Love Your Neighbour

Love: The Fulfillment of the Law

Main Passage: Romans 13:8-10

Paul: Paul is the writer of the book of Romans, Paul was also a person who when he became a Jesus follower, people were scared of him. He was actively persecuting people who followed Jesus.

People had a hard time loving Paul, he didn’t deserve it.

Paul knew that he could be looked down on for his new belief

Story: Often as we go through the different rhythms of life we encounter people that are hard to love.

Story about forgiving my father:

They are different than us

They hurt us

They are living a way that we don’t like or agree with

I’ll be the first to admit that it is hard to love my neighbour. I don’t always do it properly

Summary: In Romans 13:8-10, Paul emphasizes that love is the ultimate obligation of believers, highlighting that all commandments are summed up in the call to love our neighbor as ourselves. This passage illustrates the essential nature of love in fulfilling God's law.

Commandments:

Paul alludes to the commandments in Romans 13. But then makes the audacious claim that they are all backed up, supported by one, love.

So the final test of love is obedience. Not sweet emotions, not willingness to sacrifice, not zeal, but obedience to the commandments of Christ. Our Lord drew a line plain and tight for everyone to see. On one side He placed those who keep His commandments and said, “These love Me.” On the other side He put those who keep not His sayings, and said, “These love Me not.” John 14:21, 24 That Incredible Christian, 124.

A. W. Tozer

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ is the ultimate example of love, having fulfilled the law perfectly through His sacrifice. This passage connects to His teaching and actions, demonstrating that His life centers on loving God and loving others, which sets the standard for Christian living.

Supporting Passages:

1 John 4:7–12 ESV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

1. Ongoing Obligation to Love

Romans 13:8 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

As followers of Christ, we are constantly in debt to love others—a debt that never diminishes. This love reflects Christ’s unending love for us, which He showed through His sacrifice. Encourage teens to see love as an ongoing mission, shaping their interactions and commitments. By choosing to love others consciously, they reflect the heart of Jesus and fulfill God’s expectation for His followers.

2. Comprehend Commandments in Love

Romans 13:9 ESV

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.”

Teaching: Loving others isn't just a good moral choice but is central to Christian identity and obedience to God. It encourages young people to embody love in their interactions, showing that true fulfillment of the law is found in loving one another.

Love being what fulfills all commandments

3. Cultivating Love's Fulfillment

Romans 13:10 ESV

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Love does no harm, bringing peace and healing to relationships. Through Christ's example, we learn that love actively seeks the good of others. Encouraging young believers to pursue what benefits others will naturally lead them to live out their faith authentically, fulfilling the law in everyday actions and choices. Love becomes the guiding principle for moral decision-making.

Big Idea: True love for our neighbors is the heart of the Christian life and fulfills the law of God, guiding us to live out our faith practically and relationally.

Application: In school, you may encounter classmates who are rude or unkind, making it hard to love them. When you find yourself in a triggering situation, take a moment to pray for them instead of reacting negatively.

You taking the moment to love them will remove the potential for anyone to experience harm.

Challenge: Who is someone who comes to mind that you have had a hard time loving? Let’s pray for them now.