Walk to Talk in Love

A Love That Fulfill the Law

Introduction

I debating preaching this message this close to an election. To say that this election brought out the passions of people would be an understatement. I even held that many ivy league schools are giving students days off to process their feelings. Some are offering Legos and coloring books to help them deal with the results of the election.

So you can see why reading these words might seem out of place.

Romans 13:1–10 NASB95

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 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.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

In my defense, this message has been planned for this week for months. So I am going to continue with what was planned.

I believe, if we understand what Paul is saying here, we will come away better prepared to be citizens of this great nation.

Are you ready to dig in.

The first promise PAUL makes is that…

1. Love will Lead you to Lawful Living

Romans 13:1–2 NASB95

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Why are we to be subject to the government?

Because they are always right? That is not what Paul said.

Governments are never 100 percent right all the time. No government or system is. All systems make mistakes.

Our’s is better then most, but it is not perfect.

Our’s is better because we can vote one person or party out, and vote another person or party in. It is not a perfect system, but it has worked since 1776.

We have the amazing ability to stand up and speak out when we feel that our government is wrong.

We submit to governing authorities as an expression of our Christian love and commitment to a ordered and peaceful society.

We need a governing body or we will not have order or peace.

How would you feel if tomorrow you woke up and there was no, law enforcement, no city, state, or federal government.

Life would disintegrate. We would soon have no food of the store shelves. Hospitals would be overrun. Lawless would abound.

Every person would become a law unto himself.

Without government we have nothing but anarchy. Regard for governing authorities implies respect for the authority of God Himself.

Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook. 2006 Edition. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006

Jesus is our example in this. He submitted to the authorities of his day. He submitted all the way to the cross. Did he have to? NO!

As the song writer said, “He could have called 10,000 angels to destroy the world and set him free.

Romans 13:8–10 NASB95

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 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.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

2. Love Lights Your Way

Romans 13:11–12 NASB95

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. 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.

Maybe conclude with the urgency of living out this love in light of the coming salvation. Highlight how ‘putting on Christ’ and making no provision for the flesh are radical acts of love towards ourselves and others. This segment could inspire action by connecting the dots between personal holiness, love for others, and the imminence of Christ's return, urging believers to reflect Jesus' love in their walk.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, “If I could only see the world, I would marry you.”

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later had a note written to her saying: “Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.” --