Romans 14:9

Romans 14:9 says, For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.  Paul tells us in this verse why we need to do all for the glory of God.  Christ died to redeem everyone, and those that accept His free gift of salvation have everlasting security through Him.  We do not suddenly no longer belong to Christ when we die, but are freed to be in an even closer relationship with God.  As long as we live, though, we are to be Christ's representatives in the world. Verse ten adds, But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  I believe Paul is reminding us that it is not our responsibility to judge fellow believers.  We cannot let ceremonies and rituals separate us from other believers in Christ.  That is the key though. Not everyone, or religious organization believes in salvation through Christ alone, but it is still not our responsibility to judge anyone. We are to reach out with the love of Christ to them.  We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We can only obtain mercy by the sacrifice of Christ, so He alone is worthy to judge anyone.  We are not to allow the way others worship to cause us to look down on them.  As long as they are worshipping God through their relationship with Christ as Savior and Lord, we are to rejoice with them.  Today, there is almost a dividing line between traditional and contemporary worship, but if both bring honor to God, they are both correct.  Neither group should feel superior to the other.  Verse eleven continues, For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  Here Paul is referring to Isaiah 45:23.  The fact that not everyone believes this does not change the truth of the fact. Paul was not stating some new truth, but was simply reminding people of what the scripture already taught them.  Verse twelve states, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  We need to rejoice as followers of Christ that when we stand to give our account before God that we are forgiven through Christ.  If we were to stand before God without salvation through Christ, we would all be condemned.  One day, ever knee will bow and every tongue confess to God.  It does not say that those who believe in God, or even just those who believe in Christ, but everyone will stand before God to give an account.  Verse thirteen adds, Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.  Paul tells us that what we need to judge is our own actions, to ensure that we don't put a stumbling block in the way of anyone.  We can really only be accountable for our own actions, which flow out of our thoughts. For that reason, our minds must be attuned to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse fourteen continues, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  Paul had no doubt that Jesus Christ had led him to understand that nothing was unclean by nature, but if a person felt that something was unclean, then for that person it was.  Verse fifteen concludes, But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.  I believe Paul is telling us that we are to live so that we do not become a stumbling block to others coming to Christ.  We may know that no earthly action can separate us from our faith in Christ but does not mean that we are to act superior to those who feel certain actions do stand in the way.  Paul used the example of eating meat used in sacrifice to God. Paul knew there was nothing wrong with eating it, but he was not going to eat it if it kept anyone from coming to Christ.