ROMANS 14

PRIORITIZE UNITY + ENCOURAGEMENT OVER JUDGEMENT

As many cultures unify through their faith in Jesus, Paul gives the Roman believers instructions for welcoming and accepting others. Paul teaches them not to pass judgment on one another based on options or customs. Although the people will have cultural differences, Paul argues that these differences are ones of preference, not of right or wrong. Most of these cultural variations are issues of keeping food laws or observing the Sabbath day. While the historically Jewish followers of Jesus are used to the practices, the Gentile believers are not. Paul argues that believers should be unified by their faith in Jesus, not divided by ethnic traditions.

Paul reminds the believers that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess to God, so God should be the only one they are attempting to appease. Because God has authority over all, their judgment of one another is useless.

Encouraging the people not to create barriers for one another, Paul wants the Romans to prioritize righteousness and joy over rule-following and tradition. Instead of criticizing each other over their differences, the Romans are to pursue peace and mutual upbuilding.