“22b Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.” 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.”
You’ll remember that, in chapter 14, Paul is instructing the Jewish and Gentile Christians in the Roman church(es) to prioritize unity and conscience conviction over exercise of freedom, specifically where it concerns Jewish law and holy days. In today’s verses, Paul continues with his illustration of Christians eating meat sacrificed to idols, something that likely was a point of contention in the Roman church.
Paul paints a picture of two different Christians. First, we can imagine a Christian who is not convicted by eating meat sacrificed to idols. They do not recognize these idols as real gods, there is no sin in it, and therefore they are exercising their God given freedom in Christ and are right to do so. They receive no condemnation and are not sinning, rather the text says they are blessed! Second refers to a Christian who, for example, is convinced that they should not eat meat sacrificed to idols. Perhaps they were at one point involved in this wayward cult, and had contributed meat sacrificed to an idol at a time earlier in their life. They are convinced that eating meat previously sacrificed in this way would be akin to connecting oneself with that idol. They are choosing not to eat this meat, yet feel pressure to participate when they see other Christians exercise their freedom to do so. When they eat, all the while feeling conviction, they are, “…not eating from faith.” (v. 23) Not only is this weak Christian not exercising their God given freedom in Christ, but they are actually sinning against God because they are violating their conscience as they eat. (See again v. 1-2) Our conscience is a great tool given us by God that will, when properly informed, help us to steer clear of sin.
“Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.” — 1 John 3:21-22
Not only will we have confidence when we abide by how our conscience convicts us, but it will be an indication that we are keeping God’s commands and are doing what is pleasing to Him.
A word of caution: Our consciences are not infallible. A conscience that is informed and convicted by the Holy Spirit is one that will serve us well. A conscience that knows and applies The Word of God is one that will regularly convict us of sin in our hearts. However, it is possible that a conscience can be misinformed or muted altogether. When we let the ways of the world and the desires of our own flesh inform how our conscience is to behave, it will begin to overlook sin and encourage bad behavior.
“To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.” — Titus 1:15-16
The opposite can happen as well. We can become so paralyzed by our conscience’s convictions that we are unable to do anything without fear of sin. Paul addresses this in his letters to Timothy, and it fits exactly into our text here in Romans as Paul has been discussing the use of our freedom in Christ.
“Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.” — 1 Timothy 4:1-5
These verses show us that there is a balance to be found in a properly informed conscience. How do we make sure that our conscience is healthy? How do we obtain this delicate balance? For one, all who have been saved through faith in Christ already have everything they need to have a pure and cleansed conscience. This has been provided for them by Jesus’ death on the cross.
“…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?” — Hebrews 9:14
Another way we can do this is pray to God for help, as the writer of the 139th Psalm models for us:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” — Psalms 139:23-24
Paul addresses many of these same conscience concerns in his first letter to the Corinthians.
““Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person. Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.” — 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
In this passage, Paul first says, “Everything is permissible,” meaning from the context that eating food sacrificed to idols, regardless of where and how it was sourced, is permissible for Christians. Everything may be permissible, however next Paul says, “…but not everything is beneficial.” Beneficial for what? “…not everything builds up.” So then, Paul is instructing the Corinthians, just as he did the Romans, to consider setting aside their “permissible” Christian liberty for the building up of other Christians. He summarizes this understanding by saying, “No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.” Paul anticipates the main question that the Corinthians will ask him, “For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience?” How is it fair that they get to determine what I can and can’t do, especially when what I am doing is right in God’s eyes? Paul answers this question one verse later, “So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” Relinquish control over your freedom because, when you do this out of love for another Christian, God is glorified! Not only that, but when unbelievers see the lengths you are willing to go to that you may love your fellow Christian, God may use that to soften their hearts and bring them to salvation. Unbelievers will know Christians by the love that they have for one another. (See John 13:35) “Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.”