Romans 13.8-10

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The Law Perfected in Love

The post-Puritan Jonathan Edwards, technically British pastor, but we attribute him as the American theologian, is renown for his sermon tract Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Most view the Puritans in a negative light in general as overly pious and legalistic. However, the Puritans and post-Puritans, like Edwards, knew the transformative nature of conversion and how the love of God drives man’s affections. In Edwards’ Religious Affections, he writes this of love:

“For love is not only one of the affections, but it is the first and chief of the affections, and the fountain of all the affections. From love arises hatred of those things which are contrary to what we love… From a vigorous, affectionate, and fervent love to God, will necessarily arise other religious affections… And in like manner, from a fervent love to men, will arise all other virtuous affections towards men.”

Love springs forth like the breaking of a dam the flood waters of love after one has been converted and seen the love of God for them. Like the scene from LOTR TT as the ents pull down the dam holding the river back over Isengard. As the river plunges into the castle, all of the filth and wickedness is washed away. Love purifies our impurities.

As one hymn says, “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that he should give his only son, to make a wretch his treasure.” Love for God is reciprocated as He first loved us when we were unloving and rebellious. Here, Paul is giving us a theology of love.

Verses 8-10 serve as a covenantal formula for love. Just as in the Old Testament, the covenant would have a preamble, or beginning, then the historical reasons for the covenant or purpose, then a pattern which reflected that love, the practical applications which include protection for the people (blessings/curses), and finally, the conclusion, or paradigm. Therefore, the admonition today is,

Let love be your aim.

[1] the precept of love (v. 8a)

[2] the purpose of love (v. 8b)

[3] the pattern of love (v. 9)

[4] the protection of love (v. 10a)

[5] the paradigm of love (v. 10b)

[1] the precept of love (v. 8a)

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other.”

Paul is building both upon Romans 13:7“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.”

Two of the clauses directly relate to paying back financially what is owed. Specifically, paying taxes. Secondly, Paul highlights that we are to pay back moral obligations as well, respect and honor.

Paul is not saying that we are to never borrow in the event of being in need. What he is highlighting, is that you are obligated by oath to pay what is due back to whom you borrowed. To owe, can mean, to be indebted to someone in a financial sense.

This is an imperative that Paul declares, not a suggestion, just as in Romans 12 which was filled with imperatives, so also is this declaration given to those who are in Christ. Similarly, the imperative extends beyond merely the governmental realm but to all of our earthly relationships.

Paul continues, we are obligated either physically or spiritually, temporally or morally, to ensure we payback that which is good. This builds upon the principles of Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Romans 12:17 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”

Why? Well, as Paul begins in Romans 12:9“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” And he is expanding this to the realm of moral obligations in relation to service to the governing authorities. All of which is rooted and grounded in love.

Paul says, “love on another.” It is the “agape” love. An unconditional love to others. It would naturally appear that Paul is perhaps only focusing upon believers. While believers should have a mutual adorning love toward one another, in the context above, love is extended to all, to one’s neighbor.

John Murray says, “love to our neighbour is a debt that can never be discharged. It is true that love is inexhaustible; it is a duty from which we are never relieved.” We may have debts we must pay back, or we may be debt free, but we are never so free of debt that we cannot love one another.

This is a theme well established in the Old Testament, not merely a New Testament idea. Leviticus 19:18“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.” In Leviticus, the extension is to others in the covenant community of God.

It is also enhanced in the NT as well. Matthew 5:43–44““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Jesus is fighting against the legalism of the Pharisees who were adding the phrase “hate your enemy” to the Law of God, i.e., legalism.

This is why previously Jesus declares to the people in Matthew 5:18–19“For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

One of the most quoted passages on love is 1 Corinthians 13:4–7“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

We see how Paul uses love as an embodiment of attributes deriving from the Christian who has been saved. By way of application, we see four ways in which we are to love on another, with 1 Corinthians 13.4-7 as the backdrop of agape love.

Use 1. Love one another with patience and kindness.

We love with patience and kindness because we were shown patience and kindness by the Lord.

Use 2. Love one another with humility and submission.

We love with humility and submission because Christ himself loved with humility and submission. cf Phil 2.5-11.

Use 3. Love one another with truth.

How many times have you heard the phrase, “Love hurts.” The song is more than likely referring to heartbreak but sometimes love does hurt. Why? Because the truth hurts. Yet we love one another armed with the spirit of truth. When a brother or sister is in sin, we confront with the Scriptures because we love them, not to win an argument, but out of love.

Romans 3:4“By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.””

