Daily Devotions
Romans
"To him who considers anything to be unclean..."
Text: Romans 14:14
THE ISSUE OF BEING “UNCLEAN”
The controversy revolving around “food” being unclean was not a problem of hygiene. If the matter is merely a matter of “dirty” food, then it is easily resolved. Bad food just cannot be eaten, or it would result in obvious unpleasant consequences!
The issue of “unclean” food was a long and complex problem. Jewish believers had special trouble understanding how they may resolve this thorny issue.
1. Old Testament Dietary laws
a) The Book of Leviticus contained a good number of laws of prohibition (Leviticus 11).
b) Animals were distinguished:-
i) Clean
ii) Unclean
2. Violation of these laws
a) Penalties were imposed on those who did not keep these laws.
b) There was the danger of “defilement” (Cf. Leviticus 11:44).
c) There was the problem of being seen as “unholy” if these laws were broken (Cf. Leviticus 11:44)
d) Many still kept these dietary laws thinking that they would become “holy” .
THE ONLY ANSWER
Was there an answer to the above problem? Paul had already established the following truths concerning the law:-
1. No one would be justified by the keeping of the law (Cf. Romans 3:20)
2.Justification is found through faith in Christ (Cf. Romans 3:28)
3. There was a new law- “the law of faith” (Cf. Romans 3:27)
AT THE MERCY OF OUR CONSCIENCE
Paul recognized that many were gripped by their conscience.
“But to him who considers anything to be unclean,
to him it is unclean.”
Romans 14:14b