EXHORTATION TO LOVE AND MORAL PURITY (8-14)
The Epistle to the Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsThis lesson on Romans 13:8-14, was taught on Sunday, February 12, 2023 by Pastor Dick Bickings at New Life Bible Fellowship Church, Millsboro, DE.
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Introduction
Introduction
We are in the section of Romans that takes what we say we believe and applies it in our every day activities. Last week we unpacked what the scripture had to say about our Responsibilities to the Government. This morning we will finish chapter 13 by reviewing how love is the catalyst of all Christian actions, in our Exhortation to Love and Moral Purity.
Text: Romans 13:8-14
Text: Romans 13:8-14
Romans 13:8-14 (ESV)
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
A. THE VALUE OF LOVE (8-10)
A. THE VALUE OF LOVE (8-10)
1. Owe no one anything but love (8a)
1. Owe no one anything but love (8a)
Owe no one anything, except to love each other (ESV), or, Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another (NIV)
Owe (opheilo [pre, act, imp]) no one anything - the idea of accruing debt
This is not saying that we should not borrow or be in debt. How do we know? - because of the context of the previous verses and other verses throughout scripture.
7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
It is a condemnation on the practice of some who refuse, or are slow, in paying their debts
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
except to love (agapao) each other
in other words, there is no payoff figure with regard to love.
the each other in context is our neighbor (10), believers and unbelievers alike
2. For love does no harm, and fulfills the Law (8b-10)
2. For love does no harm, and fulfills the Law (8b-10)
for (coordinating conjunction - furthering our understanding) the the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (8b)- to render full, i.e.to complete.
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (9)
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor (10)- love, God’s love, can not wrong a neighbor, so it by default, fulfills that demands of God’s moral law.
therefore (in conclusion), love is fulfilling of the law (10)
The Royal Law (James 2:8) is the means by which the Law is fulfilled.
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Since love can not wrong his neighbor, but is a fulfillment of the law, it is only natural to assume that this would result in moral purity.
B. CONCERNING MORAL PURITY (11-14)
B. CONCERNING MORAL PURITY (11-14)
1. Time is short; we need to cast off works of darkness, put on the armor of light (11-12)
1. Time is short; we need to cast off works of darkness, put on the armor of light (11-12)
A rallying call to all believers to wake and get ready for action; get suited up and ready for battle, For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed (11) - stop being distracted, it’s later then you think.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off (aor, mid, sub - to throw away) the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (12) - By the armor of light, therefore, the apostle means those graces which stand opposed to the deeds of darkness
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
2. Walk properly by putting on Jesus, making no provision to fulfill fleshly lusts (13-14)
2. Walk properly by putting on Jesus, making no provision to fulfill fleshly lusts (13-14)
Let us walk properly as in the daytime (13) – The idea is to walk openly and unashamedly not as those who cloak their deeds in darkness
put on the Lord Jesus Christ – the means by which you make no provisions for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (14) - to immerse oneself in all that is Christ’s, his life, his commands, his example, etc.