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Romans 14:11 and the Other Verses of Romans 14

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note: The heart refers to the mind.

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The verse of the day for April 23rd is Romans 14:11. The title of the book Romans is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Romans” and “The Letter of Paul to the Romans.” Romans was a letter written by the apostle Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who were located in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire (which was also called Rome). The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital. The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C. Rome eventually became a kingdom. That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom. Then Rome became a republic. That republic is known as the Roman Republic. After that, Rome became an empire. That empire is known as the Roman Empire. The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.

Below is a link to a map that shows the location of the capital city Rome. Jerusalem is also on the map. At the time that the apostle Paul wrote the book Romans, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire. At that time, Jerusalem was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/45Rom-1.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Romans 14.

Romans 14:1

Now accept the one who is weak in doctrine—not for the purpose

of judgments of reasonings/opinions.

Note: In this verse, the phrase who is weak in doctrine refers to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who has learned some of the Word of God but at the moment understands only a small portion of the Word of God. Absent from the context of this verse is anything indicating how long the person has been a believer. In that regard, in addition to this referring to a believer who has only learned a small amount of the Word of God, this can also refer to a believer who has learned much of the Word of God but has also forgotten much of the Word of God. Also, it is important to note that absent from this verse is anything indicating that such a believer is devoid of the Word of God. In other words, such a believer knows more than nothing about the Word of God; nonetheless, this such believer needs to learn much more of the Word of God.

With regard to accepting such a believer, the believer who does the accepting needs to refrain from being self-righteous. A self-righteous person is an arrogant person who thinks that he or she is superior to others. Such a person makes an idol out of himself or herself and has a condescending attitude towards others.

Absent from this verse is anything indicating that a believer should focus on other believers in order to try to determine whether that believer is more mature than other believers. Focusing on others in order to try to determine whether oneself is more mature than others is a violation of the privacy of others. While a believer should refrain from focusing on others in order to try to determine whether oneself is more mature than others, it is possible that a believer will become aware that another believer is weak in doctrine.

In the context of this verse, the noun doctrine refers to Bible doctrine, which is the Word of God. The Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun that is translated as “doctrine” in this verse is πίστει [pronounced PEE-stay and transliterated as pistei]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word πίστις [pronounced PEE-stees and transliterated as pistis]. Depending on the context, the noun pistis can be translated as either “doctrine” or “faith.” Doctrine is that in which one believes. Faith is oneʼs action of believing in something. In the context of this verse, rather than referring to the weak believerʼs action of believing in something, the noun pistis refers to the Bible doctrine that the weak believer knows.

When a believer lacks some understanding about the Word of God, his or her reasonings—in other words, his or her thinking or understanding—about the Word of God will involve some errors. It is worth noting that the word reasonings is plural. In that regard, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “reasonings” or “opinions” in this verse is διαλογισμῶν [pronounced dee-ah-lah-gee-SMOHN and transliterated as dialogismōn]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word διαλογισμός [pronounced dee-ah-lah-gee-SMAHS and transliterated as dialogismos]. The fact that the Koine Greek noun dialogismōn is plural calls attention to the fact that there can be multiple areas in which a believer lacks understanding about the Word of God. Also, because such reasonings are in error, those reasonings are opinions instead of facts.

For the believer who has proper understanding about the Word of God in an area or areas in which another believer lacks proper understanding, the believer who has the proper understanding must refrain from judging the believer who lacks proper understanding of that area or areas of the Word of God. If the believer who has proper understanding about the Word of God succumbs to a temptation to judge someone, that believer is then out of fellowship with the Trinity and no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

Romans 14:2

One person has doctrine that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

Note: Unspecified in this verse is why the weak believer eats only vegetables. Whatever the reason, this reference involves something other than adherence to the regulations of the Mosaic Law. In that regard, absent from the Mosaic Law is any requirement that people eat only vegetables. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.

Romans 14:3

The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has admitted him into friendship.

