Paul knew how important was the matter of
Paul knew how important was the matter of receiving the believers, and consequently he de voted all of chapter fourteen plus part of chapter fifteen of Romans to this subject. In Romans 12 we see the Body. In Romans 14 we are given a warning. If we do not take heed to this warning, we shall use doctrine as a knife to cut in pieces the very Body revealed in chapter twelve. Many Christians talk about the Body of Christ accord ing to Romans 12; nevertheless, they are respon sible for killing the Body and for cutting it into pieces by wielding the knife of doctrinal divisive ness. This is why the Body that is revealed accord ing to Romans 12 must be lived out according to Romans 14. Without Romans 14 we are unable to have the proper practice of the Body unveiled in chapter twelve. Many Christians pay attention to Romans 12, but neglect Romans 14, talking about the Body, but remaining divisive and di vided because they continue to hold to their doctrinal concepts. They are unwilling to drop them. Thus, it is impossible for them to expe rience the Body life. Therefore, Paul, after re vealing the proper church life and the normal Christian life, takes up the crucial point of re ceiving the believers. If we do not care for this point, we shall commit spiritual suicide as far as