Weak in the Faith (1)
A Sermon on Romans 14:1
Scripture
1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Sermon Description
Some find it hard to know how to regard the differences in spiritual maturity that exists among Christians. Are these differences always good? Are they bad? In this sermon on Romans 14:1 titled “Weak in the Faith (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides some biblical answers to these questions. He starts by asking a foundational question: what does it mean to be weak in faith? The believers Paul was talking about and writing to were true Christians that were falling into legalism. He reminds that all believers are the same as it relates to justification and regeneration and the basic need for being saved from sins. However, some are stronger than others. What causes this? Dr. Lloyd-Jones posits that natural personality often lends itself to different strengths and weaknesses in different people. Additionally, the diligence and application of people as Christians also play a large part in the strength or weakness of someone’s faith. He also suggests that the length of time one has been a Christian will affect this. Thankfully the Christian is given the power to grow by the grace of God so if one’s faith is weak, they should not be anxious but continue to seek the Lord and it will grow.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing the passage from Romans 14:1-15:4 which deals with matters of indifference in the Christian life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that this passage addresses issues that often divide Christians and cause trouble in the church.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones then provides an analysis and outline of the passage by dividing it into five subsections: Romans 14:1-12, Romans 14:13-16, Romans 14:17-20a, Romans 14:20b-23, Romans 15:1-4.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses the meaning of "weak in faith" from Romans 14:1. He notes that it refers to those who are Christians but struggle in applying their faith to particular matters. Though they understand the core of the faith, they revert to legalistic thinking in certain situations.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses how Christians can be classified as "weak" or "strong" in faith. He notes that not all Christians are equal or identical. Becoming a Christian is not magical or automatic. Though all Christians are saved the same way, differences emerge in growth and maturity.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses several factors that can determine whether someone is "weak" or "strong" in faith: natural ability, temperament, diligence, length of time as a Christian, teaching received, and background.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses how Jews and Gentiles in the early church may have been "weak" in different areas due to their different backgrounds. He also notes how views on issues like Sabbath observance, smoking, and drinking have varied among Christians over time.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by expressing gratitude for God's provision in Scripture and praying that God would keep Christians humble, discerning, and faithful to God's Word.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.