“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
The word “doubt”, as used in this scripture, means “to judge diversely”, which means the making up of one’s mind according to feelings, preferences, opinions, etc., rather than according to God-given standards. This scripture then declares that God requires that we do what we do by faith, i.e. to ascertain what is right with God based on what is taught in His Word (“all scripture”, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, as it takes both Old and New Testament teachings to get the full picture.) Then He tells us that the failure to do this and not prove what the will of the Lord is, is sin.
Anything we do must be grounded soundly in the Word of God. Faith is not just a belief in Christ (the devils believe and tremble); nor is it just a feeling, but must be founded on what God has said in His Word. Many are advocating that it doesn’t really matter how you dress or live, just so long as you love the Lord. But Christ said that the people that love Him are the ones who keep His commandments. (See John 14:15,21,24) “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” This is the Bible’s answer to those who claim to be saved, but who live contrary to God’s commandments. God says unless we live by faith, which is according to what is taught in God’s Word, we are just living in sin.
Thus, a Christian should be looking for Biblical evidence that what they are doing is right in God’s eyes before they do it. They should not have the haughty attitude that others must first show them they are wrong before they will change.
Many will argue that they don’t agree with what the church is teaching from the Bible, because of some technical difference of interpretation. But at the same time, they do not produce any scripture that sets forth what they are doing as being God’s will and way. This is the doubtful eating that is not according to faith.
God doesn’t direct His children by giving them satisfactory answers to all their objections and opinions. He leads us by the standards that He sets forth in His Word with the admonition that we observe all that He commands us. Since real faith is a genuine belief in God’s righteousness and a firm trust in His will, it only finds peace and contentment in both proving and doing what is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.
We need to follow God’s standard because it will be the rule of judgment. To speak of God’s standard without standing for it, is the dead faith of James 2:26.
SHARING