Deuteronomy 32:4““The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

[2] the purpose of love (v. 8b)

“For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

To fulfill has a breadth of meanings in the NT. We see it in Jesus’ own words in Mark 1:15“and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” It can be to fulfill a period of time.

In can also mean to complete that which has already begun. We see it in Jesus’ own words in John 15-17 in relation to the sending of the Holy Spirit. The work Christ has done is fulfilled in the Spirit of God indwelling believers.

Here, it means to bring the entire law to completion by manifesting love toward one another. On this is the two greatest commandments, love the Lord, love neighbor. Paul has demonstrated this behaviour by Christians elsewhere.

Remember as Paul was dealing with the Judaizers in the church of Galatia who were enforcing the ceremonial laws upon the Gentile community, he expresses the extension of the Law as that which comes from a heart circumcised, not mere acceptance of the sign.

The Judaizers were not exercising love as they were more concerned about ceremonial rules than the freedom found in Christ. They were more concerned with binding the conscience to ensure there way was right. Yet, Paul concludes that Galatians 5:14“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””

Colossians 3:14“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

1 Timothy 1:5“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

James 2:8 “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.”

In application, we will look at John Murray’s comment on this passage, as he writes, “Love is emotive, motive, and expulsive. It is emotive and therefore creates affinity with and affection for the object. It is motive in that it impels to action. It is expulsive because it expels what is alien to the interests which love seeks to promote.”

Use 1. Let you love be emotive.

First, our love should derive from the Holy Spirit, who has enabled us to love the Lord when we loved him not. And because of that, it creates a newfound affection for our daily living and walking in love.

Jonathan Edwards says, “The Scriptures do represent true religion, as being summarily comprehended in love, the chief of the affections, and fountain of all other affections.”

And later, “But it is doubtless true, and evident from these Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in this divine affection, and an habitual disposition to it, and that light which is the foundation of it, and those things which are the fruits of it, consists the whole of religion.”

Love for God and love for neighbor drives our affections and emotions. It puts us to meaningful service. Which leads us secondly to, “Let your love be motive.”

Use 2. Let your love be motive.

That is, it should have motivation attached to it. Love is active. It can be passive as in you are the recipient of love, but one who loves the Lord does it with action in mind.

We love the Lord by seeking him in prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments. We love him by obeying his law. Psalm 119:97“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Are you motivated to love? This extends to all walks of life. Children, are you motivated and encouraged to seek the Lord on your own time? Or do you let distractions come in between the love you have for the Lord?

Parents, are you motivated to love your children and raise them up in honoring the Lord? Or do you allow worldly distractions to pull you away?

Those of you who are single, empty nesters, and so on, are you motivated to love? Do you have the burning desire to serve the Lord in all aspects of your Christian walk? Or is it merely a love that only exists on Sunday and the other six days the love is absent?

If that is the case, then thirdly …

Use 3. Let your love be expulsive.

We must be diligent in seeking to love one another. That idea is alien to us, it is not within our nature. We struggle daily in the tension of Romans 7 of disobedience and obedience. Of loving the Lord, and not loving the Lord.

We must be diligent in seeking the truth as found in God’s Word.

[3] the pattern of love (v. 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.”

Paul focuses on the second table of the Law, how man ought to be with his fellow man. Martin Luther says of God’s Law, “Just as the lofty Song of Solomon has been called a song above all songs, so should the Ten Commandments be called a teaching above all teachings. From them we know the will of God, what God commands of us, and our shortcomings”

The Ten Commandments serve two purposes. The first, as Luther would say in our shortcomings, is that they show man his depravity and inability to accomplish them completely. James 2:10“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

And Jesus highlights the magnitude of what these prohibitions mean. Murder is more than taking one’s life. Matthew 5:21–22““You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

Adultery is more than the mere physical act. Matthew 5:27–28““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

In coveting, Paul has already brought this forth in Romans 7:7–8“What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.”

Those in and of themselves show our unrighteousness and need for a Savior. And therefore, the Law shows those who are without Christ the magnitude of their sins. The Law and its demands turn us to Christ.

Second, in the life of the Christian, they are the a rule of life. This is what God commands of us.

[DOCTRINE] The Law of God

We see implicitly here the doctrine of the law of God established in quoting the ten commandments. Four important aspects of God’s Law with relevance to us today.

It is of permanent and abiding relevance.

The law was not abrogated by Jesus fulfilling it. Rather, Christ establishes the Law as the moral grounds of obedience in the Gospels. Likewise, Christ completely fulfills the laws demands so that sinners whom he has called do not have to.

2. It is perfectly compatible with love.

The Law works along with love. The Law itself is the perfect external representation of the character of God. To love the Lord in totality is to love the law.

