Learning To Cut It Straight
A Course In Pauline Theology
Lesson 14
The Apostle Paul and Christian Liberty
Introduction
Only the Apostle Paul teaches the truth of Christian Liberty. He alone defines it, and applies it to the
heart of each believer. . James mentions, “the perfect law of liberty,” but doesn’t identify it; he seems to have
in mind the same thing Peter did in Acts 15:10 – the removal of the yoke of bondage of the Law of Moses.
Under grace, we have the perfect law of liberty. However, he doesn’t have in mind Paul’s great truth of
Christian liberty: the utter freedom of the believer as being in Christ, “married to another;” free from all carnal
commandments and ordinances of men; free from all duty as a command; free from all carnal commandments
and ordinances of men; free from all duty as a command; free from slavish observance of ordinances,
ceremonies, ritualism, keeping of days, abstinence from certain meats, touch not, and handle not, even fishy
Fridays and meatless Tuesdays and Lenten fasts. There continually arises new sects, interpreters of the law,
self-appointed cataloguers of what we can and can’t do, who would put the believer back under the “yoke of
bondage.”
How we need to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” In this same relation,
Paul states in Galatians 5:9: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Just a little bondage, a little ordinance, a
little prescribing, and in no time at all, the “yoke” is fastened tightly. Then read 5:13: “For brethren, we have
been called to liberty, only use not liberty for an occasion for the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
This is a good text for the whole doctrine here:
(1) Our calling – liberty, not bondage; grace, not law.
(2) Do not abuse this liberty – by using it as an excuse to gratify the flesh instead of mortifying it.
(3) Love is the real fulfilling of the law, and keeps us from harming our weak brother with our liberty,
and gives loving compliance with Christ’s will instead of slavish servitude.
Keep it ever before you: you are not under any law principle, contained in any long lists of prohibitions
and commandments of do’s and don’ts. Such a yoke galls and takes all spontaneity out of our live and service
for Christ. It is the “heir differing nothing from the servant.” There are two many saints who have never
grasped Paul’s great doctrine of Christian liberty in Christ, that one is “not better by eating nor worse for not
eating” (I Cor. 8:8); nor that “meat commends us not unto God,” nor fish on Friday, nor any other physical
observance, without the “worship and service of God in the Spirit” (Jn. 4:23; Phil. 3:3). “The kingdom of God
is not meat and drink” (Rom 14:17)
Truths Of Christian Liberty
The primary portions where Paul teaches these great truths are Col. 2:14-23; I Cor. 6:12,13: 8:1-13;
10:23-33; Gal. 4:9, 10; 5:1-14; and most important of all Rom. 14. We shall use this latter text for a basis, and
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the other texts for comparison. Here in Rom. 14, Paul runs the whole gambit: the spiritual versus the weak
brother, eating or not eating of meats, Sabbath observance, judging of the brother’s actions, unclean and clean
things, the happy saint who condemns not himself in the thing he allows, and the obligation of the strong to the
weak brother. The following areas are dealt with by the apostle:
Food – I Cor. 6:13 ; I Cor. 8:1-13 ; I Cor. 10:23-33 - Rom. 14:1-3; 14,15,21
Days – 14:4,5
Wine – 14:21
Anything else that is disputed in the church that does not go against the Word
of God – 14:21
(Ordinances of men, The Law, Music, movies, TV, Halloween, dating,
length of hair, Tattoos, body piercing, Hair color, jewelry, hair styles, kinds
of foods, ownership, clothes,Tithing, word usage, intimacy, style of
worship, church government - the list goes on and on)
Paul and the Strong Brother
The strong brother is the one who has the understanding of
grace, state and standing, justification by faith. He has knowledge
of his identity and freedom/liberty in Jesus Christ. Because of His
understanding of his union with Christ, the shackles of taste not,
touch not; ordinances of men have been removed, and thrown
away. He is a man of maturity and faith.
Thayer Definition: Strong - G1415 δυνατός dunatos
1) able, powerful, mighty, strong 2) to be able (to do something)
 Paul declares that the strong are people who have knowledge
and faith.
Rom 14:2 One person has faith that he may eat all things…
1Co 8:10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol temple, will not the weak one's
conscience be lifted up so as to eat things sacrificed to idols?
