APRIL 21, 2026 – RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY

READ: Rom. 14:14–18: I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. … For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Paul gives his opinion in accordance with the teaching of Jesus: nothing is unclean of itself. Thus he has also written in other letters (Gal. 5:10; Phil. 2:24; 2 Thess. 3:4; 2 Tim. 1:5, 12). Jesus Himself said in Matt. 15:10–20 that eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man.

In Mark 7:14–23 we read that nothing entering a man from outside can defile him, but the things which come out of him defile him: evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness; all these evil things come from within and defile a man.

Paul adds (v.14): but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Thus Paul sides with the strong, yet at the same time states that the weak rightly refuse food if they themselves consider it unclean and therefore sinful.

Let the congregation grant them that space. You do not build up, but grieve the other, if you would compel him to eat something he himself considers unclean. You must deal carefully with the other and his conviction when it proceeds from the desire to serve the Lord and does not contradict God’s Word. The strong possess the liberty to eat all things (1 Tim. 4:1–4), but if with that liberty you press another to sin in his own eyes, he will speak evil of that liberty.

Then the proper view of the glory of the kingdom of heaven is also hindered. That kingdom knows righteousness: in Christ you are righteous and stand in peace with God and thus also live in peace and harmony with other believers.

From that proceeds the joy which the Spirit works in you and which you share with other redeemed children of God. If you thus deal with one another in the church, you serve Christ, which is pleasing to God and good in the sight of men.

Can you yourself mention an example from our time?

Singing: Ps. 19:4