The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

ROMANS

1871

deliver us from the presence of sin. 14:1 a This word ( receive ye ) is the Greek word SUοσODPEDQHσθH ( proslambanesthe ). According to The Analytical Greek Lexicon , the parsing (or, break down in the original Greek) of this word ( SUοσODPEDQHσθH ), is – 2 nd person plural ( ye ) / imperative mood ( shall ) / present tense ( continue to receive ) 2 , and means, that as Christians, “we are commanded to continually receive fellowship with other believers, despite our differences over “non-heaven and hell” issues” ( Gen 1:2 c ). 14:1 b This word ( disputations ) is the Greek word GLDOοJLσPο9 ( dialogismos ) and means, “ an inward reasoning ; to decide by judgments of reasoning; to learn by discriminating .” David H. Stern, a Messianic Jew, in the Complete Jewish Bible , translated this verse: Now as for a person whose trust is weak, welcome him – but not to get into arguments over opinions. 3 According to Romans 14:1, God’s people are not to argue or quarrel with other Christians (especially weaker Christians) over doctrines that are “non-essential” to salvation (called “secondary points of difference”). NOTE - Concerning salvation and the Christian faith, there are only five fundamentals to which all Christians must agree: 1. The verbal inspiration and authority of the Scriptures (II Tim 3:15-16 and II Pet 1:19-21) The Scriptures are fundamental to our salvation, for our salvation is based upon the Scriptures being true (Rom 10:17 and I Pet 1:23). If the Scriptures are not true, then we have no proof of salvation and the Christian faith. 2. The virgin birth of CHRIST (the deity of Christ - Isa 7:14 and Mt 1:20-23) The virgin birth is also fundamental to our salvation, for our salvation is based upon a “sinless” sacrifice (Isa 53). In order for sinful humanity to possess salvation, a “sinless” sacrifice had to be offered. Only a “sinless” God, become flesh, could meet that requirement. If Christ was not virgin born (God in flesh - Jn 8:24), then he was not able to become our “sinless” substitute for salvation. 3. The Triune Godhead (the deity of Christ - Jn 5:17-18 & 10:30-33, Gen 1:26 and I Jn 5:7) The Triune Godhead is also fundamental to our salvation, for our salvation is dependent upon all three persons within the Triune Godhead ( Isa 53:4,10 , Jn 10:18 , Heb 9:24-28 and Heb 9:14 ). If Christ was not a part of the Triune Godhead (I Jn 2:22 and II Jn 7-11), then he was a liar and a sinner and thus incapable of being our “perfect” sacrifice for salvation. 4. Salvation by grace (via the Gospel of Christ - Eph 2:8-9, Rom 1:16, Eph 1:13 and I Cor 15:1-4) Salvation by grace is also fundamental to our salvation, for our salvation is based on grace, not works (Titus 3:5). If Christ failed to complete all the work on the cross necessary to secure our salvation, then salvation is by works, not grace. 5. The visible and personal return of CHRIST (Second Coming - Dan 7:13 and Acts 1:10-11) The return of Christ is also fundamental to our salvation, for our salvation is based upon Christ’s ability to keep His word and return like He said He would (Jn 14:1-3). If Christ does not return like He said He would, then again, he is a liar (Psa 15:1-4) and a fool (Eccl 5:1-6), and fails as God (Psa 138:2). Common sense tells us that, as Christians, if we agree on salvation , then let us agree to respectfully disagree on everything else (non-heaven and hell issues’). Adrian Rogers in Adrianisms notes: Get everybody to love Jesus, and you’ve got a wonderful church. They don’t have to agree on anything else. 4 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: As long as you are right on salvation, you can be wrong on everything else and still end up right You can be wrong on your interpretation of tongues and healings … and still end up right. You can be wrong on your interpretation of foreknowledge , election , predestination , the sovereignty of God , and intellectual Christianity … and still end up right. You can be wrong on your interpretation of standards , music , what version of the Bible you study , the six days of creation , when the Rapture will occur , secondary separation , and Christian liberty … and still end up right. You can be wrong on your interpretation as to how someone should be baptized … and still end up right. You can be wrong concerning traditions and customs … and still end up right. You can be wrong on your interpretation of eternal security … and still end up right. You can be wrong on your interpretation of how you approach worship … and still end up right. However, what you cannot be wrong on is salvation… and still end up right. Sadly, the greatest problem within Christianity is Christians and their unwillingness to “tolerate” other Christian’s “secondary points of difference.” Ravi Zacharias notes:

I am very aware that there are differences in our belief systems, and some of them are pretty deep. But you know… we find the common ground in which to meet and talk, because conviction that is not under girded by love makes the possessor of that conviction obnoxious, and the dogma possessed becomes repulsive. And so whatever our differences may be, it is wonderful that in a world torn by strife and so on, that we can come together, especially on a subject so vast, that at the end of it we are bound to walk away and say that we know almost nothing of this, because we are dealing with the loftiest of all personages, our very own Lord Jesus Christ, whom we follow and for whom, one day, every knee shall bow. 5

The common ground should be CHRIST …period! 1 Allen, Charles L. The Ten Commandments , Westwood, NJ, Fleming H. Revell, 1965. Print. 2 The Analytical Greek Lexicon. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1977. Print. 3 Stern, David H. Complete Jewish Bible . Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Pub. 1998. Print. 4 Rogers, Adrian. Adrianisms , Memphis, TN, Love Worth Finding Ministries, 2006. Print. 5 Ravi Zacharias (international speaker)