Romans Chapter 14 Vs. 23

 

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Rom 14:23

for whatsoever is... Any thing done to violate the faith-principle by which one is saved, and by which he lives (Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38), is sin. One must know beyond all doubt or hesitation in his mind that what he allows is in perfect accord with the Word of God before he acts.

This has to do with more than just food. Everything we do must be done through faith.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Abraham’s faith was counted unto him as righteousness. This is true for us, as well.

Heb. 11:6 “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The strongest Christian can bring harm to himself in Christian liberty by denouncing or belittling the freedom God has given him. Or by carelessly flaunting his liberty without regard for how that might affect others.

When the weak brother violates his conscience, he sins as “whatsoever is not of faith”, meaning the thoughts and actions that his conscience condemns (which may be perfectly acceptable by God in others). Meaning that one person may eat whatever is blessed and it is not considered a sin. Whereas a weaker brother considers it wrong, therefore violating his conscience thus committing sin.

If a Christian eats food or does anything when he has doubts in his own mind as to whether it is right or wrong before God (one who is “weak” in faith, Rom. 14:1-2), his action does not spring from (ek, “out of”) his faith or trust in God and is therefore wrong. As Paul generalized, Everything that does not come from (ek, “out of”) faith is sin. The principle is, “When in doubt, don’t.” The “strong” Christian (Rom. 15:1) is wrong if he causes a weak brother to sin (by doing something while doubting, Rom. 14:20), and a weak brother (Rom. 14:1-2) who goes against what he doubts also sins (Rom. 14:23).