The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. How well we would do to remember this when we are tempted to get all excited about minor issues. The gospel is about us being made right with God. Because of Christ's death on the cross we are declared righteous. But this isn't just a theoretical matter whose reality we will not experience until we die, it makes a difference now. The gospel brings joy and peace now, it gives us strength to love and to overcome now.
The cross has made us acceptable to God, so we should not go around trying to find reasons why someone is not acceptable to God! Instead we should be concerned with trying to build each other up. Now this may involve correcting one another from time to time (Col 3:16), but there is a world of difference between having a critical and judgemental attitude, and seeking to help someone live a more Christlike life.
In the particular matter that Paul was dealing with at the time, he tells those who felt free to eat meat, that they should not do so if it is going to cause problems for others. Indeed, they could lead others to sin, for to go against our conscience (even if the matter is not an absolute, such as eating meat) can be sinful (Luke 17:2). The gospel requires us to have a completely different attitude to life and to others.
The cross has made us acceptable to God, so we should not go around trying to find reasons why someone is not acceptable to God! Instead we should be concerned with trying to build each other up. Now this may involve correcting one another from time to time (Col 3:16), but there is a world of difference between having a critical and judgemental attitude, and seeking to help someone live a more Christlike life.
In the particular matter that Paul was dealing with at the time, he tells those who felt free to eat meat, that they should not do so if it is going to cause problems for others. Indeed, they could lead others to sin, for to go against our conscience (even if the matter is not an absolute, such as eating meat) can be sinful (Luke 17:2). The gospel requires us to have a completely different attitude to life and to others.
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