Romans Chapter 14 Vs. 17

 

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom 14:17

For the kingdom... The kingdom of God does not consist of meat, drink, and outward religion. It consists of three things here:

1. Righteousness (Rom. 3:21-31; 4:1-25; 8:4)

2. Peace (Rom. 2:10; 5:1; 8:6; 10:15)

3. Joy (Rom. 5:11; Gal. 5:22; 1Pet. 1:8)

1Cor. 8:8 “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”

Gal. 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”

What all three of these Scriptures are saying is that the abundance of the things God has entrusted to us do not make us right with Him. The blessings that count are the gifts of the Spirit that He entrusts us with.

joy in the... Another part of the Spirit’s fruit. This describes an abiding attitude of praise and thanksgiving regardless of circumstances, which flows from one’s confidence in God’s sovereignty.

But… righteousness (upright living), peace (cf. Rom. 12:16, 12:18; 14:19) and joy in (the sphere of) the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 15:13) are essentials of Christian fellowship and harmony. A concerned believer insists on right conduct, harmony, and joy rather than forcing his own lifestyle on others.