The strong have much more liberty than the weak.
 Paul declares Nothing is unclean in and of itself.
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Rom 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who
thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (See Mark 7:15)
Un-cleaness is only a Perception not a reality.
Un-cleaness is determined by each Saint.
 Paul declares that Food has nothing to do with our Standing
before God.
1Co 8:8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better
if we do eat.
1Co 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I
will not be mastered by anything.
 Paul declares the Kingdom of God is not about Externals.
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit.
 Paul declares the strong believer can eat all things because
he Believes.
Rom 14:2 For indeed one believes to eat all things… (this includes meat offered to idols)
1Co 8:4 Then concerning the eating of the things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the
world, and that there is no other God except one. 5 For though there are those who are called gods,
whether in Heaven or in earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 but there is to us only one God,
the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things,
and we by Him. 7 But this knowledge is not in all. But some being aware of the idol eat as an idolatrous
sacrifice until now, and their conscience being weak is defiled.
Paul and the Weak Brother
The weak brother is the bound one who thinks it is a sin to eat meat
on Tuesday, or pork, or meat offered to idols, or drink wine in the
communion service, or have lamb stew, or coffee, or Coca-Cola, so he eats
herbs. He is a vegetarian since he is afraid to eat anything else for fear of
sinning, forgetting that God fed “flesh and bread” to Elijah. This weak
brother is “grieved” (offended) in his conscience by the strong brother’s
liberty, since he has never seen it, himself. He is bound slavishly to
ordinances: “touch not, handle not.”
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Thayer Definition: Weak – G770 ἀσθενέω astheneō
1) to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless 2) to be
weak in means, needy, poor 3) to be feeble, sick
 Paul declares that weakness and strength are determined
solely by Faith and Knowledge.
Rom 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his
opinions. :2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
1Co 8:4 Then concerning the eating of the things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the
world, and that there is no other God except one. :5 For though there are those who are called gods,
whether in Heaven or in earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 but there is to us only one God,
the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things,
and we by Him. 7 But this knowledge is not in all. But some being aware of the idol eat as an idolatrous
sacrifice until now, and their conscience being weak is defiled.
 Paul declares that the weak brother lacks Knowledge.
Admonitions to the strong
 Faith and Knowledge are to Yeild to a greater understanding.
1Co 8:1 But concerning the sacrifices to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up,
but love edifies. 2 And if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to
know. 1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those
who are weak…. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol temple, will not the weak
one's conscience be lifted up so as to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 And on your knowledge the weak
brother will fall, he for whom Christ died. 12 And sinning in this way against your brothers, and wounding
their conscience, being weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food offends my brother, I will eat no
flesh forever, that I do not offend my brother.
 Do not Judge the weaker brother.
Rom 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his
opinions.3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat,14 Who are you to
judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to
make him stand.
 Be personally Convinced by your own convictions.
Rom 14:5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must
be fully convinced in his own mind.
 Do what you do as unto the Lord;
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Rom 14:6 He who regards the day regards it to the Lord; and he not regarding the day, does not regard it to
the Lord. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, does not eat to
the Lord, and gives God thanks.
1Co 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
 You will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Rom 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with
contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
 Do not Stumble or Offend your brother.
Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an
obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles,
or is offended, or is made weak
1Co 8:9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Co 10:32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
A stumbling Block has the capacity to Destroy a brother.
1Co 8:10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience,
if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is
weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and
wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother
to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
The stronger sin if they Trip-Up a brother.
1Co 8:12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin
against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will
not cause my brother to stumble.
 Seek only to Benefit your brother.
1Co 10:33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the
many, so that they may be saved.
1Co 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all
things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
 Don’t Ask don’t Tell.
1Co 10:25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake;
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26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you
and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake.
 Don’t Tear Down the work of God with your freedom.
Rom 14:20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are
evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
 Don’t let your freedom be used by others to speak Evil of you.
Rom 14:16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
Admonitions To The Weak
 Do not Judge the stronger brother.
Rom 14:3 ….and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for
the Lord is able to make him stand.
 You will appear before the J. Seat of Christ.
Rom 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with
contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
 When in doubt Don’t.