Note: This verse calls attention to the fact that both believers should refrain from having an improper attitude and refrain from behaving inappropriately. Regarding the phrase at the end of this verse, a believer who has learned a sufficient amount of the Word of God such that that believer regularly obeys the Word of God is referred to as having been admitted into friendship with God the Father. This is different from being in fellowship with the Trinity at any given moment. Instead, being admitted into friendship with God the Father is a result of being in fellowship with the Trinity on a regular basis. In order to regularly be in fellowship with the Trinity, a believer needs to learn a sufficient amount of the Word of God. Unspecified in the Bible is what that amount is; therefore, rather than focusing on how mature oneself is, a believer should focus on being unselfish as frequently as possible. Of course, one principle from the Word of God that must be known in order to be unselfish frequently is the principle of confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, which is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The more that a believer learns the Word of God, the more that believer becomes aware of hidden areas of arrogance in his or her thinking. A hidden area of arrogance can also be referred to as a hidden area of selfishness. A hidden area of arrogance is human viewpoint that a person fails to notice in that personʼs thinking. The term human viewpoint refers to any viewpoint that deviates from the Word of God. In contrast, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint of the Trinity. All three Members of the Trinity have the same viewpoint. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can learn divine viewpoint by learning the Word of God. Therefore, the term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint that comes from a proper understanding of the Word of God. With human-viewpoint thinking, a person has unrealistic expectations regarding life. Such a person is divorced from reality.

Regarding hidden areas of arrogance in a believerʼs thinking, at the moment of salvation, a believer still has garbage in his or her subconscious. The garbage in the subconscious is the human viewpoint that has been metaphorically programmed into the thinking of a person. After salvation, a believer can also accumulate garbage in the subconscious of that believer. Because people express what they think, the saying “garbage in, garbage out” is applicable to an unbeliever, and it is also applicable to a believer to the extent that that believer has human viewpoint remaining in that believerʼs thinking. That saying can also be abbreviated as GIGO [pronounced GIGH-goh or GEE-goh or GIH-goh].

During time periods that involve information generated by computers, the expression “garbage in, garbage out” is applicable to information generated by those computers. In that regard, the abbreviation AI, which is used to represent the term artificial intelligence, ironically refers to artificial idiocy when those computers output garbage. The garbage output by computers referred to as AI can be referred to as AI slop. The content of AI slop involves misrepresentations, including, for example, images that do not represent reality, video content that does not represent reality, audio content that does not represent reality, and wording that involves falsehoods. The misrepresentations that are in AI slop can cause a personʼs thinking to be molded by human viewpoint that is in that AI slop.

People can deliberately input false information into computer systems that some people categorize as AI, thereby manipulating those computer systems. Such inputting of false information can be referred to as poisoning. For example, one type of computer system that some people categorize as AI is known as a large language model (LLM), which is a computer program into which a large quantity of data is inputted and which can be interacted with by means of giving commands that involve human language and which outputs information in a form that mimics human language. Because the data that goes into LLMs can come from content that is available on webpages, people can input false information into LLMs by putting false information on webpages that are used as data sources for those LLMs. The putting of false information on webpages for the purpose of inputting false information into LLMs is known as LLM grooming. The people who do LLM grooming can thereby try to mold peopleʼs thinking so as to influence them to think in terms of human viewpoint.

In order for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to discover hidden areas of arrogance in that believerʼs thinking, that believer needs to learn the Word of God. In order to learn the Word of God, a believer must be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit while the believer is studying the Word of God. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

Romans 14:4

Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own lord/master he stands firm or falls, and he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to uphold him.

Note: In addition to a believer who regularly obeys the Word of God being referred to as having been admitted into friendship with God the Father, such a believer is referred to as being a house servant of God the Father. In that regard, it is the right of God the Father to judge such a believer. In this verse, the phrase To his own lord/master he stands firm or falls involves the metaphor of a house servant and the lord/master of that servant. In that regard, it is the right of the lord/master of a servant to analyze whether that servant is fulfilling his duties, and it is the right of the lord/master of a servant to take corrective action if that servant is failing to fulfill his duties. Likewise, it is the right of God the Father to analyze whether a believer is fulfilling that believerʼs duties, and it is the right of God the Father to take corrective action if that believer is failing to fulfill that believerʼs duties. Also, a person other than the lord/master of a servant lacks the right to analyze whether that servant is fulfilling his duties, and a person other than the lord/master of a servant lacks the right to take corrective action if that servant is failing to fulfill his duties. Likewise, a person other than God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit lacks the right to analyze whether a believer is fulfilling that believerʼs duties, and a person other than God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit lacks the right to take corrective action if that believer is failing to fulfill that believerʼs duties.

