Lets talk about...Romans

[ssammoh]

Kinda confused about some stuff from Romans.

1.
"Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."

I have no idea what this means. AT all.

2.
"everything that does not come from faith is sin"

Not sure what exactly it means for something to 'come from faith' in the first place. I thought that only religious stuff came from faith. But it's pretty obvious that brushing your teeth, eating some crackers and doing homework aren't a sin even though they aren't religious. So I must not know what 'come from faith' means, and if anyone can explain it then it would be greatly appreciated.

3.
"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

This is literally the most confusing thing I have ever read.

 

[UnionJack]

Funny you should mention eating...

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

[motherprayer]

Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

It is saying your faith is personal. It is also part of an instruction to us to stay in God's presence constantly, and that sometimes what we "feel" is right may not necessarily be right in the sight of God.

Hope this helps! I don't know about the others, I have questions regarding those myself lol

 

[ssammoh]

Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

It is saying your faith is personal. It is also part of an instruction to us to stay in God's presence constantly, and that sometimes what we "feel" is right may not necessarily be right in the sight of God.

Hope this helps! I don't know about the others, I have questions regarding those myself lol

What exactly does it mean to stay in God's presence constantly?

You're post did help. Thanks.

 

[motherprayer]

What exactly does it mean to stay in God's presence constantly?

You're post did help. Thanks.

I think that is different for everyone. For me, it means asking Him for guidance throughout my day. Someone else could give a different answer though

 

[ssammoh]

I think that is different for everyone. For me, it means asking Him for guidance throughout my day. Someone else could give a different answer though

Well what I do is I just act like he's constantly with me, because He IS constantly with me. He can always see me. I thank Him for everything good that happens. Even when I think an animal is cute, like at a zoo or something, I say stuff like "God created so many cute animals." and stuff like that. And when I'm mad at someone I always tell myself that God forgives them and wants me to forgive them as well.

That kind of thing right?

 

[motherprayer]

Well what I do is I just act like he's constantly with me, because He IS constantly with me. He can always see me. I thank Him for everything good that happens. Even when I think an animal is cute, like at a zoo or something, I say stuff like "God created so many cute animals." and stuff like that. And when I'm mad at someone I always tell myself that God forgives them and wants me to forgive them as well.

That kind of thing right?

Me TOO! I love thanking God for everything!

 

[ssammoh]

Me TOO! I love thanking God for everything!

 

[Radagast]

Kinda confused about some stuff from Romans.

Good questions!

Paul here is talking mostly about food, but it also applies to things like movies. Some people say doing XYZ is a sin, and some people say it's fine. What should you do?

"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

This is literally the most confusing thing I have ever read.

Paul is saying eat what you want, see any movie you want BUT one day you'll have to explain to God why you did that. God will ask: "that movie you saw on Tuesday 28 August 2012 -- what about that?" A bit of a frightening thought, really. So think about how you would reply to God, and that movie might not seem such a good idea. That's Paul's message here.

He also gives other guidelines, like: if I go to see it, will it cause my brother to stumble?

"everything that does not come from faith is sin"

Not sure what exactly it means for something to 'come from faith' in the first place.

NIV 1984: "But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

The Message is a little clearer: "... If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong."

If you believe that "Harry Potter" is fine, then seeing the movie might be OK. But if you believe it's sinful, then for you it IS sinful, and you MUST NOT see it.

The "comes from faith" is explained by the first part of the verse. Perhaps "everything that does not come from belief is sin" or "everything that does not come from conviction is sin" are better translations in this context.

The NLT paraphrases it like this: "But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning."

"Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."

I have no idea what this means. AT all.

Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by the movies he sees. You "condemn yourself" if your actions don't match your beliefs -- if you believe something is sinful but do it anyway.

The NLT paraphrases it like this: "Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right."

I saw "Harry Potter" and didn't feel guilty at all, because I had read my Bible, and prayed, and decided it was right. But if I HAD felt guilty, I would have been sinning.

 

[ebedmelech]

Kinda confused about some stuff from Romans.

1.
"Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."

I have no idea what this means. AT all.

2.
"everything that does not come from faith is sin"

Not sure what exactly it means for something to 'come from faith' in the first place. I thought that only religious stuff came from faith. But it's pretty obvious that brushing your teeth, eating some crackers and doing homework aren't a sin even though they aren't religious. So I must not know what 'come from faith' means, and if anyone can explain it then it would be greatly appreciated.

3.
"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

This is literally the most confusing thing I have ever read.

Hi ssammoh,

Context is critical as you read. I would encourage you go back to Romans 14:1, keeping in mind what the Apostle Paul is speaking of as you read.

I find when you find the answer on your own you learn to read the scriptures properly and learn to trust the Spirit of God to teach you.

Romans 14:1 says this:
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

Take it form there and see if you understand better. Ask the Spirit of God to help you also.

 

[mercy1061]

Kinda confused about some stuff from Romans.

1.
"Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."

I have no idea what this means. AT all.

Romans 14

13 Therefore, let’s stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment — not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother’s way. 14 I know — that is, I have been persuaded by the Lord Yeshua the Messiah — that nothing is unclean in itself. But if a person considers something unclean, then for him it is unclean;

Apparently they sought to judge one another based on what they eat. All "food" is clean, only what is clean could be placed on the altar for burning. What is "clean" and "unclean" is determined by religious ceremony. What was determined clean by sacrifice could be eaten; however the priest must fast and pray; he does not eat while he worships at the altar. Abraham placed Isaac on the altar, Isaac must have been made clean by holy sacrifice.

Heb 13
10 We have an altar from which those who serve in the Tent are not permitted to eat.

Now if a brother wish to become a vegetarian, that is he only considers fruit and vegetables clean. He may do so, and we must respect his desires, however, if he decides to eat what could be "made clean" by fire on the altar, he condemns himself by what he approves. His own doctrine condemns him. Blessed is the man who knows the truth, what is clean is "made clean" by the altar.

2.
"everything that does not come from faith is sin"

Not sure what exactly it means for something to 'come from faith' in the first place. I thought that only religious stuff came from faith. But it's pretty obvious that brushing your teeth, eating some crackers and doing homework aren't a sin even though they aren't religious. So I must not know what 'come from faith' means, and if anyone can explain it then it would be greatly appreciated.

The violation of the law is sin, faith is from the law. The law does not permit the priest to eat while he worships at the altar. The priest does not cause his brother to stumble by what he eats, because he fast and pray while he worships at the altar.

3.
"So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

This is literally the most confusing thing I have ever read.

If this man is judging others by what he think he understands, he will have to give an account for tearing down what his brother has built up. His brother has built the "altar of fire" to determine what is clean and unclean.

Romans 14
20 Don’t tear down God’s work for the sake of food. True enough, all things are clean; but it is wrong for anybody by his eating to cause someone to fall away.