubts about the food he eats, God says he is guilty when he eats it. It is because he is eating without faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.