3. It is the normative way of Christian life.

Romans 3:20“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

[4] the protection of love (v. 10a)

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor”

Love is a safeguard against damage to a believer. As we looked at in 1 Cor 13, love is that which does not look for its own interest or gain, but looks to serve, to admire, to cherish, to endure with, to suffer with, to walk alongside of, and to be at peace.

One who loves another does no wrong to them. We see this in the family unit, specifically between a husband and a wife. Obviously, we are all still sinners and in need of God’s grace, however, spouses who truly love each other do not seek to do wrong against one another. Mishaps and sin do occur but the primary aim and focus of spousal love does not wrong. Therefore, love does no wrong to a neighbor.

A question asked of Jesus is, “Who is my neighbor?” You all remember that parable well, the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. As usual, Jesus is being put to the test by mere men to entrap him. In this case, the lawyer attempts to justify himself about his prideful claim of keeping the law to inherit eternal life.

Jesus exemplifies what true love toward a neighbor looks like. Samaritan parable, who was a neighbor, etc.

Paul likewise tells us that “love does no wrong to a neighbor.” Literally it says love ‘works’ no wrong. The actions of love, genuine love, have no false motivations attached to it, do not derive from evil purposes, are not intended to do harm. Rather, the actions of love are in step with fulfilling God’s Law.

Romans 13.10 reforms that which Paul expressed in verse 8. “love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Here, Paul uses the negative, “loves does no wrong” as an extra pointer back to the Ten Commandments, expressed in the negative.

Those who love look to the Scriptures for godly examples of conduct.

James 2:14–17 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

This is evidently clear in the Scriptures where believers are called to be salt and light.

Use 1. God commands you to love others unconditionally.

It is the mark of a true believer. 1 John 3:23“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

1 John 4:7“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:21“And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

You don’t have an option. Why? Because God loved you when you were an enemy, hostile, unloving, therefore God commands you to love others unconditionally.

Use 2. God commands you to love others in service.

Those who love look to the Scriptures for godly examples of conduct.

It is one thing to send emojis, to text “thoughts and prayers… it is quite another to actually serve another in love. Serving when its inconvenient. Serving when you don’t feel like it.

[5] the paradigm of love (v. 10b)

“therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

We looked previously at the issue of legalism with the Pharisees as they attempted to impose the ceremonial laws and some of there own as the grounds for one’s justification and status with God. This passage is not looking from a legalistic viewpoint.

Legalism has three meanings. First, earning God’s favor by (means) of keeping the law. Second, adding human regulations to God’s law. Third, eclipsing self-interest with weightier matters of the law, like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Often, we call anything that requires obedience legalism. The Puritans were often charged with legalism for their biblical view of the Sabbath. However, they were not adding rules to God’s Word or the Scriptures, rather, they were taking heed of the law of the Lord as that which is perfect.

Paul says, therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. We have to pull ourselves back for a minute and reflect upon the necessity of fulfilling the law. Man owes to God perfect and perpetual obedience. God requires perpetual obedience on condition of eternal wrath. Man cannot perfectly obey. God provides one who can obey.

We see the fulfilment of God’s love toward us in these ways.

(1) The paradigm of love in God’s decree

“The decrees of God …”

Ephesians 1:4–6 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

Ephesians 1:10“as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

(2) The paradigm of love in God’s promises

Gen 3.15 Christ announced

Gen 15, God walking through pieces. Slowly the promise manifests with the incarnation.

The Lord Himself walked between the severed animals to take upon himself the curses for His people’s disobedience.

(3) The paradigm of love in God’s Son

The fullness of God’s love toward His people is in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Christ Himself fully and perfectly obeys the entirety of the Law.

“The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ who being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man, in two distinct natures, and one person forever.”

He is the “love Divine, all love excelling, the joy of heaven to earth come down.”

Galatians 4:4“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,”

Colossians 1:19 “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,”

Colossians 2:9“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,”

And this Christ who perfectly obeyed the demands of the law in utter perfection and humility did so to save sinners.

John 3:16““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 5:8–9“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

John 1:16“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Use 1. Fulfill the law by the genuineness of your love.

Ephesians 3:19“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 4:13“until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”

Use 2. Fulfill the law by the genuineness of your obedience.

Love without action is like taking a weapon into combat without the firing pin. It will not function, nor will it shoot any bullets.

The law reflects the character and nature of God. Now, it is no longer condemning but freeing. And therefore, we obey the Lord out of the love we have for him.

John 14:15““If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:21“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.””

1 John 2:5“but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:”

1 John 5:3“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”