Romans 14:1-9 (KJV)

1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Just as a person goes to a doctor for a health checkup, so too a church would do well to periodically assess her health. The manual that gives the standard of health for the church is the Word of God and there is no clearer description of a healthy church than the verses that for the text for this morning's message. Mark's of a healthy church include . . .

1. A Warm Acceptance of Others -- "him that is weak . . . receive ye" (v.1).
   The one weak in the faith could be the actively religious person or the new Christian. In context, the weaker brother is the one who follows strict dietary laws for holiness.
   "Him that is weak . . . receive ye" is an imperative in the second person singular. "A cold church, like cold butter, never spreads well."
2. A Genuine Humility Regarding Ourselves -- "let not him that eats despise others" (v.3).
   The word despise literally means to set aside as nothing. It is to treat with contempt. It is in the Bible twelve times and most often refers tot he attitude of the self- righteous.
   "And Jesus spake this parable unto certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised (set at naught or counted as nothing) others" (Luke 18:9).
3. A Strong Understanding of Justification by Grace -- "God hath received him" (v.3).
   Justification is standing before God "just as if I never sinned" and "just as if I always fully obeyed." A healthy church will teach you that only God makes you righteous. The Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to emphasize God's justification of sinners.
   "God is able to make him stand . . ." (v.4). "God hath received him" (v.3). "For to this end Christ both died, rose, and revived" (v.9). God makes sinners acceptable.
   1. This is the basis for your acceptance of others . . . God accepts them.
      A church ought to be theologically conservative and culturally liberal. Some churches are liberal in both areas, some are conservative in both areas.
   2. This is the basis for your humility in life . . . the admission of weaknesses and the ability to move forward is built around justification by grace.
4. A Deep Gratitude for God's Work for Us -- "he giveth God thanks" (v.6).
   A person may observe particular days as "holy" days, or spend a certain amount of time in his quiet time, or may abstain from alcoholic beverages or certain foods, but in all he does (or does not do) he is motivated by a deep sense of gratitude.
   "It ought to be as habitual to us as it is to ask" Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
5. A Willing Submission to the Leadership of Jesus Christ -- "we are the Lord's" (v.8).
   There is coming a day when every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Church on earth is just a mirror of the Church in Heaven. We bow our knee to the Word and the Will of Jesus Christ. This is the mark of a healthy church. "For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself" (v.7).