Section 2
chapters that deal with spiritual gifts. In chap ter thirteen Paul presented the most excellent way of exercising the gifts, and he listed many of the attributes and characteristics of love. I be lieve that this concept of love was fresh within him when he wrote chapter fourteen of Romans.
FOR THE KINGDOM LIFE
The receiving of the believers is not an insig nificant matter. It is related to the judgment seat in the future, and it concerns the kingdom life in the present.
According to the context, Romans 14:16 refers to the eating by the ones who are stronger in faith. It is good to be strong in the faith that there is nothing common and that everything is suit able for eating. But you should not let your good be slandered in your being unwilling to take care of those who are weak in faith. For their sake, you must be careful about eating what you think is good for eating. Paul's intention is that, for the sake of the weaker ones, it is better that you not eat.
The Church—the Kingdom of God
The church is the kingdom of God in this age (Matt. 16:18-19; 1 Cor. 6:10; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5).