14:1-9 What do we learn from what Paul says here?

The point Paul makes here is that Christians are not to impose their personal convictions concerning non-essential scruples upon each other. The strong are not to be contemptuous of the weak for their lack of freedom, and the weak are not to condemn the strong for what they believe is a misuse of freedom. Whoever judges another puts themselves above God and is in grave danger of forfeiting their salvation (cp Isa 33:22; Mt 7:1-5; Jas 4:11-12). Only Jesus has the authority to judge, and each of us is personally responsible to Him for what we allow ourselves to do aside from what is forbidden to all. We must all follow the dictates of our own conscience in matters not specifically commanded or forbidden in scripture (cp Ro 2:14-16; 1Cor 4:3-5; 2Cor 1:12; 1Jn 3:20-21). No one will fall who conscientiously follows Christ in accordance with the light they have received. God is able to make them stand.

In Ro 14:13-21 Paul especially admonishes strong Christians not to become embroiled in arguments with weak Christians over their personal convictions, but to stop doing anything that could cause them to stumble and fall away. This applies not only to food and drink, but anything at all that could be a stumbling block to them (cp V13-21; 1Cor 8:4-13; 9:19-23; 10:19-33; Ga 5:13). These scriptures all teach that mature Christians demonstrate their love for those weaker in the faith by not participating in the things their faith allows, but which the weaker Christians faith does not, and which would cause them to sin if they participated (cp Ro 14:23). See also comments on Mt 7:1-5; Ro 14:22-23; 1Cor 8:1-13; Ga 5:13; Php 2:5-8 and Jas 4:11-12

None of this is to be construed as moral indifference however. Christians are obliged to guard the moral purity and doctrinal integrity of the church (cp Mt 18:15-17; 1Cor 5:1-8; Col 1:28; Tit 2:11-15; 3:10-11; 2Jn 7-11). See also comments on 1Cor 5:8; Tit 3:10; 2Jn 1:9-11.

14:10-12 What is the Judgement Seat of Christ?

(cp also 2Cor 5:10). The judgement seat of Christ is not to be confused with the great white throne judgement (cp Rev 20:11-15). The great white throne judgement is for all those going to hell. The judgement seat of Christ is for all those who go to heaven. It is a judgement, not to determine our eternal destination, but our position in heaven. The judgement seat of Christ is where Christ will judge every one of our earthly works, and how those works stand or fall will determine our place in the future eternal kingdom (cp 1Cor 3:11-15). Every one of the earthly works we build upon the foundation of Christ will be evaluated, but only the works symbolized by gold, silver, and precious stones will be able to withstand the heat of the refining fire. All lesser works represented by wood, hay, and stubble will burn up. Christians will not lose their salvation when this happens, but there will be a loss of heavenly rewards (cp Rev 22:7, 11-12). V7 and 12 here refer to believers and the first resurrection - when Jesus comes to take all the saints of God back to heaven with Him at the end of the church age - and highlights the impending doom that awaits the unbelievers and reprobates of V11 (cp 1Th 4:13-18 with 2Th 2:10-12).

Although the judgement seat of Christ does not involve punishment, it should not be regarded lightly or carelessly (cp Php 2:12; 1Pe 1:17). God is no respecter of persons - no one will be favoured above another - every Christian's earthly works will be examined and openly revealed in their true reality at the judgement seat of Christ. Works not only refers to stewardship of the gifts, talents, opportunities and responsibilities granted to us during the course of our Christian life, but to our conduct toward others, and our love for one another (cp Lk 14:12-14; Ro 12:9-21; Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:16-4:1; He 6:10-12; 1Jn 4:17).

Everything we have ever done as Christians, whether good or bad, will be revealed at the judgement seat of Christ - our every thought, our every word, our every deed, our secret acts, our character, our motives, our attitudes, our work, and our ministry (cp Ec 12:14; Mt 12:36-37: Mk 4:22; Ro 2:5-11: 1Cor 4:5; 2Cor 5:10; Jas 1:2-4, 12;1Pe 3:7). In effect Christians will have to give an account of the degree of their faithfulness to God according to the grace, opportunity, and understanding made available to them (cp Mt 25:14-23; Lk 19:12-19; 1Cor 4:2-5). Our bad deeds, when repented of and confessed during our earthly life, are forgiven in relation to eternal punishment, but they will still be taken into account when being judged for recompense by Christ (cp 1Jn1:9 with Col 3:25). We cannot do anything about past offences, but we can make every endeavour not to repeat them in the future (cp 2Cor 5:9; 1Jn 2:28; 3:2-3; 2Jn 8). See also comments on 1Cor 3:12-15, 4:2-5 and 2Ti 1:12

14:22-23 What is the actual meaning of what Paul says here?

What Paul in effect is saying here is that whatever we believe about the things discussed in Ch 14 up to this point should be kept between ourselves and God. It is not teaching as some claim that faith is private (cp Ro 14:13-21). Paul is simply appealing to strong Christians not to force their faith level upon weaker Christians. Strong Christians can adapt their faith to accommodate the weak, but the weak cannot adapt their faith to accommodate the strong without harming their faith. V23 bears this out. It teaches that those weak in the faith who have doubts about what they eat are condemned if they eat because their eating is not from faith. Whatever is not of faith refers to thoughts and actions that our conscience condemns. Any thought or action that does not originate and proceed from faith is sin. Those weak in the faith should never act contrary to their conscience, because to violate their conscience is not acting in faith, but is sin (cp V23 with Tit 1:15 and 1Jn 3:16-21). One must know beyond all doubt that what he participates in is perfectly in accord with God's word before he does it. If he does not have this conviction and goes ahead and does it, it is sin. The statement that whatever is not of faith is sin is controlled by the issues of eating, drinking, and the observance of days here. Saving faith versus unbelief in the context of comparing unbelievers with believers is not in view. However, in the broad sense, whatever is not of saving faith is also sin (cp Ro 1:18-19 with He 11:6).