Part 14

014:010 But you, why do you find fault with your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon your brother? We shall all stand before God to be judged;

014:011 for it is written, "`As I live,' says the Lord, `to Me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall make confession to God.'"

014:012 So we see that every one of us will give account of himself to God.

014:013 Therefore let us no longer judge one another; but, instead of that, you should come to this judgement--that we must not put a stumbling-block in our brother's path, nor anything to trip him up.

014:014 As one who lives in union with the Lord Jesus, I know and am certain that in its own nature no food is `impure'; but if people regard any food as impure, to them it is.

014:015 If your brother is pained by the food you are eating, your conduct is no longer controlled by love. Take care lest, by the food you eat, you lead to ruin a man for whom Christ died.

014:016 Therefore do not let the boon which is yours in common be exposed to reproach.

014:017 For the Kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drinking, but of right conduct, peace and joy, through the Holy Spirit;

014:018 and whoever in this way devotedly serves Christ, God takes pleasure in him, and men highly commend him.

014:019 Therefore let us aim at whatever makes for peace and mutual upbuilding of character.

014:020 Do not for food's sake be throwing down God's work. All food is pure; but a man is in the wrong if his food is a snare to others.

014:021 The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall.

014:022 As for you and your faith, keep your faith to yourself in the presence of God. The man is to be congratulated who does not pronounce judgement on himself in what his actions sanction.

014:023 But he who has misgivings and yet eats meat is condemned already, because his conduct is not based on faith; for all conduct not based on faith is sinful.

015:001 As for us who are strong, our duty is to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not seek our own pleasure.

015:002 Let each of us endeavour to please his fellow Christian, aiming at a blessing calculated to build him up.

015:003 For even the Christ did not seek His own pleasure. His principle was, "The reproaches which they addressed to Thee have fallen on me."

015:004 For all that was written of old has been written for our instruction, so that we may always have hope through the power of endurance and the encouragement which the Scriptures afford.

015:005 And may God, the giver of power of endurance and of that encouragement, grant you to be in full sympathy with one another in accordance with the example of Christ Jesus,

015:006 so that with oneness both of heart and voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

015:007 Habitually therefore give one another a friendly reception, just as Christ also has received you, and thus promote the glory of God.

015:008 My meaning is that Christ has become a servant to the people of Israel in vindication of God's truthfulness--in showing how sure are the promises made to our forefathers--

015:009 and that the Gentiles also have glorified God in acknowledgment of His mercy. So it is written, "For this reason I will praise Thee among the Gentiles, and sing psalms in honour of Thy name."

015:010 And again the Psalmist says, "Be glad, ye Gentiles, in company with His People."

015:011 And again, "Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and let all the people extol Him."

015:012 And again Isaiah says, "There shall be the Root of Jesse and One who rises up to rule the Gentiles. On Him shall the Gentiles build their hopes."

015:013 May God, the giver of hope, fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him--so that you may have abundant hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

015:014 But as to you, brethren, I am convinced--yes, I Paul am convinced-- that, even apart from my teaching, you are already full of goodness of heart, and enriched with complete Christian knowledge, and are also competent to instruct one another.