Romans 14:7-9

DISCOURSE: 1915
THE EXTENT AND GROUNDS OF CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE

Romans 14:7. None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

TO exercise Christian forbearance is no small attainment. There is continual need of it in the Christian world: there are many things of an indifferent nature, which we are at liberty either to do or forbear; but all do not see their Christian liberty with equal clearness: hence the weak are apt to judge the strong, and the strong to despise the weak. Thus the Jews and Gentiles at Rome disputed respecting the use of certain meats, and the observance of certain days. The Apostle shews, that, though the two parties differed in their conduct, they were equally accepted of God. He grounds his assertion on the idea that both of them acted from a conscientious desire to please and honour God.

I. The extent of Christian obedience—

If we were to judge from the practice of mankind, we should think that very little was required of us; but we must judge by the unerring standard of God’s word. Both the Law and the Gospel require the obedience of the heart, and in this the Christian labours to approve himself to God—

1. He renounces self—

[Self is the idol of the unregenerate world; they study only to please and exalt self in every part of their life; they have no higher view in courting or shunning death. But the Christian sees the sinfulness of thus idolizing self. He therefore endeavours to suppress its workings, and mortify its desires; he determines never to make the indulgence of self his chief aim.]

2. He devotes himself to the Lord—

[He studies to do his will, and gain his approbation: he seeks to glorify his name in every action of life: he considers that he is the Lord’s property, both by creation and redemption: he strives therefore to honour him with every faculty of body and soul.]
This is not a mere theory, but a living picture of Christianity—
[The Apostle lays down an universal rule to this effect [Note: 1 Corinthians 10:31.]: he himself conformed to it in an eminent degree [Note: Philippians 1:20.]: every true Christian, according to his measure, conforms to it; “none of us,” &c.]

Such obedience, however, will not spring from any but evangelical principles—

II.

The grounds of it—

All possible obedience is due from us to God by creation; but God has acquired a new right over us by redemption.
Christ has died, risen, and revived—
[He died to make atonement for our guilt: he rose for our justification before God: he revived, and lives to carry on the work.]
He has done this with an express view to reduce us to allegiance—
[He undertook to save men from their sins, and not in them. Paul repeatedly declares this to have been the end of our Lord’s death [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:15.Titus 2:14.]; Peter speaks to the same effect [Note: 1 Peter 2:24.], and our Lord himself also confirms this truth [Note: John 17:19.]. The same was also the end of his resurrection and ascension [Note: Philippians 2:9.]; and in all that he is now doing, he keeps the same object in view.]

What he has done is therefore the proper ground of our obedience—
[We are still as much as ever bound by the laws of our creation; but we should be particularly affected with redeeming love: this should stir us up to the most unreserved obedience. The Apostle requires such obedience, on this very ground [Note: 1 Corinthians 6:19.]. We shall surely render it, if we have any interest in redemption [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:14.]

Infer—
1.

How few real Christians are there in the world!—

[If living to ourselves were Christianity, there would be Christians without number: but nothing less than an entire devotedness to God can entitle us to the name. How few then are there to be found! The text might be reversed in almost every assembly of professing Christians [Note: Philippians 2:21.]. Let us judge ourselves by this criterion: let us rest in no partial or hypocritical services: let us cry to God for his Spirit to renew us in our inward man.]

2. How reasonable is the Christian life!—

[Christian obedience is often ridiculed as preciseness, and needless scrupulosity: it is deemed a mark of a weak and enthusiastic mind. But it is justly called a reasonable service [Note: Romans 12:1.]. Who can ever estimate the obligation arising from the death of Christ? Who can sufficiently praise him for what he is now doing for us in heaven? Is it reasonable that we should defeat the ends of all his love? Ought we not rather to requite it to the utmost of our power? Should we account any thing too much to do for him? Let all then confess the reasonableness of being devoted to Christ. Let every Christian exert himself more and more, disregarding ridicule and contempt [Note: 1 Corinthians 15:58.]