Regarding God the Father judging a believer, each Member of the Trinity performs a different role. Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son; therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ does the disciplining of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ does that disciplining in accordance with God the Fatherʼs plan. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is how the Lord Jesus Christ does the disciplining. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christ is able to control circumstances while at the same time permitting each person to use his or her volition (free will).

In this verse, the phrase stands firm or falls refers to whether or not a believer obeys the Word of God. In that regard, the Koine Greek verb translated as “stands firm” in this verse is στήκει [pronounced STAY-kay and transliterated as stēkei]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word στήκω [pronounced STAY-koh and transliterated as stēkō]. The Koine Greek verb translated as “falls” in this verse is πίπτει [pronounced PEEP-tay and transliterated as piptei]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word πίπτω [pronounced PEEP-toh and transliterated as piptō].

In this verse, the phrases he will be upheld and the Lord is able to uphold him each involve an inflected form of a different verb than the verb stēkō. In the phrase he will be upheld, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “will be upheld” in this verse is σταθήσεται [pronounced stah-THAY-seh-tigh and transliterated as stathēsetai]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ἵστημι [pronounced HEE-stay-mee and transliterated as histēmi]. In the phrase the Lord is able to uphold him, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “to uphold” in this verse is στῆσαι [pronounced STAY-sigh and transliterated as stēsai]. That verb is also an inflected form of the root word ἵστημι [pronounced HEE-stay-mee and transliterated as histēmi].

Regarding the foregoing analysis of the phrase stands firm or falls, the phrase he will be upheld, and the phrase the Lord is able to uphold him, those phrases involve a believer who has the proper understanding regarding eating being judged by a believer who eats only vegetables. The phrase he will be upheld indicates that the believer who is being judged by the believer who eats only vegetables is actually doing nothing wrong with regard to the matter of eating. In that regard, the use of histēmi in the sense of being upheld can have a judicial connotation. Because the content of verses 3 and 4 involves a believer who eats only vegetables judging another believer, it is logical to conclude that the two instances of inflected forms of histēmi in verse 4 each involves a judicial connotation. In that regard, the word upheld refers to a believer being innocent with regard to that for which he is being judged. The use of the future tense he will be upheld calls attention to the fact that the believer who eats only vegetables might judge the other believer in the future. Also, the use of the verb in the passive form in the phrase he will be upheld and the use of the verb in the active form in the phrase the Lord is able to uphold him indicate that rather than the believer determining himself whether he is innocent with regard to that for which he is being judged, it is the Lord Jesus Christ Who determines whether the believer is innocent with regard to that for which that believer is being judged. Regarding the phrase is able in the phrase the Lord is able to uphold him, the phrase is able calls attention to the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has the ability to determine whether the believer is innocent with regard to that for which that believer is being judged whereas the believer who eats only vegetables lacks the ability to determine whether the other believer is innocent with regard to that for which that other believer is being judged.

In verse 4, Paul uses wordplay with stēkō and histēmi. That wordplay involves the word stand. In that regard, the use of stēkō involves the believer who is being judged standing firm in obeying the Word of God. Regarding that believer being judged, the uses of histēmi to refer to upholding with a judicial connotation involve the accuser of that believer using an accusation or accusations to try to metaphorically knock down that believer, who metaphorically continues to stand throughout the period of accusing. The reason that that believer metaphorically continues to stand throughout the period of accusing is because the Lord Jesus Christ determines that that believer is innocent with regard to the accusation or accusations that are directed at that believer.

Romans 14:5

One person regards one day above another; another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

Note: Some believers regard certain days as more special than others even when absent from the Word of God is any indication that those days are more special than others. With regard to the matter of the believer being fully convinced in his or her mind, that convincing needs to be based on the Word of God. In that regard, this verse calls attention to the fact that a believer needs to learn the Word of God in order to have correct understanding of the Word of God in the believerʼs mind.

Romans 14:6

He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God, and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God.

Note: This verse indicates that the weak believer that is referenced in Romans 14 is trying to obey the Word of God. Also, all prayer must be addressed to God the Father, including prayers of thanks. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father. The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.

Romans 14:7

Indeed, not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself,

Note: This verse calls attention to the fact that a believer should refrain from being motivated by self-centeredness.

