DM#14: Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Doctrine of the Mysteries #14

Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind 

We all know that lying and stealing is sin. The Bible verifies this explicitly, including other actions like adultery, murder, coveting, idolatry, pride, etc. There is no doubt that these are sins to be avoided. But is smoking a sin? Is speeding on the road a sin? How many glasses of wine can you consume before it becomes a sin? What about calling in sick when you really are not? How do we know and judge if these are sinful? The Bible does not explicitly tell us that they are. 

Romans chapter 14 is one of my absolute favourite chapters because it proves how dynamic our individual relationships are with God when it comes to walking in righteousness. Furthermore, it utterly obliterates the static dictatorship of traditional and religious, man-made Christianity. In this chapter, Paul tells us plainly, that we, as grace believers, walk in our own faith and conscience before God, and bear the consequences of our own deeds before God’s judgement seat. This is why Paul personalizes his advice when he says, 

Rom 14:22  “Hast THOU faith? have it to THYSELF before God.”, and 

Rom 14:10  “But why dost thou judge thy brother? … for WE SHALL ALL STAND [individually] before the judgment seat of Christ.  …  (12)  So then EVERY ONE OF US [individually] shall give account of HIMSELF to God.

Let’s read Paul's opening statements in this most informative chapter regarding a believer’s personal conduct in righteousness.

Rom 14:1-5  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  (2)  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  (3)  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  (4)  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  (5)  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

The context of the above passage is that Paul is dealing with both Jews and Gentiles in the same assembly. The conflict of faith between the two parties was the reason for Paul having to tackle the contentious topics of eating meat sacrificed to idols and resting on the Sabbath. Jews were more law-orientated, given their heritage, and the Gentiles who were more liberal, having abandoned their whole religious system as idolatrous and pagan, held to nothing but the faith Paul had taught them. The Jews were bound to laws that dictated their diet and rest, whereas the Gentiles ignored these rules. This caused friction as to who was right and wrong, as well as who was sinning if these laws were infringed. Now, let me draw your attention to an interesting observation. Between the two parties, who was weaker in their faith? 

Did you note that the weaker believers were the Jews? Did you expect that? Why is this so? Well, it’s due to their insistent attachment to the law, which hindered and frustrated the workings of God’s grace, Gal 2:21. In contrast, the faith of the Gentile believers was not suppressed, and their minds were not limited to expectations, traditions, and observances.

Paul ends our key passage with the following,

“Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

Unlike traditional thinking, this statement gives us liberty to exercise our own judgements. It does not frustrate the grace of God. It does not treat us as children who need to be placed under rules and laws to ensure we exercise correct conduct. This is where Paul wants us to be, growing up in our faith, practicing self-control, overcoming the flesh, and keen to please God by knowing and applying His will and judgements.

We must remember that at this point in Romans 14, Paul is addressing believers who have progressed in spiritual development through Romans. They have received justification with God. They have knowledge concerning Christ’s ministration; being dead to sin and the law. They have learned to walk after the Spirit. They have renewed their mind to know God’s will, to know what their reasonable service to God is, having given themselves over as living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable unto Him. These are not babes in Christ who are still dominated by carnal impulses and who need to be placed under the laws of tutors and governors. Thus, to be fully persuaded in one’s own mind, requires a measure of maturity, where the Word has taken root in the mind, and Christ’s love has started to transform the heart.

This chapter and topic is continued in DM#15.