Romans 14:14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
Paul now uses strong language to reveal his own convictions about matters of certain food. He uses two different phrases to describe his certainty. He is convinced in his own conscience. He came to this point no doubt through his fellowship with Christ and listening to the Holy Spirit. Second, he is fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, meaning that it is his relationship with Jesus that guides his conviction. Everything Paul thought and how he acted needed to go through the filter of his relationship with Jesus. His conviction tells him that there is nothing inherently wrong with different types of foods or perhaps other types of minor issues not mentioned in this chapter. His conviction is revealed in 1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” This is the perspective of the “strong” believer in 1 Corinthians 8, though it should be noted that Paul’s argument in that context is slightly different than here. However, not everyone holds this same conviction, especially if they came from a Jewish perspective. The critical response for the so-called “weak brother” is that such persons should follow their own convictions. For minor issues that may not be clearly stated in the Bible as interpreted through Jesus, the Living Word, then there must be flexibility. But, each person must follow his or her own convictions, lest they be led into temptation and possibly into sin. It is helpful to read this chapter along with 1 Corinthians 8-10. The two balance each other out well. It is interesting also to note that Paul may have written the letter to the Romans while he was in Corinth, so these issues could have been happening right before his own eyes.
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