Romans 14:8

for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lordʼs.

Note: This verse calls attention to the fact that a believer should be motivated by the intention to serve the Lord.

Romans 14:9

Indeed, to this end, Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Note: The phrase both of the dead and of the living refers to physically dead and physically alive believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:10

However, you, why do you judge your brother, or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? Indeed, we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of God.

Note: The Lordʼs evaluation of Church Age believers is known as the Judgment Seat of Christ and also known as the Bema [BAY-muh] Seat. The English word Bema Seat is derived from the Koine Greek word βῆμα [pronounced BAY-mah and transliterated as bema], which can be translated as “judgment seat.” At the time of the writing of the New Testament, a judgment seat was a raised seat—in other words, a seat at a higher level of elevation than the floor or ground around the seat.

With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.

Dispensation	Start	Ending or Interruption

Age of the Gentiles	Adam	The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Age of Israel	Exodus	The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost.

Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel)	First Advent of Christ	The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ.

Church Age	Day of Pentecost	The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church.

Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed)	Rapture	The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ.

Millennium	Second Advent	The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.

Eternal State	Great White Throne Judgment	The Eternal State will be never-ending.

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.

Romans 14:11

Indeed, it is written: “‘AS I LIVE,’ SAYS THE LORD, ‘EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO / CONFESS TO / ACKNOWLEDGE TO GOD.’”

Note: The context of the verses that surround Romans 14:11 involves Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the content of Romans 14:11 refers to Church Age believers kneeling before the Lord Jesus Christ and giving praise to / confessing to / acknowledging to God the Father on the occasion of the Rapture. The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “GIVE PRAISE TO,” “CONFESS TO,” or “ACKNOWLEDGE TO” in this verse is ἐξομολογήσεται [pronounced ehks-ah-mah-lah-GAY-seh-tigh and transliterated as exomologēsetai]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ἐξομολογέω [pronounced ehks-ah-mah-lah-GEH-oh and transliterated as exomologeō]. Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether Paul uses an inflected form of exomologeō in this verse in the sense of giving praise, confessing, or acknowledging. If Paul uses an inflected form of exomologeō in the sense of confessing or acknowledging, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what is being confessed or acknowledged.

In the content of Philippians 2:11, Paul uses an inflected form of exomologeō to refer to believers and angels acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord. In that regard, while it is possible that Paul uses an inflected form of exomologeō in Romans 14:11 to refer to believers confessing or acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord, it is also possible that in Romans 14:11 Paul focuses on a different aspect of what will occur on the occasion of the Rapture. In that regard, it is possible that Paulʼs use of an inflected form of exomologeō in Romans 14:11 is in reference to believers praising God the Father or in reference to believers confessing or acknowledging something other than that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The content of Romans 14:11 in all uppercase letters references Isaiah 45:23. In that regard, below is content related to Isaiah 45:23.

Isaiah 45:23

I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and does not turn back, that to Me every knee bows, every tongue swears.

Note: In the context of Isaiah 45:23, the word swears refers to swearing allegiance to God the Father.

Romans 14:12

Therefore, each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

Note: This verse refers to believers.

Romans 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 brotherʼs way.

Note: If a believer judges another believer, then that other believer might be tempted to sin; therefore, believers should refrain from judging other believers.

Romans 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.

Note: The references to uncleanness in this verse are associated with the Mosaic Law. Such uncleanness is referred to as ceremonial uncleanness. In that regard, the Mosaic Law prohibited the eating of certain foods. The Israelites were under the Mosaic Law until the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled, the prohibiting of the eating of certain foods has ended. Also, there were certain days that were special according to the requirements of the Mosaic Law. As with the food requirements of the Mosaic Law, the requirements for observing certain days ended once the Mosaic Law was fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.

While the requirements regarding certain foods and certain days have ended, if a believer thinks that he or she is supposed to adhere to those requirements but refrains from adhering to those requirements, then that believer thinks that he or she is disobeying the Word of God. If a believer does something that he or she thinks is prohibited by the Word of God, then that believer is sinning because he or she is committing the sin of rejecting the authority of God the Father. That is to what the phrase to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean refers.

Romans 14:15

Indeed, if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to benevolence/goodwill. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.

