ROMANS Study Guide

a. By definition a spiritually strong believer is one who does not need to

observe Old Testament rules or restrictions in daily living and worship

to be pleasing or honoring to the Lord. In this context it would be the

freedom to eat meat offered to idols because such meat is not

offensive to God if it is separated in ones understanding from the

meaning given to it by pagan worship.

In regard to the other issue - one is free to worship on Wednesday night rather than Sunday or Saturday morning because all days are holy to the Lord. Or the issue of women wearing head coverings to show proper submission to God and the men of the church. Rules or restrictions in these issues do not make me more pleasing or holy to the Lord or give a reason to break fellowship with other believers who believe differently about these issues. The early Jewish pillars of the church gave a simple request to their Gentile counterparts in Acts 21:25. It was requested that gentile Christians refrain from eating meat offered to idols, sexual immorality, eating of blood and animals killed by strangulation. Paul honors these requests but again later on clarifies that the eating of meat offered to idols were not an essential issue unless it is made a point of offense. Paul said eat what is set before you without question unless the host raises the point of offense - then by all means the believer needs to restrain themselves out of concern for the one who would be offended. “I have the right to do anything,” you say— but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”— but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? (1Cor.10:23-29)