The scriptural principles regarding fellowship are as clear as any other subject. However, clarity of scripture does not change the fact of hardened hearts. Some receive others into fellowship when they have no authority to do so, and some refuse to receive others into fellowship when they have the obligation to do so. Both actions disregard instruction from the Holy Script, and must be addressed.

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). A natural result of obeying the truth and being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb is the loving of those who have experienced the same. When one obeys the truth, he enters a fraternity of faith, hope, and love. All have the same faith produced by the same object of faith. All have the same hope of heaven. All have experienced the same love from God, and have reciprocated that love in faithful obedience. The sharing of such an intimate relationship between creature and Creator not only brings the natural result of love between brethren, but demands it – “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

The principle of fellowship that is receiving him whom God receives rests on the fundamental requisite of love for the brethren. If we truly love God, then we will love those who have been born of Him – those who bear His image (cf. Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10) – “for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20b)? With this same logic John wrote, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him” (1 John 3:17)? The receiving of those whom God has received shows the inward abiding love of God.

It is with this fundamental principle that John concluded a man named Diotrephes did not abide in God’s love – “He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11b). The evil committed by Diotrephes included the failure to receive those whom God had received. His love for “the preeminence among [the church]” (v. 11) led him to “not receive [John and ‘the brethren’], as if his “prating against [them] with malicious words” was not enough. His love for self precluded him from fulfilling the command to love his brethren. Furthermore, whatever position he held in that congregation, he used in a domineering way to keep others from fulfilling their duties of love – “and forbids those who wish to [receive the brethren], putting them out of the church” (v. 10). This behavior is set in stark contrast to that of Gaius – “Beloved [Gaius], you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well” (vv. 5-6). To this end John instructed the brethren, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good” (v. 11a). It is good – acceptable and pleasing to God – to receive those whom God receives. It is evil – unacceptable and displeasing to God – to refuse reception of those whom God receives.

The importance of receiving those whom God has received also led Paul to write on this subject in Romans 14. To say the misinterpretation of Romans 14 has been the seat of much controversy would be an understatement. Men have abused the context of this chapter in the Bible to justify the reception of those who are false teachers, as well as those who are involved in other sinful activities. The Devil has used this chapter as a “Trojan horse,” smuggling sin into the church behind a façade of supreme love. The use of this chapter to condone sin, and fellowship the sinful not only destroys the immediate context and application, but contradicts the remote context of scripture concerning the principle of not receiving those who are not received by God (cf. 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1; etc.).

The surrounding context of Romans 14 is helpful in properly interpreting the chapter, and understanding its purpose and application. As noted before, this principle of receiving one whom God has received rests on the fundamental principle of love for the brethren. Chapter 13:8-9 discussed the imperative of loving one another – “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (13:10). The chapter following the fourteenth serves as the conclusion of the principles established therein, which is an application of the principle of loving one another – “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification” (15:1-2). Jesus is then used as the prime example of such (15:3). Anything contrary to that which Christ did, or would have done Himself cannot be included in Romans 14. Christ never tolerated sin, or fellowshipped sin. Romans 14 does not include sin. Rather, this chapter is an application of the love Christians are to have for one another. It is an application of that which Paul urged the Ephesians to do – “[endeavor] to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). If possible, Christians are to live peaceably together, preserving unity (cf. Romans 12:18). Romans 14 discusses a matter which arose in the church in Rome where unity and fellowship were being destroyed contrary to the will of God.

“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things” (v. 1). The fundamental principles of fellowship established thus far in this work limit the reception of the “weak” individual to one who is already received by God. However, one only needs to look to the third verse of the text to know that such is the case. Why MUST the one “weak in the faith” be received? – “for God has received him.” Those whom God has received must receive those whom God has received or they rebel against God.

Let us not be fooled into thinking one who is in sin is received by God – “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b). This one who is to be received because he is already received by God is not weak in the sense of sinful character. His weakness concerns his perception of “doubtful things.” These doubtful things concern “eating” and “not eating,” and “observing the day” and “not observing the day.” Both positive and negative actions regarding these subjects are matters where God receives the person, and “is able to make him stand” (v. 4b). They are matters which fit the context of “nothing [being] unclean of itself” (v. 14b). Therefore, these are matters of indifference to God – “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks” (v. 6). The only requirement of God is that “each be fully convinced in his own mind” (v. 5b). “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin” (v. 23). The one who is “weak in the faith” is such due to his lack of knowledge concerning the approval of God for “eating” and “not observing.” Because he does not have faith to eat, or not observe a day, he is not able to do either, for it would defile his conscience.

The one who can eat, or not observe a day because he does not doubt, but can do so “from faith,” must receive the “weak” brother. Instead of despising him for his lack of knowledge, he must “bear with the scruples of the weak” (15:1). The “weak” brother is received by God, and MUST be received by the “strong” brother.

The one who cannot eat, or is compelled to observe a day because of his doubt, must receive the “strong” brother without judgment – “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand” (v. 4). The “strong” brother is received by God, and MUST be received by the “weak” brother.

It is our duty as Christians to love those of like precious faith. This requires humility, and selflessness. When one is received by God we have the obligation to receive that one as well. When we judge, or despise another who is received by God, or refuse the reception of him for personal gain like Diotrephes, or any other reason, we sin against God. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).