Paul is making something very clear to the people with this verse. He has spent time teaching them about foods, holy days, and various other things but the point he tried to get across to them was that the only thing that really mattered was that they BELONGED TO THE LORD.
Jesus himself taught us that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles us but that it is what come out, because what comes out of the mouth is from the heart. Jesus also taught us that he is Lord of the Sabbath.
Mathew 15:11: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Mathew 12:8: For the son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Paul wanted the early Christians to understand that they should not be nagging and judging one another. He knew there would be enough of that coming from those that weren't Christians. He was teaching them in Romans 14 that it was not food or holy days that mattered, that what mattered was that Christ came and died for them all, that they should love one another and not do things to cause a brother or sister to stumble in the way, that being a Christian was more than that. Being a Christian means you belong to the Lord and you lift each other up. The Holy Ghost is given unto each of us to lead us in what is right. He is there to direct us and he alone is the one we need to listen to. What convicts you in your heart may not be what convicts your brother or sister. Paul is trying to tell us all to let God be God and let us be our brother's keeper.
Mathew 15:11: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Mathew 12:8: For the son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Paul wanted the early Christians to understand that they should not be nagging and judging one another. He knew there would be enough of that coming from those that weren't Christians. He was teaching them in Romans 14 that it was not food or holy days that mattered, that what mattered was that Christ came and died for them all, that they should love one another and not do things to cause a brother or sister to stumble in the way, that being a Christian was more than that. Being a Christian means you belong to the Lord and you lift each other up. The Holy Ghost is given unto each of us to lead us in what is right. He is there to direct us and he alone is the one we need to listen to. What convicts you in your heart may not be what convicts your brother or sister. Paul is trying to tell us all to let God be God and let us be our brother's keeper.
