Love and the Love and the Law:Law:

Romans 13:8-10Romans 13:8-10Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

23 October 200523 October 2005

Review of RomansReview of Romans

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

Review of RomansReview of Romans

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

Context of 13:8-10Context of 13:8-10

The obligation to pay what we The obligation to pay what we owe – 13:7.owe – 13:7.

““Give everyone what you owe Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” – 13:7 NIV.then honor.” – 13:7 NIV.

13:8-10 comes in the context of 13:8-10 comes in the context of submission to ruling authorities, submission to ruling authorities, and giving to those rulers all that and giving to those rulers all that we owe them.we owe them.

Context of 13:8-10Context of 13:8-10

The use of “love” in this section, The use of “love” in this section, and its significance for what and its significance for what follows.follows.

“…“…lovelove one another,…” – 13:8. one another,…” – 13:8. “…“…he who he who lovesloves his fellowman…” his fellowman…”

– 13:8.– 13:8. “…’“…’LoveLove your neighbor as your neighbor as

yourself’…” – 13:9.yourself’…” – 13:9. ““LoveLove does no harm…” – 13:10. does no harm…” – 13:10. “…“…lovelove is the fulfillment of the is the fulfillment of the

law.” - 13:10.law.” - 13:10.

Context of 13:8-10Context of 13:8-10

““If your brother is distressed by If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer what you eat, you are no longer acting in acting in love.” love.” - 14:15.- 14:15.

““Each of us should please his Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, neighbor for his good, to build to build him uphim up.” – 15:2. Cf. 1 .” – 15:2. Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1 – “Knowledge Corinthians 8:1 – “Knowledge puffs up, but puffs up, but love builds uplove builds up.”.”

““Accept one anotherAccept one another, then, just , then, just as Christ accepted you, in order as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”to bring praise to God.”

Background to Romans Background to Romans 13:8-1013:8-10

““The New Testament is written in the The New Testament is written in the second person plural.”second person plural.”

All of the metaphors for salvation in All of the metaphors for salvation in the New Testament are corporate – the New Testament are corporate – not individualistic.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 A Peculiar People” (KJV); “A People

Belonging to God” (NIV)Belonging to God” (NIV)

Background to Romans Background to Romans 13:8-1013:8-10

This section on love helps to This section on love helps to prepare the way for the long prepare the way for the long section on “Disputable Matters” section on “Disputable Matters” which we will cover next month, which we will cover next month, Lord willing.Lord willing.

Romans 14:1-15:13.Romans 14:1-15:13. A concern for the Roman A concern for the Roman

Christians, as well as for us: We Christians, as well as for us: We have a strong tendency to accept have a strong tendency to accept only those people who are like only those people who are like ourselves!ourselves!

Romans 13:8-10Romans 13:8-10

Do not have any outstanding Do not have any outstanding debt, except for one – the debt to debt, except for one – the debt to love one another. 13:8alove one another. 13:8a

This command does not mean This command does not mean that we should never go into that we should never go into financial debt.financial debt.

However, strong common sense However, strong common sense should help determine what should help determine what kinds of debt we take on.kinds of debt we take on.

But don’t miss Paul’s point. He But don’t miss Paul’s point. He is saying, ‘Pay off all your debts is saying, ‘Pay off all your debts in a timely manner, except for in a timely manner, except for one – the debt to love one one – the debt to love one another. You can another. You can nevernever pay that pay that off.’off.’

Romans 13:8-10Romans 13:8-10 The one who loves has fulfilled the The one who loves has fulfilled the

law. 13:8blaw. 13:8b ““A new command I give you: Love one A new command I give you: Love one

another. As I have loved you, so you another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34must love one another.” – John 13:34

37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest command- is the first and greatest command- ment. 39 A second is equally ment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the other command- yourself.’ 40 All the other command- ments and all the demands of the ments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLTNLT

Romans 13:8-10Romans 13:8-10 ““It is Paul’s claim that if a man It is Paul’s claim that if a man

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

Romans 13:8-10Romans 13:8-10 He will never steal, for love is He will never steal, for love is

always more concerned with always more concerned with giving than with getting. He will giving than with getting. He will not covet, for covetousness not covet, for covetousness ((epithumiaepithumia) is the uncontrolled ) is the uncontrolled desire for the forbidden thing, desire for the forbidden thing, and love cleanses the heart, until and love cleanses the heart, until that desire is gone. There is a that desire is gone. There is a famous saying, “Love God—and famous saying, “Love God—and do what you like.” If love is the do what you like.” If love is the mainspring of a man’s heart, if mainspring of a man’s heart, if his whole life is dominated by his whole life is dominated by love for God and love for his love for God and love for his fellow men, he needs no other fellow men, he needs no other law.”law.” - - William BarclayWilliam Barclay