But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Romans 14:23 (ESV)
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about the book of Romans. On the one hand, I find it so incredibly helpful in understanding the truths of the gospel and how to integrate faith into life. Yet, there are some statements and ideas that trouble me. These statements trouble me because they are like a double-edged sword, piercing my very heart and soul. Romans 14:23 is one of these statements. In this long passage concerning his admonition that we should care for the faith of others by being mindful of our freedom in Christ being lived out before others. It is a section on humbling ourselves before others and using our freedom in Christ to encourage and lift others up and not lead them into temptation and sin. It is the last sentence in this section that troubles my heart. “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
I am afraid there is so much about my life that does not proceed from faith. There are far too many thoughts, ideas, actions, and choices (spoken and unspoken) that proceed from my heart full of pride, arrogance, and self-righteousness: the opposite of faith. I have this innate ability to review my day from a limited perspective and declare that sin was kept at bay or at least to minimum. I do this because I have a mental checklist of sins that I consider “sin” and a lot of other actions that don’t make my internal “sin” list. I find it easy to end the day feeling pretty good about myself and my walk in Christ because I have such a limited and narrow view of sin. I typically make obedience about a task list and grade myself against this list, using a curve of comparison in relation to others.
Paul shatters my illusion in this verse by simply stating that anything that proceeds from the heart that is not from faith is sin. This is a mind-numbing thought to me. As I was reading this morning and came to this verse, I was struck hard by the implications. The pervasiveness of faithlessness in my life is overwhelming. There are so many thoughts and actions throughout my day that do not proceed from faith. I find myself relying on my own strength and understanding far too often. I think about myself more than I think about Jesus.
And that is the point of this verse. It’s not that I have to live this life of obedience (both outward and inward), although I am called to a life of obedience through faith. It’s that I have a relationship with my Savior, Jesus. My life of obedience is based solely on His perfect life of obedience. My faith is in Him alone. I trust in His good work done for me. My faith is built on the shed blood of Jesus.
So, where my carnal mind will see the impossibility of everything proceeding from faith, Jesus calls me to a life of faith and repentance. When I proceed in this life without faith, Jesus brings repentance to my heart with open arms of grace and forgiveness. When I proceed in this life with faith, Jesus brings grace and forgiveness. What Paul is getting at in this verse is that it is about a relationship with my Savior. It’s not just some transactional event that happens between two disinterested parties. No, faith is about a relationship with the God of the universe. It is about living a life of humility bound up in hope. Hope in the One who saves me and loves me. Persevering faith.
So, even when I am proceeding without faith at times, I can in faith turn to Jesus and always find forgiveness. I can proceed in faith through all things by the grace and mercy of Jesus.