Be fully convinced

I happened upon a link to a sermon on Romans 14 by John Piper. I read it, then I read it again, then I listened to it. I am still chewing on it. The jist of it is this. Two people can have opposing convictions on non sin areas and BOTH can honor Christ in their conviction. There are some qualifiers. Piper says our convictions can not be sin (as in coveting our neighbors property), must be honoring to Christ, and we must believe that they are the best way for us to act in the present time with what we now know. The part that has stopped me in my tracks is the idea that BOTH can honor Christ although they are opposites. The example in Romans is the meat eater versus the vegitarian. One brother is convinced that he can eat meat and the other that it would be sin. Another example used by Paul is in the observations of days. One person believes that observing certain days is fine but the other thinks it a sin. In three points Piper says that 1. True Christians on both sides of the issue glorify God in what they do. 2. Things that are opposites such as life/death can both Honor the Lord 3. Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ both the living and dead can show the infinite value of his Lordship.



I tend to be fully convicted on lots of things. Having arrived at these convictions through God's word, prayer and often the counsel of others it has never really occurred to me that someone with an opposite conviction could honor Christ as well. This was not in a spirit of judgementalism. I just could not reconcile that opposites could both be honoring to Christ. I am always amazed when I have read the same verse numerous times and then one day it is lite up like a neon sign straight from Heaven. Gods word is continually amazing.

"Therefore, I do not say to you, “Lighten up.” Or, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Rather I say, “Stand in awe of the risen Christ who will get his glory from the living and from the dead and from the eaters and the abstainers and from the day-keepers and the non-day-keepers. Stand in awe of Jesus Christ. And whatever you do, whether you eat or whether you drink, do all to the glory of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31). " quoted from John Pipers sermon.



To read the full sermon or listen to it online click the link below.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2005/225_Each_One_Should_Be_Fully_Convinced_in_His_Own_Mind