2 ARST { There are some people} who are convinced that they can eat any{ kind of food}. But the immature{ believer in the Messiah}{ thinks that they can only} eat vegetables. BSB BSB: For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 ARST { The believer in the Messiah} who eats{ every kind of food} must not scorn{ his fellow believer} who does not eat{ every kind of food. The believer in the Messiah} who does not eat{ every kind of food} also must not judge{ his fellow believer} who eats{ every kind of food}.{ This is} because God has welcomed{ both of} them. BSB BSB: The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.
4 ARST You should not judge{ your fellow believer, who is like} a slave belonging to another{ master}. He either pleases or does not please his master,{ according to how the master judges}. Yet God will make him pleasing{ to himself} because the Lord can do so. BSB BSB: Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
6 ARST The person who thinks certain days are special does so in order to{ honor} the Lord. The person who eats{ every kind of food} does so in order to{ honor} the Lord.{ This is} because that person is thankful to God. The person who refuses to eat{ certain foods} does so in order to{ honor} the Lord. That person is thankful to God as well. BSB BSB: He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 ARST { This is true} because not one of us{ believers in the Messiah} lives{ only} to{ please} himself, and not one of us dies{ only} to{ please} himself. BSB BSB: For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
8 ARST Indeed, while we{ believers in the Messiah} live, we live to{ please} the Lord. When we die, we die to{ please} the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. BSB BSB: If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 ARST Indeed, this is why the Messiah{ Jesus} died and{ became} alive{ again}: in order to become Lord over those who are dead and those who are alive. BSB BSB: For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 ARST As for you, those of you who judge your fellow believers must not do so! You also must not scorn your fellow believers!{ Do not do these things} because{ one day} God will judge all of us{ who believe in the Messiah}. BSB BSB: Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
11 ARST Indeed, Isaiah wrote in the Scriptures,“The Lord says{ this oath},‘As certainly as I am alive,{ it is just as certain that} everyone will worship me. And everyone will acknowledge to me{ that I am God}.’” BSB BSB: It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”
12 ARST Therefore, each one of us{ who believes in the Messiah} will certainly answer to God for whatever we do{ while we are alive}. BSB BSB: So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 ARST So we must stop judging other believers. Instead, we must resolve not to do anything that could tempt our fellow believers to sin. BSB BSB: Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
15 ARST { Do not tempt fellow believers to sin} because, if you grieve your fellow believer by eating what that person considers to be sinful to eat, you are not acting in a loving manner anymore. Do not cause a fellow believer to{ stop trusting in God and} become ruined{ eternally} because of what you{ want to} eat! The Messiah died to save that person! BSB BSB: If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
16 ARST So then, do not do anything that will cause anyone to slander the good things that God has given you. BSB BSB: Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.
17 ARST { Do not do this}, because eating and drinking do not characterize God’ s kingdom. Rather, being righteous, peaceful, and joyful through the Holy Spirit{ characterizes God’ s kingdom}. BSB BSB: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 ARST Indeed,{ any} believer who serves the Messiah by doing these things greatly pleases God, and{ other} people will{ also} approve of that person. BSB BSB: For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19 ARST Therefore, we must eagerly try to live peacefully{ with other believers} and help each other become{ spiritually} mature. BSB BSB: So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
20 ARST Do not ruin what God has done because{ you want to eat certain} foods! God permits us to eat all{ kinds of food}. However, it is sinful for someone to eat{ certain foods} if doing so tempts{ your fellow believer} to sin. BSB BSB: Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
21 ARST It is better not to eat{ any} meat, or drink{ any} wine, or{ do} anything that could tempt your fellow believer to sin,or that could offend that person or cause that person to remain spiritually immature . BSB BSB: It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
22 ARST Keep what you believe{ that God permits you to do} between you and God. The person who does not feel guilty concerning what he believes to be right is blessed. BSB BSB: Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
23 ARST By contrast, God judges someone who considers{ eating certain foods to be sinful} and eats{ those foods}.{ This is} because that person did not act according to what that person believes{ is right}. A person who does anything that is not according to what that person believes{ is right} is sinning. BSB BSB: But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.