Rom.14.1

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.

Rom.14.1

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

Rom.14.1

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Rom.14.1

Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

Rom.14.2

For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly.

Rom.14.2

One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

Rom.14.2

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

Rom.14.2

For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.

Rom.14.3

But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table.

Rom.14.3

The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.

Rom.14.3

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

Rom.14.3

Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

Rom.14.4

Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.

Rom.14.4

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Rom.14.4

Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Rom.14.4

Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should.

Rom.14.5

Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.

Rom.14.5

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Rom.14.5

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

Rom.14.5

In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter.

Rom.14.6

What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli.

Rom.14.6

He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Rom.14.6

He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Rom.14.6

Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won't eat everything also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

Rom.14.7

None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters.

Rom.14.7

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.

Rom.14.7

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

Rom.14.7

For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die.

Rom.14.8

It's God we are answerable to--all the way from life to death and everything in between--not each other.

Rom.14.8

If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Rom.14.8

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

Rom.14.8

While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.

Rom.14.9

That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.

Rom.14.9

For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Rom.14.9

For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Rom.14.9

Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died.

Rom.14.10

So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly--or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit.

Rom.14.10

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

Rom.14.10

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Rom.14.10

So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God.

Rom.14.11

Read it for yourself in Scripture: "As I live and breathe," God says, "every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God."

Rom.14.11

It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

Rom.14.11

For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."

Rom.14.11

For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.'"

Rom.14.12

So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

Rom.14.12

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Rom.14.12

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Rom.14.12

Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.

Rom.14.13

Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is.

Rom.14.13

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Rom.14.13

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.

Rom.14.13

So don't condemn each other anymore. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path.

Rom.14.14

I'm convinced--Jesus convinced me!-that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

Rom.14.14

As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

Rom.14.14

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Rom.14.14

I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.

Rom.14.15

If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don't eat, you're no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet?

Rom.14.15

If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.

Rom.14.15

Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

Rom.14.15

And if another Christian is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.

Rom.14.16

Don't you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!

Rom.14.16

Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.

Rom.14.16

Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

Rom.14.16

Then you will not be condemned for doing something you know is all right.

Rom.14.17

God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.

Rom.14.17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Rom.14.17

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom.14.17

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom.14.18

Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

Rom.14.18

because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Rom.14.18

For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Rom.14.18

If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will approve of you, too.