Living in Love and Light

Introduction

Welcome — Greeting & Bibles

Romans 13:8–14 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 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.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Pray over Scripture

Guitar Amp Alarm Neighbor Story

[Transition to text]

Exposition

Last week’s text: submit to authorities because God has appointed them.

Romans 13:6–8 ESV

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Societal obligations = Obligations of love Obedience = Love

If you are under Christ, you are no longer under the law. You are no longer measured by it.

But it is still relevant. The outplaying of the command to love your neighbor is obedience to the law.

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 ***I LOVE THIS*** any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Conjecture: Paul realized halfway through that all commandments mean “love your neighbor”

Romans 13:10 ESV

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

Cheap love wrongs one’s neighbor. (another way to put this is “does evil to” one’s neighbor)

> Divine love reflects God’s attitude toward them.

Cheap love asks “what’s in it for me?”

> Divine love asks “what can I do for you?”

Cheap love is selfish.

> Divine love is selfless.

Cheap love looks for what you’re willing to burn at my altar to keep the fire going.

> Divine loves crawls up onto the altar and says “my life is a living sacrifice for you”

So is the law fulfilled? Yes.

Aren’t we no longer under the law? Yes (praise the LORD!)

Do you want to learn to love like Jesus? “Check yo self” -Ice Cube

[transition from what to why]

Romans 13:11 ESV

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

WAKE UP!

All-nighter; light coming in the window

Brian Regan “Science Fair”

Romans 13:12 ESV

12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

“Cast off” means literally “undress yourself”

Henry’s Stormtrooper Costume

“The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins.” (Spurgeon)

Romans 13:13 ESV

13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Orgies & drunkenness -> Living in thoughtless excess, stumbling through life with our eyes out of focus

Sexual immorality & sensuality -> Exchanging priceless holy things for cheap, fleeting, self-gratifying pleasures

Quarreling & jealousy -> Pursuing division instead of unity

Walk properly -> Make your grandma proud

Romans 13:14 ESV

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Paul closes this way: Submit yourself wholly to Jesus with no “Plan B.”

Goodbye Yesterday by Elevation Rhythm

Goodbye, yesterday I'm livin' in the light of a new day I won't waste another minute in my old ways

Goodbye, yesterday The Spirit of the Lord is upon me I've got resurrection in my veins Praise the Lord, I've been born again

Key Takeaways

1. Fulfill the law through love.

Because of Jesus, we are no longer under the law.

Use the law as a mirror — a gauge to see if you are loving your neighbor well. If you are out of alignment, let forgiveness wash over you and walk away from it. Don’t go back.

Proverbs 26:11 “11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

2. Wake up!

Darkness has had its day in your life, but that day is now over, so quit reminiscing and romanticizing it.

Allow the nostalgic aroma of your sin to become sickening to you.

Kristi Greenway - “pit in your stomach”

Would you boldly pray today that God would put a pit in your stomach?

3. Suit up!

The day has come!

As you are wrenched out of the darkness of night, don’t stumble out of your house naked, blinking in the light of day.

Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Response

Instruct people to come forward for prayer, to give their life to the Lord, or to join the church

Benediction

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.