We Are the Lord’s

“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” -Romans 14:7–8

The broadest possible meanings of these verses are brought into clear focus by the preceding verses (5-6). The reason we need to be patient and welcome each other without taking opportunities to argue about differences in understanding of things like diets and days is because both parties—the weak and the strong—are doing what they do to honor God. 

None of us lives to himself, says Paul. We live to the Lord. Furthermore, if we die, we also die to the Lord and not ourselves. We belong to the Lord of life and death, and everything we do, we do for his praise and to his glory.

Otherwise, if it were a matter of difference regarding a practice not commended by the Lord, it would not fall into this category of gracious tolerance. If it was not for the honor and glory of the Lord, then it is obviously  not to be tolerated.

For example, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul says, “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).