Note: If a believer who has proper understanding about the Word of God eats food that a believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God thinks is forbidden, then the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God might be tempted to sin. In that regard, the believer who has proper understanding about the Word of God should exhibit benevolence/goodwill by refraining from eating that food in the presence of the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God. In the context of this verse, destroying refers to tempting a fellow believer to sin. If that believer sins, and if that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging that sin to God the Father, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity. In that regard, a believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist. Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers. Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism. Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death. The sin unto death involves an early physical death. For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026. The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity. The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16. Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.

Romans 14:16

Therefore, do not let what is for you a good thing be slandered / maligned / reviled / calumniated / blasphemed,

In a situation in which a believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God violates the privacy of another believer, the other believer should avoid the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God, if avoiding such a believer is possible. If it is impossible to avoid such a nosy believer, the other believer is under zero obligation to tell the nosy believer what the other believer does when the nosy believer is absent from the presence of the other believer. Of course, when refraining from telling the nosy believer what the other believer does when the nosy believer is absent from the presence of the other believer, that other believer should remain gracious.

Romans 14:17

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Note: Rather than God the Fatherʼs plan regarding the Christian way of life involving trying to find happiness by means of sensually entertaining oneself with food or drink or both, God the Fatherʼs plan regarding the Christian way of life instead involves being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. It is by means of the power of God the Holy Spirit that a believer can behave in a righteous manner, experience tranquility of the soul, and experience true happiness. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

Romans 14:18

Indeed, he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Note: This verse refers to the gracious attitude and gracious behavior referenced in the verses preceding this verse. Also, in this verse, the word translated as “men” refers to mankind rather than merely to male humans. In addition, the reference to approval refers to such approval in general rather than approval from every single human being.

Romans 14:19

Therefore, we pursue [later manuscripts read let us pursue] the things which make for peace and the building up / edification of one another.

Note: A gracious attitude and gracious behavior give other believers opportunities to be interested in studying and obeying the Word of God.

Romans 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 with stumbling.

Note: In the context of this verse, the phrase the work of God refers to believers learning and obeying the Word of God. While each believer makes his or her own decisions from his or her own volition (free will), God the Fatherʼs plan is for each believer to learn and obey the Word of God, and if a believer chooses to disobey the Word of God, then the work of God is thereby metaphorically torn down. The phrase eats with stumbling refers to the metaphorical stumbling of the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God sinning as a result of becoming aware of another believer eating food that the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God thinks is forbidden food. The context from the verses surrounding this verse is such that, by way of application, this covers the matter of drinking also. Causing a fellow believer to metaphorically stumble is so bad that it can be described as evil.

Romans 14:21

It is good not to eat meat nor to drink wine nor to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

Note: In addition to refraining from eating or drinking that which can lead to the metaphorical stumbling of the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God, this principle of graciousness should even be applied more broadly to doing anything else that could lead to the metaphorical stumbling of the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God. As mentioned in the notes for verse 16, when a believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God violates the privacy of another believer by trying to find out what the other believer is doing when the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God is absent from the presence of the other believer, that is a different situation. In such a situation, the believer who lacks proper understanding about the Word of God should be avoided, if possible. If it is impossible to avoid such a nosy believer, the other believer is under zero obligation to tell the nosy believer what the other believer does when the nosy believer is absent from the presence of the other believer. Of course, when refraining from telling the nosy believer what the other believer does when the nosy believer is absent from the presence of the other believer, that other believer should remain gracious.

Romans 14:22

The doctrine which you have, have in relation to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

Note: A believer should apply the Word of God to his or her own life rather than trying to run the lives of other believers. Regarding the phrase in what he approves in this verse, that approval must be in accordance with the Word of God. In that regard, if a believer is doing something other than that which the Bible indicates is sinful, then the believer can be happy doing whatever he or she is doing.

Romans 14:23

However, he who doubts is condemned if he eats because his eating is not from doctrine, and whatever is not from doctrine is sin.

Note: If a believer thinks that something is sinful, then that believer should refrain from doing that. In that regard, if he or she does that which he or she thinks is wrong, then he or she is doing something that is other than in accordance with the Word of God—in other words, he or she is then doing something sinful. The reason that that believer is sinning in such a situation is because that believer is rejecting the authority of God the Father.

Sincerely,

John