Love and the Law: Romans 13:8-10 Forest Hills Bible Chapel 23 October 2005

Review of Romans Introduction – 1:1-17 Introduction – 1:1-17 Condemnation – 1:18-3:20 Condemnation – 1:18-3:20 Justification – 3:21-5:21 Justification – 3:21-5:21 Sanctification – 6:1-8:39 Sanctification – 6:1-8:39 Vindication – 9:1-11:36 Vindication – 9:1-11:36 Application – 12:1-15:13 Application – 12:1-15:13 Conclusion – 15:14-16:27 Conclusion – 15:14-16:27

Review of Romans Introduction – 1:1-17 Introduction – 1:1-17 Condemnation – 1:18-3:20 Condemnation – 1:18-3:20 Justification – 3:21-5:21 Justification – 3:21-5:21 Sanctification – 6:1-8:39 Sanctification – 6:1-8:39 Vindication – 9:1-11:36 Vindication – 9:1-11:36 Application – 12:1-15:13 Application – 12:1-15:13 Conclusion – 15:14-16:27 Conclusion – 15:14-16:27

Context of 13:8-10 The obligation to pay what we owe – 13:7. The obligation to pay what we owe – 13:7. “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” – 13:7 NIV. “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” – 13:7 NIV. 13:8-10 comes in the context of submission to ruling authorities, and giving to those rulers all that we owe them. 13:8-10 comes in the context of submission to ruling authorities, and giving to those rulers all that we owe them.

Context of 13:8-10 The use of “love” in this section, and its significance for what follows. The use of “love” in this section, and its significance for what follows. “…love one another,…” – 13:8. “…love one another,…” – 13:8. “…he who loves his fellowman…” – 13:8. “…he who loves his fellowman…” – 13:8. “…’Love your neighbor as yourself’…” – 13:9. “…’Love your neighbor as yourself’…” – 13:9. “Love does no harm…” – 13:10. “Love does no harm…” – 13:10. “…love is the fulfillment of the law.” - 13:10. “…love is the fulfillment of the law.” - 13:10.

Context of 13:8-10 “If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.” - 14:15. “If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.” - 14:15. “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” – 15:2. Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1 – “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” – 15:2. Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1 – “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Background to Romans 13:8-10 “The New Testament is written in the second person plural.” “The New Testament is written in the second person plural.” All of the metaphors for salvation in the New Testament are corporate – not individualistic. All of the metaphors for salvation in the New Testament are corporate – not individualistic. “Body of Christ” “Body of Christ” “Household of faith” “Household of faith” “Children of God” “Children of God” “Chosen generation” “Chosen generation” “Royal priesthood” “Royal priesthood” “A Peculiar People” (KJV); “A People Belonging to God” (NIV) “A Peculiar People” (KJV); “A People Belonging to God” (NIV)

Background to Romans 13:8-10 This section on love helps to prepare the way for the long section on “Disputable Matters” which we will cover next month, Lord willing. This section on love helps to prepare the way for the long section on “Disputable Matters” which we will cover next month, Lord willing. Romans 14:1-15:13. Romans 14:1-15:13. A concern for the Roman Christians, as well as for us: We have a strong tendency to accept only those people who are like ourselves! A concern for the Roman Christians, as well as for us: We have a strong tendency to accept only those people who are like ourselves!

Romans 13:8-10 Do not have any outstanding debt, except for one – the debt to love one another. 13:8a Do not have any outstanding debt, except for one – the debt to love one another. 13:8a This command does not mean that we should never go into financial debt. This command does not mean that we should never go into financial debt. However, strong common sense should help determine what kinds of debt we take on. However, strong common sense should help determine what kinds of debt we take on. But don’t miss Paul’s point. He is saying, ‘Pay off all your debts in a timely manner, except for one – the debt to love one another. You can never pay that off.’ But don’t miss Paul’s point. He is saying, ‘Pay off all your debts in a timely manner, except for one – the debt to love one another. You can never pay that off.’

Romans 13:8-10 The one who loves has fulfilled the law. 13:8b The one who loves has fulfilled the law. 13:8b “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest command- ment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the other command- ments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest command- ment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the other command- ments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT

Romans 13:8-10 “It is Paul’s claim that if a man honestly seeks to discharge this debt of love, he will automatically keep all the commandments. He will not commit adultery, for when two people allow their physical passions to sweep them away, the reason is, not that they love each other too much, but that they love each other too little; in real love there is at once respect and restraint which saves from sin. He will not kill, for love never seeks to destroy, but always to build up; it is always kind and will ever seek to destroy an enemy not by killing him, but by seeking to make him a friend. “It is Paul’s claim that if a man honestly seeks to discharge this debt of love, he will automatically keep all the commandments. He will not commit adultery, for when two people allow their physical passions to sweep them away, the reason is, not that they love each other too much, but that they love each other too little; in real love there is at once respect and restraint which saves from sin. He will not kill, for love never seeks to destroy, but always to build up; it is always kind and will ever seek to destroy an enemy not by killing him, but by seeking to make him a friend.

Romans 13:8-10 He will never steal, for love is always more concerned with giving than with getting. He will not covet, for covetousness (epithumia) is the uncontrolled desire for the forbidden thing, and love cleanses the heart, until that desire is gone. There is a famous saying, “Love God—and do what you like.” If love is the mainspring of a man’s heart, if his whole life is dominated by love for God and love for his fellow men, he needs no other law.” - William Barclay He will never steal, for love is always more concerned with giving than with getting. He will not covet, for covetousness (epithumia) is the uncontrolled desire for the forbidden thing, and love cleanses the heart, until that desire is gone. There is a famous saying, “Love God—and do what you like.” If love is the mainspring of a man’s heart, if his whole life is dominated by love for God and love for his fellow men, he needs no other law.” - William Barclay