Romans 14:1-13 is the Apostle Paul using the Old Testament (OT) law and New Testament (NT) grace to illustrate, for those who believe they must eat vegetables and those who believe they can eat vegetables, meat, fruits, etc. as well, but neither group has the authority or power to criticize or judge the eating choices of the other.
God’s liberating grace is a freedom to be appreciated and highly cherished, but not a prideful liberty that those whose beliefs are still rooted in doctrinal tradition, for we who are “free in Christ Jesus” must always give wholesome counsel, encouragement, to edify and help them mature in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 14:1-5), who Matthew 3:11-12 says baptizes us into the Holy Spirit’s liberty (2 Corinthians 3:14-18), and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ’s body, the worldwide church—the legal bride of Christ.
No one should ever be fearful of the Holy Spirit and His languages (tongues), for these are simply languages the Holy Spirit knows, but we have not learned; thus, when the Holy Spirit prays through us in a language or languages unlearned by us, He is interceding (mediating) for some person’s needs who speaks that language, and this is why Christ’s body, the church is worldwide, so the Holy Spirit can mediate (intercede) through any member of Christ’s body, for any other member’s needs, regardless of what language we speak or where we live.
However, when we disbelieve Scripture because of false doctrine about the Holy Spirit’s languages (tongues, for Acts 2 list about 17 different languages), we then shut out the Holy Spirit mediating (interceding) through us for the needs of another somewhere in the world, who may be in a life or death situation, and likewise we also shut out someone somewhere in the world from praying in tongues (our language) for our needs; thus, by our false doctrine, we “quench the Spirit”, and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is a command not to do this, for it stops the Holy Spirit from mediating for God’s will to be done.
Lifting our hands in humble worship or praying in tongues does not make us “Pentecostal”, for the word “Pentecost” means “fifty” or “fifty days after “Passover”, when Jesus was crucified; thus, “Pentecost” is not an evil word, nor are “Pentecostals” evil people, who speak “gibberish”, for Acts 2:4 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE”. They said what the Holy Spirit said through them; nothing more or less, for everything was controlled by the Holy Spirt; not men.
Romans 14:9-13 warns us to either surrender our tongue to the Holy Spirit’s languages, to intercede (mediate) for God’s will for others, or we will face God and be forced to confess to God our willful ignorance of scriptural obedience, because of our unbelief.
Romans 14:14-23 is Paul’s explanation of “God’s law of pure love” reaching out through us, to others for their joyous, peaceful, prosperous welfare, as the precious Holy Spirit mediates through us for their total needs, regardless of the language they speak, or country in which they live, for Galatians 3:28 says “we are all one in Christ Jesus”, so live and think this way.
Romans 14:17 says “the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit”, which Christ Jesus is, (1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Ephesians 2:13-14; Nehemiah 8:10, and Romans 14:23 says, “Whatever we do or refuse to do that goes against the faith Jesus Christ has given us (Hebrews 12:1-2; Romans 12:1-5), is sin, so always be careful to use our Christ-given faith for Him to “supply every need another member of His body, the church worldwide may have (Philippians 4:19-20).
Father God, in the name of Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we submit our entire self to You, by the Holy Spirit, to intercede (mediate) through us, in whatever language or languages You choose to pray through us, so Your will can be done for, in, and through them, as it is done for, in, and through us, and for this we give You praise, thanks, worship, and our full trust. Amen.
Jim Nabors
