Notice that Paul ends this section in Galatians 6:5, with a valid warning: for each one shall bear his own load. This is not a contradiction of verse 2, where it says, bear one another's burdens. It is an allusion to the fact that each of us will be judged according to our own works. While we are here to help each other reach God's Kingdom, we will be judged separately, individually. We will read Romans 14. I want to touch this quickly.
I threw this verse in here because it went well with the end of verse 4. Christ died to this end: that we will be all made to stand and be in God's Kingdom.
He turns things around, right there at the end. Do not be judging one another; in fact, do your best to take those impediments out of their way. Whether you yourself are a cause of one of those stumbling blocks or not, help one another. This comes as part of the passage concerning judging one another, over what the King James calls, doubtful things. These doubtful things are areas of Christian living that are, really, merely differences of opinions over secondary matters. They are personal decisions that each individual must determine for himself on how to approach something. There are things that the Bible may not have a clear, Thus says the Lord, answer to.
Paul uses the example of doubtful things as vegetarianism, also choosing which days to fast. One, if he wants to, can become a vegetarian, even though Paul says, in his opinion that he thinks that it is a sign of spiritual weakness, but you can do it; it is a personal choice. God does not say it is wrong. If you want to do it, God says you can eat meat. As to which day or how often to fast, that is also a personal choice. God nowhere says in the Bible that you will fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He does not even say you have to fast once a week, once every two weeks, once a month; but He does say you have to fast once a year. But how often you must fast between days of Atonement is up to you. That is a personal choice.
We should not become judgmental with each other about matters that are not truly salvational issues. They are choice issues. We have to learn to have a discerning mind to discern between what is truly sin and what is really, when it comes down to it, a lifestyle choice that simply may be different from the way we might have chosen.
We should also notice as we go through here that Paul makes the distinction that though we are to help one another along the way, meaning in this case not putting hindrance before our brethren, we will also be judged according to our individual works. It seems to be a theme that keeps coming up; it is what you do, not what the other person does, that makes the difference for you. We should remember at this point what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5 about much of God's judgment of us being based on how we judge others. Remember He uses the example of the splinter in the other person's eye while you have the great big beam sticking out of yours. That is terrible judgment. What judgment you meet out to others, will be meted out to you. So we have to remember that.
Do you know who the weak in the faith are? It is somebody who has not grasped yet what Christianity really means. This person may be quite intelligent. To this person, Christianity may exist only in the world of study and of religious technicalities.
By contrast, the strong Christian is one who sees what is important morally, spiritually, ethically, and is able to discern between what is important and what is not important. He is prepared to do the right thing no matter which way he will go. The weak, on the other hand, are preoccupied with some matters to such an extent that they assume an importance all out of proportion to their real value.
Verse 1 here is telling us not to even force the truth upon others. He simply says receive them. If you will compare Romans 14 with I Corinthians 8 through 10, you will find that the subject matter is virtually identical. A comparison of the two will show you that the apostle Paul theologically was in agreement with the ones who were wrong in what they did. Theologically they were correct, but what they did was unrighteous even though it was based upon their conviction about something that was right. An interesting case indeed. The parties who were doing the offending were the ones who were theologically correct, and Paul said they were sinning.
Romans 14 becomes helpful when people have made sincere efforts but cannot get the best food available. In that chapter, Paul first reminds us that this food issue discussed there is not a major doctrinal issue. It is what Paul calls a doubtful thing (Romans 14:1) He implies as the chapter moves on that the issue does not involve food God terms as unclean. The issue is a personal one, and it is peripheral, not central to salvation. One's salvation is not on the line. He reminds us, as the chapter moves toward its conclusion, that the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). He urges us, Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food (Romans 14:20) by making harsh judgements of what others eat. He concludes by urging us to make sure that our own conscience is clear before God.
Put on Christ's way of approaching these things, and if there is a weak member of the faith, receive him. But if he is disputing doubtful things, Paul says leave them at arm's length, not to disputes over doubtful things.
