How does Romans 14:23 connect with Hebrews 11:6 about faith's importance? Setting the Scene • Romans 14 addresses disputable matters—choices neither commanded nor forbidden by God (e.g., food, special days). • Paul’s concern: believers live in harmony and avoid wounding one another’s conscience. • Faith becomes the decisive factor in determining whether an action is pleasing to God. Reading the Key Verses Romans 14:23: “But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.” Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Tracing the Thread of Faith • Faith is more than intellectual assent; it is trusting submission to God in every choice. • Scripture consistently links faith to righteous living (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17). • Both Romans 14:23 and Hebrews 11:6 present faith as the dividing line between sin and God-pleasing obedience. What Romans 14:23 Teaches 1. Inner conviction matters: acting while doubting equals self-condemnation. 2. Motive determines moral quality: the same outward act (eating) can be sin or acceptable depending on faith. 3. Universal principle: “everything that is not from faith is sin.” Daily decisions must spring from confidence in God’s will. Linking to Hebrews 11:6 • Hebrews supplies the theological backbone: God cannot be pleased apart from faith. • Romans supplies the practical application: even mundane choices must be offered in faith or they miss the mark. • Together they show faith’s reach—from Old-Testament heroes (Hebrews 11) to a believer’s dinner plate (Romans 14). Putting the Pieces Together • Faith is the conduit for pleasing God; lack of faith turns neutral acts into sin. • Romans 14:23 illustrates Hebrews 11:6 in everyday life: trusting God transforms ordinary actions into worship. • Conversely, doubt divorces the act from God, making it displeasing even if the act is permissible in itself. Practical Implications for Today • Evaluate motives: ask if an action springs from confidence in God’s character and Word. • Respect individual consciences: what you can do in faith another believer may not, and vice versa (Romans 14:5, 15). • Cultivate faith in small things; big acts of faith grow out of consistent, everyday trust. • Aim for God’s pleasure, not mere rule-keeping; faith aligns the heart with Him (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31). Supporting Passages to Keep in Mind • Galatians 2:20—living by faith in the Son of God. • 2 Corinthians 5:7—walking by faith, not by sight. • James 2:17—faith shown genuine through works done in confidence toward God. |
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