Rupertus Meldenius was a German Lutheran Pastor who lived during the 30 Years’ War (1618–1648). He is famous for writing this in a tract calling for peace, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
TITLE: Jesus is LORD of the Weak and Strong
1. Accept the Weak in Faith (Romans 14:1-3, 5a )
Romans 14:1 (NASB), “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not to have quarrels over opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him... 5 One person values one day over another, another values every day the same... 15:7 Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, for the glory of God.”
• The difference between the Weak Believer vs. the Strong Believer was in matters of conscience.
Cautious conscience
• The "weak" were Vegetarians, Wine-abstainers and Holy day observers.
• The "strong" ate meat, drank wine, and treated every day the same.
2. Stick to Your Faith Convictions (14:4, 5b-7)
Romans 14:4, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand... 5b Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, does so with regard to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
3. Live with Accountability to the Lord (14:8-12)
Romans 14:9, “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, to Me every knee will bow, And every tongue will give praise to God.’ 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”
CONCLUSION
“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