Rom 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever
is not from faith is sin.
More On Christian Liberty
The keeping of a day – this is the other great bondage and restriction put upon the child of God
today, aide and abetted by the modern Scribes and Pharisees and lawyers, the Seventh-Day Adventists,
and their unsettling advocacy of Saturday. Many consciences are defiled thereby. It ranks with the
question of eating and drinking among the “weak in faith.” Millions upon millions of saints are
keeping a Jewish Sabbath on Sunday, and are so taught by their pastors. You can see it by the fact that
they even call Sunday, “This beautiful Sabbath day.” It is not. They think it is a converted Jewish
Sabbath, and the fulfillment of the fourth commandment of Exo. 20. It is not. I want chapter and verse
for the changeover, from the seventh to the first day of the week. There is not a single
commandment in the New Testament to keep a day, and especially according to the law of Moses.
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Note carefully here in Rom. 14:5,6, that Paul emphatically teaches utter indifference as to
whether to observe a day or not. As in I Cor. 2:16, he says: “Let no man judge you (sit in judgment
over you) in respect of feast days (holy days), new moons or Sabbaths (weekly Sabbaths).” These were
only the shadow of things to come, “but the Body is Christ.” In verse 5, Paul leaves it to the
individual’s own decision and choice, according to his own persuasion he has from the Lord: “One
man esteems one day above another; neither esteems every day (leave out the lame “alike”). Let ever
man be fully persuaded in his own mind” Is that the way the Lord commanded Israel on the Sabbath?
If Sunday were the converted Sabbath, and binding as an holy day with obligation to keep it, would
Paul have left it up to the individual’s persuasion, choice, and conscience?
It is true that God has graciously separated and hallowed the first day of the week in memory of
Christ’s resurrection, by the early observance of the disciples, not by duty or restraint, or constraint, or
commandment, but by their weekly communion “in memory” (Acts 20:7,8), and their systematic
setting aside of their gifts to God on that day (I Cor. 16:2). Thus they set us an example, and the
church has well-nigh universally followed it ever since. However, it is by no commandment,
remember; we are not to “esteem” the day by rigid prescriptions or slavish duties, but in loving worship
and service. (See Ps. 118:22-24: “This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Acts 4:10, 11 shows that this day is the resurrection day of Christ, the first day of the week.) The
strong saint has no one holy day a week: “He esteemeth every day.” As a temple of the Holy spirit,
every day is an holy day to him. The Lord’s day is not more holy, but a day for worship and
communion with the fellow saints.
In Conclusion
There is something more important than Christian liberty, and that is Christian love. The love of God in
us esteems others more than ourselves. The kingdom of God as a whole is more important than our liberty in
part. The strong brother is God’s free man but is also God’s slave to conduct himself in accordance to the mind
of Christ. We are free from all men but we are also willing slaves to all men for the greater glory of God.
God places restrictions upon our liberty because of two things:
First, the weak brother; and secondly, our own flesh -- the self-imposed restrictions to crucify
the flesh (I Cor. 10:23; 6:12; and Gal. 5:13) -- not expedient (beneficial); not brought under the
power of any (enslaved by any, as habits); nor as “advantage-ground for the flesh.”
Since my liberty would let me drink wine – shall I be a drunkard? Since
my liberty doesn’t forbid meats – shall I be a glutton? Since my liberty doesn’t impose a day upon me
– shall I not observe any? Since my liberty imposes no tithe upon me – shall I rob God of all? There is
a vast difference between liberty and license; between being free from law and an outlaw; between
liberty and the libertine.
The second self-imposed restriction upon our liberty is lest our liberty cause a weak brother, for
whom Christ died, to stumble, fall and perish. Our liberty is a baited trap to trip the weak brother; he is
grieved; he is destroyed. Your good is blasphemed. It is evil to eat with offense, to cause to stumble.
Read verses 21, 22 carefully, as well as 15:1. Now read I Cor. 8:9-13; 10:23: “All things do not edify,”
even though lawful. Then note again I Cor. 8:13 – as the standard: “Wherefore if meat make my
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brother to offend (cast a stumbling block in my brother’s path), I will eat no meat while the world
standeth, etc.”
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