The Gentiles are told to abstain from these things for three reasons:

1) Since these things were included in their former idolatrous worship, they would only serve to be a hindrance between the Gentiles and the worship of Christ, likewise their weaker Gentile brethren.

2) The law of Moses was still being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. As the weak Jewish brethren beheld the Gentiles doing those things forbidden in the law of Moses, the weaker Jewish brethren would turn to the law, compare their own obedience with the disobedience of the Gentiles and thus turn to the same idolatry of trusting themselves.

3) Chiefly, the reason these things were to be laid aside was that Christ might be worshipped by all with no distraction. The only way to seek those things which are above is by looking away from the flesh--yours and your brethren--to Christ Jesus the Lord.

Read I Corinthians 8 and Romans 14.

If you truly believe that Christ is risen and reigning--in you and in your brethren, in the world and in the church--and you believe that Christ is All then that which is more dear to you than even the liberty he has given you is your brethren for whom Christ died. If I offend my brother, I offend Christ. Christ is the one in whom we stand, who instructs us, who corrects us. The only way the believer is matured in patience and in love so as to remember that the flesh profits nothing is through the grace of Christ Jesus the Lord growing us in knowledge and understanding of him. He does it in his time not ours. May he give us a heart to be a help and not a hindrance.

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey

LOCATION & TELEPHONE
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553
Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Worship
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service
(The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)