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"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