The BIG Picture (Q&A)

One of the most misunderstood phrases in Romans 14 is Paul’s declaration: “All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.” — Romans 14:20 (KJV) At first glance, it seems sweeping— all things ? Surely Paul doesn’t mean lying, stealing, or revenge are pure. And he doesn’t. The key lies in context, and in rightly dividing between moral absolutes and matters of conscience. Romans 14 is not a chapter about sin in its raw form. It’s a chapter about liberty, conscience, and the delicate dance between personal persuasion and communal edification. Paul is addressing believers who differ in their convictions about food, drink, and holy days—issues that are not inherently sinful, but can become spiritually harmful when handled carelessly. When Paul says “all things are pure,” he’s speaking of externally lawful, morally neutral actions —especially those tied to ceremonial or cultural observances. Eating meat, drinking wine, esteeming one day above another—these ...

Social Media Question: What must we do to live according to Christ? My Reply: Let us take the biblical advice from Romans 5–8 to answer this question. To live according to Christ, one must first be justified through faith in Him, Romans 5:1. This justification marks the beginning of a journey, where one grows in the knowledge of God’s Word. It becomes essential to understand that living according to Christ cannot be achieved through personal effort. Our flesh is at enmity with God, and our natural mind is corrupt. The starting point is immersing oneself in the Word of God (specifically the epistle of Romans) and allowing it to renew the mind, for it is the carnal and corrupted mind that prevents us from living in alignment with Christ. It is crucial to recognize that one cannot live both according to Christ and according to sin. By nature, we yield to sin, for it is all we know, Rom.6. As the Word begins to reveal the nature of sin and exposes how living in sin is displeasing to God, w...