Romans 13:8-14 LOVE: Our perpetual debt
Romans 13:8-14
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “ You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Background
In this passage, Paul makes a connection between the attitude of love and the 10 commandments. Love gives direction for life, while the commandments serves as its pathways. The commandments protect the believer from the attacks of the devil and provide concrete pathways towards success. The commandments are in fact concrete expressions of love towards God and fellow men. Hence, believers must always learn to depend on God while keeping the commandments in their heart.
Observation
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “ You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
We owe a perpetual debt to one another; that is to love: Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another. Hence, under any situation, we must learn to keep love as a perpetual principle of life. In doing so, we will always prosper in all our endeavors. Paul makes a connection between love and fulfilling the law. The law is not an outward conformance to behavioral standards, but an expression of love lived out as a lifestyle: therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
The laws serve as a protection from the devil’s attack, it keep us on the pathway of salvation. Paul encourages the people to keep the laws and to live in love because the times are getting darker and more deceptive: it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep. While love is an attitude and mindset, it could not tell us where our actions have crossed the line. On the other hand, the laws lay the boundaries between the Kingdom of Light and of darkness; it indicates the lines of transgression and the concrete standards for righteous living. Therefore, believers must possess the heart of love, as well as the knowledge of the laws. Especially in the last days, believers must constantly keep an eye on the law, which is the boundaries of life and to keep our hearts pure and gracious: Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. The devil seeks to use drunkenness, strife and sensuality to lure us into the trap of death.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
What does Paul mean when he says to put on the Lord Jesus Christ?
a. To be totally consumed by Christ’s mission, that is to know and to fulfill your spiritual call to build God’s Kingdom on earth. Do not be distracted by the pursuit of comfort, the cares of life and the personal agenda of those around you.
b. To set your heart, mind and body apart for God and for God alone. Do not let your heart be lured by the pleasures of darkness, wealth, unforgiveness and the cares of life. Reject fear, do not to entertain its lure or to give attention to it. Outright reject its advances and suggestions. In doing so, the devil has no opportunity to enter your body, influence your mindset, take away your peace or to steal your calling.
Truth
1. We must always depend on God’s grace and provision in order to love and to serve one another. A believer who constantly depends on God will find strength to make sacrifices and contribute to the community. In so doing, he will increase in favor before God and men and be blessed in all areas of his life. A person who does not depend on God will live an increasingly self-centered life, not because he is selfish, but because there simply isn’t enough grace to give what he does not have.
2. We must always meditate of the boundaries of the law and its pathways. The laws serve as pathways to salvation and prosperity, it also serves to protect us from the attacks of the devil. A person who transgresses the law, enters enemy territory that subjects him to the enemy’s attack. Love determines our life direction, whereas the law determines the boundaries of life so that we may not cross it. Love keeps us moving in the right direction, but the law determines its routes and pathways.
Applications
1. Seal the 10 commandments in our heart by praying the following:
I will love God and live by His vision and principles alone, I will not defile myself by engaging in the pleasures of darkness and idolatry. I am committed to deliver on the promises that I have made before God and man. I will put the worship of God as the highest call of my life. I will honor my parents, and those who presided over me and took care of me. In every circumstance, I must never take matters into my own hands for vengeance belongs to God and He will vindicate me. I will be faithful to my spouse and keep the sanctity of marriage. I will be honest and to show moral excellence in my work and in my dealings with others. I will be kind and truthful in all manner of speech to bring goodness and unity to the community. I will live a life of thanksgiving being contented and fulfilled with all that I possess. Amen.
2. Always read God’s word in the morning and receive instructions from Him concerning the tasks for the day. One will find it almost impossible to draw strength from God while in the thick of the battle.
Dear Lord, thank You for living a life of perfect love, through which I am saved by Your perfect sacrifice. Having received Your perfect love, help me to live out that love through the commandments. As I keep the commandments in my heart, protect me from the devil’s attacks and bless me as I walk in them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.