6. Those who think one day is special do it to honor the Lord. Those who eat meat do it to honor the Lord. They give thanks to God. Those who don't eat meat do it to honor the Lord. They also give thanks to God.
7. We don't live for ourselves alone. And we don't die all by ourselves.
8. If we live, we live to honor the Lord. If we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9. Christ died and came back to life. He did this to become the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10. Now then, who are you to judge your brother or sister? Why do you look down on them? We will all stand in God's courtroom to be judged.
11. It is written, " 'You can be sure that I live,' says the Lord. 'And you can be just as sure that every knee will bow down in front of me. Every tongue will tell the truth to God.' " (Isaiah 45:23)
12. So we will all have to explain to God the things we have done.
13. Let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put anything in your brother's way that would make him trip and fall.
14. I am absolutely sure that no food is "unclean" in itself. I say this as one who belongs to the Lord Jesus. But some people may consider a thing to be "unclean." If they do, it is "unclean" for them.
15. Your brothers and sisters may be upset by what you eat. If they are, you are no longer acting as though you love them. So don't destroy them by what you eat. Christ died for them.
16. Don't let something you consider good be spoken of as if it were evil.
17. God's kingdom has nothing to do with eating or drinking. It is a matter of being right with God. It brings the peace and joy the Holy Spirit gives.
18. Those who serve Christ in this way are pleasing to God. They are pleasing to people too.