Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Welcome the person who is weak in faith—but not in order to argue about differences of opinion.
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Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don't get into an argument over differences of opinion.
2 One person believes in eating everything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
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Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables.
3 Those who eat must not look down on the ones who don't, and the ones who don't eat must not judge the ones who do, because God has accepted them.
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People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people.
4 Who are you to judge someone else's servants? They stand or fall before their own Lord (and they will stand, because the Lord has the power to make them stand).
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Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether his servant has been successful. The servant will be successful because the Lord makes him successful.
5 One person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another person considers all days to be the same. Each person must have their own convictions.
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One person decides that one day is holier than another. Another person decides that all days are the same. Every person must make his own decision.
6 Someone who thinks that a day is sacred, thinks that way for the Lord. Those who eat, eat for the Lord, because they thank God. And those who don't eat, don't eat for the Lord, and they thank the Lord too.
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When people observe a special day, they observe it to honor the Lord. When people eat all kinds of foods, they honor the Lord as they eat, since they give thanks to God. Vegetarians also honor the Lord when they eat, and they, too, give thanks to God.
7 We don't live for ourselves and we don't die for ourselves.
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It's clear that we don't live to honor ourselves, and we don't die to honor ourselves.
8 If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God.
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If we live, we honor the Lord, and if we die, we honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 This is why Christ died and lived: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
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For this reason Christ died and came back to life so that he would be the Lord of both the living and the dead.
10 But why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you look down on your brother or sister? We all will stand in front of the judgment seat of God.
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Why do you criticize or despise other Christians? Everyone will stand in front of God to be judged.
11 Because it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.
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Scripture says, "As certainly as I live, says the Lord, everyone will worship me, and everyone will praise God."
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
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All of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God.
13 So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister.
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So let's stop criticizing each other. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make other Christians have doubts or lose their faith.
14 I know and I'm convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person.
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The Lord Jesus has given me the knowledge and conviction that no food is unacceptable in and of itself. But it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is.
15 If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don't let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died.
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So if what you eat hurts another Christian, you are no longer living by love. Don't destroy anyone by what you eat. Christ died for that person.
16 And don't let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong.
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Don't allow anyone to say that what you consider good is evil.
17 God's kingdom isn't about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
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God's kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God's kingdom consists of God's approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
18 Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval.
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The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people.
19 So let's strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up.
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So let's pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.
20 Don't destroy what God has done because of food. All food is acceptable, but it's a bad thing if it trips someone else.
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Don't ruin God's work because of what you eat. All food is acceptable, but it's wrong for a person to eat something if it causes someone else to have doubts.
21 It's a good thing not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that trips your brother or sister.
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The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that causes another Christian to have doubts.
22 Keep the belief that you have to yourself—it's between you and God. People are blessed who don't convict themselves by the things they approve.
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So whatever you believe about these things, keep it between yourself and God. The person who does what he knows is right shouldn't feel guilty. He is blessed.
23 But those who have doubts are convicted if they go ahead and eat, because they aren't acting on the basis of faith. Everything that isn't based on faith is sin.
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But if a person has doubts and still eats, he is condemned because he didn't act in faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.